Trying to be a Christian... any tips?

[HeroicMinute]

I've just started listening to the Hallowed app. The first thing I've come across is a Routines course, which is great for me as I am horrendous time waster, which probably explains why I haven't spiritually evolved.
I was raised loosely Christian and attended the village church as a child. I think I want to replicate this traditional experience, but with some slightly more intellectual content.
I've been thinking about Christianity for a few years, and have tried a few different churches, but nothing's stuck.
My reasons for not sticking at a church:
-I can't handle a church band, it all seems very nice and worshipful but it makes me cringe a bit. I love a choir.
-I am very opposed to modern identity politics and didn't go back when a vicar started talking about structural racism in the church.
-I stopped going to an evangelical church because the curate was sweet and excited about his Christianity but did lengthy sermons suitable for children with no analysis or intellectual stimulation.
-found a curate at another church a bit creepy.
-found the sermon in a big popular church on 8th October to be a bit antisemitic.

You get the picture; I'm a bit of a PITA and I'm obviously putting up barriers. Don't get me wrong; I'm not a particularly intellectual person but I am curious and I sincerely want to be a Christian. I don't yet believe properly, sometimes I do, well I suppose I usually do, but with varying levels of conviction.
Any tips would be very gratefully received.
Thank you in advance.

Interesting you don’t think your beliefs are up to questioning- don’t you think it’s healthy to challenge views we cling to?

again, I draw your attention to the last sentence etc… 🥱

Oh well, seems like a discussion forum is not the best place for your comments. Many religions are very interested in putting forward their dogma and have no interest in hearing any challenge. Usually shows they realise their position doesn’t stand up to scrutiny- have a good night

OK, well, we have established that you do not believe the Bible - the Canon of Scripture, to be the fully inspired, inerrant Word of the Living God. Quite obviously, posting on a thread where someone is actually seeking to follow Christ is not the place for you, seeing that you have concocted your own mystical, pagan religion.

To be a stumbling block to other people seeking God - there's an incredible brazen level of pride in that. But of course you don't think pride is sinful, so...

But many Christians don't believe Biblical literalism either. Isn't it brazen of you to imply they are therefore not Christians?

You do realise that the biblical canon was concocted between the 4th and 16th centuries don’t you by choosing from many different gospels that were circulating don’t you? You do realise that the canon varies between different branches of Christianity don’t you? You do realise that the books in those cannons have been altered over the years don’t you, and in some cases substantially added to (eg the ending of Mark) which have potentially altered their meaning.

As you state the person is seeking Christ. This is fundamentally different to seeking a man made concoction of a organised largely developed to control people over mass areas of Empires.

As for developing my “own mystical pagan religion” I’m not sure what you’re referring to. The chariot mysticism that was contemporary with Jesus? The Gnostic Christian belief system who represent some of the earliest Christians?

By shutting down different routes to Christ in an attempt to force people to follow the dogma of a branch of Christianity that is shrouded in hundreds of years of corruption and genocide and misogyny you might want to consider which route to Christ would be the most off putting, especially to women. One which admitted. Women to the highest levels or one that told women to be silent and dress modestly. That misogyny is a major stumbling block for many women The latter, certainly didn’t like the threat of the former when is slaughtered up to 1million of those fellow Christians. I know where I can see the route to Christ, happy to come on a thread where someone else is seeking Christ, we don’t want them devoured by wolves in sheep’s clothing now do we?

And bear in mind that the person we call now Jesus Christ was not a Christian but a Jew.

OP look into the Council of Nicea in 325, and you will see that a simple act such as accepting Christ can be so complicated (what or who exactly are you accepting?)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FirstCouncillofNicaea

For anyone interested in the "christianity" that @Kdtym10 is trying to deceive people with, please be aware that gnosticism is christian in name only. It has NOTHING to do with Christ.

If you are interested to know more about it:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-gnosticism.html

Or
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=www.christian.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/gnosticism.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiH9I7wqbuLAxUSVkEAHVjUABUQFnoECEkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw223HzwVdAKvTeQDxjwCV6R

It's not complicated at all. If you read Scripture you will know that.

I was born again of the Spirit of God when I was by myself, and aged only 11. There was no adult telling me what to believe - the Holy Ghost uses His Word, the Holy Scriptures to guide. Jesus Christ who is God incarnate said to his disciples to let children come to Him 'for of such is the kingdom of Heaven' and 'Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.' Matt 18:3.

And no, He wasn't a Christian because He is CHRIST. Christians are 'Christ's ones'. That's what the name means.

I think this is worth quoting again.

"27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatian's 3:27-29 NIV)

From Galatians written by Paul. If you believe this and are in (unity with) Christ then surely there should be unity amongst Christians? This is what we should be aiming towards. Paul, despite the criticism levelled at him thought it was worth writing. Do you believe this, @Kdtym10? I do.

But there isn't unity among Christians, and nor can there be if groups of Christians hold views so conflicting that they view each other as not Christian. And nobody can know what the truth is, or even if such a thing exists, because it all comes down to belief.

But there isn't unity among Christians, and nor can there be if groups of Christians hold views so conflicting that they view each other as not Christian. And nobody can know what the truth is, or even if such a thing exists, because it all comes down to belief.

@pointythings, indeed. How do you think we can move towards unity?

I am not sure it is possible. The clash between those who see the Scriptures as immutable and set in stone and those who feel faith should evolve in step with society is too severe.
I would love to see unity, not just in Christianity but everywhere. The problem is that most people are innately tribal.

Have you looked into feminist spirituality?

Sue monk kidd etc

@pointythings

The clash between those who see the Scriptures as immutable and set in stone and those who feel faith should evolve in step with society is too severe.

@pointythings

I think there is a middle way.

Language can be elusive. Language is living. Our language evolves with society. Meanings have changed, so when you look scripture there needs to be an appreciation of this. Plus an appreciation of the context in which things were said and of how much metaphor is involved in the way we communicate generally. That doesn't take away from the importance of the messages within.

Study can help but we can't study our way into knowing exactly the full meaning of everything which has been written. This is why faith is involved. We have a God which we can pray to, to ask for guidance and understanding. We need faith to trust the process. This does mean no person (other than Jesus Christ) can be an absolute authority. However we can learn from the experience of others over the ages. But to do this there needs to respect and compassion. Respect because God can work through them. Compassion because we all as human beings struggle at times.

I absolutely agree with @Calmomiletea

There is ONE Gospel - and any other perversion of it, from any source is anathema - under God’s curse.

Be very careful, there is one genuine Gospel. Deceivers preaching “another” gospel are an ancient blight, well known from the outset of Christianity, seeking to pervert the gospel of Christ. They are extremely active on forums such as this.

As Paul wrote to the church in Galatia-

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”
Galatians 1 :6-9

I am not trying to deceive anyone with anything. These beliefs are beliefs with a history dating back right to the beginning of Christianity. One could argue Gnosticism is a bit of a revisionist term but the beliefs are not. Just because the beliefs don’t accord with the view of Christianity that has been taken up by the powerful doesn’t mean it’s deceptive, it just means it’s less well known.

I will watch the video later to comment directly on this.

numerous Christian beliefs have existed for as long as Christianity has, many have different views on different matters - the existence of purgatory, the place of the Virgin Mary, whether the books of Enoch should be included in the canon. The place of Judas in the story of Christ, the creation of the world, the trinity etc. There are also positions around whether we can all achieve Christ status and whether unity with God can be achieved during one’s life time. Christianity is, at its base a Jewish cult following the teachings of the Jew who in Greek is called Jesus, it is therefore important to understand the Jewish religious thought, including mystical thought , contemporary with Jesus. We also need to understand the position of those (particularly Paul, whose works make up a large proportion of the New Testament, when discussing the validity of the western canon to the message of Jesus

What you’re effectively saying is, is that the position you subscribe to (which is an historical accident) is the only true way. On an objective and historical level this is incorrect.

You don’t appear to be very educated about Christianity beyond the indoctrination you have been unfortunate enough to have been subjected to.

Christ means anointed - anyone has the capacity to be Christ.

Jesus’s followers claim his authority is derived from Jewish Scripture- to believe Christ is the messiah and that this is important necessitates belief in the Jewish messiah prophecies

Just because the beliefs don’t accord with the view of Christianity that has been taken up by the powerful doesn’t mean it’s deceptive, it just means it’s less well known.

@Kdtym10, who is powerful? One who believes they are Christ (never sinning/acting apart from God, containing the fullness of God) or those in church leadership?

Christ means anointed - anyone has the capacity to be Christ.

Did Paul? Would you recognise Christ in Paul?

I would recognise the ability to become Christ in every one. What I see with Paul is not trying to become Christ but using the figure of Jesus.

Who is powerful? One who aims to realise their own Christ nature is powerful over themselves. The ones who seek to use the concept of Christ being separate to us and only achieving unity through rules they set has power over others.

And what is that one gospel?

Who is powerful? One who aims to realise their own Christ nature is powerful over themselves.

How completely have you relinquished power over yourself to your own 'Christ Nature, @Kdtym10? Do you view your Christ nature the same as someone else's Christ nature, in unity with each other?

What I see with Paul is not trying to become Christ but using the figure of Jesus.

Is it your 'Christ Nature' that sees this or another other part of yourself, @Kdtym10? Are you exercising power over others to influence people's judgement of Paul?

The ones who seek to use the concept of Christ being separate to us and only achieving unity through rules they set has power over others.

How do the rules within initiation to Gnostic truths, Ceremonial Magic and occult rituals fit with this?

As a Christian I don't believe I am separated from Christ, quite the opposite. He is present in the Holy Spirit who lives in me. 🙂

Camomiletea

"It's not complicated at all. If you read Scripture you will know that"

If it were that simple there would not have been a council of Nicea in 325 because there would be nothing to disagree on.

I haven’t relinquished any control over myself. My higher self is just part of me. You need to let go of your dualistic view to understand that. Everyone is different so everyone’s Will and higher self is different.

im not influencing anyone’s view of Paul, im just providing some further information so people have a more realistic view - people can reach their own conclusions. Do you have a particular issue with people questioning the authority of the Jewish mystic?

im not sure what point you’re making re initiation/ceremonial magic. All those things are designed to facilitate the redd as Liston. Of connection.

So you too believe you have Christ within as an integral part of self?

It’s a take on the concept of opposites though isn’t it? Is hardly revelatory.,

“As above so below” the hermetic emerald tablet(Issac Newton translation)

‘Jesus said to them, “When you make the two into one, and when you make the inner like the outer and the outer like the inner, and the upper like the lower, and when you make male and female into a single one, so that the male will not be male nor the female be female, when you make eyes in place of an eye, a hand in place of a hand, a foot in place of a foot, an image in place of an image, then you will enter [the kingdom].”’ The Gospel of Thomas saying 22

On Earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:10

The “unity of opposites” concept has existed for as long as western philosophy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unity_of_opposites
And can be traced even further back in Chinese philosophy- the yin and the yang.