Do you have to be a specific religion to be with God?

Depends on who you ask. Many of the original settlers in North America were “unchurched.” They were Christian but being on the frontier they didn’t have a church to attend. The Bible does tell believers to meet with other believers to encourage each other’s faith. Most churches feel very strongly that attendance and tithing is important for Christians (especially the tithing part; one of my friends visited a church and was dismayed that the amount each family contributed was posted on a bulletin board as a form of peer pressure to give more) The faithful Christians I know who don’t attend church skip it because they do not like any of the local churches. If you don’t feel that other church members share your faith than you can not really have fellowship with them. Studying on their own seems better than meeting with hypocrites.

I have friends who believe, i can console in them for encouragement. Givin money to a church is good and all but so many are corrupted now. Even then its the “thought” that counts. But if you dont chose a specific religion then who do you donate to?

Of course tithing (as well as the 10 commandments) are part of the old covenant. You could argue that Christians should still try to keep up the old covenant to please God even though they are saved under the new covenant. The New Testament says a lot of things about giving but not about tithing. It says it should come from the compassionate heart rather than grudgingly or out of duty. I always liked what Bono said about this, he said that his God didn’t need money. I’d lean toward giving to the kind of charity that did the kind of things Jesus said we should do: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and visit the lonely. ObDisclaimer: I’m not an actual Christian, nor do I play on on TV. I’m just basing this on what I’ve read in scripture and what I think follows logically from it.

No. It doesnt really depend on the people around you at all. For example, my grandma was raised in a christian family. Still is. But when I asked her what her religion is, expecting her to say Christian, she said “I have a relationship with God.” And that was all. You dont need to choose a religion. Its like if you shop for clothing, do you have to pick a specific brand? No, you just get what you like. With God, just keep a relationship. And when people ask, just say what she said, “I have a relationship with God”. If thats what you want, of course.

I agree

I kinda agree with that. Give to the less fortunate. God doesnt need money. But religions do in order for them to spread. You do have a good point. i think helping the needy is way better than helping religions

Of course not. Being with God is a personal relationship and going to Church is fellowship and sharing. Every hair on our heads is numbered, (Mathew 10 chapter ? I think) But the true relationship with God is all on an individual basis. I just can’t begin to believe that God would judge us by the Church we attend, (or not) although it is written that he wants us to have fellowship. Attending Church at least once in awhile does boost the spirit, I can’t really explain why, it just does. We go to a country church 6 miles from here and have even showed up on our 4-wheeler. The preacher said: “I don’t care how you get here, come on in and join us!!! That’s fellowship.

Depending on what relgion you are the responses could vary. some will say yes, some will say no. Truth of the matter is any religion has a higher power. They all have a god, gods, or godess/godesses that they instil belief in. They can not see, hear, taste, or touch this god/godess for themselves, but they feel enough belief and faith in themselves to put that faith in there choice of god. No one will really know until its our time.

exactly :)

There are christian based non denominational churches for fellowship for people, who do not feel the need to be in a set religious denomination. It’s whatever your drawn to and your gut says is the right fit, is where you belong. I tend to agree that thitings are more about giving where you feel a need, needs to be met. And that can be many different things to many different people. But I believe if you listen with your heart your time or your money is going where it’s intended to go.

agreed

Your right .

Depends on what you believe. Personally, I don’t believe so.

you have to accept islam if you want to come near to god