[Kiwi Christian]

When I got saved as a young man in 1993, aged 23, I had had no religious upbringing or church experience whatsoever. About 1 month after I got saved I had the great blessing of being steered straight into a King James Only, Dispensational, Rightly Dividing, Bible Believing Baptist church where I was rooted and grounded in God's love and God's word, amen.

Now, while I have been walking with Christ these past 16 years, I have been confronted with many Christians who have had the complete opposite unbringing as me, being involved in some kind of false religion in their youth which has plagued them to a degree their whole life. While they may be on the right track with God now, they are still effected by their past experiences, whether that be the occult, catholicism, or charismania, etc. I have seen this so often and wonder why they can't shake it off, why they can't get rid of the baggage, it's like they are spiritually scarred for life!

I am very thankful that God has spared me from carrying around the baggage of a previous false religion, but I'd like to understand more about this phenomenon. Are there any of you readers who can relate personally to this and would care to give a word of testimony of your past experiences, and how/why they still effect you today?

[chette777]

There are other forms of baggage other than religious baggage. That is also carried around by many Christians. while some of it is quite evident others are not until the person is willing to have their eyes open to there true self.

attitudes, emotions, addictions, and secular education often plague Christians especially those who get saved later in life.

But God gives us a way of escape so no man is without excuse for continuing in their baggage carrying.

and of course some of us carry the results of our lives of sin into the present because we may be saved but it doesn't change the the result of our sin. i.e saved murderers or rapist or someone it Herpes or HIV.

[CKG]

I think that even though we have been born again all of the data that has been input into our brains is still there. It seems to be especially difficult to break away from false and erroneous teachings we got from our families and "religious" background. It can be done.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalm 119:130)

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

[Samuel]

My 22 years living with a Charismatic wife, has left a few dents. The whole 22 years I fought against it, and still do. But that left me with much of a critical outlook. Which I find in this modern organized religious world we now live in, quite handy at times.

Although I try to temper it with a little Salt, or as much as I can.

[George]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Christian

When I got saved as a young man in 1993, aged 23, I had had no religious upbringing or church experience whatsoever. About 1 month after I got saved I had the great blessing of being steered straight into a King James Only, Dispensational, Rightly Dividing, Bible Believing Baptist church where I was rooted and grounded in God's love and God's word, amen.

Now, while I have been walking with Christ these past 16 years, I have been confronted with many Christians who have had the complete opposite unbringing as me, being involved in some kind of false religion in their youth which has plagued them to a degree their whole life. While they may be on the right track with God now, they are still effected by their past experiences, whether that be the occult, catholicism, or charismania, etc. I have seen this so often and wonder why they can't shake it off, why they can't get rid of the baggage, it's like they are spiritually scarred for life!

I am very thankful that God has spared me from carrying around the baggage of a previous false religion, but I'd like to understand more about this phenomenon. Are there any of you readers who can relate personally to this and would care to give a word of testimony of your past experiences, and how/why they still effect you today?

Aloha brother Kiwi,

Although I haven't said it before, I appreciate your thoughtful Posts (Comments & Responses). From reading many of your Posts I perceive a Christian who is honestly seeking the truth, and I appreciate that a great deal in these days of "Christian" anarchy and apostasy {May God keep us from Bible correctors, gnat strainers, kooks, crazies, heretics, and reprobates!}

In regards to your keen observations concerning religious "baggage", I have posted a few comments about this issue in the following links on the Forum:

http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...6&postcount=10
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...71&postcount=1
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...78&postcount=8

I believe that there are two things that plague every born again believer (NO EXCEPTIONS!) - "GARBAGE" & "BAGGAGE"; and I make the distinction between the two in those Posts. For example:

"I believe that every Christian has an "Achilles Heel" (poor example) or a "weakness" (at least one) that he or she must become aware of and guard against.

Some Christians deal with "carnal" problems ("Sins") all of their lives i.e. drunkeness, drugs, porn, adultery, fornication, idolatry, heresies, etc., etc., etc. I call this the "garbage" we pick up (mostly before we got saved - though sometimes after).

And then there's the "baggage" (mostly "faults" - which can lead to "sin") that we have accumulated (both before we got saved and after), and that has a lot to do with our culture (country, state, city, town, etc.); our home "environment (no training, wrong training, bad training); our "schooling" (public i.e. government, private, "Christian", etc.); and especially those "things" that appeal to our HEART - for where our heart is, there will be our "treasure" also.

I believe that Hyper or Ultra Dispensationalism, {Calvinism, Neo-Orthodoxy, etc.} appeal to those Christians that are the "Cerebral", "Academic", and "Intellectual" type (not necessarily "schooled"). Satan has a "device" for all of us and the easiest way for him to "side track" a saint is to exploit our weaknesses.

It's fairly easy to spot the "garbage" in our lives, but we may not be as readily aware of much of the "baggage" that we have accumulated along life's way, but I know that we all have some, and the only way for us to get rid of it is to study and pray and be willing to receive "instruction" from the Holy Spirit concerning both our faults and our sins.

Generally speaking, I have observed that, those Christians that were saved at an early age (before their "teens") don't seem to have accumulated as much "garbage" as those who were saved later in life (the exceptions always prove the rule). But they still have to contend with the "baggage", which often times they may not even be aware of.

Conversely, those Christians that have been saved later in life, often have to contend with both the "baggage" and the "garbage" they accumulated along the way.

Now God has provided a way for us (Christians) to lead a "victorious" life, but it entails turning away from ours sins and turning unto God and worshiping Him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH (and you can't have ONE without the OTHER). This is sometimes very difficult when one has grown accustomed (it's "their bag") to living in sin and thinking in the the way of the world (in the Western World - Humanism foremost)."

It appears to me that you and I had a very similar childhood, at least where it comes to "religious training" - we both had NONE. Although there are definite disadvantages to not being brought up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord", I believe that to be brought up in a false religion (Roman Catholicism) or a "Christian" church - so shot through with LEAVEN that for all practical purposes it is DEAD (Protestantism), is a greater detriment to born again believers accepting and believing the Holy word of God because of their past acceptance (BELIEF) of FALSE DOCTRINE.

Of course in the modern world there is another RELIGION, that isn't recognized as a "religion", or even admitted to being a "religion", that has "infected" the whole of the Western world, and much of the rest of the world as well, and that is the "religion" of HUMANISM! And we all have been "infected" with that "religion" to some degree.

It behooves us all (born again believers) to be aware of these past (before we were saved) and present (now that we are saved) "influences" in our lives and do everything that we can possibly do to guard against all of the "garbage" & "baggage" we have accumulated along life's way.

The following links are some Posts that I made earlier on the Forum in regards to the pernicious and destructive "religion/philosophy" known as HUMANISM - that has swayed, influenced, and convinced millions of people to REJECT the Scriptures as being 'The Truth" (and damned them to Hell); and which has swayed, influenced, and convinced thousands of Christians (born again believers) to turn their backs on God Almighty and His Holy word!

http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...99&postcount=1
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...27&postcount=5
http://av1611.com/forums/showpost.ph...48&postcount=7

In the first 3 links (on "garbage" & "baggage") I list some of the things that Christians must do in order to "combat" [Ephesians 6:10-20] these pernicious influences that plague us all.

Keep searching the Scriptures brother - you're on the right track!

[Kiwi Christian]

Bro. George, I appreciated your thoughts on "baggage" and "garbage", and the links you provided. Considering all this, this subject gets quite complicated, with there being many different variables as to why a person would struggle in their Christian walk. I wonder if the ultimate reason why they struggle is rebellion, rebelling against the clear instructions to obey God, and to submit, trust, and obey God's word. Maybe it's not so complicated after all.

[Kiwi Christian]

Originally Posted by CKG

I think that even though we have been born again all of the data that has been input into our brains is still there. It seems to be especially difficult to break away from false and erroneous teachings we got from our families and "religious" background. It can be done.

Amen. "I can do all things through Christ!" Then why don't some people ever seem to shed their religious baggage? Could it be they aren't trying to shed it "through Christ" and through the word of God. Is there really any excuse to hold on to it and continue to be effected by it? I think not.

[chette777]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Christian

Amen.Then why don't some people ever seem to shed their religious baggage? Could it be they aren't trying to shed it "through Christ" and through the word of God.

sometimes they don't even recognize it. we are often times blind to our own faults while very quick to see them in others. that is why when there is a situation that happens I can see that God is working to work in the hearts of all involved to reveal garbage and luggage that needs to be let go and thrown out.

[George]

Originally Posted by Kiwi Christian

Bro. George, I appreciated your thoughts on "baggage" and "garbage", and the links you provided. Considering all this, this subject gets quite complicated, with there being many different variables as to why a person would struggle in their Christian walk. I wonder if the ultimate reason why they struggle is rebellion, rebelling against the clear instructions to obey God, and to submit, trust, and obey God's word. Maybe it's not so complicated after all.

Aloha brother,

I believe you are right. I divided "garbage" and "baggage" in our lives in order to focus on the different kinds of faults and sins that plague us all. As you say - The problem is quite simple (at heart). The lack of love for God; the lack of love for God's word (i.e.words); a lack of desire to know God's word; a lack of desire to obey God's will for our lives; all of these things (and more) are the cause of our problems - it's called SIN.

Man's sinful nature causes men to construct these philosophies (foremost today - psychiatry & psychology), world religions (including sects, cults, etc.), individual cultures, etc.; in order to glorify man and his accomplishments, and in order to justify their opposition and rebellion against a Holy God and His Holy word.

The whole purpose of these man made "belief systems" is to influence, intimidate, coerce, or force mankind to accept ANYTHING - other than WHAT God says.

If you want to know what is going on today - The Lord has said it far better than I have:

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

This is the "mystery of iniquity", that Paul spoke of, that is taking place before our very eyes. This is the "falling away" (apostasy) that Paul warned of, that is taking place at this very moment.

This is why we must not get discouraged when people won't receive the truth (especially when Christians REFUSE to RECEIVE the LOVE of the TRUTH".) God is sending mankind "strong DELUSION, that they should BELIEVE A LIE! WHY is God doing this? Because most of mankind REFUSES TO BELIEVE THE TRUTH! Because most Christians REFUSE TO RECEIVE THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH! And if they will not BELIEVE the truth or RECEIVE the love of the truth, then "God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie"

Modern day Christians who have, knowingly or unknowingly, accepted Humanistic philosophies (psychiatry & psychology foremost); Humanistic logic & reasoning (Sophistry foremost); and Humanistic culture, customs, and "lifestyles" are leavening the churches with lies and false belief systems. We encounter these kinds of Christians practically every day on this Forum. Their mantra is: "Yea hath God said"?

These are the kinds of "Christians" that REFUSE to accept the truth that Paul spoke of in the foregoing Scriptures. They reason - "Isn't God LOVE?" "A LOVING God couldn't possibly send a "strong delusion" so that people will believe a lie!" But God said that that is exactly what He is going to do, and I believe that He is doing precisely that - right at this moment.

The cause of all the Garbage & Baggage in our lives is quite "simple" -SIN! The cure for all of these sins that plague us is also quite "simple" - the Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy word. The problem is quite "simple" also:

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

[peopleoftheway]

Originally Posted by George

Modern day Christians who have, knowingly or unknowingly, accepted Humanistic philosophies (psychiatry & psychology foremost); Humanistic logic & reasoning (Sophistry foremost); and Humanistic culture, customs, and "lifestyles" are leavening the churches with lies and false belief systems. We encounter these kinds of Christians practically every day on this Forum. Their mantra is: "Yea hath God said"?

These are the kinds of "Christians" that REFUSE to accept the truth that Paul spoke of in the foregoing Scriptures. They reason - "Isn't God LOVE?" "A LOVING God couldn't possibly send a "strong delusion" so that people will believe a lie!" But God said that that is exactly what He is going to do, and I believe that He is doing precisely that - right at this moment.

The cause of all the Garbage & Baggage in our lives is quite "simple" -SIN! The cure for all of these sins that plague us is also quite "simple" - the Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy word. The problem is quite "simple" also:

Brother George I couldn't agree with you more, it is clearly evident from the behaviour of those that profess to love the Lord, yet exclude him from their daily lives. Baggage from false religions, cults and the like are a definite stronghold of the devil, not to hinder that persons salvation but to prevent them from being a good witness for Christ through "the truth"
I see it even more evident in HUMANISM in our Churches today, it is not those with baggage from false religions that hinders the lost from hearing the truth of the gospel, it is "Christians" who have no final authority (the word of God perfectly preserved in the KJB). Todays apostate Christian is the the evidence of satans last attempt at counterfeiting The Lord Jesus Christ and his Holy Written Word before he comes for us.



Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.


2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.