Christian having doubts - Page 3

[dirtyhipegirl]

Thanks Elizaveta, I did not know much about the Orthodox church.  It's very interesting. 

Jes h Thank you, I never thought about that parable from that perspective, it's helpful to think of it that way.  Yes, I read Shane Claiborne's book when it first came out several years ago and it changed my life. At the time I was living in a really small town and that book helped me so much.  I just wish I knew people in real life who felt the same way about things.  I constantly have to bite my tongue around people at my church when the conversation turns to politics or homosexuals or whatever the issue. I love Anne Lamott too.  I actually just picked up a new book called Still a midlife faith crisis by Lauren Winner.  It's been a good read so far. 

[ThomasL]

Don't even worry about fitting in. Ultimately the journey to God is an idividual path rather than a social one. The best thing I believe in your case is to do all your praying or meditating in a quiet place where you are alone. Going within is the key to spiritual happiness. You don't need to fit into any group to achieve that.

[Climbing Rose]

I didn't have time to read the whole thread, but from your OP, I wanted to tell you what happened to our family when we were feeling that way a few years ago.

Someone gave us a copy of the book Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola.  It led to us attending an amazing home fellowship for about three years (until we moved away).  It was small, very family friendly, and we all just grew so much. 

Things really took off when we all read The Kingdom that Turned the World Upside Down by David Bercot. I really truly recommend every follower of Jesus read that book.

Really, the church (institutional church in a building today) is mostly nothing at all like the early church.  I think this is why so many people feel out of place, feel like church is irrelevant today, etc.

Even if you don't agree 100% with everything in the books, I think they both are eye-opening reads, that will change the way you think of a lot of things.

[Climbing Rose]

Okay, me again.  =)

I just went back and read more of the thread, and I saw that someone recommended Mennonites.

Honestly, I was thinking the same thing!

They believe in no war (who would Jesus bomb, right?), loving your enemies (non-resistance), and a lot of other things I think are really good. 

There are alllll sorts of Mennonite groups, to the ones who wear cape dresses and head coverings, to ones that wear jeans and make-up.

[Nazsmum]

Originally Posted by Climbing Rose 

I didn't have time to read the whole thread, but from your OP, I wanted to tell you what happened to our family when we were feeling that way a few years ago.

Someone gave us a copy of the book Pagan Christianity by Frank Viola.  It led to us attending an amazing home fellowship for about three years (until we moved away).  It was small, very family friendly, and we all just grew so much. 

Things really took off when we all read The Kingdom that Turned the World Upside Down by David Bercot. I really truly recommend every follower of Jesus read that book.

Really, the church (institutional church in a building today) is mostly nothing at all like the early church.  I think this is why so many people feel out of place, feel like church is irrelevant today, etc.

Even if you don't agree 100% with everything in the books, I think they both are eye-opening reads, that will change the way you think of a lot of things.

Pagan Christianity is a very good book.

[dirtyhipegirl]

Thank you, I will check it out :)
 

[EarthyMamaofDaisy]

((hugs))  Have you read The Irresistable Revolution by Shane Claibourne?  It was what helped raise me out of the cloud of conservative Christianity.  I had finally found someone who else who realized that Jesus wasn't what churches teach him to be.  There is also a group on Facebook called The Christian Left.  You might find some solidarity there. 

[dirtyhipegirl]

Yes I read it when it first came out, it messed me up, in a good way.  However, I did feel after reading it that I had some animosity towards many of the people in my church.  I don't think that was Shane's intention at all of course. It took me a long time before I could love them and see that they were blind to a lot of things like materialism.   I'm still really no closer to figuring out what to do.  Thank you for the suggestion.