Got to get some things off my chest

[cupl4fun]

Thank You Vol.

[meandu2gether]

I am a Christian and a ex-bible study teacher. I am so glad I came across this thread. I surely don't think it is by accident. I can so relate to the things said. However I cannot turn my back on my faith and what I believe. I have turned my back on church and what they want me to believe. Who I am and what I do is really between the Lord and I which I still believe in. I still pray everyday, I have kept my faith and outside my sexual appetite my home is a Christ loving home meaning my children do get bible lessons from their mommy and they all say their prayers. This I am proud of, as I believe I am raising my children up in the way that they should go. I believe faith as the bible states is a choice you decide whether or not to believe and allow Christ into your life. Christianity on another hand is a beast in the sense that it really is the only religion with the most denominations (over 260 million to be exact). What is even more disheartening is instead of trying to "win souls for Christ" we tend to run away those who already accepted Christ. And those who haven't we have totally made them loose any interest if any was there in the first place to become a believer. I am torn with this right now but not torn with what I believe. I want you to pray and really seek your heart on what God will have you to do. It's a daily struggle and I believe unfortunately the flesh tends to win 90% of the time because their is so much temptation to do what is "fun" verses the controversy to do what is "right". I have learned this much you can run but you can't hide and will be convicted of most things depending on your personal relationship with God. I think we can do without religion but once you have been touched by the spirit of God your cheating yourself to do without your personal relationship. And that be my two cents and I hope I made sense... :-)

[Alura]

from Oklahoma, meandu2gether! We're glad you've joined us and hope you'll offer your opinion on other issues as well.

May you find peace of mind here and in other aspects of your life.

Mr. Alura

[curiouscpl72]

I understand where you are coming from....I think that people took what Christ was and made it into a following, not hearing what he said or taught....forgetting that the most important thing was to be like him, not worship him(oh dear lightning strikes!)I myself have been practicing Buddhism for years,hanging onto my roots in Christianity, but no longer calling myself a "Christian",but I believe in and love jesus for what he brought to this world.I hope you find your path to be one of joy and love,and there is no judgment here-good luck to you-

P

[Chris&Amelia]

I'm joining this discussion rather late, but for what it's worth (which I'm sure isn't much), you have our support.

We pretty much feel the same way you do. She was raised Catholic (she's a bona-fide ex-Catholic High School Girl) and I was raised Southern Baptist. Both our mothers are highly religious, and I'm pretty sure that if my mom found out we were Swingers, she would burn me at the stake. (she subscribes to newsletters from the Rev. Donald Wildmon, for goodness sake!).

We both believe in God and Jesus Christ. And we both consider ourselves good people. But neither one of us have stepped in a church for a non-wedding related activity in ages.

The entire concept of organized religion is disheartening. I think that it originally, a long, long time ago, started with good intentions. But, like most (all?) of the world's organized religions, it was corrupted into a means to control the hearts, minds, and wallets of people and to keep those at the top of the church in power.

I still can't understand why people hold the Pope in such high regard. He seems like a nice enough fellow, but he's just a man. I doubt he has any more of a special connection to God then we do.

[cupl4fun]

"I'm joining this discussion rather late, but for what it's worth (which I'm sure isn't much), you have our support."

Actually your support means a lot. Thanks. Hey! Don't I owe you some pics?

[Chris&Amelia]

Originally Posted by cupl4fun

Hey! Don't I owe you some pics?

You know, that you mention it....

[cupl4fun]

"You know, that you mention it....

Alright Chris which ones do you want? We got some nice ones of the dog, the cat, some nature scenes; take your pick.

[Chris&Amelia]

The ones I had in mind did involve au natural....

(wow, I walked right into that one, didn't I? )

[cupl4fun]

We just wanted to thank everybody for their support. We cannot tell you how much your kind responses have meant to us. If any of you ever need something we might be able to help with please feel free to contact us. Mrs. cupl and I were so moved to find more people responding like Jesus on a swingers forum than in a church building There are a lot of kind people on this sight and we thank you so much for extending that kindness to us.

[Alura]

Thanks for the nice words, Cupl4Fun! Aren't the folks on this board special?

However, the reason we support you is that you deserve that support. There have been those who didn't and, believe me, they haven't been treated so kindly.

Mr. Alura

[sweet_tna]

Originally Posted by cupl4fun

We just wanted to thank everybody for their support. We cannot tell you how much your kind responses have meant to us. If any of you ever need something we might be able to help with please feel free to contact us. Mrs. cupl and I were so moved to find more people responding like Jesus on a swingers forum than in a church building There are a lot of kind people on this sight and we thank you so much for extending that kindness to us.

You're most welcome. Guess there are still some of us that live by the Golden Rule.

"You know, that you mention it....

Alright Chris which ones do you want? We got some nice ones of the dog, the cat, some nature scenes; take your pick.

(rimshot) I like your style

=)

[JustMrJ]

cupl4fun,

My wife and I were both brought up very religious. My side "Born Again Christian", her side "Roman Catholic".

My sister married a very nice man in the church, but his parents and other siblings are so strict in their religion, that she has to wear a skirt and hat to go visit!!!

Both my wife and I dislike the organization and judgment that goes on within our respective religions. We both still keep our faith, but have for the most part disowned our religions. She goes to Mass every Sunday, but that is for the solitude and focus for her faith, not the religion. I haven't gone to church except with her and maybe one or two special occasions with my family in the last 25 years.

I am so happy that my parents taught me to think for myself and make my own decisions. If if they were wrong ones, I can learn from them.

We would not run away from you if you told us your 'job'. It would, however, give us a chance to discuss theology with someone versed in the subject.

*HUGS*

[Tarponn]

Sharing your personal conflicts in a forum is your start. It would be interesting to learn what progress you are making sharing with family, friends, and congregation. Coming out in any aspect is a nail-biter your path is certainly not the norm. Finding peace, so the last thoughts allow you to sleep, is a gift you give yourself.

[funcpl4life]

Originally Posted by JustMrJ

*snip*
My sister married a very nice man in the church, but his parents and other siblings are so strict in their religion, that she has to wear a skirt and hat to go visit!!!
*snip*

I can relate. When I was 11, a very nice looking lady came into our church wearing a pantsuit. The preacher (I'll never grace him with the word pastor.) stopped the sermon, came down the aisle and asked her if she owned a dress. (loud enough for everyone to hear) She meekly replied yes. He asked, "why don't you come back next week wearing it?"

This lead to some conversations with the preacher that lead to me being put in "pastoral councilling" that usually ended with a whipping. My faith hung on for a few more years, but my religion was dead.

I got married in a church and been to a wedding and a funeral in a church in the last 20 years. If God needs me, he knows where to find me. If he wants me to go to church, he can arrange for better educations for his ministers. 8)

After we changed churches, I'm still friends with the former pastor of our second church to this day. He's a little pompous and I think he's wrong about a lot, but a loving heart makes up for it.

Mr FC4L

PS Mom, who has never liked my wife, broke down in tears last week and asked me why I never married anyone from the church. I told her that none of them were ever serious enough about marriage. Every girl that I dated from the church has been married 3-4 times. (Mom has been married 5.) My 16 year marriage is longer than any two marriages that I can name from that church. I told her that the assistant youth pastor (male) was very cute, serious and smart, but it just didn't work out. (he was gay, but our relationship was platonic and thoughtful) She hasn't talked to me since. I think her world may have cracked and tipped over.