Yea Hon...Don't know What ta tell ya...Fanatics Freak me...You know better...so do whats right for You...if bro does Not wanna come to your Bible study class cuz you won't do the Church thing...that is HIS Prerogative...NO One should Force you to Do something you do Not wish to do...Simple as that..there is No Faith in an Ultimatum...

i am a christian but no longer go to chuch on a regular basis. i know my family wants me to but they don't push it. until you walk our shoes; you don't really understand how tired we would be just getting dressed to get there. i do that all week having to go into work and somehow i think God gets that.
new christians are like people on a diet losing weight or people who found a new hobby. they are so excited about it they want everyone to have it. try to just smile and at the same time...do what YOU want to. Peter had an affliction all his life...I have fibro but some people have things much worse.

I am SO unable to wrap my head around any of this. I was raised Christian but it never took. I honestly believe we each have our own path, and if we're in a place that feels good spiritually, then we're on the right path for us.

What I DON'T get is why anyone would want to push their particular path on anyone else. To me that's either fear (can't stand to be around anyone who doesn't think like them) or ego (I'm right and everyone should think like me!).

I will repeat my disclaimer - not a Christian - if I'm anything it's Buddhist but I rarely self-idenfity as anything anymore, as my beliefs come from so many different faith traditions that it seems there is a Religious Cafeteria line somewhere LOL

Hey - it works for me and I don't try to push it on others.

Peace, my Older bro is a Buddhist!
and that's totally fine with me. he used to be muslim, but left that religion due what he says "too much crazy shit to believe"....lol. so when i found out that he took the Buddhist route, i was thrilled! at least that religion is much more peaceful, you know?

i think whatever influences peace and hope in one's life, then it's totally cool. i just wish my family would understand to leave me alone about going to church.

I agree 100% Peace . I also tend to lean towards Buddhism. Only difference between my beliefs and a "traditional Buddhist" is that I still believe in God

I definitely struggle with this and feel a void. That being said, I have been around many people that like to push their faith and have dear friends that are very passionate about their faith, which i can appreciate and respect but prefer to make my own decision about this in my own time. I don't mind offers or friendly reminders, really don't like being made to feel guilty or having it pushed on me-I tend to go in the opposite direction. It's a touchy subject for some and very unfortunate that many wars are started in the name of religion. Pretty ironic, huh? I think that you are doing what is right for you and your family should respect the effort you are making. I also applaud you for finding a way to keep faith in your life while dealing with this crappy illness. hugs,noreen

I believe that religious is not the same as Christian. If we believe in Christ, we try to understand others and walk in their shoes. It also means helping others and coming along side them. That's what Jesus did, he went to the people and tried to help them.

Religous zealots can believe anything (not necessarily God or Christ) but will often try to force their ways onto others, I don't think God intends that. He wants us to chose him and not be forced on Him. And again like you said, it's between you and God. Make sense?

"No one can make you feel inferior without your permission."

Do what is right for YOU and only you. They should be adults and will get over it.

Religion does not equal faith. The more you give in offering or the more you attend doesn't make you a better person, let alone a better Christian.

Let me tell you about the pastor from the church I attended as a child. He was the most Christian person I have ever met. He understood the impact an illness could make on someone's ability to attend church, so he would tape the audio of each service and deliver it to different members' homes. He would sit and pray with them, and worship regardless of where they were. He was unfailingly kind. After I left the church (mostly due to my parents divorce), he would still check on my family, visit us and while encouraging us to return, he never pushed. He was part of the Lions club and EMS Squad. He would deliver food baskets to the less fortunate, and visit people in the hospital even in the deep of winter when he had a cask on his own ankle. He kindness and caring did not heed. He cared not your age, color or creed. He practiced and preached the Goldren Rule. In fact, most of his sermons touched upon this aspect of Christianity.

I don't remember the bible too well, but didn't Jesus himself say that the righteous path to heaven was through him? And didn't he preach anywhere, in people's home, on fields, on a boat (loaves and fishes story). It didn't matter. Aren't your prayers heard just as clear?

Keep in mind that while they are being very religious, they aren't being very christian, and especially not kind. And as for your Fibro, maybe it's there to make you stronger, to make you slow down and realize the true greatness in our world, to see the beauty of the warm sun. I can't tell you why, no one can. After all, God works in mysterious ways. Good luck to you.

Hello MommaBlue,

This is a tough one to answer...First off, I agree with you totally. Sitting in church for hours is painful........ Yes, Christ suffered and we should put up with pain to show how much we love him and all that stuff that I have heard a thousand times. But...and it is a BIG but...that is a bunch of bullhockey. Christ suffered so that he understood human suffering and so that you do not have to suffer.

Christ would be the first person to say to you, continue with your Bible study group and do not worry about attending a church building with hundreds of other people.

Guilt is NOT a valid reason for worship. You are worshiping and following your beliefs, without a building. It is not necessary.

Second, to those who are pushing you to attend church. ....the first "church"-gathering places were set up for believers to get together, show support for one another, and to teach one another about their beliefs and god. These could be a cave in the side of a hill or somebody's house....the purpose was not to have a building...but to worship, teach, talk to other like-minded believers.

The first recorded actual church building was not built until the early 300's. There had been Synogogues or Temples since before Christ, and these were exactly for the same purpose of teaching, gathering, and worshiping. However, a building is NOT necessary to worship.

Remember that Temple or Church were built at a time when the populace was not educated....Holy writings were not distributed to the masses.....most could not read, even if they had writings at their disposal.....so the educated (Rabbi or Priest or Pastor etc) would read the sacred writings to the masses and explain things to them.

I know that you can read. I know that you can worship. I know that you have physical disabilities. Therefore I know that you know how to worship and pay honor to your God.

If lowly me knows these things, then you can be certain that your God knows them also.

I could go on and on, but I will spare you.

Tell your critics that you are worshiping and these things are between you and God. If they persist in the argument, tell them to read their Bible and point out the passage which talks about stone, wood, iron, and glass structures as places of worship. Then please tell me where it is, so I can go to the publishers of my Bible and demand a correction.

I understand. I love God, Jesus and it hurts me that I can't sit in service or don't have the energy to get dressed to go. I do have my break downs and I scream at God, but when I get done it's like He is there with me and I get peace, even if its for a little while. As a Christian, we are not supposed to push God on anyone, we are supposed to be like Him. And by doing that people are drawn to God. My favorite verse says God will never leave or forsake you. I keep that with me all the time. I remember that God doesn't do this to us (fibromyalgia) but something evil does. Christ just helps us get through it. He carries me. With out Him, my faith I would have probably commited suicide by now. You are still Christian if you don't go to church. Just trust God, read the bible and pray.

I agree with what most of the others are saying about you choosing your own way. I love God/Jesus and believe that Jesus did die so we could be forgiven for our sins. In saying this, I used to go to church all the time. Loved it then,still do, WHEN I feel up to going. I talk to God on most days and I know when he has helped me thru lots of tough spots. But, I don' feel I absolutely have to go to church to have God in my life. Hey! Maybe I am wrong, but I guess none of us will know until we have our turn at dying. (That kinda sux! Lol!) I just choose not to believe that there is nothing after all the crap we all have had to go thru in this life. Sorry so long! Hugs to ya all!

Your pastor CANNOT heal you...IMHO...If he could I'd be sitting at his feet day in and day out! New Christians, again IMHO are the worse to deal with. I know I was. It's not that I no longer believe that Jesus and prayers doesn't work. I do believe it. But how's going to a church vs staying at home and praying to God different? If God wants to take this syndrome from me, He WILL. I've prayed about it, asked to be healed. Guess it's not in his time or will to do so at this time.
What I do in my life is between God & me. And it's no one's business!

Not only is Christianity a set of basic beliefs, but also a system of human government. It works well when people can overcome their human failures, such as discrimination, greed and selfishness. As if that's going to happen... Sometimes the lines get blurred and people get weird. It's all human.

I concentrate on the supernatural element and don't often go to church. The music is too loud and some of the people are too into judging others.

Some people think they're enlightened and set out to tell everyone else how to be just like them. And still others try to manipulate you towards their goals.

Your mom is being told that you need to go to church to be a good Christian.. Her worry is genuine, if not misguided. Stuff gets misconstrued.

Like, the Bible says it's better to give than to receive. NOWHERE does it say it's bad to receive, but have you ever been made to feel guilty over getting a gift?

I always figured if no one received, no one could get the greater blessing of giving, but I know a pious woman who you can't give a gift to - she'll give it back or give it away. It's more guilt than she can handle. How sad. What a pig that she hogs all the blessings...

Blahahahahaha! I love church people though. Usually, their hearts are in the right place and their motives genuine.

Bible study at your home? That counts as Christian fellowship. Where two or more are gathered, there is love. All you need is love.

you all made me feel so blessed! i'm so thankful for your support and words of wisdom! every time i come here and vent about life you all understand as usual. i will continue holding my Bible studies, and if he doesn't come, then that's his problem.

i too believe that religion DOES NOT save you, but having faith.

at my Bible studies we take turns sharing things to read from the Bible and the topics of discussion for that week. then we each talk about how or in what ways in OUR lives it can be compared to and what we should do about it.

so it is very encouraging, and we pray for each other. to me, that's what church is supposed to be.

i don't have to GO to an actual church, but my family sees it other wise. i will have a talk with them again and hopefully they will get the hint to lay off! my bf is getting really mad at them for all their preachiness and pushiness. he enjoys the Bible studies and wants to keep doing what we've been doing.

thanks for your advice! if anyone else has some more words of wisdom, please share!