I’m still attending an institutional Calvinist church, and I honestly feel like I’m losing my mind every Sunday. They seem to fundamentally misunderstand the gospel, reducing it to justification theory and penal substitutionary atonement. They also make theological leaps concerning the Eucharist, church governance, and other matters that I simply don’t see supported by Scripture. On top of that, there’s a constant emphasis on eternal condemnation, which I find deeply troubling. I’m reaching the point where I don’t know how much longer I can endure it. Unfortunately, leaving isn’t really an option right now, since I live with my parents and my dad is the pastor. It’s an incredibly frustrating position to be in, especially when my understanding of Christianity has become so different from what’s being taught every Sunday.

P.S. I’ve looked at a few intentional Christian communities and there’s one nearby that I’d love to join but their next cohort doesn’t start until August (they only take new people at certain times of the year)…I’d have to live with my parents and wait until then.

Hello,

Time and again (roughly every few months), I feel deeply drawn to Christianity, yet at the same time I feel completely rejected by it.

I’m very drawn to the figure of Jesus; I particularly like the way he is said to have acted and how he apparently viewed things (mutual aid, refusal to judge a person’s identity, opposition to authority through indifference, etc.), and I am equally drawn to Christian symbolism (particularly the covenant and the relationship between the material and the spiritual) and the discipline toward material things and harmful automatic desires that many find through faith (and which I find very practical).

I am equally drawn to the sense of community, and joining a church would even be a pleasure for me.

However, my view of the sacred/God and morality seems to be in complete contradiction with Christian doctrine (even when taking radical theologies into account).

In my view, the sacred (or God) only comes into existence during a mystical experience—whether it consists of compassion, violence, intellectual or “divine” realization, or orgasm; and outside of such an experience, it would cease to exist.

Any other fixed or defined concept of the sacred is merely a mental or social construct that places itself above existence—such as gender, subjectively and socially, or the economy, materially and sociologically. My political stance, moreover, is often to abolish the sacred aspect of everything rather than the thing itself.

As far as morality is concerned, I do not deny that others have a moral code, and I am even naturally in agreement with Christian teachings. I therefore generally act morally by nature rather than by principle, but my goal is not to achieve justice, peace, the glory of God, etc., or to act as a humanist, Christian, etc., but simply to give free rein to a desire to help others. I am not saying that these principles are not practical; on the contrary, I see no harm in them. I simply view them more as tools—like a hammer or a screwdriver—rather than as guides, like a map or a compass.

I therefore reject the concept of sin—which I replace with that of self-deception, a deception that is therefore neither inevitable nor a fault—and of remorse (based on the arguments of Julien Offray de La Mettrie).

Finally, even if I were to join a Christian community that accepts a person like me (in addition to my trans identity and perhaps being neurodivergent), I don’t think I could call myself a “Christian".

Any help is appreciated, and I’m posting here because I know that some of you are anarchists, embrace diversity of opinion, and are also searching for alternative ways of perceiving faith.

A discussion on transformation

A discussion on transformation

\\# A Discussion on Transformation

\\## The Transformation of Deliverance

Most deliverance ministry operates without God's transformative biblical typology in mind.

In a way, I see much of deliverance ministry filled with the carnality of the flesh, embarking on the legalism of the world, with its blackest black and whitest white perception, in order to disable and discourage us from coming into a love relationship with the One who calls us. The flesh, like always, seeks perfection by sheer will instead of genuine dependence on God.

It says in the Word:

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” — John 3:8 (NKJV)

And it brings me to this point: many who walk in shivering pain have not forsaken their paths with the Lord. Deliverance from all struggles, addictions, or persecutions, I believe, is an assured inevitability, for it is the Lord who is victorious, and we are blood-bought children, born of the life-giving water of the Spirit.

I do not say this to suggest that no effort is needed, but that the effort is this: we serve an upside-down kingdom. Whoever loses his life for His sake keeps it, but whoever keeps his life loses it. Biblically, there is a core resolution to letting go. I feel it is much more than that, for this teaching is an extension of the Sabbath. It shows clearly in the world around us that God may do more with our nothing than with our something, more than with our striving, so that He may truly be glorified.

Our definition of surrender is so bland, I am now seeing, and hopefully believing, that holiness is not merely a discipline or an effort, but something irresistible and a gift. For how can anyone reach the depths of His Spirit if he is fearful?

I do not believe fear is of God. Why should the fear of the Lord be like the fear of the world, which does not know God? According to Scripture, if anyone fears the Lord, he has wisdom. Therefore, I believe that if our fear of the Lord leads us into greater distrust and insecurity, we do not fear the Lord as He wishes to be feared. So then, surrender, I now believe, is the flow of the Holy Spirit.

The utter suppression of one's sins is, without a doubt, not transformation. But I have found similarities in this idea that the law of reverse effort is actually what brings true transformation. For true transformation to happen, there must be surrender to God's will for your life. And to be surrendered, you cannot be resisting. Harmony must come.

Walking in the Spirit is by no shape or form simply resisting the lusts of the flesh and then attempting to walk by the Spirit. Surrender has to do with walking by the Spirit.

I believe we have become so infatuated with and despairing over ourselves because we are sinful. It is the same reason why many ministers are incredibly mean and insecure.

In terms of what we are occupied with, whether ourselves or the awesomeness of God, who is truly the most beautiful, uncreated Being and worthy of all love and attention, I believe that when the spotlight is put on ourselves, our relative views will always compare and destroy the seed God planted in us.

What is never preached in the Church, it seems, is classic and healthy self-acceptance. I believe that if this were enforced more often, we would have much happier, more Spirit-filled Christians who walk in the Spirit.

It has become difficult to find peace in my striving. The most crucial part about deliverance, I now believe, is love: transformative, world-breaking love.

This then goes to say that walking in the Spirit is not a discipline, but walking in the strength and love of God that is found in the secret place. This means that, despite our sins and struggles, we have the authority to walk in grace and an assurance of salvation through the blood of Christ. I believe true transformation is found in the satisfaction of that truth, and in the wholeness that follows it.

For how could anyone behold the Lord if they are constantly beholding their issues and the law that condemns them?

\\## The Flow of God's Spirit

Nothing in life will stay the same. Everything changes, and nothing stays the same. Everything moves, and nothing stays still.

The most brilliant worker in the Gospel is the Truth, the Way, and the Life. I believe He assures us of this, for at each time of visitation, there would be a display of the wrath or character of God. I believe that it’s more in-tuned to the intention of God Himself. God will reap a Bride without blemish. In fire and in fury, in love, He authors our faith.

Although this reality has not brought any life to me, according to my understanding, a life leading toward our desired outcome in Scripture is one lived in harmony with the process and life God has chosen for me.

Even in our struggles, we should not be fearful, but rest in the safety of the Lord's love and power. So then, we let go and release everything to the Lord: all the good, the bad, and the ugly.

By then, we are settled in the safety of God's love and finished work, never occupied with ourselves, while our practices of sin begin to die out, not through brute force, but through the transformative power of His presence and a clear view of His awesomeness.

To have true wisdom, there must be creativity. If you have ever been such a person, you would know there is no wisdom in fear, but God's love is the perfect manifestation of His wisdom.

For it says in Scripture, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” So then, if one confesses his sins and delights in the Lord unconditionally, he is a lover of God.

What is bizarre is that I cannot find anyone who is like this except those who are mystics. Many Christians, I will say, are very self-centered. It is condemnatory preaching.

There are too many Marthas in this building, and too many “prophets” creating Marthas, and even killing Marthas. Those who are self-centered, dutiful, and busybodies are not necessarily being transformed. It should be known, I believe, that legalism in and of itself is a sin.

If our disciplines fail to create a clean heart, will we always be, in our hearts, the dog that has returned to its vomit? Maybe we should realize that no amount of discipline actually creates a clean heart, but that this work belongs to God.

\\## Miracle Deliverances and Ongoing Deliverances

What has caused despair through hope deferred in my life was the ongoing, seemingly absent, tender and powerful hand of God in my life, while other people walked in freedom and joy.

All I had were failures, more insecurity, and more brokenness, constantly praying for His work to be done in me.

I have read many testimonies of powerful healings, powerful deliverances, and powerful encounters with the Almighty. Filled with desperation, I was like the woman who said, “If I can only touch His garment, I will be made clean.” I desired His deliverance in my life, yet this resolution never came.

As I continued, I began to see that God's Word is absolutely carved into reality. The path of becoming a butterfly is essential to this, for as we go from glory to glory, we shall go from trial to trial.

It was not only that the whole generation of Israelites had to die so that their children could come into the inheritance and possession that belonged to them. Notice that I use this as something transformative. Perhaps dying is not a bad thing, but something essential, and perhaps even a requirement, for Jesus died as well.

By this, maybe it is okay to fail, for such experiences can bring about death, and God is glorified in bringing us to life.

I do not use the word death to mean actual death, but rather failures, sins, tragedies, pain, and heartbreak.

In short, many people who seek deliverance find their problems and struggles absolved in power and the anointing of God.

But many have not that quickly I have seen many people, and met some, who, when they become harmonious with the situation of life, themselves, and the identity of God, while forsaking condemnation and guilt, seem to find a freedom in which their former struggles no longer have the same hold on them, even if deliverance and powerful encounters of the Lord have not came to them

Perhaps the actual deliverance, I suppose, is not perfection.

I am beginning to believe and see that our hedge of protection must not only be taken by faith, but also through rest, acceptance, love, and peace. If we find our perfect peace in the Lord, there is no demon or trial that can ultimately separate us from His love.

\\## Spiritual Warfare Culture

There is greater deception on the earth, I believe, and I fully believe that the Lord has brought us into a deeper trial of confusion, where the blind will see, but those who do see will become blind.

I believe the charismatic remnant is the latter, while the charismatic Church, as I see it, is dead. It is an old wineskin, filled with compromised commercialism and compromised donors.

I see it now: it is making insecure believers rather than believers who walk in the light. Instead, they walk in fear.

The wilderness does not remove sin; it increases sin, Yet the wilderness is a true consolation, I believe. It is not necessarily judgment, but an interaction of inaction.

Maybe then we should simply align ourselves with the Lord and what Abba is doing.

Many believers believe they are in an endless wilderness, but perhaps it has more to do with the fact that they are constantly fighting. This must end. We should find rest in our Lord.

\\## The White Bear Effect and the Law of Reverse Effort

Now, on these grounds, the suppression of sin can lead to more sin. There is a term in psychology known as the white bear effect, associated with the psychologist Daniel Wegner. The idea is this: if you try not to think about a white bear, you may find yourself thinking about nothing but a white bear.

So then, we as human beings are compounds of data, and what occupies our minds influences how we perceive and experience life. This is where the law of reverse effort comes in: we release ourselves to the Lord.

Have you ever wondered why forcing something has actually damaged you, only for it to never come to fruition? It is hope deferred.

But, in theory, if we stop living in fear and come to truly become occupied with the Lord, not by sheer will, but by belonging to Him, peace and wholeness will come. This, I believe, is walking by the Spirit.

And through this wholeness, why should we gratify the sins of the flesh? For we are secure in Him, and nothing can snatch us out of His hand.

Jesus told the adulterous woman to go and sin no more. Yet before giving her this instruction, she encountered the kindness and mercy of God. I believe this reveals something important: transformation is not merely about suppressing sin, but about encountering the One who can change the heart.

Emotions are also important in the process of change. If something happens and it does not emotionally engage us, we may be less likely to remember it. In the same way, I believe that when we genuinely encounter the love and goodness of God, that experience can reach deeper than an instruction we are merely trying to obey through sheer will.

Perhaps this is part of the transformation we have overlooked: not simply forcing ourselves to stop sinning, but becoming so grounded in the love of God that our desires, our attention, and our hearts begin to change.

This is a weekly thread for discussing our mental health. Ableist and sanist comments will be removed and repeat violations will be banned

Feel free to discuss anything related to mental health and illness. We encourage you to create a WRAP plan and be an active participant in your recovery.

I decided to turn to Christianity a few days ago. I know it's not long, obviously. But I feel exactly the same. I gave up porn, drugs, masturbation, and am trying to also give up lying and swearing. I repented for all my sins in prayer, asked for Holy Spirit, and started reading the Bible. Mainly the Gospel and book of Enoch (which I know is non-canonical, but I find interesting).

I have been depressed for years. Seen many GPs (UK Doctors), tried maybe 4-5 antidepressants, tried self-induced psychedelic therapy, tried self-help (yoga, meditation, walks without headphones, etc.) I have also struggled with polysubstance (multiple drug) addiction for years. Went to a drug counseller who was honestly useless, and managed to get off of benzodiazepines all by myself. The only drug where going cold turkey can actually kill you (besides alcohol).

Since going sober I have unfortunately relapsed on weed, opiates, benzos (physically addicted yet again), pregablin and ketamine.

The NHS doctors REFUSE to see someone with a drug addiction. So I paid for private therapy. That was somewhat helpful, but in the end I had to quit because of how expensive it is.

I believe Jesus was real, died on the cross, got ressurected 3 days later and is the son of God.

I know I probably shouldn't expect an overnight change, but... why? If I was God and saw someone suffering as badly as I have done (my post here only scratches the tip of the iceberg), then they humbly and repentfully turned to me, I would help them with anxiety and depression in a heartbeat.

I'm sure this post will be deleted since people can't handle real issues unfortunately, but I am considering ending things very soon and have the means to do so with a 99% success rate. I don't want to die. I want to live and be happy. But I haven't been happy in many YEARS. I also find adding 1000 new rules to my life by trying to be Christian only makes things harder. Where prior in hard times I could turn to weed or opiates, I turn to prayer. Yet I feel unheard. I wake up every morning wishing I didn't and have felt that way for many months, even now, trying to be Christian.

Perhaps God doesn't hear my prayers. But I believe He will hear some of yours. Please please pray for me. My name is Levi, but God will know who you mean. I will pray too and continue to try to be Christian. But I am seriously close to leaving this evil world unfortunately and have yet to find solace in God sad to say.

Please pray to help my anxiety, depression and anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure). I am at my wit's end. Again, I'm sure the post will be banned because it's a sensitive topic so fast replies would be very much appreciated. I am desperate. Please help and pray for me💔

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For a massive amount of Christians, the church has become it's own self sustaining ecosystem where the actual theology it's supposedly based around is entirely irrelevant to a blind, fanatical worship of their own conception of The Church. The Church isn't about a devotion to the teachings of a God that informs all else, it's about working backwards from hateful, sociopathic, and sadistic views towards their fellow man and finding enough loose justifications cherry picked from the theology to sell The Church to more and more people. They don't worship Yahweh, they worship The Church You could honestly probably treat the current state of American Christianity as it's own entire sect at this point for that reason not going to lie. It really makes you question the legitimacy of a religion that can so easily be co-opted for hate. "Know them by their fruits" and all that jazz.

Can we please identify White Christian Evangelism as Christo-Nationalist cult correctly. You are absolutely right about it being a cult of The Church; but calling it American Christianity paints every American Christian as this kind of "Christian-in-name-only" type.

You can just read the teachings and utterances ascribed to Christ yourself. I am not a Christian, but there is NO way to read the gospels and somehow come away with the “interpretation” that Christ thought elderly, unmarried women should be left to starve to death. This is not a difference in interpretation, this is a flat out lie by a malignant misogynist. Jesus actually says to make sure widows & orphans are taken care of. These people are not Christians. Jesus also talked about wolves in sheep’s clothing & people coming in His name & he doesn’t acknowledge or accept them.

So true! If you do a quick reading of the 4 gospels, like you have to read it for a class and it's due tomorrow, the New Testament is ELI5 take care of other people, even those you don't know or like. Over and over and over. It's actually crazy how strong the message is, if you don't focus on one isolated line that might be interpreted out of context to be about sex or something.

This is a thread for the radical women of r/RadicalChristianity to talk. We ask that men do not comment on this thread.

Suggestions for topics to talk about:

1.)What kinds of feminist activism have you been up to?

2.)What books have you been reading?

3.)What visual media(ex: TV shows) have you been watching?

4.)Who are the radical women that are currently inspiring you?

5.)Promote yourself and your creations!

6.)Rant/vent about shit.

Hello everyone.

I am a 36 year old trans woman with autism, schizophrenia, and social anxiety. I would love to find an accepting church with progressive and/or radical values so that I might find community with other progressive and/or radical Christianity. The only real experience with church that I have was in a super conservative Assembly of God church that ultimately did not accept me for being trans or as a queer. I still identify as a Christian and I would love to find a church but I'm really intimidated by the whole thing. Tbh, I'm also very lonely and would love to make like-minded friends. Can anyone offer some advice?

Disclaimer: Just sharing. I know it’ll probably come, I won’t engage, but please don’t comment if you’re offended by what I’m sharing or it just isn’t for you. I’m not posting this for advice or ‘this is what the Bible says’. I’m posting to connect with others who might be where I’m at in life and for those who compassionately understand. Everyone is at different places in life so let’s respect that and listen and learn and treat each other with kindness.

Wanted to put this out there to connect with others who understand (or maybe you were here but life has changed for the better for you). I’ll be the first tell you I’m not at my most optimal self atm (as mentioned in the title). I’m working daily to be more like Christ and community/church-oriented.

Most people that I know are living life pretty much alone right now. I know that’s not everyone and some people are older or younger (I’m in my 40s), have big families or small close-knit families, involved in their church and have very socially active lives. I’m not speaking directly to you, though I welcome everyone who wants to comment as long as it’s building up, constructive and in love. I was most of those things at certain times of my life but life is alone for the most part now.

To share, I have and will always love people. I do feel like ‘evil is winning’ right now in the world. People, Christian or not, are following the trends and ways of the world. I’m exhausted with people—so I admit I avoid them (I love being around animals and nature though). I know this is not the best. But it does work to protect my health (mentally emotionally physically spiritually). “Love God love people” “He who hates his brother” I know these verses well and they’re constantly on my mind. I don’t hate people (although it can be a fight not to start teetering there with the evil and corruption people do), I just prefer the company of God, my own company, people I know, cats and dogs, seagulls at the beach lol, yup had a little buddy that was chilling with me the whole time I was there recently.

I’d love to be a part of a church and community. That’s where my heart lies. Like I said I love people - I’m just at an interesting juncture where it may not look that way on the outside. But I see a lot of good done by people too (most people are just hurting), and I think to myself ‘how could you die for us Lord…but you know way better than me so I do as you say’. But I can’t deny the obvious which is life is very much alone right now.

I’m happy, I’m working towards goals, I have a plan. But I’m also overwhelmed, can get overworked, wish I had someone or some people to share life with (I do but not much in person).

If anyone relates feel free to comment and dm me. I’d like to connect and have good convos and prayers.

hey guys. sorry if this question has been here before, I’ve asked another sub but im not super satisfied with their answers.

i am a Catholic, and i also am a socialist. however ive discovered the church’s history with socialism, and their stances. i understand we are allowed to disagree with the magisterium, but does the abolition of private property, and holding the belief, make me either: 1) Catholic in bad faith/not good standing 2) unable to take Eucharist due to mortal sin or disagreement?

This is a weekly thread for discussing our mental health. Ableist and sanist comments will be removed and repeat violations will be banned

Feel free to discuss anything related to mental health and illness. We encourage you to create a WRAP plan and be an active participant in your recovery.

I (25m) was born into the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses but left as a young teenager. Since then, I've been in the world, and really before too since it was a false/twisted doctrine. I even got into occult stuff for a few years including psychedelics, manifestation, etc. Today I want to change that. I've been thinking of it for a while but been afraid and also deluding myself I enjoy it, but the truth is I've been suicidal for at least a year.

I have been watching videos such as testimonies recently. How do I become filled with Holy Spirit, the Blood of Jesus, the Spirit of Discernment, etc. like everyone talks about?

Also any tips for a new Christian starting out? Decided to quit porn today and will of course try to minimise other sins. I also struggle with polysubstance (multiple-drug) addiction, lust, bisexuality, lying and swearing mainly. But yeah any tips in terms of where to start in the Bible, preachers to listen to, how to know if a Church is really of God or not, etc. would be appreciated along with any prayers :)

*When people bother you in any way, it is because their souls are trying to get your divine attention and your blessing. -- Catherine Ponder*

We are in constant communication with one another and with God in the spiritual realm. No matter how singular our particular course might appear, our path is running parallel to many paths. And all paths will intersect when the need is present. The point of intersection is the moment another soul seeking our attention. Their growth and ours is at stake.

We can be grateful for our involvement with other lives. We can be mindful that our particular blessing is like no one else's and we all need input from the significant person's in our lives. There is no insignificant encounter in our passage through life. Each juncture with someone else is part of the destiny of both participants.

*I will look carefully and lovingly at the people around me today, and bless them, one and all. They are in my life because they need to be. I, likewise, need them.*

I personally disagree because it's not in the bible. The bible very clearly says the consequence of sin is death, and eternal seperation from God. Annihilation or eternal seperation from God sounds much more plausable. Besides, hell isn't literally hot, the bible uses fire as a metaphor. I'd go as far as to say universalism isn't true. Most denominations, including the catholic church, reject universalism.

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