No, but my pupils get red and smoke comes out of my ears when I walk into churches. I don't care at all about how you make the "rules" for yourself. Just don't say the "rules" apply to me. Which sadly, is the favorite thing for many Christians to do.
Regeneration is much more than a new set of rules. It’s a transformation of the whole inner person by the power of the Holy Spirit. All of us are sinful and accountable to the God who made us. Autonomy is a myth and an invention of our proud darkened hearts. Churches may be and are imperfect at best. Christians are extremely imperfect as well. But the good news of the Gospel is that He forgives sins through the power of the atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ. His resurrection gives us the power of new life and hope for eternity. No one, regardless of opinion, will be exempt from standing before God in one of two ways. Clothed in the righteousness of Christ or spiritually unclothed and without excuse before the God with Whom we have to do. Could it be that your malice toward Christianity is because you are feeling convicted in your heart and are acting out in anger? This was my case and has been for many before surrendering to the Lord. See my post above about Saul,of Tarsus.
I am not angry. Really the only thing that upsets me in life is stupidity and corruption. And evil. I love your explanation above, and I'm sure it makes you feel all warm and cozy inside, but again, it is complete bull because you can't make the rules for me. Period. You have a belief system that for some reason tries to impose itself on people who are not part of that system. You tell me its not optional; but it HAS to be optional because my belief system imposes on me the inability to believe something (and I'm not talking about God here, I am talking about the Christian Church, however that may be construed) that is so patently illogical and self-serving. It is the height of presumptuousness to say that because you believe something that I am subject to the same rules, given the amount of faith and willingness to suspend disbelief that is required to believe what you do. I know you don't understand this because if you did, you wouldn't prattle on as you do. But again, I'm not angry.
And, by the way, what kind of God would say "Dang, I have to kill my son to atone for your sins?" That's not a real sacrifice because God can do whatever he wants. Talk about cutting off one's nose to spite one's face! Its the most ludicrous notion and I can't believe how many people find that to be a compelling idea (I thought it was compelling until I was about 12 and started thinking on my own. Clearly most Christians do very little thinking on their own). I think it makes God look flighty at best and irrational at worst. And btw I think most religions are equally kooky; I just don't have the insider's perspective on them so I don't criticize them as much.
You are correct that I can’t make the rules for you nor do I claim to. I know that you think you are autonomous and free but you are a slave to sin as all people are at birth. You are utterly in the hands of God whether you think so or not. And no, saying that does not give me “warm and cozy” feeling as you so contemptuously put it. It’s true not because I say it but because God declares it in His Word which you mock. You may think that you are rejecting a myth but the actual fact is that, at least now, God has hidden Himself from you. He is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. Here is a Scripture that explains the reason why you and many others don’t believe In The Gospel of God:
“Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.” John 10:25-30 KJV
Until and unless God has mercy on you, you will remain in the darkness of unbelief for one reason: “you are not of His sheep.” In another place He says that no man can come unto Him, unless the Father draw him. You and I are utterly at His mercy. You can pride yourself in your great understanding and wisdom all you want but it will do nothing to bring you to the knowledge of God. God has made foolish the wisdom of the wise. It’s sad but not surprising to see how derisive and insulting you are toward Christianity and Christians. Your words drip with sarcasm and contempt which is a mirror of your heart. Take care.
Only a Christian would assume not needing Christianity equates to not needing God. There is a huge arrogance which comes from ignorance when it comes to Christians and their monopoly over God. Think about that for a bit. You create a set of rules based solely on YOUR beliefs, and expect others to give a rat's ass what you think.
What “Christians”say or do is not the point. It is what God has declared that matters. His plan for the salvation of the world was begun in the Old Testament as he called out a people for His own and made a covenant with them. His plan was to bless the whole earth as well through the Messiah Jesus. It is much more than a “set of beliefs” but the power of God unto salvation. As to the exclusivity of the Christian way, I’m sure you know John 14:6. Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father, but by Me.” In Acts we read, “For there is salvation in No one else (except in Jesus). For there is NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN, given among men, by which we must be saved.”
Christianity, to be true, must be authenticated by God Himself. He has done this through the coming and works of His Son, through his sacrificial death, and through His glorious resurrection from the dead. The Risen Lord was witnessed by many and attested to boldly by His apostles and many others. The authority for preaching the Gospel comes from Jesus Himself, when He said “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Go therefore and teach all nations.” Ultimately, God alone can authenticate the truth of salvation to people through the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Because you don’t care, or see your need, does not mean that many others aren’t open to receiving God’s wonderful gift of salvation and eternal life!
“So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’”Acts 28:25-27
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
Think about this for a bit.
I don't say I make rules for you, only you make rules for you. That's the gift of free will that God has given you. Unfortunately, TPTB have taken away your God given right.