Posted on 03/18/2024 1:39:49 PM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
It has everything: They are their own gods. They have their priests and priestesses, rituals, dogmas, sacrifices, etc.
"When men chose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing. They then become capable of believing in anything." - Emile Cammaerts, The Laughing Prophet: The Seven Virtues and G.K. Chesterton
So in effect, atheists who believe they rule by divine right.
The only ones saying the church is not losing influence are those “Christian” main-line denomination who are following what society wants. They are delusional in more ways than one.
...and yes, they believe they rule by divine right.
I don’t doubt it. “Organized religion” has/is destroying itself.
Which is okay with me. “Organized religion” is a FAKE faith.
All you need is Jesus and your bible.
You DON’T need all the hypocrite clergy, lay people, and parishioners.
***It’s not that atheists don’t believe in God -athiests believe they are gods. ***
I often ask, when Madalyn Murray O’Hair’s atheist followers came for her and her adult kids with the strangling cords, chain saws and sledge hammers, did she say “OH MY GOD!” or “ Oh my ME!”
Yup. Lots of young people with big families.
Without the King,, people are afraid to die.
Wide is the road to destruction and narrow is the gate to life.
The Vertical Church in Yuma, AZ.
“80 percent of U.S. adults say religion’s role in American life is shrinking”
Meaningless unless the question “is religion’s role in your life shrinking?” is also asked for comparison.
All you need is Jesus and your bible.
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In some denominations, all you need is the bible. It is lifted to a place of worship. Jesus is just someone you mention in the prayers
There was a time, way back when, I might walk into any Christian church except Baptist (where, except during a wedding, I figured that I would not be welcome).
Hmm . . . well, there was a girl whom I liked, and I did to her Baptist church, once, where up on the stage, the leaders dumped people into something similar to an outdoor, above-ground swimming pool.
I was more interested in the girl, than the pool.
Until her father, a pastor, read me his Riot Act - seconds after I was introduced to him - that I was something probably not acceptable.
I took that to mean, Stay Away from My Daughter!
She actually came to visit me a few days later, wanting to apologize for her father’s behavior. But I was too uncomfortable, and cold to any possible entreaty; and, I let her know that.
So . . . on with life; and years later, a kind lady helped me with something I was trying to gather together, and we became friends.
Until, first, she informed me that I would not be welcome at her church (she is black, and I am something else). Yet, I let that pass.
A few years later, when I was talking with her over the phone, thinking about visiting her at her home, she told me about “the drug house just 4 houses away” - the guys there might not approve.
I said, “If they are a problem, I’ll arrest them.”
She said, “No! You cannot do that!”
I said, “Then I am not coming down your street.”
She: Click. So ended another story.
Then, there was another, a girl (also black) to whom I was instantly attracted. A sweetheart, whom I helped with issues that she had with her Baptist church background. She and I were good friends.
Until one day, when she expressed frustration with some peoples’ opinion of her at work.
I said, “Don’t worry, you are an all-American girl.” (That was a compliment, I was sure.)
She . . . silence, and so ended another story.
- - -
Anyway, there was a time.
Now, there are so many people and pastors for whom the Bible is a weapon to be used for passing immediate judgment on my chances of going to heaven.
And I think, Jesus, please forgive me.
I have no answers for my conduct, to offer Jesus, other than please forgive me. Jesus is my judge and advocate if I have any chance.
I tell people, You may forget a lot, but try to remember that Jesus is living water. And to help me remember, I write:
Prefer God
Love truth
Be kind
Jesus is living water,
the well of Bethlehem,
by the gate,
satisfying the thirst of David,
nearby the Siloam Pool.
we as Christians are called to be separate from this world, not leaders of it.
In my opinion, it was always a historical anomaly that we were ever in charge.
All you need is Jesus and your bible.
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In some denominations, all you need is the bible. It is lifted to a place of worship. Jesus is just someone you mention in the prayers
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