What to do next

[Agnus|Dei]

Greetings,

After three years of questioning and looking, God revealed his love for me through grace, and I have accepted it. The immense feelings of pure love that I felt within me was God showing what I meant to him, that he loves me and wants me to accept his love. I have been thinking on the experience since then, as wonderful as it is, about where to go next. Most importantly, how to tell my friends and family, some of which are atheists, about how I found Christ's love for me.

Today, I summoned a lot of courage and went to talk to a priest (I'm a baptized Catholic) and confessed my re-found faith, it was a very emotional experience - but he congratulated my warmly (we cried together), and explained to me that God IS love, that there will be a time to reveal this to my friends and family.

He also helped me make sense of the experience, much what I already suspected. He advised me to take things slowly, there will come a time to reveal the good news to friends and family. He advised me when I get back home, to seek out a spiritual mentor to help guide developing my new found faith- he suggested visiting a monastery or a nunnery.

But I need to make sense of many things, I have so many questions! And I feel like I just embarked on a great journey. Out of the inummerable questions I have, these are two biggest on my mind:


1) How do you inform people of your faith that may not agree? I have a girlfriend of several years who is Jewish, and pretty liberal and reformed. She was forced to go to Catholic school because her parents wanted her to have a wider experience, but she ended feeling discriminated and left out for being Jewish, so she feels kind of sore about Catholicism at times. I don't want to estrange her, I also accept her identity and beliefs as a Jew. I don't know really how to explain this to my parents, because they knew me as a militant atheist. Should I send a more 'gentle' email in some form? Or should I wait till I get home to announce this to them?

2) What to do next? I go to Mass and religious services as much as I can to rejoice in the love of Christ! Even after work! But, I need some structure to developing my faith. I'm reading an Christianity: An Introduction by the Archbishop of Canterbury to cover the basic theological questions and concepts. But I need to start reading the Bible, I need to get confirmed, but I also need to take it slowly and develop it over time. What are some definite steps? What part of the Bible should I read first?

I feel so happy to be alive! Thank you Christ! Rejoice in God, because his love is GREAT!

Here's a quote I would like to share with everyone:

We all have to choose between two ways of being crazy; the foolishness of the gospel and the nonsense of the values of this world.
Jean Vanier

 

[ILuvJesus4ever]

Hi Agnus,

First of all I would like to welcome you to the forums

I will do my best to provide you with the best advice from my heart. In relation to informing people of your relationship with God and your faith that may not agree I would just respect their opinion and continue to grow your relationship with God. Unfortunately being a christian you will more than likely lose some friends that you had in the past that are not where you are yet. You just have to put your faith in God and he will bring some amazing people into your life that will help you grow spiritually. Remember you do not have to worry about what people see because God knows your heart and that is what matters. That is the most important! It took me a while to realize this and boy when I cam to realization it was so gratifying to know that God knows the true intentions of my heart.

Rather than make a formal announcement to people about your faith I would just take it slow and build that relationship with God and he will outline a path for you rather than you try to go about it on your own. If I was in your position I would pray to God and put the matter in his hands and allow him to direct you on the direction you should take. Trust me things will happen that will allow you to handle this situation.

As far as the bible reading I would highly suggest you attend a bible study in you local area or a new members class. I found those tools to be extremely helpful to me in helping to build my faith. Psalms and Genesis are excellent chapters to read.

I hope I have helped you and I am so happy that you are filled with Gods loving spirit Keep up the faith and remember surrender yourself completely to God and allow him to direct your path.

Until next time my fellow christian be blessed!

 

[Harry3142]

The Roman Catholic Church has many social outlets to help in the community. Talk with your priest concerning getting involved with some of these. It will give you experience in the practical application of your faith, as well as bringing you into fellowship with fellow believers who are working in these areas.

 

[GA777]

Welcome man.It's really great to have you here !
And yes,it's great to feel the holy spirit within you,it's the best feeling a human can have.

And my advice: Read the New testament: The 4 gospels (Mattew-Mark-Luke-Joshua) . It's a simple language, there is no symbolic meaning, and the 4 are mainly based on Jesus.And if you have any question, you can ask it here

God bless you.

 

[Peripatetic]

My advice for growing your knowledge of scripture would be to do one or all of these:

1. Buy a good study Bible with notes that explain the history, context, and original meanings of the words that were used.

2. Read a daily devotional that gives you a little bit of scripture and some practical applications.

3. Find some bible study podcasts and listen to some teachings about God's word.

In any case, pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you the right places.

 

[heymikey80]

Look for things that inform and increase the depth of your reliance on Christ Jesus for your salvation. That's the critical thing.

Brennan Manning's "The Importance of Being Foolish" is a really important book that will help you with the watershed of what's important to do and what's not.

Your girlfriend has been around committed Christians? That's going to be a difficult thing to navigate: all her outside information, heritage, and friends disagree with you. I'd say avoid the temptation to pressure, read what Jesus says, do it, explain it that way, and don't try to sell anything. I know, it's important, and it will grow more & more important. But she's been through the sales job. Don't repeat it. That's the only way to make a difference.

 

[heron]

When talking with people about your faith changes, think of what would benefit them. People who need healing might not gain from an abrupt announcement, but rather from a hint that they can come to you any time to talk about spiritual matters. For people who used to try to convince you of the faith, you might throw in a reassuring comment that you appreciated their prayers over the years. For other general contacts, you might just include things in conversation, like "when I was on my way to church..." and that gives people an idea of who you are.

Picture what it's like when people come back from a Figi vacation. Their friends don't really want to hear too much excitement at once, but they do want to hear tidbits, and bask in a little vicarious beachcombing.

Bringing up the subject of your exciting decision will get mixed reactions. So think about the people you are telling, and pray that God will give you the words that will bless them the most. Pray that God brings them emotional healing through the conversations, and that you will become a person they can rely on for a hefty spiritual discussion.

As for what to pursue next, look within your own passions and desires for justice. Are there any topics that get to you, that you would like to align with God in defending/aiding/rescuing/ promoting?

 

[JackB03]

God Bless! Im happy for you and glad your making a commitment. On the subject of presenting your faith to your family, I'd wait some. I say that because I want you to grasp on a few topics. I understand you realize God has come into your heart and has "brightened" your life. God is full of joy, peace, love and happiness. BUT... please remember that God has a wrath and will judge you on judgment day. Understand you are a sinner and that the commandments are there to show you exactly that.

I say this because some people come to Christ thinking its full of joy and peace, yet when trials come, they resist Christ and worse off than before. There will be trials, tribulation and persecutions. Praise God for the good and bad things that happen to you.(Read Job) That shows true faith and spiritually you will grow! When you understand this, I then suggest you tell your family. That way, if they do get mad or whatever, you wont be tempted to fade from Christ. You need strong roots so take it slow.

As a new Christian myself, I was advised to read 1 Corinthians. As well as Mathew, Mark, Luke and John.

God Bless,
Jack

 

[JackB03]

Forgot to mention.... PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY! Communicate with God every chance you get. Pray to Christ when your doing sports, work, reading, etc.... Its a personal relationship!

 

[ILuvJesus4ever]

I so agree with you! Prayer is essential!!!!

Forgot to mention.... PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY! Communicate with God every chance you get. Pray to Christ when your doing sports, work, reading, etc.... Its a personal relationship!

 

[Bible2]

Agnus|Dei said:

What are some definite steps?

The first step after we feel that we've become believers is to examine ourselves, whether we're truly in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5, Proverbs 28:26, Proverbs 14:12). The way to do this is to read every word of the Bible (Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 4:4) and see if we accept everything that it teaches as true (John 8:47, 2 Timothy 3:16). For just as a true faith will initially come from reading (or hearing) what the Bible teaches (Romans 10:17, 2 Timothy 3:15), so we can know that we're remaining in the true faith if we continue to believe what the Bible teaches (John 8:31b, 2 Timothy 4:2-4, 1 Timothy 4:1, Mark 8:35-38).

In order to have any real relationship with Jesus and God the Father and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), most importantly we must believe the right things about Jesus (John 14:6-7): that he's God the Word made flesh (John 1:1,14), that he's the Christ (1 John 5:1, 1 John 2:22), that he's the only begotten (only born) Son of God (John 3:16,36, 1 John 2:23), meaning that he's the only person ever born without any human father (Luke 1:34-35).

And we must believe that Jesus lived a perfectly sinless life (Hebrews 4:15, 2 Corinthians 5:21) and so he could die on the Cross for all our sins and rise from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). He rose in an immortal flesh and blood human body (Luke 24:39, 1 John 4:3) and is now our eternally-human high priest/mediator in heaven (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 7:24-26).

At some point in the future, Jesus will descend bodily from heaven (Acts 1:11-12, Zechariah 14:3-4, Revelation 19:11-21) and obedient believers will be resurrected or changed in the twinkling of an eye into immortal human bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 15:21-23,51-53). Then Jesus will judge all believers (Psalms 50:4-5, cf. Mark 13:27) by their works (2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 2:6-8, Luke 12:45-48, Matthew 25:19-30). Then obedient believers will reign on the earth with the returned Jesus for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 2:26-29). After that, obedient believers will live with Jesus and God the Father and the Holy Spirit in the city of New Jerusalem on a new earth (Revelation 21:1-8).

Once we come into faith in Jesus, we must obey him and God the Father and the Holy Spirit by repenting from all our sins and getting water-immersion (burial) baptized into Jesus (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:3-5, Galatians 3:27). Then we can get hands laid on us to receive the Holy Spirit baptism (Acts 8:17) and one or more of his wonderful Spiritual gifts (Acts 19:6, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10). Then, washed from all our sins by water baptism (Acts 22:16) and empowered by the Holy Spirit within us (Acts 1:8), we must each and every day for the rest of our lives deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23, 2 Corinthians 5:15), by doing the particular spiritual works which he has given us as individuals to do (Mark 13:34, Romans 12:6-8, Titus 3:8), and by repenting from every sin that we might commit (Hebrews 10:26-29, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Luke 12:45-46), and by continuing in the faith unto the end (Hebrews 3:6,12,14, Hebrews 6:4-8, John 15:6, 2 Timothy 2:12b).

But if we as believers wrongly employ our free will to refuse to do these things, then we can't expect to have any continued real relationship with Jesus and God the Father and the Holy Spirit, for a continued real relationship with them requires that we not only continue to believe in them but also continue to obey them (John 15:10, John 14:21,23); faith without works is dead (James 2:20) and cannot ultimately save us (James 2:14-26, Romans 2:6-8, Matthew 7:21, Hebrews 5:9, Revelation 22:14).