Ironically, I left Christianity while searching for a deeper meaning and understanding. The concept of hell and the near impossibility of avoiding it did not make sense. How can an all-loving G-d create such a labyrinth of traps? I ask myself. The answer; He did not create hell, but religion did. Yeap, the very same religion created by imperfect men and women. I was set free and never looked back. Be well, be a good person, and enjoy all life offers.

@davekoser3938

10 ай бұрын

Preach it!

Yeah pressure to be sinless and pure christ like was awful. The anxiety was terrible. One of the biggest reasons l left.

@kyrachamberlain1057

10 ай бұрын

Same... It so terrible It basically too my normal life away... As a normal person

@MichaelAChristian1

9 ай бұрын

What PRESSURE? WHAT BURDEN? GOD has taken ALL YOUR BURDENS. Only Jesus Christ is without Sin. He clothes you in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS! HE washes you clean in HIS OWN BLOOD! Come unto him and HE GIVES YOU REST! Call upon the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be Saved!

@brandontraugher

6 ай бұрын

This is why they say to seek Christ and not trust in man. The Bible constantly tells us we aren't good enough, all we have to do is accept it, place aside our ego, and accept his sacrifice as sufficient!

@harrybinn4455

2 ай бұрын

The only pressure is when you allow others to set the standard instead of God. But then you don't need to be a christian to have that happen. Millions of young girls chase after a standard of beauty or ugliness that industries or their friends subscribe to. Then you have the peer pressure of joining in on activities with smoking, drugs, drinking sex. It's the same pressure. What you didn't get that was we aren't supposed to live by others expectations, but by our relationship with God who accepts us as we are but also has provided a power by the Holy Spirit to become better people and yes it's a journey. Stop being a slave to other peoples expectations because its the same in or outside of the church.

As a Christian parent, I neve subjected my children to the kind of pressure you experienced. I never encourage them to "accept Jesus into their lives", which would have resulted in an empty, meaningless "prayer". I never spoke to them about Hell or told them to "share their faith (although my youngest daughter tried to do so without any encouragement from us and discovered for herself that the message is not always well received!) . As someone who did not come to faith until my thirties I was content to trust God to call them in his own time, which He eventually did. The phrase "fear God" in the Bible, by the way, does not mean "cower with fright" but "stand in awe with reverence and respect". An unrepentant sinner might do the former, but God holds no threat for a sinner saved by grace

@JM-ot8ux

Ай бұрын

Every Christian thinks they get the doctrine Just Right.

Yeah I remember feeling that pressure during all of my Christian years as well, constantly asking Jesus to save me even though I was taught as an independent fundamentalist Baptist that Jesus doesn't reject anyone, and once saved always saved, yet our preachers were constantly convincing us that we must not be saved if we had certain sins we couldn't let go of which in my case, ever since I was a teenager and hit maturity, I was secretly bisexual. I tried so hard to pray it away and it would never work and I was in constant fear of going to hell even though I literally couldn't help it. I'm so glad I found my way out at least later in life because now not only do I understand that there was nothing wrong with me in the first place, I don't have to worry about being tortured forever by the bully that is called the Christian God that would punish me like this for something I couldn't help. Of course my reasons for losing faith had nothing to do with that, but it is a wonderful byproduct of knowing that it's not true anyways.

@harrybinn4455

2 ай бұрын

So you allowed some misguided and controlling individuals to destroy your faith in a God whose love is deep and compassionate that He literally died for you? As for your bisexual stuff, its nothing more than temptation. The current trend of using the term for bisexuality only covers lust for both genders and yet the bible speaks out very plainly against lust in any gender. Lust is not freedom, but a prison; may take a while to discover that but there are enough studies on it to show just how bad it controls people. And God is not bully; people claiming to represent God may be, but God is not. And hell is where people choose to go that want nothing to do with God. As for the truth, you are following your desires and passions which eventually destroy us and using that as an excuse to ditch a God that science and history are finding as more and more credible. I'm staying with the man that prophesied his death and resurrection and then did it.

Going through my own deconstruction of the Catholic faith right now and this really hit home for me. I still believe in God but the whole organized religion just doesn't sit right with me. The pressure throughout my entire life has caused so much internal strife but to an un healthy level. This is very new to me but your videos really helped me to understand alot of my own thoughts on the topic 🙏

@MichaelAChristian1

9 ай бұрын

What PRESSURE? WHAT BURDEN! God takes all your burdens. Call upon the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be Saved! Jesus Christ clothes you in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jesus Christ washes you clean in HIS OWN BLOOD! kzread.info/dash/bejne/gneay5eHhZfKmdI.htmlsi=wa3y0AjSAbJ_aLG5

@user-fq7bm6bo3z

7 ай бұрын

​​@@MichaelAChristian1dont be so stupid. Religion gives allot pressure. The message they preach has nothing to do with the reality.

I really enjoyed this video and iit is SO true ! My dad was a C of C preacher. To worry about if you are sinning everyday is too much of a burden to bear. Guilt is so much of what they put on you. They use fear to gain salvation. Everything mostly is about control. It's a life nobody should be forced to live as a child who has no other choice . Thankfully in 2021 I was able to get out. Thanks for sharing your truth.

Dude, as an ex-fundie, you hit the nail on the head.

Be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect......That is pressure

@rickemmons7300

10 ай бұрын

You poor thing. How do you survive every day, without ALL being perfect? The goal is perfection, not attaining it.

@damianwhite504

10 ай бұрын

@@rickemmons7300 I didn't say I agree with it in fact I think it is ridiculous. Nor did I expect everything to be perfect. I used it as an example of the type of command that is unachievable and ultimately causes frustration and guilt in a believer

@MichaelAChristian1

9 ай бұрын

​@@damianwhite504Because you don't understand the gospel of Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ is the Only One Perfect. He clothes you in HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. He washes you clean in HIS OWN BLOOD. Because He loves you! Read John.

@damianwhite504

9 ай бұрын

@@MichaelAChristian1 dont tell me what to do

@elleng8474

4 ай бұрын

@@MichaelAChristian1 This kind of self-righteous preaching is exactly why I stopped being a Christian.

"Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". The classic biblical line. Yeah, pressure was always a big factor. Especially from family and Christian peers. The pressure of expectation. I recall an event, quite ordinary actually, when I was a teen. I was home and no one else was. I don't recall the exact details, but I do remember not knowing where my parents were - they were supposed to be home - and wondering if the Rapture had happened and I'd been left behind. I was raised in a very conservative Christian home that was very interested in eschatology. I went on a couple mission trips in college. On one trip there was pressure to evangelize. I'm glad I never 'brought someone to Christ'. I think I'd have a lot of regrets about that now.

@anonymousjohnson976

Жыл бұрын

Don't they know that nothing in life is to be feared, only understood?

How did you know? Thats exactly what I was wondering; did he ever get that bunk bed?! Lol I also grew up Christian but stopped being religious a long time ago. There is a lot less stress and fear in my life for it. Thank you for sharing :)

@trentthompson4706

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for following the journey!

Thank you my friend I was gaslighted by these people and I was not even a Christian, They ruined my life. I felt that pressure and I used to talk about it and and everyone around me shut me down.

You have such a beautiful home.

Hi I had to stop going to church and to be honest with u I think I am too shit scared to be anything else but Christian in case I go to hell I have been filled with phobias my soulmate kept telling me he was atheist I don't know what he was when he died it cuts to the quick and deeply saddens me that I may not see him ever again Ime terrified of one of us in heaven and the other in hell

@davekoser3938

Жыл бұрын

Carole, I wouldn’t tell you what to believe. From my experience of shedding belief i. Heaven and hell, I can tell you I have found great relief and am no longer tortured by that kind of terror. Hope you are able to live a better life!

@carolebingham7262

Жыл бұрын

@@davekoser3938 hi Dave thank u so much for this how do I start to shed the terror of it because it is so ingrained I don't want to be atheist but i need to shed legalism but all the people I know are seeped in it and I have no one else at all to help me so the minute I try to see it for what it is and say they try to encourage me back into it Ime like in a tug of war half in half out and I've no one else and it's damaging my mental health

@davekoser3938

Жыл бұрын

@@carolebingham7262 Is there any way to find another support system, maybe at.a Universalist church or something like that? Sounds like these people, while the might mean well, are misguided and not helping you. Are you able to find a therapist in your area you can talk to? I know how scary this stuff is and how it can mess with your mind. I was exposed to the concept of hell at 2 or 3 years old, and the whole concept is truly traumatizing. The good news is that there is really no evidence that it is real. If you are able to surround yourself with people who understand that, the force of the people trying to suck you back in will become weaker and weaker.

@davekoser3938

Жыл бұрын

I know it's tempting to do the whole "Pascal's wager" thing and just tell yourself you believe to play it safe. But all we know for sure is that we have this one life, and if you throw it away by living in fear of what "might be to come," then you have nothing at all. Live your best life now!

@carolebingham7262

Жыл бұрын

@@davekoser3938 hi Dave thank u but it's OCD scrupulosity anyway Ime getting the book hopefully today the four aggreements

Would you let me interview you on my KZread?

pressure, is turning your back on God, and never knowing when your time is up. can i get an Amen?

@trentthompson4706

9 ай бұрын

meh

Trent God is love. And yes, He called us to be better and also to do better. Yes there is pressure on that, but life in itself puts a lot of pressure, but with God's help we can always withstand.

@mattr.1887

10 ай бұрын

Yeah, but this is way more than the normal pressures of life. This is eternal torture that we're talking about. Some Christians soften it by insisting that that it's only "torment", not torture. But I think the problem remains: you're always doctrinal misstep away from hell. Ironically, there's not really much for God to do in this model - you have to be the one to figure it all out.

@melquesedekcastro7480

10 ай бұрын

​@@mattr.1887 Dear brother, the biggest problem with the Christian faith is the poor understand we have of it. We go to churches and hear preachers that have no clue what they are really talking about when comes to what God expect from us. Salvation isn't about what we can do. Salvation is what God Himself already provided for us. God through Jesus and Him alone has already granted us our salvation. And yes, we need to believe and have faith without it, It is impossible to please God. We just have to believe that Jesus is enough to grant us our salvation, and of course if we say that we love God and we don't love our brother, neighbour, we are liars. The only way we can love God is when we love our brothers, for loving one another is the only way we can love our Father who is in heaven. It seems to be hard but, I do believe we can do it with God's help. All we really need to please God is to love. But please understand we can't use God's love as an excuse to be licentious. May God bless you and your family in Jesus' name.

@careforjusticealways

9 ай бұрын

In my opinion spirituality is suppose to be relieving, not an extra unnecessary pressure

it is.

first like

If you are in the spirit there is no pressure. You are in Jesus rest in God’s peace.

@denzelnwonye1060

Жыл бұрын

Actually it's huge pressure.... people think that once you pray the lord's prayer you automatically change.. it's not true it takes times ..fear and pressure

Christ takes all that pressure away. In Matthew 11:28 ESV Christ says, 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28, ESV). It sounds like you were living under the law.The existence of God is evident to all of us we are all without excuse. This earth and all its desires will fade. We did not create ourselves God created us and if God created us, are we not his creation to follow his will for our lives. True Christianity exists. It’s not just a religion many follow. It’s life. It’s knowing there’s more to this life and understanding God’s purpose for creating this life we are all living in. Fearing God is the beginning for Wisdom, we recognize that it is Him who is in control and not us. None of us know what waits for us tomorrow. By fearing God and trusting his word , he gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us through this Life he has created for us. Christianity is not pressure. I have never felt so free in all my life. Living free from the bondage of earthly things which none of us can deny is a reality today. I’m sharing this out of pure love. What you knew was not true faith or Christianity. When you take away the reality of God, your reality becomes earthly and what about your soul? When earthly things are all you have in mind? The Christian life is a selfless life to care about one another’s soul. Us caring about living life to the fullest will not save our souls and that’s where sharing the Gospel comes in to wake people up from the reality that this life is not it! There is more to life and Christ Jesus himself has paved the way for us. The road to life is narrow for a good reason. It is not meant to be easy but the path to destruction is wide and easy and many are on that road. Christ alone saves and I hope your earthly journey will bring you back to the True Christ.

@mattr.1887

10 ай бұрын

Keren, can you prove that Jesus is God - and that he even said those things?

@MichaelAChristian1

9 ай бұрын

​@@RobKoch1962I'm not asking. Im telling you what bible teaches. By grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourself it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. kzread.info/dash/bejne/gneay5eHhZfKmdI.htmlsi=wa3y0AjSAbJ_aLG5

@MichaelAChristian1

9 ай бұрын

​@@mattr.1887Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God! All the prophets bore witness to Jesus Christ!

If you are excited about something you will naturally want to share it with those you love. But you cannot determine how they should react to your excitement. Jesus never pressured anyone to come to him, neither did his disciples. Anyone who accepts Jesus due to pressure should know that he has never in reality come to Christ. This is why we should not have infant baptism as some still do. Let your children voluntarily come to Christ less we make them disgruntled nominal or traditional "christians". In true Christianity it is 'whosoever will may come'. So you are free to make your decision to come to Christ or drift away and to share it with others as you are doing. Only don't misrepresent what true Christianity stands for. Consider moslems who if they are stronger than you will compel you to become a moslem or be made to pay taxes to them or be taken as a slave together with your properties. Also you are suppose to be executed if you decide to leave Islam. The prophet of Islam did this and Jihadist are doing it today. Christianity does the opposite. Christianity is about: freedom from falsehood; setting captives free; hope of eternal life; loving your neighbors and even enemies; and embracing whatsoever is true and good.

@trentthompson4706

8 ай бұрын

While I would also never become moslem, Christianity has been complicated and diluted for a very long time now. It unfortunately isn't just freedom, hope, love. There are many strings attached.

@yasaaley

8 ай бұрын

The complication and dilution of Christianity is man-made. Consider that Jesus principally preached the good news of the kingdom of God to the poor or the simple and not to the powerful or sophisticated philosophers or theologians. Not only did he preach to the poor, but he addressed their needs by healing, casting out demons, feeding the hungry and comforting the bereaved. Then he told his would be followers to do the same to the needy on his behalf. He taught us to give to the needy and not to those with private jets who want more. He said we should give generously without fear of lack because we will be reimbursed on earth here and in the hereafter. Jesus lived a life completely submitted to the Father. No one spoke like him before or demonstrated the power of God as he did. He died a sacrificial death which the Father has honored and appropriated by his mercy for the forgiveness of sins of those who will enter his kingdom. He said he was the way to Father and if we trust him to do whatever he told us we will not be confounded in the end. Even if we are persecuted or executed for doing good it shall not be in vain. For example consider what Martin Luther and Martin Luther King did. The latter was even killed but he could not have lived a better life than that. Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit to help guide us unto the truth and to be effective witnesses of him. In a nutshell this is the simple gospel. It is not about complex theology of trinity, infant baptism, once saved forever saved, speaking in tongues, miracles have passed, one man one wife and what have you. Rather than reject this Great loving God and his Christ, if you know what is wrong with Christianity why don't you point it out or even fight it as Martin Luther did. On the other hand if you are happy to stay away from God and to charter your own way through life to wherever it leads then bless your soul. @@trentthompson4706

@trentthompson4706

8 ай бұрын

I appreciate this message, truly, and I understand where you are coming from. I do not feel as though fighting the corrupt systems of christianity is my purpose. Rather I hope to inspire others to believe in themselves and work towards the best life for them as possible. For some that will include God, for others it wont. I just so happen to be in a season of life where it is without god... or rather without the god I was taught about when I was young. Grace and peace to you! @@yasaaley

@yasaaley

8 ай бұрын

I thought your problem was the pressure of Christianity. But I now understand you. Christianity is simply not your purpose and not your interest. If something is your interest or purpose you are willing to endure all kinds of pressure to accomplish it. If something is not your purpose or interest, then it will be seen as a huge pressure to get anything done in its favor. It is a huge pressure to behave as a Christian when you are not. True Christians rejoiced when they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ sake. [Acts 5:41]. So you need not have issues with the 'pressure' of Christianity at all. The pressure of Christianity would have been an issue if it compelled you to be a Christian and to remain a Christian. As yourself have admitted, many other endeavors have their associated pressures if you are to achieve anything valuable in them. @@trentthompson4706

@trentthompson4706

8 ай бұрын

Its more that Christianity has been unhelpful and damaging in my life. The bad heavily outweighs the good. So in efforts to become healthy this had to go. @@yasaaley

Wow. Very good explanation, but, please don't get upset with me, and please let me try to help you. I saw in the video your beautiful family, yes they really are. Now with the original sin: Even though your kids are great, have you ever taught them to lie, to do anything that is wrong? Of course not, but did they ever do anything like that? I can tell you they did as you did as I did. That isn't because they are bad. But, because in our fallen state we resort to do what is convenient and not what is right. Let's "go" to lake of fire called hell and let's see not what you think you know, but what the bible tells us about it. First in Matthew 25:41 to those on his left, 'Get away from me, you who are accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!. You can see on this passage for whom the lake of fire was prepared. Now let's see the explanation for the lake of fire "hell". This is one portion of the bible that most of us christian do not pay attention to what it really says. Revelation 20: 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.The lake of fire is the second death. You can see that the "Hell" that is preached from the pulpits isn't exactly what a lot of pastors say it is. The lake of fire is a figure of speech for eternal destruction or the real death of the whole man, body and soul. God is a God of love, the idea about a place where we would burn forever isn't biblical, it came from pagan literature, and we gladly adopted it. And Jesus mentions it in Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. So you can see in this passage Jesus saying that in hell, body and soul will be destroyed and not be tormented for all eternity. Well now let's talk about what you called separation: We as christians were never called to judge other people we are called to judge ourselves, and, the other question of yours that people who were born where the gospel was never preached they would not be saved, that isn't what the bible says, we can see that in Romans1: 19-20 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. As you can see on this previous passage nobody is going to go hell, because they never heard from Jesus, they will be judged by the knowledge they had access to God. You can also verify that in the book of Revelation 2: 26-27 26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations- 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[a]-just as I have received authority from my Father. This part of Revelation is talk the ones that had the privilege to hear the gospel of Jesus they will govern with Christ over the nations and the nations are going to be made of all the people saved from the beginning of time till the last day. You can see that on the judgement of the Great White Throne Revelation 20: 12-15. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. Another misconception that is made with this passage, many pastors affirm that everybody is going to be judged in here, but this is not the case, this judgment isn't for Christians. Why not, because Christian are not going to be saved for what they did or didn’t do, we christians are saved by grace, and I know, you know that. This judgement is going to be for all the dead of all eras and as chapter 15 expresses clearly only the ones whose name weren't found on the books are going to be destroyed. And you can also verify that the nations and sons of God even though both groups are saved, please, also read Matthews 25 verses 32 to 40 and you're going to see that Jesus calls one group(34) Blessed by my Father, and the second group the He calls them, my brothers and sister (40). I hope I was able to demonstrate to you that nobody is going to lose their salvation because never heard the gospel message. Yes they will not attain to be adopted by God, but they will be called blessed of God, all of them saved. The God we serve is a loving God and He provided salvation for everyone, but I also know not everybody will accept it. And yes, if you believe that I exposed anything wrong please let know. I understand I don’t have your education or anything like that I am just a dummy Brazilian guy that is trying to learn English. But I love the God who called-me. I don’t want see you leaving God because you doubt His love. You have a beautiful family and they need to know about God’s love. God became man and died for them. How can we reject his love and be really happy.

@damianwhite504

Жыл бұрын

nice short, concise answer

@greetingsbox4229

10 ай бұрын

Are you a fan of twitter?

@davekoser3938

10 ай бұрын

Things that can be verified in that rant: zero

@melquesedekcastro7480

10 ай бұрын

@@greetingsbox4229 No, besides e-mail I don't have any social account. Nor Twitter nor Face Book or anything else.

@melquesedekcastro7480

10 ай бұрын

@@greetingsbox4229 My favorite subject in the bible is eschatology. I know, you never asked. Just in case. May God bless you and your family.

It doesn’t sound like they knew Jesus as there Lord and savior. A personal relationship. You should feel like Psalm 119 about the word. I tell my children just wait until your friends ask you about why you believe. Don’t do anything else until the Holy Spirit equips you to do it on your own.

When you left Jesus and God, you will be more sinless!!!😂

Man, this sounds like a parody... what church did you go to? This what religion does to you. Obviously were taught works salvation. Nothing you do saves you, its what Jesus already done. Many churches put us back under the law, with replacement theology, youre not Israel. Covenants were for ISRAEL, READ ROMANS, especially 9,10,11. Israel is blinded until the fullness of the gentiles come in. We are living under the dispensation of the GRACE OF GOD. All is needed is to believe in the sacrifice and resurrection because we are sinners.

@trentthompson4706

Жыл бұрын

Your comments are a parody to many watching and reading. I'd encourage more of a conversation approach and less of a "i'm right and you're wrong". Anywho... grace and peace!

@mattr.1887

10 ай бұрын

If belief saves you, then Jesus died for nothing.

@Marvin-os5fq

7 ай бұрын

@@trentthompson4706 It's not so much about who is right and who is not, but what is true. As you see your children grow up, just the reality of them fighting with each other over what belongs to whom, and their unwillingness to share shows you that sin is real. Selfishness is the origin of sin. So when you saw those things happening with your children, you were already seeing the manifestation of sin in them. You may have seen your kids as innocent when they were babies or as toddlers, but you cannot deny the emergence of selfishness in them. This goes against your view that your children could never do anything evil because you saw them as cute creatures and so innocent and pure. Truth will not always have a conversation with you. If you cannot accept the truth, the problem does not lie with the truth itself/Himself, but with you.

@trentthompson4706

7 ай бұрын

@@Marvin-os5fq This is a narrow and immature view of development and psychology. It has nothing to do with sin and evil. But it's easier to sell a pill when you convince people they are sick. I know my kids are not perfect. No one is. But aren't born sinners. Thats silly. Selfishness is a sign of development. You literally cannot understand how to share when you are young because your brain is not fully formed yet. Not even close. But this has been used as a pathetic excuse to justify sin for so long. It's old and thoughtless.