Welcome to Gaia! ::

You wouldn't walk up to a random stranger and say they were your best friend, would you? Of course not. In order to have a good relationship, you have to know a person well, listen to them, know their experiences. We get to know God through his word. He tells us who He is, what He's done, and how much He cares for us, all in that book. Also, when you have a close relationship with someone, you do what they ask of you because you love them. You do your chores like your mom says, or you share your chips with your bestie at lunchtime, not because it's for your gain, but because it's what they want. Same goes with God. We love one another, we don't lie, we act right because He wants us to do those things. It would be much easier to give into our sinful desires, but because God has asked us not to, we should try our best to obey out of our love for him. So you see, it is a relationship. Reading God's word and keeping His commands simply goes hand in hand with it, like peanut butter and jelly. mrgreen

Part of following Jesus and worshiping God is reading His word. So you should.

Haha, I love what you did with the quote. I'm gonna start doing that. xD

Back on topic(ish): Promark: would you ask someone out and then not talk to them ever ever ever? No. So should you ask God into your heart then not talk to Him (and read His word) ever ever ever? No.

I'm gonna venture out and say its even a bit like a relationship with another person, whether it be a brother or sister or a girlfriend or boyfriend. You need to share emotions and have a relationship, but there are still 'rules' that have to be followed. You've got to take a girl/boy out often, (this is my ridiculous analogy to praying) or else that relationship begins to weaken, and eventually breaks. You also need to not be rude or hateful towards a sibling (sin), and you should definitely do things with them occasionally.

This is why I began to question denominations. Saying that you're Catholic/Protestant/Baptist/Methodist/WHATEVER is turning your relationship with God into a legality, where certain ceremonies and prayers act like laws in your faith. Christianity is about having a relationship with God, not following Rules just so you can get to heaven. You should love God as your Creator, and do what God wants you to do.

I heard someone say "I'm Pedestrian, because I follow the Way,"

biggrin
I picked it up off someone else. The church I go to is an independant baptist church, and I'm pretty sure they follow the Bible properly. We don't do any weird things that aren't in the Bible.

I hope not, anyway.
:/

–noun

1. strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence, to law or prescription, esp. to the letter rather than the spirit.
2. Theology. a. the doctrine that salvation is gained through good works.
b. the judging of conduct in terms of adherence to precise laws.

3. (initial capital letter) (in Chinese philosophy) the principles and practices of a school of political theorists advocating strict legal control over all activities, a system of rewards and punishments uniform for all classes, and an absolute monarchy.

So, it would be the second one in this context. Basically it's complete rubbish.