Christian Witchcraft

I am increasingly disturbed by what I call "Christian Witchcraft".  I believe this stems from the "cookie cutter Christian Syndrome".  I talked about that in another blog post.  Briefly, by this I mean, the idea that we all have to be the same.  There is no room for individual beliefs, even if it is not a doctrinal issue.  Christians do need to agree on anything that someone could lose their soul if their belief is not the same as the other Christians.  However, most of the things Christians disagree about, are not that serious.
When a Christian does not agree with his/her fellow Christians, often, the disagreeing Christian is often manipulated, shunned, shamed or worse.  This idea that there is no new ideas, no new ways of doing things in a different way is not allowable.
If the Wright Brothers did not do something different, they would never have built an airplane.  I believe that the problem for Christians is often is that the other Christians wish they had thought of it first.  Christians are prime targets to get into a rut.   Even those who have changed recently can get into a rut of not wanting to make the next change.
What is disturbing to me is how other Christians are often used to tell their fellow Christians how they should run their life.  Most of the time these Christians can't keep their own lives straight but are ready to tell others what they would do, if they were them.  Let's use what day to go to church as an example.  Some worship on Saturdays, some on Sundays, some Sunday and Wednesdays and some every day of the week.  What does the Apostle Paul say about this?  Romans 14:5 says "One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind."  This is a principle that applies to everything that is not a doctrinal issue that could cost someone their soul.
So you go to church 3 times a week every week.  I go to church 2 times a week.  Is this a problem?  Not if each person is convinced this is what God requires of us.
However, tell the average Christian this and you will get some "shoulds" thrown at you.  The enemy of our souls uses well-meaning Christians to abuse other Christians.  The "should" syndrome has been used in churches for many years.   And I might add in many Christian homes.  I lived with the should syndrome for many years.
It is my opinion that it really is a matter of the heart.   In the scripture above, Paul states that one should be fully convinced in their mind.   If a persons belief is not contrary to scripture, then it really is a matter of what God requires of you.   God very well could require one person to go to church weekly and another to go one time a month.  
The reason I call this Christian witchcraft is because of what witchcraft is.  Boiled all the way down to the basics, witchcraft is control or manipulation of another person.  When Christians manipulate other people it is witchcraft as well, regardless of the first person's intentions.  As Jesus said in Matthew 7:5, "
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."  In other words, don't try to get another person to do what you think is right for them, until you are complete/perfect.
One final note:  Hitler used manipulation to gain power over the people.  I have been reading a very interesting book called When a Nation Forgets God by Erwin W. Lutzer.  I believe that we can learn from the past.   One of the things Hitler accomplished is to make the church powerless.  This is happening today in the USA.  One of the ways to make this happen is to turn people against each other.  A house divided cannot stand.  The USA is becoming more and more divided, both inside and outside the church.

Church: Part 1-Background

As I have stated a few times already, when I started this journey, I had no idea where it would lead.  I was born by and raised by Christians.  I went to church 3 times a week most of my growing up years.  Although I never heard it said then, it was like if the church doors were open, you went.   I never resented my parents for taking me to church.  I actually thrived on it and loved church.   Looking back, I was a Vacation Bible School addict.  I went to every one I was allowed to go to.  For those unfamiliar with Vacation Bible School, it is usually a week in the summer where for 2 hours a day , young ones go to church and learn about God.
I am stating all this because most of my life, I would never have believed a day would come when I would not want to go to church.   Sure I'm old enough to know better, but I do not look forward to Sunday anymore.   Last Sunday, I just could not make myself go to church.   This has caused me to look inside, and find out why.
One of the main reasons that I have "church phobia" is that I have become "cold" by going to church.  This scares me because in the book of Revelation, it is written "So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth! (Revelation 3:16).   Ugh!!  I do not want to be vomited out of God's mouth.  No way can that be good.   But even more is the fact that I love God!  I want to be pleasing.  But to be pleasing, I must get past lukewarm and get hot!
I know you are wondering how I can connect my 'coldness' with the church.  It isn't from a lack of reading or listening.  I read a lot.  I also listen to many podcasts during the week.   Many times on Sunday, I watch several churches as they stream over the internet.  I try to incorporate what I hear into my life.  I do not want to be deceived as it says in the book of James.  James talks of those who hear the word but do not do it.

I see the same thing in the "church" all over the USA.  We are becoming cookie cutter Christians.   If we can be called Christians.  Christian means "Christ-like".  If we are lukewarm or cold are we "Christ-like"?

Here is what I see as "cookie cutter" churches:
Clockdown before the service begins
Dimmed lighting during worship and possibly the message.
A message from the pastor that is cute, maybe themed, but one that does not encourage maturity in Christ
People get "saved" by saying a prayer  (usually the prayer is pretty much the same each Sunday)
Church goers are encouraged to go to a connect group (also called small group or cell groups)
No mention is made about "social causes", such as Christians being killed by Isis or their villages burnt in Niger, etc
Church goers bombarded with statistics to prove how good and wonderful the 'church' is
Those who have ideas outside of the 'box' get attacked
No negativism - never is anything said of things that could be construed as negative
Church leaders have titles like Lead Pastor, Senior Pastor, Worship Leader etc
Having a stage (used to be called a platform)
Those on stage look like the world
Focus on entertainment
Focus on bringing people into the 'church' as opposed to going out of the church to bring God to people.
 

I want to reiterate that I am not against churches.   This is not about one church, it is about a trend I see in churches.  I hear from people in various parts of the USA and the stories I hear have the similarities mentioned above.

Forgetting:  The spirit of religion that creeps into the church and into my heart if I do not guard my heart.

Remembering:  It is all about God.  He didn't ask me to do all these things.  He called me to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and mind!

The Beginning

I was reading Kris Valloten's book Spirit Wars this morning.  This one sentence jumped out at me:  "What I did not realize until that night was that I had been educated right out of my solution."  That hit me hard.  This thought came to me, "what if I could forget what I thought I knew about God and start fresh and learn again"  It sounds crazy.  That is the purpose of this blog, a reset, a new beginning.  Starting without preconceived ideas about God.  Doing what new Christians do.
My plan:  to write what I am forgetting and what I am learning.

Afterward:  Coincidentally?  Tonight I watched "God's Not Dead".  It is about a student who chooses to accept a challenge to try to prove that God is not dead.

Update:  2/16/15
This has been a much different journey than I had expected.  But just as a plant is pruned to help it grow and produce more, so have I been pruned.  This winter has been long and cold.  In many ways it has been hard but joyful.  It won't be long until I hear the words, "Lo, the winter is past....."

Update 11/11/17
How far this journey has taken me.  I believe that if I had not left the Standard American "Church", I would be a dead and cold Christian.  I am shocked to see where I am now.  But there is the "life" of God stirring in my heart and I believe that I am closer to being like Christ.  Is that not what we are meant to be?  Formed in the image of Christ.  I am planning to update my blogs first and there continue on, by relating how I have gotten from where I was to where God has brought me.  I have a glimpse of my future.  I believe that many Christians all over the world are escaping "church" in order to become the body of Christ, His church, also called the "remnant".