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Hi everyone, so for reference, I was raised as a Catholic and deep down, I never really believed in the sacraments or true presence in that kind of thing and I never really found solace in God and so about eight months ago when I fell into a very chronic burnout, I didn’t have the energy for religion whatsoever and so I just dropped Catholicism and I very much explored everything outside of Christianity from Satanism to Buddhism to atheism and I just kind of sat with the label of atheist for months, but I have been feeling like there’s something missing from my life that no amount of friends or other things can fill and I’m kind of hesitant to say that hole is for God because religion always kind of scared me especially these past eight months like the whole “there is just some divine being out there judging you” kind of scared me and especially being raised in a strict Catholic school, love and kindness were never taught to be God‘s personality it was always that he is like a wrathful being who will strike down everyone and send them to hell. Do you all think that maybe God is calling me back to him after I’ve explored everything and something was still missing?
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It seems that you have become a slave to religion, merely hearing and learning the doctrines of men. Yours is a faith that does not truly understand the words of Scripture about hell—a faith that has eyes but cannot see, and ears but cannot hear. You are not a true Christian who has obtained the divine power of truth that follows the love of God and aims for the hope of Christ, but merely a religious person. Because you have learned and taught by human intellect and reasoning, you have not escaped the limits of humanity. Thus, while you continually repent and reflect, you return again to sin, becoming a slave to evil habits, living a lifetime of repeating sin. Such Christians and Roman Catholics are religious people, not true Christians.
All those who rely only on themselves—their own awakening, determination, and resolve—whether human beings, religious followers, Christians, or Roman Catholics, can never escape from repeated sin. With the miserable faith and belief of today’s Christianity, no one can ever be freed from the sins that are repeated until death. For this reason, all Christians of today have become slaves to evil habits, struggling and striving all their lives, yet powerless before the repetition of sin. And because they take pride in and are confident in their own zeal that only piles up sin, they all pretend to be God’s children who do not commit sin, or true Christians who have been freed from sin, or those who have already obtained salvation.
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.(Romans 6 : 17~23)
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. (1 John 3 : 6~8)
When people spend their lives following pastors’ sermons that chase after the teachings and emotional appeals of third parties, and rely only on their own awakenings, resolves, and determinations, they inevitably run up against a limit: they turn back and repeat the same sins. The reason is that they have not received God’s truth that leads to the divine power in which God’s love works. In other words, what is called “God’s truth” by many is really human teaching and emotion — other people’s experiences, lessons, and moving testimonies learned and understood with the head and intellect, which only produce self-awakenings, resolves, and determinations. That is not the divine truth in which God’s power works. All the saints alike are being deceived by human teaching and human emotion. God’s truth is not mere words but the power of God. Put another way, it is the power that kills the evil, habitual tendencies of the human flesh that make sin arise again and again.
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.(1 Corinthians 4 : 20)
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.(1 Corinthians 2 : 5)
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.(1 Thessalonians 2 : 13)
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.(2 Corinthians 12 : 9)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.(2 Corinthians 10 : 5~6)
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.(2 Corinthians 12 : 9)
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:(1 Peter 1 : 5~6)
The only condition by which one can receive the powerful strength of God that overcomes the limits of man and puts to death the evil habits and nature (the flesh) that are bound to repeat throughout a lifetime is this: to deny even one’s own life, to take up the cross, and to walk the path of suffering that follows the love of Christ, aiming for the hope of Christ. The truth is that God’s mighty power, which works within that hope, leads a person to receive the divine power revealed within God’s love — the power that kills the inherent habits and fleshly tendencies arising from the evil desires of the body that continually produce sin. Therefore, those who set the hope of Christ as their goal do not harbor lust or greed, and thus, through purity, they are born again.
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.(2 Corinthians 7 : 11)
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.(1 John 3 : 3)
The faith of religious people who spend their entire lives repeating sin is not the faith of true Christians who live the life of Christ. Those who aim for the hope of Christ — who must deny even their own lives— neither live nor die for themselves. Therefore, they have no vain worldly anxieties. Christians who spend their whole lives seeking the worries of death possess a carnal faith that can only lead them to pile up sin throughout their lives and ultimately fall into judgment and hell. They all pray only for fleshly matters — family problems, business problems, romantic problems, workplace problems, children’s problems, and health problems — just like the people of the world, and their faith is filled with vain prayers that seek only worldly concerns. They are children of the devil, endlessly repeating sin, yet they do not realize that they themselves have become Satan.
Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:(1 Corinthians 1 : 6~7)
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.(1 Corinthians 1 : 17~18)
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.(2 Corinthians 13 : 4)
The sermons of pastors who make people spend their entire lives relying on themselves—continually awakening, resolving, and determining by their own will—are nothing more than indirect, theoretical teachings of others, emotional stimulations that are like leaven, filled only with words. True divine truth is that which leads people beyond the limits of human teachings and emotions—teachings that cannot restrain the evil habits causing man to continually sin—and guides them to receive the love of God in which His power works. In other words, it is not the words and theories of the world, nor knowledge or learning, nor moral lessons or emotions. It is solely the power of love that comes through the good conscience sent from heaven. Without receiving this power of love, no one—no matter who they are—can ever be born again or escape from sin.
As sin continues to pile up, the good conscience (the spirit) becomes increasingly desolate and dying; thus, their lives become more weary and defiled by the world, and their hearts grow increasingly empty and impoverished. Abundant liberality and overflowing gratitude of a childlike heart are the fruits that appear only within God’s love. A Christian is not necessarily a true disciple of Christ. Salvation does not come through religion. It comes through the power of God’s love revealed in obedience to His Word. The fruit of love is goodness and righteousness; the fruit of Satan is sin and evil. A faith that continually repeats sin is a faith that disgraces Christ. Such a faith is the slavery of religion—it does not belong to the people of Christ nor the servants of God. Unless one receives the mighty power of God’s love, one cannot be saved. The salvation taught by Christianity and Roman Catholicism is a false salvation proclaimed by false shepherds who have departed from the Word of God.
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.(1 John 3 : 14)
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.(3 John 1 : 11)
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.(James 4 : 16~17)
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2 : 9~10)