Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an integral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on its evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Avoid long drawn out arguments. This should be a place to relax, not to waste your time needlessly.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Please do not spam at the top level. If you have a lot to post each day, try and post them all together in one top level comment
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Try keep things light. If you are bringing in deep stuff, try not to go overboard.
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Things that are clearly on-topic for this board should be posted as a separate post and not here (except if you are new and still getting the feel of this place)
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If you find people violating these rules, deport them rather than start a argument here.
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evolving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
Rules For the rest of the Site also accessible on the sidebar.
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I don't think most of these people who call themselves christian are any such thing. I think the churches are all corrupt. I'm personally reading the bible so I can find out for myself because I don't trust anyone to tell me about it anymore. I believe that I am a real Christian because I have no fear and I walk in faith and I never did any of that before.I asked for forgiveness. The changes in me are absolutely astonishing and I did not do them myself. All glory to God and His son , Jesus.
I believe the people I’m speaking of are Christian’s who truly believe Jesus is their savior. They are like many people that grew up in church and have been going their entire lives. They believe more in structure, wearing the right clothes to church etc. It’s manly southern Baptist I’m speaking of. I left the church my husband grew up in soon after I was baptized and had joined the church. I really liked the pastor. I learned a lot & he wasn’t like most old school pastors. They fired him after they found out he had an affair. Yet, his wife knew and had forgiven him. My husband told me about a man that owned a convenience store and they wouldn’t let him join because he sold alcohol. I can’t tolerate hypocrite‘s. God is the only that has the right to judge his people. IL’s go gambling out of town, have for years and frequently. MIL doesn’t want church people knowing this. Yet, she has a problem with people drinking. This new church I’m going to, the pastor said, Jesus doesn’t want a church full of saved people. He would be out of business. Of course that’s not literal. It was a part of the sermon talking about some church’s do more judging of people than anything else. My husband said he would never go back to a church. We had been talking about going & he said he would go some for me. He grew up in the strict Baptist church shoving it down your throat. The only reason he went to this one was because my daughter asked us to go. Same for me, once I was there a few minutes I knew it was different and unusual. We’ve been going at least once a month for at least six months. I’m actually excited to go to church.
I don’t blame you one bit. It sounds like it’s working for, happy for you. For almost twenty years I never wanted to set foot back in a church for many reasons. Recently I’ve been feeling the pull to get back. It’s working for me, but I understand what you are saying and have felt the same for a long time. I’ve been turned off from many churches for one reason or another. I used to listen to TV evangelists and learned a lot. Until, I found out they were fake & as bad Hollywood celebrities. I’ve found a few on YouTube that explain the Bible.
I enjoy watching this guy, if nothing else but for entertainment & I also learn. He goes to colleges and answers biblical questions. His name is Frank Turek
https://crossexamined.org
https://youtube.com/@crossexamined
I read and listen to the Bible. I have a hard time comprehending things, especially scripture. Nothing new, been like that since I was a kid. A teacher once told me he wanted a book report, not for me to write the entire book. So, listening to people explain the Bible helps me.
Agreed 100%, most churches are corrupt. Almost thirty years ago this teenager at the church I was at told me about corporate churches.. I’ve never forgotten that kid and wonder where he is. He knew more than most adults. I believe there are many “believers* in church and also non believers. Especially people that might have been in church all their lives and don’t believe. But, in the end we have to worry about ourselves and not what others believe or try to hide. It’s exhausting enough trying to keep up with myself. I’m not about to try do it with people I barely know.
Blessings in your journey.
Thank you for such a warm, honest, and thoughtful response. You're a real Christian. I can tell. God bless.
You’re welcome, I try to be. I’m still working on keeping my little light shining all the time. God bless you also fren.