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Discussion » Questions » Religion and Spirituality » Do you follow a religion?

Do you follow a religion?

Posted - March 26, 2018

Responses


  • 13395
    No. The only kind of God I could believe in would not require that I follow any religion nor make up a religion of any sort to follow. 
      March 26, 2018 10:31 PM MDT
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  • 5614
    I'm will try to follow the commandments, laws and statutes given to us by The Lord our God turned into Gentile RELIGION. This post was edited by O-uknow at March 28, 2018 3:58 PM MDT
      March 26, 2018 10:39 PM MDT
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  • 2706
    Seven times in the Bible, you'll find the word "religion" mentioned. The word "religion" is mentioned, in a bad connotation, six of those seven times. God doesn't have a whole lot of use for "religion" and neither do I. So no, I don't follow a religion. I live my life by faith not by some man-made, man-centered, ceremonial, religions you see popping up all over the world. I believe by faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The only time that religion is mentioned, with a good connotation, is in James 1:27 where it says, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." That is the only time in all the Bible where the word "religion" is mentioned as something good. This post was edited by rusureamisure? at March 28, 2018 4:16 PM MDT
      March 26, 2018 11:05 PM MDT
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  • 1393
    If you "believe by faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." then that's your religion, whatever you call that religion. "faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." sounds like the teaching of Paul. I could be wrong, but I don't think Jesus ever taught that in any of the Gospels.
      April 3, 2018 3:31 PM MDT
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  • 34272
    Mark 8 

    Jesus Predicts His Death

    31He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

    33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

      April 3, 2018 3:50 PM MDT
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  • 2706
    You beat me to it. Thank you. :)
      April 3, 2018 4:13 PM MDT
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  • 1393
    "You beat me to it." then I wonder what your thoughts are to my response to M2C?
      April 3, 2018 5:10 PM MDT
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  • 2706
    Never gave it much thought. :)
      April 3, 2018 5:45 PM MDT
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  • 1393
    If you "Never gave it much thought" then that's Fairy Nuff. It's obviously not fair to expect you to be able to comment on how any of it impacts on those who have "faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."
      April 3, 2018 6:27 PM MDT
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  • 1393
    1. Jesus is here predicting what the named people will do to him. How does that translate to a teaching of the doctrine of "faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God."?

    2. Which one stands out as a teaching of doctrine, what Jesus said in Mark 8:31-33 or what Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:8, “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL” a belief he drove home with his warning to the sceptics in 1 Corinthians.15:17 that "if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins"?

    3. What are we to make of Matthew 12:40? Here Jesus foretold for himself "...the sign [meaning the miracle] of the prophet Jonas: 40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" Jesus is here saying that just as Jonah was miraculously alive despite eye witnesses who would have sincerely testified that he was dead so would he, Jesus, be miraculously alive despite eye witnesses who would have sincerely testified that he was dead.

    4. If I came to see you on Friday just before sunset and you said to me "sorry, I'm closed now but please come and see me again after three days" which is the earliest day I can come and see you?
      April 3, 2018 5:05 PM MDT
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  • 2657
    Hello CLURT. Sorry for hurting your feelings before.

    Looks to me like David, Isaiah, Daniel, Jesus, Peter, Paul all said something similar. 
    (Isaiah 53)
    (Daniel 9:24-27)
    (Psalms 16:10)
    (Mark 8:31-33) Also, he began teaching them that the Son of man must undergo many sufferings and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and rise three days later. 32 Indeed, he was making that statement openly. But Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 At this he turned, looked at his disciples, and rebuked Peter, saying: “Get behind me, Satan! because you think, not God’s thoughts, but those of men.”
    (Matthew 16:21) From that time forward, Jesus began explaining to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed, and on the third day be raised up.
    (Matthew 17:22, 23) It was while they were gathered together in Galʹi·lee that Jesus said to them: “The Son of man is going to be betrayed into men’s hands, 23 and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up.” And they were very much grieved.
    (2 Timothy 2:8) Remember that Jesus Christ was raised up from the dead and was David’s offspring, according to the good news I preach,
    (1 Corinthians 15:17) Further, if Christ has not been raised up, your faith is useless; you remain in your sins.
    (Acts 2:24) But God resurrected him by releasing him from the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held fast by it.
    (Acts 2:29-32) “Men, brothers, it is permissible to speak with freeness of speech to you about the family head David, that he died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that he would seat one of his offspring on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he forsaken in the Grave nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 God resurrected this Jesus, and of this we are all witnesses.
      April 3, 2018 5:27 PM MDT
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  • 2706
     I said I had no use for religion and I went on to explain why. It's the  man-made, man-centered religion of today is what I have no use for. It's of the same type of religion that the Pharisees were into and that Jesus had no use for.  I never said all religion was bad, I said of the seven times religion was used in the Bible, only one was used in a good way. I thought I made clear what I was trying to say but I guess not. I probably should take a bit more time to explain myself better next time. :)
      April 3, 2018 4:40 PM MDT
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  • 1393
    You explained yourself brilliantly. The fact that you "never said all religion was bad" comes out very clearly.

    I made only the following two points:

    1. If you "believe by faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." then that's your religion, whatever you call that religion.

    2. "faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God." sounds like the teaching of Paul. I could be wrong, but I don't think Jesus ever taught that in any of the Gospels.

    See, I never said that you said all religion was bad. Hope that's cleared any misunderstanding.
      April 3, 2018 5:28 PM MDT
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  • 2052
    Absolutely not!
      March 27, 2018 1:49 AM MDT
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  • 492
    We are all visitors to this time and place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love... and then we return home.
    There is nothing to follow but your desire.  This post was edited by antibiotic at March 28, 2018 3:59 PM MDT
      March 27, 2018 5:12 AM MDT
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  • 6098
    Yes I am a reformed Christian.  "Reformed" meaning reformation - in other words Protestant.  
      March 27, 2018 5:56 AM MDT
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  • 2657
    ‘Religion’ in its simplest definition means a system of worship, a form of worship, without regard to whether it is true or false worship.
    Yes, I follow a religion, the one described in the Bible:

    (Ephesians 4:4-6) One body there is, and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
    (Romans 12:5) so we, although many, are one body in union with Christ, but individually we are members belonging to one another.
    (1 Corinthians 12:25) so that there should be no division in the body, but its members should have mutual concern for one another.
    (John 13:35) By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.”
    (Hebrews 10:24, 25) And let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, 25 not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near.

    (Isaiah 43:10-12) “You are my witnesses,” declares Jehovah, “Yes, my servant whom I have chosen, So that you may know and have faith in me And understand that I am the same One. Before me no God was formed, And after me there has been none. 11 I—I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior.” 12 “I am the One who declared and saved and made known When there was no foreign god among you. So you are my witnesses,” declares Jehovah, “and I am God.

    (Matthew 24:45-47) “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Happy is that slave if his master on coming finds him doing so! 47 Truly I say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings.
    (Hebrews 13:7) Remember those who are taking the lead among you, who have spoken the word of God to you, and as you contemplate how their conduct turns out, imitate their faith.
    (John 8:32) and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

    (1 Timothy 4:16) Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
    (Matthew 24:14) And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
    (Matthew 28:19, 20) Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”
    (Mark 13:10) Also, in all the nations, the good news has to be preached first.


    EDIT: In the first century, Christians were sometimes referred to as 'the way'. Later their religion was called 'Christian' although the foretold apostasy muddied that.
    (Acts 11:26) After he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year they assembled with them in the congregation and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.
    (Matthew 7:21-23) “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of the heavens, but only the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. 22 Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’

    [WAY, THE
    This expression can be applied to a road, street, track, or path; a mode of action or conduct; or a normal course, manner, or method. In the Scriptures it is often used with reference to a course of conduct and action that is either approved or disapproved by Jehovah God. (Jg 2:22; 2Ki 21:22; Ps 27:11; 32:8; 86:11; Isa 30:21; Jer 7:23; 10:23; 21:8) With the coming of Jesus Christ, an individual’s enjoying a proper relationship with God and approaching him acceptably in prayer depended on acceptance of Jesus Christ. As the Son of God stated: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Joh 14:6; Heb 10:19-22) Those who became followers of Jesus Christ were spoken of as belonging to “The Way,” that is, they adhered to a way or manner of life that centered around faith in Jesus Christ, following his example.—Ac 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:22.]



    I am open to discussion if any questions. This post was edited by texasescimo at March 30, 2018 11:59 PM MDT
      March 27, 2018 7:47 AM MDT
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  • 5808
    No
    I do not follow any Religion.
         Through Meditation
    I can have a direct experience of
    the living God within. Religions
    will keep you in an endless flow of thought,
    and never give you a direct experience of God.
      March 27, 2018 8:33 AM MDT
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  • 6477
    No, they run too fast for me to follow :P
      March 27, 2018 2:20 PM MDT
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  • 14795
    Lol.  :)D
      March 27, 2018 9:46 PM MDT
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  • I never have.  I do believe in God, though.  
      March 27, 2018 3:11 PM MDT
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  • 19937
    No, I do not.  Religion is a means by which a small group seeks to control everyone else. 
      March 27, 2018 9:40 PM MDT
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  • 14795
    How very true....no one could put it better :) 
      March 27, 2018 9:45 PM MDT
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  • 19937
    Thank you.
      March 28, 2018 2:44 PM MDT
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