Am I still a Christian??

[kimberlyb891]

Hi,

I have a question and was hoping others could provide some insight. I became a Christian when I was 19, in the army. I was baptized in Afghanistan. Ever since I have become a Christian, it has been a struggle finding a good church and fellowship. I don't have any Christian friends, and I feel lost half of the time. Right now I am stationed in Europe, and have been having difficulty in finding a church.

I make good choices and am trying my best to be a good Christian, but I haven't been reading my bible or praying. I haven't done it in awhile.. and mostly it's because I just feel ashamed in picking it up and doing it again. Ever since I have become a Christian, it's like I will be one for awhile.. and then just stop praying and reading my bible like I should. Then I will pick it up again and really try, and then stop again.. I feel like every time I go through this, God is thinking "Really?? Again..?" and that I am a difficult case or something.

I really want to be a Christian, I am just still trying to figure everything out and maintain my faith, as far as practicing every day, etc. I hope this all makes sense..! But basically my question is, am I still a Christian?
If I keep falling away and getting off track, does that mean that my faith was not deep rooted in the first place?

 

[jehoiakim]

Yes you are still a Christian!!!

welcome to the struggle brother, this is part of picking up our cross and following him, sometimes it's better, sometimes its tougher, but it is important for you to know you are still the Lords...

Finding a good church is hard, We living in an urban/suburban area and there are churches everywhere, most of them are dead, some are legalistic ,some are borderline heretical, some are "corperate feeling" all of them have some sort of problem. It's just a matter of continuing to search, praying, and figuring out when to "hold" or "fold" on a church.

We all struggle with reading the bible, those experiences are all common to a believer, I don't say that to excuse you, just understand please you are not alone and it is a struggle, that is part of the reason fellowship, even and accountability partner is a wonderful thing.

I think you just need guidance and direction, which we all need, I don't think you need to question your faith. maybe it would be helpful you to google verses on assurance, that might be a helpful place to start.

Bless you sister, Praying for you
-Jesse

 

[seashale76]

Everyone struggles- and God knows your heart. May God continue to guide you to Himself.

Here are some resources for you (I've found them helpful):
The Way into the Kingdom of Heaven
F A I T H
What Is Most Important
P r a y e r
Let us

If you'd like to visit an Orthodox Church, you'd be more than welcome. You can find one in your area here: Orthodoxy in America
The Orthodox Church - A visual journey - YouTube

 

[seashale76]

double post

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

Kimberly what you need, what we all need, is to be broken before the greatness of our God, His holiness demands submission and His love melts the hardest hearts. If you have met Jesus, which it looks like you did a few years ago, you are His, Jesus said:

"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away." (John 6:37)

The lack of passion could be attributed to lack of fellowship, this needs to be fixed, you need to have constant communion with believers and hear the word preached, otherwise you will slowly dry up in your faith.

Jesus will not leave you, but you may leave Him, turn to Him in full submission and trust and ask Him to bring other believers into your life. Until then, maybe try and hang around this forum a bit, I know of some military members who use it to fellowship with other believers while overseas. Hope to see you around here, God bless you sister.

 

[spr]

Some things in the bible can be hard to understand, and if you are not getting anything out of it by reading it focus on what you find interesting or comforting.

 

[Modern Paladin]

Yes, you are still a Christian.
So long as you can say that you attempt to find gods guidance I would say you are worthy of calling yourself a Christian. (Well, so long as you don't have any significantly unusual beliefs, but that's more political than theological. )

You don't need to be "full on" about worship, remember, religion is a lifestyle, not an activity. So long as the way you act and treat people does not drastically vary, I would say God probably doesn't mind how long you spend praying.

 

[IndieVisible]

That you struggle is a good sign you are a Christian, so many simply look for/find a "Christian" church that fits their needs so they don't have to change too much. But only God knows your heart! Do you try to put God first? That's when the struggle really begins!

God Bless!

 

[Matariki]

I'm going to say something different; the being you should ask is not us, not yourself but God. Since he is the one that transforms the heart, its him that has the answer.

You don't need to go to church to be a Christian, but church is the ideal way to get involved in the Christian community.

Here are some resource links I recommend:
illbehonest's Channel - YouTube
Bible Questions Answered
bethinking.org

 

[Sketcher]

When you became a Christian, you were born again. You were born imperishable (1 Peter 1:23). What you describe is definitely not going to kill that.

Keep looking, keep praying for a good church/Bible study for you to attend. Just as you are not to give up on your duties as a soldier, don't give up on this. Being a Christian - this is your life now.

 

[IndieVisible]

When you became a Christian, you were born again. You were born imperishable (1 Peter 1:23). What you describe is definitely not going to kill that.

Keep looking, keep praying for a good church/Bible study for you to attend. Just as you are not to give up on your duties as a soldier, don't give up on this. Being a Christian - this is your life now.

Explain what you mean by born again the term is so loosely used these days specially by the Charismatics I some times feel I am talking to Nicodemus.

 

[Peripatetic]

You are a struggling Christian... we all are, to be honest. That's why "trying harder" isn't usually the best approach. You can rejoice in the fact that God is patient and full of mercy.

My suggestion would be to buy a study Bible (in book or app form). Something with a lot of notes and commentary about how to interpret the passages. It helps to bring new perspective, and makes it more interesting and real when you get the background and context.

 

[Harry3142]

Kimberly-

Our salvation doesn't depend on our actions; it depends on our accepting the actions of God himself as having satisfied his requirement for a just and holy life. In other words, the righteousness which we need in order to obtain eternal life is God's own righteousness, freely given to any and all who ask it of him:

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins connitted beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:19-26,NIV)

God does not expect us to be perfect. If we were capable of that, he wouldn't have needed to send his Son to rescue us from the consequences of our own sinfulness. Jesus' work and sacrifice bridged the gap between our imperfection and God's requirement for perfection. By our putting our faith in the efficacy of that work and sacrifice we obtain the righteousness from God that we would be totally incapable of earning through our own efforts.

You're married, you're in the military, and you've even served in a war zone (Afghanistan). You don't need the additional stress of wondering every day if you're behaving as a Christian should. Live your life as best you can, and trust God to hold on to you, rather than trusting yourself to hold on to God.

P.S. Don't let anyone tell you that by being in the military you're offending God. The beatitude that applies here is 'Blessed are the peacemakers,' (Matthew 5:9), not 'Blessed are the peacekeepers.' Anyone can sit in his room, or even hide under his bed, and be called a peacekeeper. But it takes courage such as you have already displayed to earn the right to be called a peacemaker.

 

[spr]

.

 

[spr]

Killing demons and exposing the new world order, really? Jesus didn't kill demons, he cast them out because he had authority over them. A Christian doesn't concern himself with the workings of Satan, he will learn that in the course of things if God chooses he must. And why would a Christian want to prevent the end times by fighting something that they believe is supposed to be part of the end times scenario? Do you believe what the bible says? Do you think your able to stop the will of God?

The book of revelation ends with the words 'Even so, come Lord Jesus."

 

[Hishandmaiden]

Do not be afraid to pick up your bible and try to read it again. We will all not need Jesus as our saviour if we are so perfect. We all stumble and we all fall down, so it is all right to start afresh again after each fall.

Do pick up your bible and try again. Try again and again until you are able to walk in a consistent way before God.

 

[heymikey80]

Got a question.

Do you really think it would be God sarcastically saying, "Really? Again?"

I'd suggest that it isn't He Who is saying this.

It is he who is in the world. Who else would make that kind of comment?

It's the worldly life that keeps on losing you. "Really? Again?"

"Yes! Again! I'm getting out of this world of death again."

"Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."

 

[Leka43]

Yes, you're making sense...and yes, you're still a Christian. The doubtful thoughts you're experiencing are the enemy's attempts to keep you from drawing near to God, and to bind you up in self-condemnation. It's not God who is condemning or questioning you - "...it is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." (Romans 8:33-34)

God's not questioning, nor will He ever question, your returning to Him. He's always waiting, with open arms, right where we left Him. And, His being with you, and your closeness to Him, should not be judged based on feelings. Feelings change; we all can be 'up' one day and 'down' the next. We can feel like we're 'good' one day, but not really have that 'warm-and 'fuzzy' another day. But Jesus has said, "I'll never leave you, or forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) Keep that - His promise to you - in the forefront of your thinking. Keep your faith on that, nor in your natural feelings.

Then, just make a quality decision, that you're going to spend some time - each day - reading God's Word, and just fellowshiping with Him in prayer. Stop worrying; He knows just where you are, and He'll meet you right there. He love's you much, much more than you realize, and He's eagerly waiting for you...

If I can ever be of any assistance, just contact me.

Lester

 

[Fulltruthministry]

Let me tell you something about my testimony kimberly; I have been with the Lord for 12 years: and yet i still go through those moments in which i feel like i can turn from God and do something i shouldnt: I say Lord; I confessed my love to you more times then i can count, i told you how deeply i want to live and turn from sin, I told you how much i hate sin, and yet here i am again, sinning; afraid; ashamed: It had to learn something through constant repentance, never giving up; never settling, never going a moment without repenting, and i would feel so ashamed, i hated constantly going to God like that EVERY DAY: I said Lord what must i do:
My heart said: One must realize that Jesus died so that we can come bodly to the throne of grace in our time of need: Thats what Scripture says: Come bodly to recieve grace; God wants to shower us in mercy; but not so that we stay in sin, but so that something builds in us that teaches us how to love God through His apperant love for us. And its apparant because of how many times He forgives us and leads us and puts us on the right path; and then i turn from Him, But He keeps me alive and always puts me i that holy place again, and i say; I so glad i am here again, and i am, more then the world could now, how good it feels to be restored in the Spirit; holding on every day; feeling Gods power grow and grow: BUT i would always fall; and i would accuse MYSELF;

I will share something inspired in my heart for you after this post: Blessing us both; you are blessing people with your honesty; God is strong in you; your love for Him is glowing; thus; even in a weakness such as this God is strong; BIG SMILE: I will reply with something for you sister

 

[Fulltruthministry]

Sometimes we are enemies to ourselves sister: Sometimes the ways of satan come upon us through the stain of sin in our seed; and we naturally do things agaisnt ourselves: Paul said he didnt know what coveting was until he was told not to covet; and then his flesh enticed him to covet: So we fight ourselves; paul said he beat his body into submission, and we must also fight ourselves against accusing ourselves. Its one thing to feel bad about what we have done; but to feel like we are not a child of God is an accusation against ourselves, and its breathed from the stain of sin in the world. Its the way of the enemy, and sometimes we bring this way on ourselves; when it has no place anymore:

LETS LOOK AT THIS:
In revelations 12: the child was caught up to the throne and there was a war in heaven, the dragon was cast out: And God Word says; The accuser of our brethren has been cast down; who accused us day and night before God. BUT HE WAS CAST DOWN: He cant accuse; so why let the flesh accuse ourselves.
WHY cant he accuse;
Because that child, the Christ is at the right hand of God making intersession for us.
So satan was cut of twice, once utterly. Once in the beginning, but he was still allowed to accuse us like he did job; he still had permission or right to enter Gods presence and accuse us. BUT AFTER JESUS PAID that price for us; there is no more room to accuse; There is mercy, and we must use in our time of need. You are not sinning thinking that after you finish you will use mercy, NO: WE make mistakes and then we let ourselves be afraid to use mercy, WHEN Those are the times that we must; until we set ourselves to stand, WE MUST: Those that love God; the world needs the Lord to work through us and to bring some glory to the corners of the land, you are blessed; keep seeking Him, dont condemn yourself;

God called us when we were sinners; and He loved us then, so WHY would He ever stop; its up to us to live in His love; and to learn how to remain it it; Bless you sister: ITS A FAITH WALK AND ITS ALL ABOUT LOVE: Bless you