No, not before; I came to Christ at an early age.
But afterward yes, I have considered other religions and have questioned Christianity.
Yet, I weighed them in the balance and found them all wanting. No other believe system can even begin to compare with my life in Christ.
Was required to study other major world religions in college - the most boring of subjects.
How other groups of Christians developed was more interesting, and actually was the catalyst to challenging some of the traditional aspects of my own walk with Christ.
However, it has not been until most recently (last 15 or so years) that I have considered a great disenfranchisement with denominational anything because of the shallowness and what I see as foolhardy Holy Spirit replacement worship that has come to much of the churches.
Is this a teasing by the enemy of believers into another form of ungodliness?
Does such result in leaving the true "temple" worship of sacrifice and service, to ascend into the high places of perversion and delusion?
My help does not come from the mountains, but from the maker of the mountains.
I rambled a bit off OP, I trust my venting was not dishonorable.
I grew up in a Christian home and came to know Christ as my savior at an early age. Though I had to study other religions of the world in college, none has ever swayed me from the belief that Jesus Christ is the only way. However, I will say I've had philosophy teachers who made atheism look much more appealing than any other religion.
Was adopted into an Irish Catholic family but came to saving knowledge of Jesus at age 7.
I never considered anything else before that and never after either.
:)
Studied the Talmud & OT & Hebrew. I was a gonna marry a Jewish girl so I thought it best to move to her religion ..... there were economic benefits there as well. Just call me by my Hebrew name .... Schlepp. :laugh:
Really?....In college I found studying world religions fascinating.
I never considered another religion.
I was raised in a Christian home and was saved fairly young in my life, so perhaps that was a part of it.
I have considered other denominations.
I fell away from my Catholicism , found Buddhism very appealing but it is not so much a religion as a philosophy for living IMHO. I went to a local Baptist church and whilst attending, I joined this BB. Ultimately, I returned to the RCC and attend the Tridentine Mass....I try to attend daily Mass as it is the most beautiful expression I can pay homage to the Lord.
Ahhhhh spitting in Christ's face.....just cut the dramatics. You got people going in there because they are attempting to be faithful.....that is their way of honoring the Lord....But you refuse to recognize this right, to you it's an abomination. Just grow up and learn not to ostracize.....rather, learn patience that the Lord will reveal.....that He should develop the elect.....And you know he will, because he never allows them to succumb to the world. Then brother you can subtlety tell them their errors.
Salty..the local Baptist church had wonderful people there, I had responded to a letter drop inviting new folk. It is a good while ago and my time sense may be a bit off, but ultimately one of the doctors in my work place, and I got to talking religion on the night shift, I was often on my own in the little critical care unit, and he told me about the Tridentine Mass...and where it was being offered in Brisbane. After a lot of discussions etc, I attended the Mass and it was stunningly beautiful. I also went to confession for the first time in decades, and so the prodigal returned home.
I was impressed that the Baptists tried to retain me, I did not think I was of such interest but were unable to do so.
I would like to thank you for such a candid reply.
but I do have a question -
Do we attend a church service for
being " stunningly beautiful" or for what we are learning?
You also mentioned going to confession?
I believe the Bible teaches us that we are to confess directly to the Lord!
People who tell Jesus His atonement was not good enough and then use other methods like sacraments to try and justify themselves are not elect, are not Christians. There is no way around it, the mass is an abomination. There is only one way and there is no back door. It's His way or the highway.