Reformist Christians
Good morning/day/afternoon/evening to everyone.
I wanted to talk a little about something close to heart. I consider myself a Reformist Christian, with sadly an outlook toward Christianity that makes myself and other Christians like me considered outcasts by major Christian denominations themselves.
See, I consider myself as a Christian because it is the philosophy that I most relate to. I do have a strong faith in God; I admire Jesus-Christ whatever his true origin is as an amazing man that was braver than everyone else for a single reason:
Forgiving and asking mercy for the very people that killed him.
This action is not simply amazing if one chooses to believe that Christ is a true divine son of God; but where that simple action creates even a grander and more astounding respect for Christ, is if one chooses to believe that he was a man just like us, with insights of God. A man just like us that took the braver path that was forgiveness and compassion when faced with evil.
I also believe that the Bible was written in a much different time and context as of today; it goes without saying that several rules it mention can no longer be applied in our modern era and context.
Add to that that the Bible has underwent 2000 years of translation from the original Armenian and Ancient Greek text, that one of them was the highly biased Vulgate version, and the other was translated by an atheist and someone that despised religion and rules... I don't think we can rely 100% on the Bible. What we can do is understand the underlying message of forgiveness, especially in the case of the New Testament, and the Gospel of Matthew.
That being said, such thoughts make myself and Christians like me outcasts. Not many Christians themselves believe that there is such a denomination out there that have the same outlook toward Christianity. But I have found one that does.
And so, although I don't myself abide by that denomination, preferring to remain on my own self-path and self-journey on what God means to me, I wish to present the United Church.
It is a Christian denomination that teaches how each Christian's path to the understanding of God is completely unique to each individual, and cannot therefore follow the same guidelines or steps as everyone else. As each souls are different from one another, as each experiences differs; and thus, the path and the self-discovery cannot be the same.
Based on that belief the United Church believes that the Bible is merely a guideline upon which Christians can interpret based upon their experiences and their journey.
In that same line of thought, the United Church is completely open to race, gender, country, and even other religious beliefs. After all, each religion and belief systems are merely different ways to understand God.
A few quotes of their matches my own belief:
I wanted to talk a little about something close to heart. I consider myself a Reformist Christian, with sadly an outlook toward Christianity that makes myself and other Christians like me considered outcasts by major Christian denominations themselves.
See, I consider myself as a Christian because it is the philosophy that I most relate to. I do have a strong faith in God; I admire Jesus-Christ whatever his true origin is as an amazing man that was braver than everyone else for a single reason:
Forgiving and asking mercy for the very people that killed him.
This action is not simply amazing if one chooses to believe that Christ is a true divine son of God; but where that simple action creates even a grander and more astounding respect for Christ, is if one chooses to believe that he was a man just like us, with insights of God. A man just like us that took the braver path that was forgiveness and compassion when faced with evil.
I also believe that the Bible was written in a much different time and context as of today; it goes without saying that several rules it mention can no longer be applied in our modern era and context.
Add to that that the Bible has underwent 2000 years of translation from the original Armenian and Ancient Greek text, that one of them was the highly biased Vulgate version, and the other was translated by an atheist and someone that despised religion and rules... I don't think we can rely 100% on the Bible. What we can do is understand the underlying message of forgiveness, especially in the case of the New Testament, and the Gospel of Matthew.
That being said, such thoughts make myself and Christians like me outcasts. Not many Christians themselves believe that there is such a denomination out there that have the same outlook toward Christianity. But I have found one that does.
And so, although I don't myself abide by that denomination, preferring to remain on my own self-path and self-journey on what God means to me, I wish to present the United Church.
It is a Christian denomination that teaches how each Christian's path to the understanding of God is completely unique to each individual, and cannot therefore follow the same guidelines or steps as everyone else. As each souls are different from one another, as each experiences differs; and thus, the path and the self-discovery cannot be the same.
Based on that belief the United Church believes that the Bible is merely a guideline upon which Christians can interpret based upon their experiences and their journey.
In that same line of thought, the United Church is completely open to race, gender, country, and even other religious beliefs. After all, each religion and belief systems are merely different ways to understand God.
A few quotes of their matches my own belief:
The United Church believes that the Bible is central to the Christian faith and was written by people who were inspired by God. The church also believes that the circumstances under which the books of the Bible were written were of a particular place and time, and some things cannot be reconciled with our lives today, such as slavery. The United Church of Canada uses the historical-critical method of interpreting the bible.
Remembering that Jesus was reported to have welcomed tax collectors, prostitutes and other "undesirables" to his table, the church attempts to welcome everyone, regardless of age, race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or physical ability.[12] In the same manner, there is also no restriction on those interested in entering ministry
Marriage:
Believing that marriage is a celebration of God's love, the church recognizes and celebrates all legal marriages, including same-sex couples, previously divorced people, and couples of different religions. The actual policy of whom to marry is left up to the church council of each community of faith. For instance, one congregation might not allow same-sex marriages to be performed in their building, while another allows all marriages regardless of sexual orientation.[12]
Interfaith relations:
The church believes that there are many paths to God. The United Church's path is through Jesus Christ, but the church also recognizes that Christians' understanding of this is limited by an incomplete comprehension of God; their belief is that the Holy Spirit of God is also at work through other non-Christian faiths.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada
Of course, this is only an organization that happens to follows the same kind of beliefs that we non-denominative Christians believe. As with any organization, it is not always prim and proper depending on who's behind it at given eras.
My point is... yes, there truly exists Christians that are liberal in thought, that accept everything that matters to souls, that accept everything intersex, interfaith, interracial; and that most of all, leave open to each unique souls their freedom to discover God's meaning for each and everyone.
And good news: they are the second largest Christian denominations (and the first largest Protestant denomination) here in Canada.
Of course, this is only an organization that happens to follows the same kind of beliefs that we non-denominative Christians believe. As with any organization, it is not always prim and proper depending on who's behind it at given eras.
My point is... yes, there truly exists Christians that are liberal in thought, that accept everything that matters to souls, that accept everything intersex, interfaith, interracial; and that most of all, leave open to each unique souls their freedom to discover God's meaning for each and everyone.
And good news: they are the second largest Christian denominations (and the first largest Protestant denomination) here in Canada.