raised christian, have some faith, but feel so fake in church...

Welcome to RIU.

Be whom you are, not who you think everyone wants to see.

Originally Posted by LetsMakePot!

I havent been to church in a while...but i spoke to a friend about this. I felt i was the only one until.

My presence is the only real part ive consistantly brought to a church and even that i seem to alter to the best of my ability to blend in the most i can. Impressing people, especially ones with importance within the church, with "newfound discoveries of improvement" within myself have become my goal. I raise my hands and sing to the music to appear to have a more intense relationship with god. I pay attention to sermons on the outside, while inside thoughts of anything else take place. I have put more effort in impressing the church and its body then i have trying to impress my mother. Im sick of being what you want. My feelings have driven me to rebel, I would rather easily lie and be praised by everyone than to actually share my own sick and twisted feelings and be "that guy". I have been in and out of several churches and although i have met some awesome people with many churches in the right direction, i feel the church is not a positive place for me. Especially having a chameleon like personality to be able to blend in to many different environments. Church is too easy and good to be "played" I dont want that game in my cupboard anymore, i feel guilty under God. I truly long and desire the needs and wants of god, even though my faith has been wilting slowly for years. chime in haters, fakers, lovers, christians, jews, REAL church goers, etc.

Anyone else feel like this? similar? contrary? lets hear about it

...sometimes I wonder if church is a phase of a person's life. After a while, the church is integrated, you 'become' the church and you are a priest of your self (Melchizedek). The congregation members are your thoughts, and you can direct them to a healthy place, etc...

...just my 5 cents. (...apparently pennies are no longer minted, so yeah, 5 )

organized religion is a joke. they only want your $.

Letsmakepot,

Question everything, do no accept any notion until you can prove it to yourself... then you don't have to pretend to have knowledge you don't really have. This will help you not only grow as a person, but grow as an intellectual.

I was raised and christain too, until i started to think formyself, and question everything, rather than think what other people told me.

Take no offense to what I'm about to say, but I believe you're desperately clinging on to your "faith". You feel guilt because you were raised to believe that loving and obeying god is the right thing to do.. You feel that you're doing wrong. Open your eyes though bud, it's only wrong in their eyes, is it wong in yours?

I am the exact opposite..raised catholic and never got into the whole church thing..haven't stepped foot in one in 20 years..was in grade school last time I was there..and I want to get more spiritual and start going to church..but I just think they are all phonies and con men looking to pad the churches pockets..would go to one if I found a decent one with no ulterior motives.

i think you'll find the answers in giving more of yourself to people who have less: faith, resources, money etc. god finds a way into your heart in this way. and you'll find a peace that didn't exist before. happened to me. i don't see where it shouldn't happen to you too.

I am conflicted butwhen it comes to religion. I think I'm a deist in a sense that I believe God doesn't interfere in our lives. He is like a watchmaker He made the watch now his watching it tick. Christianaty has truth but it's a religion that's flawed. I don't believe in religion; I believe in God. A God of love, truth and righteousness. I know it sounds clichè but that's where I wanna be.