My friends are all becoming Born Again Christians

[femere]

Needless to say I have to agree that there's no perfect church lahat siguro halos ng religion may sablay sa ibang members. That's just it. Lumaki ako with my born again Aunt and we're just residing beside our church. I became a mimer in the dance ministry and even a drummer. I hate to say this but this aunt of mine was the person I hated the most. I was deeply wounded by her unthoughtful words, degrading names, physical hurt and the like. She became one of the most nightmare I've ever had. I even call her "blairwitch" at the back of my mind. She was the most hypocrite person I've known. Note, every Sunday, she is the holiest person I can see inside the church as I can remember. She's more than a saint I should say. Growing up with her under one roof is the worst case I can recall. To cut the story short, she was the reason why nabuwag yung church due to some family issues. Her pamangkin which happens to be my cousin kasi had an affair with a church member from another Christian church. He's already a married man. Btw my Tito is a pastor and majority ng family namin ay mga Born Again. From then on, I cut ties with my "aunt" and found myself living together with an INC man. Now this man did ask me to convert to his religion so we can be together formally. With 4 years of being together, I was not convinced to change my religion to his for some doubted reasons. (no offense meant) Btw we already broke up. Fast forward now, I've been lurking into Bo Sanchez's blogs, finds his teachings light and inspiring. Im also attending Catholic Masses before. Having experiences like this made me think if I would still believe in religion. Don't get me wrong, I'm into more serious relationship with God and namimiss ko din magattend sa mga Born again services. I just felt touched whenever I'm listening to 700 club and being part of them. As for my aunt, she's already forgiven and I wouldn't be in search of the Lord if it wasn't of my past hurt. It's my relationship with God that's matters to me the most.So as of now,I'nmm not gonna label myself muna. That's just me.  Have a blessed day!

[rhumbafrapp]

may isa akong friend na born  again, even before nun college and lalo na afte college napapansin may pagka user ftiendly. pag siya ng aask ng info, we give it freely and never kami natawa kung di nya alam, whereas sya, andamot up until now.always sa convenience nya lang.  madami dami kami naka notice n lumalayo na kami sakanya
sad lang kasi she often speaks about good thibgs re christianity but di naman na-apply

[gentai_chan]

Let's be mindful of our thoughts na lang mga sisses. We can't deny the fact naman na medyo sensistive ang usaping relihiyon. I guess we have our own share of religious beliefs and that's when respect is needed the most. Siguro if may aetheist na magpost dito to question us about our God we cannot just expect him to believe in everything we say in just a snap. This thread was purposely posted to  understand the different POV of our sisses here. What may have happened to TS may not not be similar to the others. I hope we may have an open mind na din sana. to prevent frustrations among the ones who may think one's post is offensive. Pero again, it's all about rsepect. Have a good day sisses! 

I have to agree with this. Chillax lang mga sisses, surely this is an open forum but there are really times when we should know when to tame our tounges. I agree that this thread isn't being agaist Born agains/christian but for us to have an open mind regardless of the the beliefs each of us has. I just couldn't get it why bashing comes in without having any second thoughts. 

[miss resilient]

hi ts!

wala namang masama kung maging born again christians mga kasama mo kasi ako born again christian din. mas mabuti nga na wala na silang vices or di na sila gumagawa ng dating bagay na di nakakapag bigay lugod sa Lord. hindi ito agad mauunawaan ng wala ng Espiritu ng Dios natural di naman nila ito naeexperience. Iyong enthusiasm, it's natural kasi nakatagpo na sila ng bagong buhay sa Panginoon. may nagsabi rin na lilipas din ito..well siguro kasi di pa niya naeexperience. i've been born again for more than 2 decades now may ups and downs and it happens, pero ang buhay na kasama ang Panginoon hinding hindi ko ipagpapalit sa kung [textspeak!] pa man. sana maranasan mo rin yun :-)

[ritzyritz]

@TS

gosh, this and their being a very noisy neighbors. mga walang consideration kahit madaling araw. i just hate them so much, mga plastic kamo karamihan sa kanila na kakilala ko.

[akthung]

^ hindi naman ganun sis,

yun lang yung mga immature. may stage talaga na ganun: the excitement and hardcore stage. lahat naman ng paniniwala may ganun. wala sa belief yun, nasa tao po yun. unfortunately, marami naiistuck sa stage na ganun. minsan for the rest of their lives.

but you'd have to meet the good ones, they're the good "products." sobrang silang refined na it would be hard naman to give "fault" to their belief.

in the end parang kulay ang mga yan. blue is blue. red is red. green is green. red will never be blue or green. may kanya kanya tayong role sa hardin na ginawa ng panginoon.

[agape]

Born Again Christians are simply SINNERS, nothing more, and whose lives Christ has started changing...and that change is truly a very long process. Some mature quicker, while others backslide pa, they go astray and get lost and then get found again.
As for religion, B.A. is not really a religion, it's not a noun, it's an adjective.
I don't hold on to religion or tradition very much, they change with the times,
I hold on to Jesus, because he is the one who is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Christian Unity is based in Christ, not in a religion or denomination.

[moonie]

Wala yan sa relihyon.  Nasa tao talaga yan.  I have relatives belonging to different religions.  Aunts who converted to different faiths after they got married.  Parehong malalakas sa katekismo nila.  Pero pare-pareho parin ang mga ugali nilang di maganda.  Nyahaha!

[akthung]

nasa tao talaga yan. kelangan grounded ang approach. lalo na sa pag cocommunicate.

Born Again Christians are simply SINNERS, nothing more, and whose lives Christ has started changing...and that change is truly a very long process. Some mature quicker, while others backslide pa, they go astray and get lost and then get found again.
As for religion, B.A. is not really a religion, it's not a noun, it's an adjective.
I don't hold on to religion or tradition very much, they change with the times,
I hold on to Jesus, because he is the one who is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Christian Unity is based in Christ, not in a religion or denomination.

lahat naman ng belief po yan ang claim. religion vs spirituality. age old argument.
but despite the claims, for a lot of people, their behavior, actions, response are best describe by the definition of religion...

para sa akin, ang taong spiritual, ay marunong maki flow with people of other beliefs. why? kasi nakikita nila yung virtues and values nila sa ibang belief. nakikita nila sarili nila sa ibang tao. this means nakita na nila ang root. the common denominator. the Christ in others. the reason(s) why we are all one. that there is one love. that there is one God.

[lisse]

For me, there is no such thing as a perfect Religion. Lahat naman kasi yan man-made eh, and no man is perfect or absolutely sin-free. What really counts the most for me is yung faith mo, yung ugali mo how you treat the people around you, how you give and earn respect.

The old saying that one rotten tomato can make the whole barrel spoiled doesn't apply here; not because you encounter 1, 10, 100 or even 1000 members of a particular religious group/religion eh that speaks for them in entirety. It's a very backward way of thinking if we will make assumptions and conclusions based on a few, personal encounters.

I am a Catholic, albeit a renegade one but I am confident in my "personal" relationship with God.

I encountered a born-again Christian in the parking lot who cut me and raised a fist on me when I honked at her because she almost hit me. And another one who stole my juice in the pantry. And another who stepped on my flower pot and crushed it. And the neighbor who gossips about me and my husband. Do I therefore conclude that BACs are rude and mean? No.

I encountered a BAC in the mall who raised funds for the family of the rape victim. And another who stopped his car and let me cross the street first. And another who lets me have the seat. Do I therefore conclude that BACs are nice and considerate? No.

I think it is wrong to judge someone based on their reliqious affiliation. I think it is wrong to judge someone, period. Religion doesn't dictate you to be naughty or nice. It may send you a wrong message or two, a wrong teaching or two, but it is up to you, up to us, to step up and be the person that God wants us to be. Religion or no religion, we are all children of God and should treat one another as such.

If your religion helps you be the best person that you can be, then all the best for you. If it works for you, then you're lucky. Good job!

I know, ang sarap pakinggan and napaka-idealistic. Sana nga ganon ano, kaso hindi. I know I am not. I turn to my religion for guidance, but when the priest starts to teach something that my heart rebels against, I pray and follow my heart, what I think is right, and hope that God helps me. Keber kung magalit man ang father kong lay minister

[awesomemaia]

I am BAC since birth and not planning to change ever! Born Again is not a religion its a relationship that you found in HIM. Me mga friends din naman ako mga Catholics sila me kanya kanya kaming beliefs and  we don't need to argue or condemn each other. Pinag ppray ko nalang sila ofcourse gusto ko din sila makakilala kasi hindi ko naman nilalahat pero some of them they don't value their religion their relationship with God. Parang easy easy lang sa faith. Nakakalungkot ang usapan na to kasi pinaparusan na nga ang Pilipinas yung nangyari nalang sa tacloban at ganto pa mahahanap kong thread. enthusiastic sila to save souls. its one of the requirement to bring souls to the kingdom of God and by doing so if they accepted God as their lord and savior definitely magugustuah  din nila mag convert by their own will.God is a jealous God pero di ka niya pipilitin. Its your own will if you want to love him or not. God loves us unconditionally din. remember this He first loved us and we follow. time will come that all of us will love him until the judgement day comes. Kung ang friends mo ay very enthusiastic its their holy spirit moving to their lives. they have now this discernment. They discover how God loves them so much that they change for the better. anung masama sa pagiging enthusiastic? take it or leave it but we don't condemn. we pray to our father to save souls like you. to change the way you think. kaya ipag ppray kita TS. matatawa ka nalang in the future if ever buhay pa ang thread na ito. Prayer really works kaya bukambibig naming mga BAC yan. because it manifest to our lives. again its about relationship and not religion.

 peace tayo

[ritzyritz]

^sus talagang masama ang ugali nyong mga BAC sa sinabi mong yan na pinarusahan ng diyos kaya maraming namatay sa tacloban. demonyo lang nag iisip ng may masama sa tao, much less mamatay para ma validate lang yang paniniwala mo na kayo lang ang magaling. pwede ba tumigil ka.

sagutin nyo muna ako sa pinagggagawa nyo. sa lugar namin kahit madaling araw every friday from 1-4AM e kantahan kayo ng pasigaw. madaling araw yan ha. anong tawag sa ganyang ugali?! rumespeto sana kayo. nilalahat ko na kayo kasi natanong ko na din sa ibang may kapitbahay na BAC at ganyan din daw sa kanila. maiingay kahit madaling araw.

this reply may sound harsh but truth hurts and i need not sugarcoat this in very diplomatic languange when that reply above is revolting at dinamay pa ang mga taga tacloban! the nerve. kayo na ang banal!

[ritzyritz]

For me, there is no such thing as a perfect Religion. Lahat naman kasi yan man-made eh, and no man is perfect or absolutely sin-free. What really counts the most for me is yung faith mo, yung ugali mo how you treat the people around you, how you give and earn respect.

The old saying that one rotten tomato can make the whole barrel spoiled doesn't apply here; not because you encounter 1, 10, 100 or even 1000 members of a particular religious group/religion eh that speaks for them in entirety. It's a very backward way of thinking if we will make assumptions and conclusions based on a few, personal encounters.

I am a Catholic, albeit a renegade one but I am confident in my "personal" relationship with God.

I encountered a born-again Christian in the parking lot who cut me and raised a fist on me when I honked at her because she almost hit me. And another one who stole my juice in the pantry. And another who stepped on my flower pot and crushed it. And the neighbor who gossips about me and my husband. Do I therefore conclude that BACs are rude and mean? No.

I encountered a BAC in the mall who raised funds for the family of the rape victim. And another who stopped his car and let me cross the street first. And another who lets me have the seat. Do I therefore conclude that BACs are nice and considerate? No.

I think it is wrong to judge someone based on their reliqious affiliation. I think it is wrong to judge someone, period. Religion doesn't dictate you to be naughty or nice. It may send you a wrong message or two, a wrong teaching or two, but it is up to you, up to us, to step up and be the person that God wants us to be. Religion or no religion, we are all children of God and should treat one another as such.

If your religion helps you be the best person that you can be, then all the best for you. If it works for you, then you're lucky. Good job!

I know, ang sarap pakinggan and napaka-idealistic. Sana nga ganon ano, kaso hindi. I know I am not. I turn to my religion for guidance, but when the priest starts to teach something that my heart rebels against, I pray and follow my heart, what I think is right, and hope that God helps me. Keber kung magalit man ang father kong lay minister

exactly sis. very well said. i salute you. sana kung ganyan lang mag isip ang iba. kaso sobrang selfish at sila lang daw ang banal at makadiyos. lol. for sure God is not judgmental and not exclusive.

[Observer54]

i ve tried different religions na. BAC INC and even Muslim pero bumalik pa rin ako sa Catholic. nasa tao lang talaga at respeto sa kapwa. ultimately its how you lived your life. pero nabbwisit lang talaga sa mga taong akala mo siguradong sigurado na ang relihiyon lang nila ang ililigtas ng Diyos.

[moonie]

I am BAC since birth and not planning to change ever! Born Again is not a religion its a relationship that you found in HIM. Me mga friends din naman ako mga Catholics sila me kanya kanya kaming beliefs and  we don't need to argue or condemn each other. Pinag ppray ko nalang sila ofcourse gusto ko din sila makakilala kasi hindi ko naman nilalahat pero some of them they don't value their religion their relationship with God. Parang easy easy lang sa faith. Nakakalungkot ang usapan na to kasi pinaparusan na nga ang Pilipinas yung nangyari nalang sa tacloban at ganto pa mahahanap kong thread.

The tragedy that happened in Tacloban or elsewhere brought by natural calamities are NOT god's punishment.  Hindi sila pinaparusahan sis.  No faith or religion was exempt from that.  Que mabait que masamang tao, que katoliko que BAC naapektohan nun.

I think we should just be good whatever we are -- good catholics, good muslims, good INCs, good BACs, etc. -- and respect one another.  Don't call each other names, stop preaching that this other religion wrong rather just preach what you believe is gods teaching to your followers and understand that each one has their own beliefs and accept that we don't agree on all things. 

[daisy_duck]

I think the "over enthusiastic" behavior only applies to newly converts? In my experience kasi, I have friends who are born  "Christian" and they're like me, "makasalanan". I have a cousin na nung newly convert pa siya, she would'nt wear jewelries or hold parties kahit birthday niya kasi worldly daw. Years pass, ngayon, she is still a Born Again Christian pero this time, para na siyang me hepa sa alahas plus napahilig sa mamahaling bags. Akala ko ba worldly yun? So yun lang masasabi ko, magwwear off din yang  enthusiasm na yan.

[akthung]

I think the "over enthusiastic" behavior only applies to newly converts?

yun nga sabi ko kanina sis. mostly sa bago. although meron din yung forever bago ang dating kasi naging makitid ang pag unawa.

ang dami ko nang sinalihan na paniniwala. pareho lang. maski ako naging ganun. iba wisdom ng isang taong tapos na sa stage na ganun.

ang latang puno, hindi maingay kung gumulong. ang taong fulfilled sa paniniwala niya, hindi na mag iingay yun. may inner bliss and happiness na kasi. hindi din niya ifoforce ang paniniwala niya. marunong gumalang.

hindi din naiiba sa martial arts yan. usually yung mga nag sisimula ng away between schools and teachers, ay yung mga bago. hehe

[iceheaven31]

pacomment lang ng kaunti.

i am a roman catholic, and will die a roman catholic. marami akong friends na BAC, may sobrang kaclose pa. may tita ako na ADD. ako bilang OFW dito sa malaysia, may mga kaibigan akong Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, free thinkers at isang atheist. sa pinas pa lang meron na kong mga kaibigan na INC, mormon, jehovah's witness, etc. Unti-unti akong natututo ng respeto sa relihyon kahit nasa paniniwala ko na Roman Catholicism is the only religion founded by Jesus Christ.

para sa mga katolikong naconvert sa ibang relihiyon:
-catholics call these people as lost sheep. sila yung mga taong personally pinanghihinayangan ko dahil hindi nila nabigyan ng chance ang catholic church para ibigay ang klase ng enlightenment na hanap nila. for example: rica peralejo. nag stop naging boldstar nung nakarinig ng "the body is the temple of the holy spirit" sa isang BAC gathering, at nakapag-asawa ng pastor. bat ganun, e millenia-old teaching na yan sa katesismo ng katoliko. di ko alam kung anong naging difference.
-yung mga newly converted, parang nasa isang stage pa sila na sobrang conscious sila sa mga actions nila. siyempre, bagong convert eh. tulad nga ng sabi ng ibang mga bro at sis natin, madalas, nagwwear-off yan, lalo na sa mga makikitid ang utak. pero sa mga taong talagang isinasabuhay nila ang buhay Kristiyano, then good for them.

i am not super against BACs or other Christian denominations for that matter. well, if their current belief is what is now making them to be better persons, then by all means, stay with it. kami naman ng mga kaibigan kong BAC, nagkakasundo kami pagdating sa music kasi lahat ng christian denominations kilala ang Hillsong (na hindi rin naman mga Katoliko), Steven Curtis Chapman, Passion Band, etc.

i would also say that not all Catholics are perfect. kahit pari at obispo. wag na rin natin isugarcoat, nasa news naman yan. personally, i am a member of a catholic christian renewal organization. i admit, makasalanan rin ako at lahat ng tao. wala namang hindi gumagawa ng kasalanan maliban kay Jesus and Mama Mary. di ko sinasabing perfect ako, but what I can be proud of is I recognize that there is a God who is waiting for all of us to come back to Him, whatever our method is. kadalasan kasi yan ang pagkukulang ng mga tao, yung ayaw nila irecognize si God.

HOWEVER, personally, what i do not like is, christians (like ADD / INC) who impose or preach to catholics. na kesyo sila lang ang maliligtas. na kesyo mas tama ang mga turo sa kanila. yung mga literal ang pag-intindi sa bibliya. (apologies for the bara-bara words already being used). oo, hindi lahat ng katoliko, and aminado na ko doon, ay hindi pala-basa ng bibliya. but if I may say so, Catholic teachings (which include scripture AND sacred tradition [http://www.catholicbible101.com/sacredtradition.htm]) are already existent for the past two millenia. walang nabago. kaya wag ipilit ang mga interpretasyon ng iba. we may not have an immediate rebuttal to those people who insist their teachings but give us time to research, there is always an answer to those people who like to impose.

para sa mga katoliko na hindi mahanap ang enlightenment sa misa every Sunday: you are not alone. lalo pa we all have this mentality na pag si Fr ganito ang nag misa, ayaw natin magsimba sa timeslot na yun kasi boring or mahaba manermon. if that is the case, then look for Catholic organizations who can give you answers. there are renewal communities, youth communities, parish ministries, all available for you. or start with preachings of Bo Sanchez. minsan kasi sa ganito nagsisimula yung unti-unting recognition of God then susunod na yung pagbibigay ng importance sa Mass, sacrament of confession, etc.


peace.

[akthung]

belief vs belief will never end. panahon pa yan ng mga sumulat ng biblia.


person to person basis nal ang siguro. im very sure lahat ng belief may mga magagandang examples, at may rotten apples din.

at agree to disagree na lang ang masusuggest ko para hindi maging negative ang thread na eto.

[agape]

i am a roman catholic, and will die a roman catholic.

Maraming tao ang ganyan. They were born into a religion and will die by that religion.
They did not choose their religion when they were a baby, they just decided to stick with it na lang.
The loyalty maybe is in the religion/tradition/beliefs/church/routine/family ties, or just plain fear,
but not necessarily on God himself.
There is nothing wrong with being loyal/faithful, it is actually good,
iba rin naman yung close-minded, but you won't grow spiritually unless you also open your mind,
but faith is only as powerful as the object to whom you put your faith in, God.
God will not ask us what religion did you join, to get into heaven. (John 3:3)
God will ask what we did with His Son, the Savior,
did we believe what Jesus said (John 11:25,  11:40, 14:6,  Matthew 7:21)
and what He did for us (why he had to die on the cross) or did we believe a false gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4)?
All of us are born into some kind of religion, but that religion should lead us to God. Sabi nga dun sa Life of Pi.

It is good that the Catholic Church is CHANGING. There's the Feast/Bo Sanchez, Couples for Christ, etc.
It is something that the Reformers/Protestants/Martin Luther has been trying to do before, make changes. Many things needed to change sa church, that's why other denominations came into existence because change never happens over night.
Marami ng Catholic na born-again na din ngayon, but choose to stay Catholic.
Madami na rin kasing options ngayon ang mga Catholics, unlike before where the option was to leave Catholicism and convert to some other Christian religion, to have their spiritual needs met.

We also need to learn to accept the flaws of our church (people) just as Christ simply accepts His Bride.
Believe it or not, even if Catholicism is the oldest one (maybe, Judaism) have some wrong doctrines. Not one religion has all the answers. But what's important is we get the answers to the most important questions in this life, such as Salvation/Eternity/Afterlife/Trinity, and learn the lessons in living this life, Love/Grace/Mercy/Holiness/Forgiveness (fruits of the Spirit). Peace.