For New ChristiansThis forum is for new Christians to ask questions and be encouraged by other Christians. Here you can post your questions and talk about issues relating to new believers.
I am having difficulty balancing `being a Christian´ with being a `human being´. I know this may sound a little strange as we are Christians as human beings, but, what I am finding hard is to grow as a Christian and continue to function as a normal human; a person with a normal life, relationships, hobbies, interests etc. I suppose I do have somewhat of an obsessive nature and tend to throw myself into things all the way, but I need to find some balance between "faith" and "function". Any advice would be great. Does anyone else suffer something similar? Maybe we could share ideas? Solutions? God Bless all.
Sometimes, especially for new Christians, we can become really legalistic and start thinking that we are not being "good Christians" by listening to secular music, or watching certain TV shows or movies, or even just having fun with our friends. But those things may not necessarily be hindering us from growing as Christians.
If they are, then that is probably a good sign that we need to cut those things out of our lives. For example, when I became a Christian, I was a fairly good drinker. My friends knew me as someone who had a lot of fun and didn't mind getting a good buzz going when I went out on Saturday night. I realized that not only was I not presenting myself as a very good example to my non-Christian friends, but I was also enjoying getting drunk and partying on Saturday night more than I enjoyed getting up early on Sunday morning to go to worship services. For me, drinking was a hindrance to my growth as a Christian. So I stopped drinking. Not everyone would need to stop drinking completely, but I did.
If there is something specific that you feel is stopping your growth as a Christian, you may need to cut it out of your life altogether. But if you feel you are not growing because you still enjoy your hobbies and interests, it may be that you are just being too legalistic about what is okay to do and what is not.
It would probably help if you could be more specific about your concerns.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Hi
I agree with Snoochface....I'd also like to add:
I have experienced something similar. I have some hobbies that aren't bad at all (like oil painting, for example), and when I became a Christian I found it difficult to balance these different parts of my life...what I realized is that instead of cutting these things out, it's good to let God influence them...use them for His glory. For example, in the past I loved to take walks and look at the sky, and nature. When I became a Christian, I continued doing this, but my perspective on it has changed...now I look at nature, and think "wow it's so awesome that God created all this!". Being Christian and being a 'human being' aren't mutually exclusive things, or two different parts of you that you need to somehow balance out....rather, your relationship with God can affect all areas of your life and make them better, more fulfilling, while at the same time allowing them to 'be themselves'.
And also, keep in mind that there are some things, like watching movies or hanging out with your friends, that are alright to do even if they don't relate to your faith at all...as long as they are not stumbling blocks in your path, in which case it's best to avoid them.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2, NASB
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
"Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful."
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Collossians 3:14-15 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I am having difficulty balancing `being a Christian´ with being a `human being´. I know this may sound a little strange as we are Christians as human beings, but, what I am finding hard is to grow as a Christian and continue to function as a normal human; a person with a normal life, relationships, hobbies, interests etc. I suppose I do have somewhat of an obsessive nature and tend to throw myself into things all the way, but I need to find some balance between "faith" and "function". Any advice would be great. Does anyone else suffer something similar? Maybe we could share ideas? Solutions? God Bless all.
Just not quite sure what your getting at here? Faith is HOW we function. Now if your saying you have a problem with going after God or going after everything else then the problem isn't with balance.
You can't go after the world and God too. You choose which one to go after. At the same time you do live (currently) on earth. So don't try to keep God in the God box and life in the life box. Let God be part of the other areas of your life.
Relationships should be based around God, intrests should be those that you can do with God and not without, and so on.
__________________ It isn't the journey or the destination that excites me. It is having God walk with me as I go that thrills my heart. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I am working on building my Small Church Advertising business.
God did not create this world for us to live as if it was not important. Being a Christian should make us more fully human, not less. The sacred/secular divide is not a biblical one. We can fully engage in life ad honour God by doing so.
My question is what are you doing in your life that is unGodly enough to have you facing this struggle?
We can a very normal life and we all do. The only difference between a Christian and a nonChristian is that we look at the world's values, morality, and actions through God colored glasses.
__________________
Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives. -- Ronald Reagan
Man is not free unless government is limited. -- Ronald Reagan
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. -- I John 4:4
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I am having difficulty balancing `being a Christian´ with being a `human being´. I know this may sound a little strange as we are Christians as human beings, but, what I am finding hard is to grow as a Christian and continue to function as a normal human; a person with a normal life, relationships, hobbies, interests etc. I suppose I do have somewhat of an obsessive nature and tend to throw myself into things all the way, but I need to find some balance between "faith" and "function". Any advice would be great. Does anyone else suffer something similar? Maybe we could share ideas? Solutions? God Bless all.
MY SISTER,
i must confess i am a little concerned over the way your question is phrased--or perhaps i am misunderstanding--but it appears that you perhaps consider "Christian stuff" as what you do on Sunday mornings, and your so-called "normal life" as what transpires the rest of the time. This would explain your difficulties in "growing as a Christian."
What you need to realize and accept--if you indeed haven't already--is that your life as a Christian IS the "normal life" of a human being. Everything else is abnormal and a result of the Fall and the influence of satan.
Realize too that it is necessary for you to make a choice between life in the Kingdom and life in the world. You cannot be a Christian--"Christ-like"--and have one foot in each world. WITH GOD IT IS ALL OR NOTHING!
A BOND-SLAVE OF CHRIST,
ephraim
__________________
Lo, i have gathered up all of my thoughts and cannot recall anything good before Thee . . .
except the fact that i know no other God than Thee. --Saint Ephraim the Syrian LORD JESUS CHRIST, HUMBLE LAMB OF GOD, have mercy on me, an arrogant sinner!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Lo, i have gathered up all of my thoughts and cannot recall anything good before Thee . . .
except the fact that i know no other God than Thee. --Saint Ephraim the Syrian LORD JESUS CHRIST, HUMBLE LAMB OF GOD, have mercy on me, an arrogant sinner!
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Thanks for all advice... I would like to add though that I don't believe I am living as suggested (only being Christian on Sundays in Church and not at all for the rest of the week). On the contrary. However as I have mentioned before, I am a bit obsessive at times and also have a tendency toward feeling guilty too easily (probably partly due to an on-going struggle with OCD, which I suffered from greatly as a teenager and which has it's lingering effects.) Therefore, it is more the difficulty I have of living a healthy life in faith without becoming too obsessive - compulsive; this obstructs clarity in my relationship with God. Also, as the majority of us tend to have some obsessive-compulsive behaviours (most without getting to the point of technically having OCD) and because starting a Christian life isn't just "Hey, that was easy, now I'm free of all trials and tribulations and pure as pure can be", I thought some of you may have suffered similar sensations/experiences. It isn't so much specific things I do (or not) in my life, if not a culmination of factors (above) that affect the general flow. The fact that I am very new to Christianity and am taking baby steps still, I think is an important factor to add too. I hope all this isn't too confusing. I hope what I'm trying to say is clear enough? Thanks again for all your advice and comments. God Bless.
I am having difficulty balancing `being a Christian´ with being a `human being´. I know this may sound a little strange as we are Christians as human beings, but, what I am finding hard is to grow as a Christian and continue to function as a normal human; a person with a normal life, relationships, hobbies, interests etc. I suppose I do have somewhat of an obsessive nature and tend to throw myself into things all the way, but I need to find some balance between "faith" and "function". Any advice would be great. Does anyone else suffer something similar? Maybe we could share ideas? Solutions? 
God Bless all. 
Linear Mode
