Quote Originally Posted by dickiedawg View Post
This is way off topic, but I'm very interested in what you've said here.
I've heard people mention things to this end, and it breaks my heart on a couple of levels.
1. It's a crying shame that Christianity in general has this bad reputation of being disingenuous and hypocritical, to the point that would-be church members are turned away.
2. Reading your Bible and doing your best to follow the 10 commandments, despite your good intentions, won't save you. The only thing that will is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Since you appear to believe in God and the Bible, that saddens me even more than some in this thread who apparently have no such belief.

I don't say any of this to be judgmental. Just expressing my beliefs since it was brought up.
It saddens me too. To be clear, I have a very close relationship with Jesus; I find reading the Bible and applying the concepts and tales to what's happening in my life as a great tactic to strengthening that relationship. When I go to church, I see everyone trying to outdo everyone else.

And not to be critical to you or others that have made similar remarks, I would hesitate to encourage people to believe that going to church is the only way to achieve a relationship with God. It wasn't until I changed my approach that I finally was able to have that relationship that I was unable to achieve through church. Just how it works for me; not right or wrong.

I would also be hesitant to critique someones ability to go to heaven or be saved. Im not sure telling people that reading the Bible and following the 10 commandments won't get you to heaven. Other folks "relationship with God" may occur through ways that are unlike yours. This is a minor example of why I choose not to go to church.