Hello everybody,
I have something on my mind today I'd like some advice on.
One of my friends who helped bring me back to my Faith has always offered her views and advice (even if blunt and sometimes hurtful to a sensitive person like me), and I've appreciated it, but sometimes I don't understand what she means - and often I make her angry because it seems like I'm arguing with her when I really want to know why when I feel like I'm growing in my Faith, and I express this to her, she makes me feel like I'm doing it all wrong and I'm left cold and torn praying to God on my knees, in tears looking for direction and clarity and today this led me to these forums.
Anyway, at work, a non-christian friend of mine was challenging my views and beliefs wanting "proof" of God's existence and stuff, and I got so frustrated because I didn't want to argue with him, I don't like conflict and I don't like hurting peoples feelings or anything so I vented to to her about it. She said "you can't be weird about people arguing religion, even when people challenge your beliefs God calls us to defend them when challenged."
I said, " I'm just frustrated why everyone has to look for conflict" to which she replied that conflict exists everywhere and that it's silly I am frustrated that people seek conflict and also silly I don't want to talk about real issues happening. Also that I shouldn't live in this society with that attitude.
I said, I don't want to argue, I want to see the kindness and compassion in peoples hearts, and if they lack it, I want to help them.
And she replies I'm living in a dream world, and that being a Christian is scandalous "
od never wishes us to live our faith in silence and just pure kindness - we have to be bold in faith. You being fearful of hurting peoples feelings is living in fear. Which is what God warns us against. If you're going to live your entire Faith that way - thinking that just pure love and kindness will get you where you need to be with God, then you need to wake up because that's not at all what living by Faith looks like or feels like."
Apparently, she says I can be kind and compassionate as a person but as far as Faith is concerned I can't live that way. That God is what I am, that I am identifying with emotions and stuff and that's not WHO I am.
I'm sorry for the huge block of text. I really appreciate any feedback anyone has. Thank you :[ I just feel so lost, confused and broken.
I have something on my mind today I'd like some advice on.
One of my friends who helped bring me back to my Faith has always offered her views and advice (even if blunt and sometimes hurtful to a sensitive person like me), and I've appreciated it, but sometimes I don't understand what she means - and often I make her angry because it seems like I'm arguing with her when I really want to know why when I feel like I'm growing in my Faith, and I express this to her, she makes me feel like I'm doing it all wrong and I'm left cold and torn praying to God on my knees, in tears looking for direction and clarity and today this led me to these forums.
Anyway, at work, a non-christian friend of mine was challenging my views and beliefs wanting "proof" of God's existence and stuff, and I got so frustrated because I didn't want to argue with him, I don't like conflict and I don't like hurting peoples feelings or anything so I vented to to her about it. She said "you can't be weird about people arguing religion, even when people challenge your beliefs God calls us to defend them when challenged."
I said, " I'm just frustrated why everyone has to look for conflict" to which she replied that conflict exists everywhere and that it's silly I am frustrated that people seek conflict and also silly I don't want to talk about real issues happening. Also that I shouldn't live in this society with that attitude.
I said, I don't want to argue, I want to see the kindness and compassion in peoples hearts, and if they lack it, I want to help them.
And she replies I'm living in a dream world, and that being a Christian is scandalous "
od never wishes us to live our faith in silence and just pure kindness - we have to be bold in faith. You being fearful of hurting peoples feelings is living in fear. Which is what God warns us against. If you're going to live your entire Faith that way - thinking that just pure love and kindness will get you where you need to be with God, then you need to wake up because that's not at all what living by Faith looks like or feels like."
Apparently, she says I can be kind and compassionate as a person but as far as Faith is concerned I can't live that way. That God is what I am, that I am identifying with emotions and stuff and that's not WHO I am.
I'm sorry for the huge block of text. I really appreciate any feedback anyone has. Thank you :[ I just feel so lost, confused and broken.