Elaborate on specific Christian figureheads who's beliefs and preachings don't truly represent the individuals. I can't think of an example although I'm not well versed in many Protestant faiths.
Also, I wouldn't consider someone a "true Christian" if they merely self-identify with a religion. There are millions of terrible people that are supposedly religious but neither practice any of the teachings of their church nor even attend mass. Those people and their actions are a reflection on themselves, not a specific religious faith.
Rick Warren, Jim Daly, James Dobson, Joel Olsteen, .... They are often asked to "speak" for Christians in this country and their words are taken as the belief of all. I do not always agree with them, but I fall in their category.
2nd paragraph - This is a very difficult one to tackle in this thread but I will do my best(without sounding like a total wacko) while also trying to work:
A: A true Christian is anyone who follows the teachings of Christ and believes in the Trinity. One does not have to be involved in a religion to be a Christian. Also, simply because an individual is not part of an establishment, doesn't mean that they only keep their faith to themselves.
B: Exactly. Just as there are millions of people that attend religious services that focus on that religion more than they focus on the words of Christ. There are religious figures whose lives revolve around the church that do not live the life of a Christian - Priests, Ministers, elders, lay leaders, etc who all attend church or mass on a regular basis and are deplorable people.
C: Our churches today are so far away from what the church was in the New Testament. If you read Paul's letters closely and pay attention to the way the church was structured, there are no grand buildings, there are no rituals, there is no Priest/Pastor, churches were communities. They were people that came together in homes or public places to read the Word, discuss the teachings of Christ as a group, and Worship God. Church was not spectator sport where one person spoke and everyone else listened or gave a pre-planned response. Church was organic, it was truly the body of Christ, it was alive, and every person had equal opportunity to contribute.
Also, there were not separate religions with-in one faith. People were Christians.
Religion has caused Christians to be divided. Catholic, Southern Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Church of God, Church of Christ, Nazarene, Independent Baptist, the list goes on and on. When the church was formed there was no such thing as denomination - they were Christians.
Unfortunately, I feel like today we are nations of religions and not a nation of Christians.
I don't subscribe to what figure heads have to say. I believe the Bible is the infallable Word of God. I believe we all fall short and are only saved by His grace. I believe what the Apostle Paul wrote when he talked about sexual immorality in Corinthians. I also believe all sin is sin - not just sexual sins. I also believe it is my command under God to love the sinner and hate the sin. And as a Christian, I am commanded to tell others about God and his Word. It is up to the individual through free will to decide what they believe. Bottom line for me is this - if we look at the Bible as a set of rules or a rule book then we have religion. If we look at the Bible as a set of love letters from our creator we have that spiritual relationship God desires to have with us. I won't compromise what God says - and if people label me a bigot then so be it. They can answer for it when they meet their maker.
Great - As do I. Your use of the word establishment is what through me.
Sorry if this has totally derailed the thread ..........
