The Religious Mind

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

H. Richard

Well-Known Member
Sep 16, 2015
2,345
852
113
Southeast USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
ALL SCRIPTURES ARE FROM THE NKJV of the Bible.

When the scripture said to "not forsake the assembling ourselves together," why do most assume it is in the formal religious services in a church building?

Heb 10:25
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Why can't it be referring to Sunday school classes, Bible study classes, Bible study in the homes, or even home churches? It is a fact that the NT scriptures do not tell us what we are to do when we gather together except as written in the scripture above (exhorting one another) and to worship God. But I doubt very seriously that we are to worship God by the things we do physically (external). I think we are to worship God in our hearts (inside).

Why do some get the idea that God is somewhere in the ceiling of the Church building or some of the artifacts when, in fact, He is in the hearts of those that love Him?

In most religions it is a generally accepted practice that a person must stand up at times in order to worship God, such as when singing, having a prayer, giving a benediction, or reciting a religious creed? ---- What difference does it make to God?

I say this because, as a young man, while in Church, I heard someone say a man in the Church was being disrespectful because he did not stand up during the things mentioned above and was a bad example to the children. The man did not have any seeable handicap. -- I found out, later, that the man suffered from bad knees and was in constant pain from them. Why, because of the religious idea of another, was this man being denigrated and judged as being disrespectful?

I know of a boy, about 8 years old, who was placed in a Christian School. The school had some made up rules that they expected to be followed. One such rule was that a boy's hair could not be over the boy's ears. This boy brought a note home from his teacher that told his parents to have his hair cut. Unfortunately it was after that same teacher had made an example of him by making him sit in a chair at the front of the class, looking out at the other students. Since this boy could not drive a car and certainly did not have an income of money to pay for a haircut, why was he treated in that way? What influence did it have on a child this young? It had this affect; he would always have a problem with authority figures for the rest of his life. The parents of this young boy removed, both the boy and his sister, from that school and placed them in public schools.

When this same boy was about 15 he was asked to take up the collection during the Church service. He was wearing blue jeans and a tee shirt. As he was standing in the aisle he heard, and so did others, a woman say, "at least he could wear decent cloths while taking up the offering." After this the boy never came into the Church service again. We
would see him sitting in his parent's car waiting for them. I couldn't blame him.

Later, at a Wednesday night Bible Study Class, this same boy was "told" by the preacher to take out the trash. He told the preacher, "even my dad says please." Needless to say he did not take out the trash.

Several years ago my wife, and I, went on a Methodist retreat in South Georgia for a weekend in August. In our group was a man named John. In my opinion there is not a better child of God than John. John wore a hat to keep his bald head from getting sunburned.

On the first morning John took his family (wife, son (8), and daughter (6)) to the building that was used to feed the people. This building had an all glass ceiling and was open on three sides so John wore his hat. -- John and his wife went through the cafeteria food line in front of us selecting the food for all four of them, which was difficult to do with just four hands. John and his wife were busy finding a place to sit and making sure the children had what they needed when my wife and I sat down.

John and his wife were still on their feet doing these things when suddenly my wife and I noticed that someone, who was obviously in charge since he had a microphone, was talking about a man that was being disrespectful to God because he was wearing a hat in the "house of God." Not only did he keep it up, he came over to John and demanded (over the microphone) that he remove his hat and apologize. John was so busy trying to take care of his family that he did not realize that he was being singled out as being disrespectful until the man was in his face.

I have seen John remove his hat WHEN he sat down to eat but after what the religious man had done he refused to do so. John told his family, and my wife and I, he was not going to be able to eat with them and us and would go out and find another place to eat. John was followed out by his wife and children and he and his family never went to that place again. It was then that I realized that men with religious minds are not really children of God. This man with the microphone seemed to think the building was more important than the people in it.

As I see it, this man, with the microphone, was so full of his religiosity that he did not care what he was doing to John and his family in front of all his friends that had come with him. He was judging John by what was in his own religious mind and it is clear to me that he was tearing down my friend in order to elevate him-self, which is a form of boasting. There is not one place in the NT scriptures that tell us to remove hats in a place set aside for eating. Who made this man, who can only see the outside, John's Judge? Who gave him, or any others, the right to impose made up rules on the children of God? The scriptures tell us to " exhort one another" not tear down one another. But it seems that men want to make up rules that they want others to submit to. The actions of the man with the microphone were determined by his religious mind.

Rom 14:4-8
4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

James 4:11-12
11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

As for religion let me quote Paul,

Phil 3:5-10
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Paul said he was raised up in the Jewish religion yet he counted it all as rubbish that he might gain Christ. Not a religion ""about"" Christ, but Christ Himself, in his heart. I completely understand what Paul meant. True Christianity is not in religion; it is in the
hearts of the Children of God. Jesus did not die on the cross so that man could have a relationship with religion. He came so that sinful people could be justified by what He did on the cross and because of it have a relationship with Him in their hearts.

God save us from those with religious minds!
 

justbyfaith

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2018
21,740
4,114
113
51
San Pedro
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
While I do not approve of the way that the preacher singled John out, I believe that there is biblical reasoning behind the concept that men ought not to wear hats, period.

In 1 Corinthians 11, it declares that if a man prays or prophesies having his head covered, he dishonours his head. And just previous to that it says that the head of every man is Christ. Therefore, if a man prays or prophesies with his head covered, he dishonours Christ.

And in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 we are told to pray without ceasing (to be in constant communion with the Lord).

So then, I am always praying; and therefore if I wear a hat to cover my head I am dishonouring the Lord.

There are those who would say that this is a peripheral issue; however in 1 Corinthians 11 the context speaks of the fact that this practice is because of the angels. What this means is that holy angels are stumbled by discrepancies in our propriety in worship: if a man prays or prophesies with his head covered; or if a woman prays or prophesies with her head uncovered: angels will be stumbled by the behaviour for specific reason.

It seems to be a thing that is least important; but in Luke 16:10 it is written that whosoever will be faithful in that which is least will be faithful in the greater things: and whoever is unjust in that which is least will be unfaithful in greater things.

So then, it is important.

I do not know that I would go to the extent of rebuking publicly someone who is ignorant of these truths; unless I had already gone to them privately and consulted with them about it. If someone is willfully rebellious concerning such a thing, then it is clear that they do not care if they are dishonouring Christ concerning this matter. And that they also do not care if they are stumbling holy angels by their behaviour.

It should be clear that women are to have long hair and men, short; and that this is the way that holy angels generally tell the difference between men and women (people too; except in more recent days wherein one must needs inspect the crotch in order to know the gender of a person).

Disrespect of the Lord is an issue in the church that is important.

If a person has bad knees and can stand to walk and go places, then they can stand for the reading of God's word, in honour of people like William Tyndale who were burned at the stake so that we could have easy access to Bibles today. See Psalms 1:5. I sometimes do sit on purpose when others are standing as a confession of sin when my heart has not been right with the Lord.

You can accuse me of having a "religious spirit" if you like; that does not bother me.

From my perspective, I am being faithful in that which is least; and this should be evidence to the reader that I will also be faithful in that which appears to be more important.
 

Willie T

Heaven Sent
Staff member
Sep 14, 2017
5,869
7,426
113
St. Petersburg Florida
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
ALL SCRIPTURES ARE FROM THE NKJV of the Bible.

When the scripture said to "not forsake the assembling ourselves together," why do most assume it is in the formal religious services in a church building?

Heb 10:25
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Why can't it be referring to Sunday school classes, Bible study classes, Bible study in the homes, or even home churches? It is a fact that the NT scriptures do not tell us what we are to do when we gather together except as written in the scripture above (exhorting one another) and to worship God. But I doubt very seriously that we are to worship God by the things we do physically (external). I think we are to worship God in our hearts (inside).

Why do some get the idea that God is somewhere in the ceiling of the Church building or some of the artifacts when, in fact, He is in the hearts of those that love Him?

In most religions it is a generally accepted practice that a person must stand up at times in order to worship God, such as when singing, having a prayer, giving a benediction, or reciting a religious creed? ---- What difference does it make to God?

I say this because, as a young man, while in Church, I heard someone say a man in the Church was being disrespectful because he did not stand up during the things mentioned above and was a bad example to the children. The man did not have any seeable handicap. -- I found out, later, that the man suffered from bad knees and was in constant pain from them. Why, because of the religious idea of another, was this man being denigrated and judged as being disrespectful?

I know of a boy, about 8 years old, who was placed in a Christian School. The school had some made up rules that they expected to be followed. One such rule was that a boy's hair could not be over the boy's ears. This boy brought a note home from his teacher that told his parents to have his hair cut. Unfortunately it was after that same teacher had made an example of him by making him sit in a chair at the front of the class, looking out at the other students. Since this boy could not drive a car and certainly did not have an income of money to pay for a haircut, why was he treated in that way? What influence did it have on a child this young? It had this affect; he would always have a problem with authority figures for the rest of his life. The parents of this young boy removed, both the boy and his sister, from that school and placed them in public schools.

When this same boy was about 15 he was asked to take up the collection during the Church service. He was wearing blue jeans and a tee shirt. As he was standing in the aisle he heard, and so did others, a woman say, "at least he could wear decent cloths while taking up the offering." After this the boy never came into the Church service again. We
would see him sitting in his parent's car waiting for them. I couldn't blame him.

Later, at a Wednesday night Bible Study Class, this same boy was "told" by the preacher to take out the trash. He told the preacher, "even my dad says please." Needless to say he did not take out the trash.

Several years ago my wife, and I, went on a Methodist retreat in South Georgia for a weekend in August. In our group was a man named John. In my opinion there is not a better child of God than John. John wore a hat to keep his bald head from getting sunburned.

On the first morning John took his family (wife, son (8), and daughter (6)) to the building that was used to feed the people. This building had an all glass ceiling and was open on three sides so John wore his hat. -- John and his wife went through the cafeteria food line in front of us selecting the food for all four of them, which was difficult to do with just four hands. John and his wife were busy finding a place to sit and making sure the children had what they needed when my wife and I sat down.

John and his wife were still on their feet doing these things when suddenly my wife and I noticed that someone, who was obviously in charge since he had a microphone, was talking about a man that was being disrespectful to God because he was wearing a hat in the "house of God." Not only did he keep it up, he came over to John and demanded (over the microphone) that he remove his hat and apologize. John was so busy trying to take care of his family that he did not realize that he was being singled out as being disrespectful until the man was in his face.

I have seen John remove his hat WHEN he sat down to eat but after what the religious man had done he refused to do so. John told his family, and my wife and I, he was not going to be able to eat with them and us and would go out and find another place to eat. John was followed out by his wife and children and he and his family never went to that place again. It was then that I realized that men with religious minds are not really children of God. This man with the microphone seemed to think the building was more important than the people in it.

As I see it, this man, with the microphone, was so full of his religiosity that he did not care what he was doing to John and his family in front of all his friends that had come with him. He was judging John by what was in his own religious mind and it is clear to me that he was tearing down my friend in order to elevate him-self, which is a form of boasting. There is not one place in the NT scriptures that tell us to remove hats in a place set aside for eating. Who made this man, who can only see the outside, John's Judge? Who gave him, or any others, the right to impose made up rules on the children of God? The scriptures tell us to " exhort one another" not tear down one another. But it seems that men want to make up rules that they want others to submit to. The actions of the man with the microphone were determined by his religious mind.

Rom 14:4-8
4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.
6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

James 4:11-12
11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

As for religion let me quote Paul,

Phil 3:5-10
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Paul said he was raised up in the Jewish religion yet he counted it all as rubbish that he might gain Christ. Not a religion ""about"" Christ, but Christ Himself, in his heart. I completely understand what Paul meant. True Christianity is not in religion; it is in the
hearts of the Children of God. Jesus did not die on the cross so that man could have a relationship with religion. He came so that sinful people could be justified by what He did on the cross and because of it have a relationship with Him in their hearts.

God save us from those with religious minds!
I have to say I wondered why John wasn't also followed out by you and your wife.
 

historyb

Well-Known Member
Mar 10, 2011
2,990
2,701
113
52
in a house
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I am proud to be in the Christian Religion, you who don't want religion are not following Christianity but what you want to follow
 

Ezra

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2018
2,564
1,314
113
62
Missouri
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
When the scripture said to "not forsake the assembling ourselves together," why do most assume it is in the formal religious services in a church building?
the building is only a place of worship its NOT A RELIGIOUS service . all through the Bible they assembled themselves. a good home church is more than just a place to go. it is a sanctuary a hospital a place of refuge .it's not museum .when a person enters the building the hat should come off. the pastor had no business acting saying what did .that was flesh. i am like willie not religious----- forgiven . i heard wise old pastor say..if your looking for the perfect church and find it. it won't be very long your there . the orderis JESUS FAMILY CHURCH and yes the 3 can be combined
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nancy

Ezra

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2018
2,564
1,314
113
62
Missouri
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
It should be clear that women are to have long hair and men, short; and that this is the way that holy angels generally tell the difference between men and women (people too; except in more recent days wherein one must needs inspect the crotch in order to know the gender of a person).
disagree my wife has shorthair and she is just saved the lady who has longhair {It should be clear that women are to have long hair and men, short;} what if a man has long hair and tattoos is he saved? btw i do wear short hair not long ..i cant stand my hair very long. se God looks at the heart ..that is not saying a person should look shabby .wear what you have . if jeans with holes is all you got wear it
 

justbyfaith

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2018
21,740
4,114
113
51
San Pedro
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
disagree my wife has shorthair and she is just saved the lady who has longhair {It should be clear that women are to have long hair and men, short;} what if a man has long hair and tattoos is he saved? btw i do wear short hair not long ..i cant stand my hair very long. se God looks at the heart ..that is not saying a person should look shabby .wear what you have . if jeans with holes is all you got wear it
Of course it is possible that women with short hair, and men with long hair, are saved...

Just not sanctified to the extent that they can be, in the Lord.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Enoch111

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Apr 30, 2018
16,761
25,324
113
Buffalo, Ny
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I can't even believe I just read that. :eek:

I am a bit perplexed at that statement as well Willie. It's a heart attitude not our clothes or hair! So many want to put shackles right back on us after Jesus said if we are free in Him then we are free indeed. Reverence is an attitude. Can't tell you how many times I would see some with their "Sunday best" on talking and texting on their phones, coming in with fancy coffee drinks and such...and then you have a lone person in jeans and a t shirt sitting quietly, perhaps praying, who knows. Pride is rampant in the mainline Church's and it hurts many needlessly.
 

justbyfaith

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2018
21,740
4,114
113
51
San Pedro
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
It's a heart attitude not our clothes or hair!
Clothes and hair can reflect the attitude of the heart.

Because God speaks on the issue of hair in 1 Corinthians 11; and on the issue of clothing in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:3-4.

It is therefore a matter of obedience; if Jesus is truly your Lord, you will obey Him on every issue.

Luke 16:10 applies. If you are faithful in that which is least, you will be faithful in that which is greater. And if you are unjust in that which is least, you will be unfaithful in that which is greater.

On the other hand, the scribes and Pharisees strained out a gnat and swallowed a camel. They were meticulously obedient when it came to the tithing of their herbs; but when it came to the weightier matters of the law (justice, and mercy, and faith) they were severely lacking. However, Jesus said that these they should have done without leaving the other things undone (in other words, they should still not neglect to do that which is least; in that case tithing).

Now I have seen women who came to the Lord and all the clothing they had was skimpy. But there was something holy about them. And I believe that the Lord sanctified them later as they realized that the clothing they wore could be a stumbling block to their brother. And I know women who are yet unaware of what it says in 1 Corinthians 11 about hair; who continue to have short hair. I don't hassle with them. Sanctification is a process for many. I believe and know that if or when they come across the scripture that addresses the issue, they will be obedient to that scripture if they love the Lord. Or, really, their husbands. Because the 1 Corinthians 11 passage teaches that if they continue to wear their hair short, they are dishonouring their husbands (not necessarily the Lord). But if a man wears his hair long, he is dishonouring the Lord according to the passage; and it is also a shame to him.
 

justbyfaith

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2018
21,740
4,114
113
51
San Pedro
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
wrong wrong wrong sanctification has nothing to do with a hair cut

out there in left field

I guess you haven't read the same scriptures that I have. I have referenced scripture in the posts above; all you have to do is read the passages.

Harden your heart if you so choose.

Because it appears that your response is purely emotional; very likely based on the fact that it speaks to something that is specific in your own life.
 

Ezra

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2018
2,564
1,314
113
62
Missouri
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Sanctification is a process for many.
for ALL 3 STEPS 1st step set apart placed in the body when saved. 2nd progressive growth which is never ending W.I.P LAST ultimate we made it home
 

justbyfaith

Well-Known Member
Jun 28, 2018
21,740
4,114
113
51
San Pedro
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Ask yourself the question, if it is true that a haircut shows forth sanctification, would I forsake faith in Christ because of it?

I know that I wouldn't...it is not that important of an issue to me.

But if anyone would forsake eternal life for the sake of a haircut, I think that they are out of their minds personally.