Take away tradition, take away religion, what is left?

[Katherine]

I want DISCUSSION about this one!

This post is very important to read and understand because there are so many people who go to church because they were raised to go every Sunday and for them it is a tradition. For others, for example children and teenagers, they go to church because Mom and Dad said that they have to, and some type of threat of grounding might ensue.

I know for me as a child, I would pretend that I was sleeping so that I wouldn’t have to go. Church was boring for me, it was an hour (mind you that an hour felt like forever when I was little), there were screaming babies, and there was this old priest talking about the Bible using personal stories to explain the Gospel reading of the day. Looking back, his homily was a testimony about how the Word has worked in his life, but by the time he got to that part, I was consumed by the tradtion. Stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, kneel, stand up, kneel, stand up, shake hands, sit down, stand up and then you leave. I found myself counting the number of times we stood and sat rather than listening to what the Bible readings were.

Basically, I know about the Catholic Church, and without the tradition I don’t know what would be left. What ‘religions’ (correct me if this isn’t the right word) do, is make it seem like through only ONE church you will find salvation, through only ONE church will you find friends and support, and only through ONE church can you talk to God. It’s like the church is the only way that you will get what you need. I know that as a child, I really didn’t know about other religions, but I knew that I was Catholic and I’m not saying that they are bad people, but I feel like I didn’t learn about the things that I was supposed to. There are so many people who just go to church and are lumps in the pews, and I am guilty of it too, but they don’t listen to the Word of God as they should be.

I believe that more churches need to preach the teaching: if you follow the Bible and believe in Jesus Christ as your savior, it’s all good. This way going to church is something you do to get fed, not as a duty or just to give money so you don’t feel guilty.

I pray that people in various churches know this stuff, because apparently I was supposed to, but I didn’t.

Thoughts?

[Jimmy]

I do, indeed, believe that tradition consumes the true meaning of religion. In an earlier post, I talked about a sermon that inspired me which said that the symbolism surrounding Christianity sometimes blotted out the subject. For most people, going to church means they are bound for Heaven. Let’s go ahead and say the old addage now so that everyone can see it, shall we? GOING TO A GARAGE DOESN’T MAKE YOU A CAR ANY MORE THAN GOING TO CHURCH MAKES YOU A CHRISTIAN. It is the faith, the love, and the message of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior that opens the gates of heaven and assures us a mansion of rest. Still, to strengthen our beliefs, we must realize that God has given us tools. The Bible is a tool, as it gives us God’s word and tells us what we need to achieve a life in the love of Jesus Christ. Likewise, Church is a tool. It is a place of worship. Attendence does not insure admission into heaven, nor does any preacher have the power to write you a permission slip. The people at your Church should be like minded about their walk with Jesus Christ; if they aren’t, it’s time to re-evaluate the Church’s role in your life. I have often felt lackluster after Church. I wondered for a long while why I didn’t feel as fulfilled as some other folks that I knew. Thanks to this site and my new understanding of scripture, I learned that your walk with Jesus Christ is just that; You must knock on the door of Heaven and ask Jesus to let you in the threshold. If you look for fulfilment in tradition, you’re looking in the wrong place. Jesus will feed your spiritual need, not monotony and unfulfilling hours of boredom. If your Chruch experience is not sitting right with you, you need to ask yourself whether or not you’re sitting in the right place. Find a better way to get yourself closer to Jesus and to his power; if church isn’t an effective tool, get a better one and get back to work.

Thanks for this discussion, Kathy. Good job on your PRAXIS!

Other thoughts, folks?

[Joey]

My whole life has been a relationship with God. I come from the other side of the spectrum, we didn’t go to church from the time i was about four or five until we started our own 😀 Ours has never been based on tradition, but I couldn’t begin to count the number of times I have stood on the gospel.

Throughout the Bible, Jesus always goes up on the Mountain to pray…

I can deal with that. I would much rather be tradition free, in the church that God built himself in six days, for seven days a week. Than swinging incense, shaking bibles, and sitting in a man built church for one day week.

Thank you God in Jesus Name.

[Author]

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