ANSWERS: 100
  • As far as I know there are many people who think the way you do. They haven't found a religion that they agree with completely. On a personal level I don't find anything wrong with that.
  • I don't think it's weird, and I think you might be surprised at how many believers share your distaste for religion. Religion is, in MY OPINION, a way to demonstrate your system of belief, as defined by a group of like-minded people. If you are not in agreement with the way a particular religion demonstrates its faith, I think it would be hypocritical to designate yourself as a member of it. You must define your own relationship the higher power you believe in. There are probably bits and pieces that religions can contribute to your perception, but in no way should you feel obligated to label yourself in any way.
  • No, I think it is OK to believe whatever you want to believe. You probably find Religion just a system designed for mind control, and you don't want to be part of that. Maybe God is beyond and higher than all Religions on this planet. Maybe you want to believe in one Almighty God that is not part of a system designed for the manipulation of human beings. You probably believe in a God that doesn't play games, that is smarter than anything we may imagine.
  • No, it's not wierd. I feel the same way and know many others who share this view.
  • I wouldn't feel weird but I think you are perhaps on the brink of a new understanding in your life. Consider that there must be a REASON you feel this way. If it isn't because of your belief in a christian doctrine god then perhaps it's something as simple as a gut feeling because of the world around you. Many people believe that life is so amazing that it could only have been created by a god, and offer no credit to organized religion. This is not weird. I suggest to you that you CAN find the answers to your position. There are many wonderful ideas about the existence of the universe that do not offer credit to the christian (or muslim, or whatever) god. Some of nature where god is the essence of all beings. I challange you to study and learn about other beliefs. I content as well that it is perhaps a lack of understanding of the world in which we live in that gives you thought of a god but not faith in religion. And that through that study, you may learn of ideas that now ellude you, ideas that will bring a higher understanding to your current position. good luck. http://www.rationalinquirer.com/forums
  • No it isn't weird, unfortunately, it is all too common. Many people have become disillusioned with religion. A lot of people mistake religion for faith and they are not the same thing at all. Religion without faith is a heavy burden no one can carry; and, faith without the guidance of brothers and sisters in faith will soon wither and die if left on it's own for too long. We need the fellowship of fellow believers to support us and to advance our walk in knowledge and wisdom. There are still many churches that are alive and that follow the teachings of the bible who are peopled with true believers; but, you'll have to decide what it is you really believe before you can find a church that will suit you. I hope you find one. A good church makes a huge difference in the life of a believer.
  • I think it's pretty normal. I think religion has more to do with rules than with God, so I choose not to be a part of it. But I do believe in God.
  • That's not weird at all. That's true faith. Your beliefs are what matter... not some system of worship.
  • I think faith is what you believe in personally - and that communion that takes place between you and who or what you believe in. Religion is something created by man for man - the rules, the dates, procedures, things to say and eat - all those I think people create for themselves and choose to believe that in conjunction with a faith. I'm with you - I believe in a higher being but I find that religion is too tied up in falsities and politics and just plain unreasonable practices.
  • Just curious, were you raised Catholic?
  • Its very normal. I personally don't believe in god and my distaste for religion is beyond words. God gives many people a belief and optimism, but religion makes people hate and kill each other.
  • Religion at it's best is organized and formalized spirituality -- a well designed path for spiritual development that has been refined and honed over the years. Religion at it's worst is brainwashing, suppressive, and provides the basis for violence, evil, and oppression. So I think it's a mistake to just despise religion out of hand: the passion with which you hold that view will preclude you from seeing both sides, which is important if you want to understand anything thoroughly. Also, just a footnote: belief in God is not a requirement for all religions, so there's a bit of cross-talk in your question: you can have religion without a belief in God, you can have a belief in God without religion, you can have spirituality which includes or does not include God and omits religion, etc. The range of possible variations on these elements is pretty wide.
  • Very normal. And even if it wasn't normal I wouldn't worry about it. Whatever works for you, is fine. (Just don't hurt others or push the beliefs on others)
  • Very normal. You hate "man-made" organized religions, dogmas and doctrines. Me too.
  • Normal, or should be, anyway. Religion is philosophy - not God. Organized religion seems to work against God sometimes. It gets in between God and people, IMHO.
  • No, your feelings are very common. In my ministry I would say that I have met hundreds that feel like you do. As I like to say, The Bible is God’s Word – where he explains his purposes to men. Religion is how men explain God.
  • In our modern times, it's not weird. That's the way my dad is...I think. Well, that's the way I am, anyway. A lot of people think that they can believe in a god and not believe that all the religious pageantry in necessary.
  • You say you believe in god, but neglect to say which god. God, the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit? Religion is a word only, anything can be a religion. Have you heard the phrase, "I work religiously"? To be a Christian and believe in God is a way of life, not a religion.
  • well no,i think he has a good infulins on people beacuse of all the meny good things he has done.
  • Many people feel the same way that you do. Is it because of the hypocrisy that you have seen in religion? Religions'involvement in politics, wars, etc? Do you think God approves of these things? Keep searching for a religion that adheres to what the Bible teaches-- not to philosophies and doctrines of men.
  • oh your normal you just know wich side is up, wich is wierd
  • oh your normal you just know wich side is up, wich is wierd
  • That is normal. All humans were created with a natural sense that there is a greater Being. At some point or another.
  • You're normal. More and more people are coming to the same conclusion you are. I think it's actually called being Agnostic, but I'm not sure. In any case you're still a spiritual person and you do have a faith and that's what's important as well as folowing a moral path. I never belived that God cared how you saw or worshipped Him so long as it made you comfortable with Him. After all, what's the point of following a belief system you can't believe in? And that's what a religion is, a belief system.
  • I consider it a level-headed and logical conclusion...probably because I feel the same way. God is not religious, man is - my own personal euphenism for religion is 'superstitious politics.' Religion divides but GOD is all about UNITY and LOVE! peace!
  • Thank you for that question, I felt like a freak as well, when I said "I believe in God, but not in religion" and had to find an answer to my own beliefs. I have a hard time explaining myself to other people. Many do not understand that you can believe in God in "it's" own right without having to have a religious story to use for interpretation, to make it "humanised".
  • No that,s not wierd at all.
  • You might want to consider whether or not your hatred of religion ties you to religion in a certain way.
  • I can identify with this, and I think the answers here tell you that it is a view many people share. For myself, though, I think the word "despise" not very appropriate. There is very little that I despise, and certainly not organised methods of living which give many people consolation, support, and a way of deciding moral questions they may find it too hard tp grapple with alone.
  • Religion is all about rules, so I can understand that. If I can go out on a limb here, I'm going to guess that you've mostly been exposed to Catholic churches etc? In my admittedly limited experience Catholics tend to be much more rule-based than protestants etc. You might just need to find a new church.
  • I'm the same way and I don't think it's weird. I believe that god is really what you make of it, and not just the belief of a religion.
  • Not weird, but common. I was raised to become a 'Christian' but formal religion and ministers completely anger me because they killed my interest in church. God is good. God is loving or He would not have created me, my children, my grandchildren, my 3 great grandchildren...one precious girl born last week. Christianity as apparently defined by Jesus of the New Testament and the many denominations, all religions around the world and cults that pretend to be developed by God, the Creator, are so hypocritical. Look at what they have done to annialate groups of people of the world for centuries..who wants such religions? All of them have ways to judge and condemn people for so many reasons. All of them have created their own hell and described it in their holy books. All of them sin and sin and sin, but say that God forgives them, even when they start and continue wars right up to now for wrong reasons. The Crusades were commanded by the Catholic Popes to kill and destroy all 'non christians' and I consider those as sins of the greatest nature. The 21st century Iraq war was begun by a man, George W. Bush who believes that God only speaks to him ...OH what hypocrisy. God did not tell him to go to war by issuing lie after lie after; if he thinks that God did, he believes that God keeps on forgiving him every day for every sin/wrong in his life. I wonder what kind of forgiveness the warring Popes and George W. Bush will find over on the other side. So, for you to say that you believe in God, but despise 'religion' is probably the best thing in your spirit. at least I think so. Love your neighbor and that is the best way to show your believe in God, one who loves His creation---human beings who are not evil.
  • Not weird at all, I believe in a higher power, also cannot submit myself to believe any religion written by primitive people who compiled books that were written before them in eras long after the prophet or messiah's life with many contradictory passages and historical anachronisms.
  • Normal. I'm the same way.
  • Not at all weird. Believing in God is your way of believing in something, right? If you have nothing to believe in, what would you have to stand for? You have the right to believe in what you want without having to follow what anyone else does, that's your personal decision. It may sound weird, odd, or profane to some, but it's your life, you're choice. You don't have to believe in religion to believe in God. Believe in what you want, however you wat; as long as it doesn't harm anyone. It's your life.
  • whether its normal or weird depends on who you're asking. to me its normal because that's the way i am.
  • I think it's normal and part of the spiritual evolutionary process. Someone once told me to think of religion and spirituality like seeing someone pointing at the moon--the pointer being religion and the moon, spirit. Instead of looking where the hand is pointing--the moon--we become enamored with the pointer. We can become bogged down and enamored with the "rules and regs" and forget what those point toward--spirit. Instead of a path, it becomes the end result to many.
  • I think that you don't know God very well. There may be many religions that deserve to be hated or despised but getting to know God let's you see he is a god of organization and order, the whole universe has order. The heavens have order. Things take place in an ordely fashion. I wouldn't thnk that he would accept a free for all. Every living thing has rules it must follow at every level, like what it can eat, where it can go, etc. Why would he let humans just go wild without any way to get to know him, get to know what he requires? What's expected of us if we care to search for it?
  • Not at all. I too share in your beliefs. I think all religion is the biggest load of crap ever existed.
  • God is Love. People with the help of sin and the creator of sin have made serving God into religions that can be questionable and often times false. So, loving God is normal and despising how worshiping and learning about God has been twisted and often misused or misunderstood is normal also.
  • Same with Jesus. Look at his life and interaction with the religious leaders. He didn't mince words.
  • It is not weird. However, if you believe in God and you acknowledge God as God, meaning, ultimate reality, you have, by definition, practiced religion. Maybe you mean organized religion and ritual. Someone once told me that organized churches and organized religion are oxymorons <g..
  • NO, I feel the same way:) that is why I dont go to any church. I noticed on AB there are a lot of people that try to press there religious belifs on othere including myself and I dont like it. I think they are the weird ones not you. I got into it with this guy last night on AB about religion and I know a lot about diffrent religions and I studded them and went to school about religions and beliefs and I dont aggree with a lot of restrictions and modifications pretaning to the bible you are not suppose to alter it into your own books like the book of mormon that is not correct. Call me weird or strange to buy I am with you on this.
  • I feel the exact same way! My question to you is, is there a specific word that would describe us? I thought it was agnostic, but now I'm not too sure.
  • Most people I know that beleives in god don't beleive in a religion. Yes it's normal.
  • Normal /and/ smart.
  • You would seem to be a diserning person; congratulations! Belief in God doesn't need to have anything to do with an organization ordained by man.
  • As long as you believe everything the Bible has to say, you're fine. But instead of just believing in it do what it says of course! Don't just sit around doing nothing basically. I think you should go to church, so you can pay tithe and worship God and learn more about Jesus. Try assembly of God church. It's just a good time, not a bunch of old hymns and memorized prayers containing thee's and thou's. Those are next to pointless. So a Penecostal/Assemblies of God church is the way to go in my opinion, but you have to decide for yourself of course.
  • Very normal. I think Jesus didn't think much of the religion the Pharisees created. If people call me religious, I tell them I am faithful. Since I am a believer in Jesus Christ, that means being faithful to Him. To have any idea what that means, I have to be willing to listen to Him.
  • You just made my day! Now I know I am not alone. I don't know if others think its weird. But sounds normal to me.
  • A bit of both. Religion is the belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. It is weird because by this definition you are practicing religion. It is normal because you probably see some people practicing religion is very irreligious ways. I am glad that you do not let a few unchristian Christians and the like come between you and God. But do you think God wanted you to worship Him all by yourself? God created us as social creatures. I suggest you look around and find some other believers with whom you can worship. With love and prayers in Christ.
  • Spirituality and belief, I have to come believe, can be very beneficial to human life and bring great meaning to existence. Organized religion, however, is a bane to society. It turns people into sheep and diminishes free will and thought. You're not weird.
  • I think it could be healthy. But the question is what do you believe in. Do you like the values and teachings of some of the religions? Or do you just disregard anything religion-related? I try to learn aobut buddhism and christianity and science and reach a better understanding of god and the universe that way.
  • That was Joseph Smith's position when he was directed to form The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You have that in common with him, and maybe a few other things of which you aren't aware. The retail religion outlets so prevalent today, run by hucksters, are no bargain. Guard your faith and investigate wisely.
  • God despises religion also!
  • i actually agree with you. i definitely believe in God, but i hate it when people say i have religion. its a relationship, not whatever it is they call religion.
  • Very Normal Forget religion and get a relationship
  • I don't think it's weird, either. Many people who despise religion believe in a supreme being. In my opinion, most religions are false in one way or another. They consist of people who believe a certain way, and who are convinced that you should believe that way also. This gives them an opportunity to judge and condemn you, even though most faiths preach against that. Besides, many religions are man-based rather than God-based anyway.
  • How do you define "weird"? Some of the most successful and influential people in history were at one time or another considered weird for various reasons. What they understood/understand is that THEY are the ones who have to live with their decisions, not the people who stand in judgment. You can't define your life dependent upon what Most People think. Forget belief in God. You'd be better off believing Most People will leave you high and dry on "Judgment Day" if their holier-than-thou advice led you in the wrong direction. Let your feelings be the arbiter of choice and let Most People do as they please.
  • You are very normal. Religion has become a highly controversial subject nowadays, and the point of it has become unbelievably obscured. You believe in god, which is your personal choice which is supposed to be the whole point of religion. However, now there are so many rules and stereotypes to religion that people are constantly arguing and fighting which makes religion so confusing and sometimes irritating or even dangerous these days. Religion should be a personal choice, but now that it's such a public matter it seems it causes more trouble than it should.
  • I despise religion as well, I Belive In god and Jesus, but Im not sure what has happened, There are too many stories, one may be true. That or none, but you can't prove what you can't feel or see.
  • I think that is very very normal. Religioun can get sooo screwed up, with priests molesting boys, holy wars, rules that make no sense, and intolerance. God would not represent these things.
  • Not weird at all. I'm the same way. Belief in God does not make you religious. People have killed each other for centuries -- and are doing so now -- all in the name of religions. I like the comment the guy made in "The Flight of the Phoenix." I don't have the exact quote but he said something like religions tear people apart while faith binds them.
  • read some sartre or dostoevsky - be true to yourself but remember be real and be radical so for example if ur gonna be a Christian embrace the Church or if ur gonna be an atheist then stand by it, whichever belief system you choose involves sacrifice and real commitment - it also means working in solidarity with others of different creeds and experiences so please do'nt say you 'despise' otherwise you sound like some ignorant spoilt brat, and remember we all have dogmas and doctrines in our everyday whether we are aware of them or not is the question...
  • So, you believe in something higher, but aren't a fan of organized religion. That's Ok... Religion is faith, and faith is within you, not in a church or anything like that. Faith is about your own beliefs. Where and how you place your faith is up to you. Organized religion is there to guide those who can't guide themselves, or to supply a common place for those who want it. But I know many solitary believers. I myself am not into Organized religion that set rules as far as how you must live to be serviced by the lord your saviour... I live the way I want, but harm none. That's the one rule I live by. Oh, and Karma.
  • God is real but religions are not going to save anyone, faith is what will save people.
  • Many have problems with organized religions. At times, the connection between that that is being worshipped, and social/emotional/just plain ol' life gets lost. People that go to church just to make sure that everyone views them as "pure," people that use church as a "give up sins" while they continuously perform these acts again and again with no remorse. What's important is your connection with God. You don't have to be in a church house to know Him.
  • Nope, Its agnostic ^,^. As long as your not like killing people from the religions that you despise, I don't think its weird at all.
  • I think that is awesome. I do not believe in G-d only for personal reason but I do not look down on people who do. I love studying other religions but one thing I have notice, must people don't follow thir religion correctly. Just because you despise religion, doesn't mean you despise G-d. This just means you can believe in G-d without having a community tell you what to do and how to do it. Not weird at all.
  • It's not weird at all I feel the exact same way. Organized religion is a bunch of crap but I'm very spiritual.
  • I would wonder what God it is that you believe in and how you are informed of those beliefs...
  • No, I feel the same way. "Religion" is a SET DOGMA created by MAN containing all his flaws. Faith in a Supreme Being is different. It is an open path, being led by God to your own personal freedom. Religion dictates the path in accordance to those that created the rules, as THEY see it.
  • You sound pretty normal to me, and I think God would think so too. Perhaps what you despise more than religion is what the definition of religion has become. There are so many negative connotations associated with that word because of wars and acts of evil committed in the name of religion. Humankind has perverted the meaning of religion over the centuries. A passage in the Bible that helps me understand what religion was probably meant to be comes from the New Testament book of James: "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." I can believe in that definition of religion and the God who defined it. Maybe the problem is that most of us don't seem to live it.
  • Just plain normal. I believe in God, and I hate religion.
  • I really don't think it's weird. i feel like that too. but I feel a bit wrong because my parenst are believers and they go to church n everything but i feel like the rituals are really unnecessary.
  • Many of the founding fathers of the United States felt the same way you do.
  • I too believe in a higher power, but despise organized religion as well. I fee ya!
  • Formal religion kills but relationship with the Lord brings life everlasting! Religion is boring, but God is very real and exciting!
  • Depends on what you say religion is. I do not approve of forcing people to believe in something or excluding others because they do not believe the same things I do. My "religion" is Christ Jesus, and all I'm going to abide by is him!
  • normal for me..I really don't think I like any big corporations
  • That's natural for someone who is getting near to understanding the difference between God and religion. First, it says in the bible, that there is a GOD, and this GOD put his son in harms way for our salvation. In turn, for our salvation we are required to believe in GOD, and most importantly, praise God, as well as pray to him. It says in the bible that their is "Only one true Religion", the problem is people want to name the religion. Thus you have false religion. So in close, I would say your spiritual awareness enables you to recognize the flaws in Religion itself and enhances your understanding of what God wants from you.
  • Join the "Club"!!! U will find that the closer U get to God through Bible Doctrine, the Further U get from Organized Religion. Religion is a Tool of Satan as a "Replacement / Imitation / Forgery" for a Personal Relationship with our Creator. Once a person accepts Christ there are given to them all that is needed to carry out their "Office" as a "Member of the Royal Priesthood of God". Here is the Doctrine on it. Enjoy! John DOCTRINE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY OF GOD A. The Basis for the Royal Family of God. 1. A royal family is the family of a king, here our Lord. 2. Jesus Christ is divine royalty as God. a. He is a sovereign king as part of the Trinity, possessing all the attributes of divine essence. b. As the manifest person of the Trinity, our Lord wears the crown of divine royalty. He is the only person of the Trinity ever seen, as taught in Jn 1:18, 6:46; 1 Tim 6:16; 1 Jn 4:12. c. His royal title is "Son of God." The members of His royal family are God the Father and God the Holy Spirit with whom he has eternal and infinite coexistence. 3. Because of the virgin birth, our Lord was born Jewish royalty. a. The virgin birth introduced the humanity of Christ into the world, at which point Jesus Christ became Jewish royalty. b. He is descended from lines of two of the sons of David by Bathsheba. The line of royal descent from Solomon ends with Joseph (not the real father of our Lord), listed in Matthew. The line of royal descent from Nathan, given in Luke, comes down to Mary, our Lord's real mother. c. His royal title is "Son of David," and His royal family is the dynasty of David. As Jewish royalty, our Lord fulfills the Davidic covenant at the Second Advent. 4. As a result of our Lord's resurrection, ascension and session in Hypostatic Union, our Lord received His third royal patent. By virtue of His strategic victory in the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union, our Lord received His battlefield royalty as the strategic victor in the angelic conflict. a. By the humanity of Christ remaining inside the prototype divine dynasphere, He remained impeccable, which qualified Him to go to the cross and be judged for our sins. b. As a result of His saving work on the cross, our Lord became the winner in the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union. c. His victory was confirmed by His resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of the Father, where He received His third royal patent: "King of kings, Lord of lords, the Bright Morning Star." The "many crowns" of Rev 19:12 refers to this third warrant. Rev 19:16, "He has a royal title written on His robe, `King of kings and Lord of lords.'" d. When our Lord received His third royal patent, He had no royal family to accompany it. A third royal family therefore had to be formed. Therefore, God the Father interrupted the dispensation of Israel and inserted the Church Age for the calling out (formation, election) of a royal family to accompany our Lord's third royal title. e. The mechanics for the formation of this royal family is the baptism of the Spirit, begun on the Day of Pentecost, which enters all believers of the Church Age into union with Christ. f. Some results of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the new spiritual species for the use of maximum divine power available, the creation of a royal family to complement our Lord's strategic victory, and the provision of equal privilege in that royal family for the execution of the protocol plan of God. g. When the royal family is completed, it will be resurrected, as per the Rapture of the Church. B. Definition and Description of the Royal Family of God. 1. The royal family of God is defined as every Church Age believer, regardless of his antecedence, background, race, classification, etc. All distinctions are erased at the point of salvation and reconciliation. 2. Whatever we were before, we are now royal family of God. This is a permanent royalty that will last forever. Our royalty is eternal and secure since it is related to our regeneration. This means all Church Age believers are in full time royal service for Christ as royal priests and royal ambassadors. 3. Under the computer assets of election and predestination, every member of the royal family of God has equal privilege and equal opportunity for the execution of God's plan, will, and purpose for his life. a. Under election, every believer has the equal privilege of his royal priesthood, and the equal opportunity of logistical grace support. b. Under predestination, every believer has the equal privilege in Christ by means of the baptism of the Spirit, and equal opportunity from life inside the divine dynasphere. 4. There are seven results of the baptism of the Spirit. a. Extension of the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union into the Church Age. b. Creation of a new spiritual species to use divine power. c. Election of the royal family of God. d. Positional sanctification. e. Every believer is the heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ. f. Eternal security. g. Equal privilege under predestination. 5. The nomenclature for the royal family of God is: a. "Church," emphasizing the function of the royal family of God during this dispensation. b. "Body of Christ," emphasizing the utilization of the same divine omnipotence used to sustain the humanity of Christ during the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union. c. "Bride of Christ," emphasizing the royal family of God after resurrection. d. "Temple," Eph 1:20. 6. The time of the royal family of God is the Church Age, which is the dispensation of intercalation, inserting a historical period for these reasons. a. The extension of the great power experiment of the Hypostatic Union. b. The necessity for the formation of a royal family of God to complement our Lord's third royal patent. c. To provide a rebuttal argument against Satan in the historic appeal trial of the angelic conflict. d. To provide an invisible impact on human history, unique to the Church Age. As goes the Church Age believer, so goes human history; this phenomenon is true only during the Church Age. 7. The Church Age is the only dispensation having both a royal family of God and a new spiritual species. 8. The plan for the royal family of God is not the ritual plan of the dispensation of Israel. That has been superseded by the protocol plan of God which calls for maximum utilization of divine power by the royal family of God. a. The protocol plan of God is related to an unprecedented provision in human history: the indwelling of all three members of the Trinity, making our bodies a temple. b. The protocol plan of God provides the believer with two royal commissions. (1) The royal priesthood by which we represent ourselves before God. (2) The royal ambassadorship by which we represent God to all mankind. c. The protocol plan of God has three categories of spiritual adulthood. (1) Spiritual self-esteem at gate #5 of the divine dynasphere. (2) Spiritual autonomy at gate #6 of the divine dynasphere. (3) Spiritual maturity at gate #8 of the divine dynasphere. d. The protocol plan of God has three unique systems of suffering for blessing that have never existed before. The Church Age believer can actually suffer for blessing in spiritual adulthood, having happiness and being able to attach full meaning to that suffering. (1) Providential preventative suffering for spiritual self- esteem. (2) Momentum testing for spiritual autonomy. (3) Evidence testing for spiritual maturity. e. The protocol plan of God has ten unique problem solving devices: rebound, filling of the Holy Spirit, faith-rest drill, grace orientation, doctrinal orientation, personal love for God, impersonal love for all mankind, +H or sharing the happiness of God, a personal sense of destiny, and occupation with Christ. 9. Both winners and losers as believers have eternal security. 10. The assets of the royal family of God are contained in our portfolio of invisible assets which God the Father prepared for each of us in eternity past. These assets include escrow blessings for time and eternity, and many more. 11. The objectives (to glorify God) of the royal family of God: a. To advance to gate #8, spiritual maturity, inside the divine dynasphere. b. To receive the conveyance of escrow blessings for time. c. To pass evidence testing. d. To receive the conveyance of our escrow blessings for the eternal state. e. All these are summed up in "to glorify God." All the other priorities in your life are really not important. 12. The Scriptural declaration of our royalty is found in 1 Pet 2:9, "But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the virtues of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." C. The Setting of the Royal Family. 1. The First Advent of Christ occurred in the dispensation of Israel. This includes Christ's death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and session. 2. Ten days after the session, the Age of Israel was interrupted in order to insert a new dispensation into history for the purpose of calling out a royal family. 3. Jesus Christ was royalty by birth, by deity, and by His spiritual victory on the Cross. 4. The spiritual royalty of Christ occurred as a result of His spiritual victory over Satan on the cross and His acceptance by God the Father at the session. 5. Being seated at the right hand of the Father, he has a new title, "King of kings, and Lord of lords." Therefore, as the God-man, He is a new type of royalty: superior, permanent and spiritual royalty. Thus He must have a royal family to share His reign. 6. The Age of Israel had to be interrupted in order to introduce a dispensation in which the specific objective is to form a royal family for Christ. "The Church" and "the body of Christ" are synonyms for the royal family. D. The Documentation for the Royal Family. Documentation is found in the entire books of Ephesians, Hebrews, Romans, and Colossians. 1. Ephesians emphasizes the position of the royal family forever. 2. Hebrews emphasizes the priesthood of the royal family forever. 3. Romans emphasizes the objectives of the royal family. 4. Colossians emphasizes the lifestyle of the royal family. E. The Formation of the Royal Family. 1. The royal family is formed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation. 2. This is the work of God the Holy Spirit which began at Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost to the eleven disciples and about 200 others. The Holy Spirit entered these believers into union with Christ. 3. Everyone celebrated by using some temporary spiritual gift such as healing, miracles, or tongues. But these gifts all ended with the completion of the Canon. 4. At salvation, the Holy Spirit enters us into union with Christ which makes us royal family. The baptism of the Spirit is identification with Christ as royalty, Jn 14:20; Acts 1:5, 2:3, 11:15-17; 1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:26-28; Col 2:12. 5. The result of the baptism of the Spirit is positional truth. Positional truth means the believer is positionally with Christ at the right hand of the Father. We are accepted positionally as royalty just as Christ is accepted in fact as royalty. We share all that Christ is and has as royalty in union with Him. 6. Positional truth belongs to all believers regardless of their spiritual status or maturity level. All Church Age believers are royalty no matter how evil or sinful they might be. 7. Because the baptism of the Spirit is not an experience, our royal status is not seen or felt in any experiential way. It only becomes manifest to others when we reach spiritual maturity and manifest the character of Christ. 8. Because the baptism of the Spirit is a sovereign work of God, our royalty is not progressive. We cannot improve it by anything we do. Therefore our royalty is not related to our human ability, our good deeds, or any other human approbation system or works. 9. Since God is eternal, all that He does is eternal in nature. And since positional truth or the baptism of the Spirit is a work of God, it is also eternal in nature. Therefore since we become royalty by the work of God, our royalty is eternal in nature. There is nothing we can say or do to become "non-royalty." 10. Realization of our royal status can only occur through the daily metabolization of doctrine. F. The Royal Family Relationship. 1. The spiritual royalty of Jesus Christ is unique. He is spiritual royalty at the right hand of God. 2. As the victor of the angelic conflict, Jesus Christ in Hypostatic Union was alone at the right hand of the Father. Therefore the Father interrupted the Jewish Age to insert the Church Age, the dispensation of the calling out of the royal family for Christ. 3. The royal family on earth is called "the body of Christ" and in heaven is called the "bride of Christ." 4. After the Rapture of the Church, the royal family is prepared in heaven as the bride during the Tribulation, and then returns with Christ at the Second Advent as His bride. 5. The Church Age will only last as long as it takes to complete the royal family. G. The Escutcheon of the Royal Family: the Indwelling of the Spirit. 1. The Spirit indwells us as a sign of royalty, 1 Cor 6:19-20. 2. The Holy Spirit also indwells the believer's body (so that we can never be demon possessed) to provide a temple for the indwelling of Christ. 3. When we sin, we are still indwelt with the Spirit. Therefore we are still royal family even though out of fellowship. 4. As long as you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit you are royalty. You are indwelt forever, therefore are royalty forever. H. The Security of the Royal Family. 1. Our security as royalty is based on the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit. We are sealed by God Holy Spirit at salvation. This is a guarantee of our status as members of the royal family of God forever. 2. Our security is also based the character of God. God is perfect. His plan is perfect. There is no sin or evil we can commit that is greater than the grace of God. 3. God the Holy Spirit has put His seal on us. We are "sealed until the day of redemption," i.e., the Rapture. I. The Objective of the Royal Family on Earth. 1. The first objective of the believer is to take in doctrine on a consistent basis until he begins to have a personal love for God. This develops spiritual self-esteem. 2. Next, the believer must continue to grow spiritually by the intake of doctrine until he has developed spiritual autonomy, the virtue of impersonal love toward other members of the human race. 3. Then he must pass the momentum tests: people testing, thought testing, system testing and disaster testing. 4. Finally he must reach spiritual maturity, where he is blessed by undergoing evidence testing, thus becoming a witness against Satan. 5. At maturity, we receive our blessings which were deposited in escrow in Christ in eternity past (Eph 1:3-14). These blessings glorify God to the maximum. Then God may test us concerning these blessings as evidence against Satan. This is the objective of the royal family while on earth. J. The Royal Family in Eternity. 1. After the Rapture, every member of the royal family will possess a resurrection body exactly like our Lord's. It will be minus the old sin nature, human good, and evil. 2. Then the royal family will be evaluated at the Judgment Seat of Christ with regard to their attitude toward Bible doctrine and their advance to maturity. Members of the royal family who reach maturity will have great rewards for all eternity and will be blessed to a greater extent than those believers who failed in time. These eternal rewards will glorify God for all eternity. There is no equality in heaven. 3. Next the royal family will return with Christ at the Second Advent to observe His victory against Satan and all the fallen angels in the Armageddon campaign. 4. Finally the mature believers of the royal family will rule with Christ during His millennial reign and then throughout all eternity. 
  • I feel it is normal, I hope, because I feel the same way. Once your belief turns into knowledge, then your perceptions start to change. It is normal to not feel part of the "clique" anymore, because your beliefs have now became very personal and unique.
  • probably more normal that most people would think.
  • Everyone hates organized religion but enjoys thinking of themselves as spiritual. Do you believe in a specific God? Once you commit to a religion, you have to somehow incorporate the politics into your social life as well. That's the problem I have. Jesus loved everyone (hookers & tax collector) as higher than himself. Not a servant to the powers that be, but the people. Can't go wrong imitating a being like that.
  • I feel kinda the same way. I dont necessarily despise religion as it helps some people find god and lead happier lives... I just feel that some religions are quite hypocritical.
  • Its normal. Religion is not belife in god. Religion is a group that acts through a head. Such as the Caltholic Church.
  • Perhaps you believe in god but do not like the man made rules when you join a church.
  • i feel the same so it's not weird. I'm not weird
  • Totally normal. You believe in the written word of the bible and worship at home - but all of the social reforms and customs make some people uncomfortable. I feel the same way.
  • Me too! i thought that was wierd because everyone around me is either a religion or Atheist. Im not keen on religion at all but still believe in God, when you believe in God but not religion you are called Thiest..!
  • That is normal. There are more people these days that choose to believe in God but find the recoganized methods of worship too corrupt, chaotic, out-moded or irrelevant.
  • I think it is normal. I believe christianity is a way of life, not a religion.
  • That's called Islam. That was how Abraham found GOD. That is a blessing. The west idea of religon is not of GOD.
  • One way of defining religion is 'to worship the Lord without the reality of the Lord Himself'. Christ is versus religion. Christ needs the church which in essence is the Body of Christ to be His expression and to fulfill His economy (1 Tim. 1:4). In Matthew, there's the example spoken by the Lord concerning the old wineskin and the new wine. Religion comes from man and man's way. In the entire Bible, what is of God is uniquely of God and for His purpose. It is through the degradation brought in by Satan that religion grew to gradually replace Christ in the church. Religion and denominations are all outside of Christ and have the origin from the enemy. There is only one church in the whole universe and the church is expressed in different localities. It is perfectly normal that we despise religion if we are truly a Christian bcoz religion is versus Christ and our spirit which is fully mingled with Christ will reflect how the Lord feels when it comes to religion that replaces Him caused by man.
  • IF TWO persons were arguing over which is the true religion, and asked you to sit as ‘judge’ to determine who was right, would you want to do so? if so Those who are sincerely searching for truth generally recognize that there must be a God and that he reasonably would reveal his will and offer answers about why we are here, what life means and what the future holds for us. A religion that teaches lies cannot be true. The greatest prophet that ever walked on earth stated: “God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.”—John 4:24Obviously it would be impossible to study all the thousands of religions inside and outside Christendom before making a choice. However, if—as Jesus said—we use truth and fruitage as touchstones, it is possible to identify true religion.
  • I believe that is normal. In this day nad age there is so much hypocracy in religions. Jesus says not to be part of the world, yet religious leaders, bless or support wars. We are supposed to love one another yet they kill each other. Most if not all of the wars started because of religion. Most religions teach lies, or how the bible puts it "tickles their ears" just for a big membership! "You will know the truth and The truth will set you free"
  • i don't blame you for hating religion. in many ways religion has confused people instead of helping them draw close to God. religion has caused great division in mankind. the bible itself tells us that the day will come when religion will be wiped off the face of the earth. it has been the cause of most wars. the most reprehensible part of religion has been the one that labels itself as christian. in the name of God it has shed innocent blood now for centuries. it has claimed lands in the name of God, and at the same time taken away the right to live in peace of many there before them. how hypocritical. it has taught and spread teachings and doctrines that have contradicted the bible. its teachers have set a terrible example for its pupils. they teach love in one breathe and in another spew out hatred. it contradicts teachings of the bible that are meant to guide us and define our lives in accordance with God's righteous standards. look at the morality of many christians, who on a regular basis attend their churches. how many are really theives, gamblers, fornicators, adulterers, drunks, drug addicts, child molesters, the list goes on and on. yet they are welcomed in their places of worship. all this religion has tolerated and has decided to call it "good" now. religion has a heavy price to pay, now very soon. her sins have reached all the way to the heavens, meaning her hour is up. she has been a place where demons dwell. now she will have to own up for all the lies and deceptions she has led mankind into. never think God has approved of this. do not blame also the one true religion. sad because of the rest this one true religion is ignored and is hard for many to distinguish. for more information go to www.watchtower.org
  • That is very normal, I think. Look up Deism, it may be you.

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