The Greatest Struggle

[primarymay]

The greatest struggle I had when I was a Christian, was that I saw no visible results in myself or my life when I believed in Jesus.

This was a big issue for me, and forced me to confront the reality that this particular god would not transform me, inside and out.

Strangely enough it was only after I abandoned the faith that I made progress. I don't know why it ended up this way, instead of the other way.
I still have a few issues, but I don't trust Jesus to finish what I started.

 

[Galatea]

The greatest struggle I had when I was a Christian, was that I saw no visible results in myself or my life when I believed in Jesus.

This was a big issue for me, and forced me to confront the reality that this particular god would not transform me, inside and out.

Strangely enough it was only after I abandoned the faith that I made progress. I don't know why it ended up this way, instead of the other way.
I still have a few issues, but I don't trust Jesus to finish what I started.

I think you went about Christianity the wrong way. Instead of asking “Alright Jesus, what can you do to fix my life” you probably should have just believed.

God does not promise all problems will be fixed, the only thing He promises is Heaven.

In some cases, life becomes worse when a person becomes a Christian.

People have been hurt by this slap happy gospel that Jesus is going to make everything alright.

He doesn’t make everything alright, many times.

 

[primarymay]

I think you went about Christianity the wrong way. Instead of asking “Alright Jesus, what can you do to fix my life” you probably should have just believed.

God does not promise all problems will be fixed, the only thing He promises is Heaven.

In some cases, life becomes worse when a person becomes a Christian.

People have been hurt by this slap happy gospel that Jesus is going to make everything alright.

He doesn’t make everything alright, many times.

Hmm, and I thought personal transformation was Jesus business.
If you only believe because of the promise of heaven then your holding onto a thread.

 

[primarymay]

I think you went about Christianity the wrong way. Instead of asking “Alright Jesus, what can you do to fix my life” you probably should have just believed.

God does not promise all problems will be fixed, the only thing He promises is Heaven.

In some cases, life becomes worse when a person becomes a Christian.

People have been hurt by this slap happy gospel that Jesus is going to make everything alright.

He doesn’t make everything alright, many times.

Hmm, and I thought personal transformation was Jesus business.
If you only believe because of the promise of heaven then your holding onto a thread.

 

[Galatea]

Hmm, and I thought personal transformation was Jesus business.
If you only believe because of the promise of heaven then your holding onto a thread.

Yes, I became a Christian because I want to go to Heaven. I did not think about changing. At the time, the sin of murder was heavy on me and I wanted forgiveness. I asked Him to forgive, not to change.

If I let Jesus change me, He will in some ways, but I can never be free from sin, never. Not here.

 

[MyGivenNameIsKeith]

You never truly believed he was Lord of all things, those things including you. The biggest problem people have is idolatry. We are the idols that we worship. We are selfish creatures, all of us. We ask God to do things for us as if he were working for us, and not us for him. We treat him like a fast food joint. You want Jesus to finish what YOU started. You fail to give him authority to finish what HE started. He won't transform you until you let him. You aren't a robot. He isn't going to force you. You have to have a willing heart. But yet, even now, he is still working on you and molding you, so that you come back to him. He still loves you. Though you may not see him, or believe in him, he sees you and believes in you. Trust that he will listen, and speak to him. Draw near to him, and he will draw near to you.

 

[primarymay]

You never truly believed he was Lord of all things, those things including you. The biggest problem people have is idolatry. We are the idols that we worship. We are selfish creatures, all of us. We ask God to do things for us as if he were working for us, and not us for him. We treat him like a fast food joint. You want Jesus to finish what YOU started. You fail to give him authority to finish what HE started. He won't transform you until you let him. You aren't a robot. He isn't going to force you. You have to have a willing heart. But yet, even now, he is still working on you and molding you, so that you come back to him. He still loves you. Though you may not see him, or believe in him, he sees you and believes in you. Trust that he will listen, and speak to him. Draw near to him, and he will draw near to you.

Why? Just why?

 

[primarymay]

Yes, I became a Christian because I want to go to Heaven. I did not think about changing. At the time, the sin of murder was heavy on me and I wanted forgiveness. I asked Him to forgive, not to change.

If I let Jesus change me, He will in some ways, but I can never be free from sin, never. Not here.

Then you're a lousy Christian.

 

[MyGivenNameIsKeith]

Then you're a lousy Christian.

Everyone makes mistakes. Even Christians. Being Christian doesn't mean that you are perfect walking around all holy condemning everyone to hell for sinning. Being Christian is being truthful and loving and caring. Being real with yourself and open to God. Over time, things that you once did, you don't want to do anymore. Things of this world, start to lose their appeal. Being a Christian means humbling yourself and admitting that you're a sinner and asking for his grace and mercy and having faith that he will show it to you.

 

[MyGivenNameIsKeith]

Even Paul admitted in Scriptures that there were times he willed himself to do good and be perfect, but his sinful flesh, OUR sinful nature, made him be a knucklehead. If we say we have no sin, then we are liars, and the truth is not in us.

 

[Galatea]

Then you're a lousy Christian.

Yes, I am a lousy Christian. But a lousy Christian goes to Heaven, too. I get momentary twinges of fear that I won’t get rewards like really good Christians, but they don’t last long.

Like a fool, I don’t think about the end game and go in for instant gratification.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

The greatest struggle I had when I was a Christian, was that I saw no visible results in myself or my life when I believed in Jesus.

This was a big issue for me, and forced me to confront the reality that this particular god would not transform me, inside and out.

Strangely enough it was only after I abandoned the faith that I made progress. I don't know why it ended up this way, instead of the other way.
I still have a few issues, but I don't trust Jesus to finish what I started.

Personally, I've tended to think that being a Christian means that God will only nudge us in the moral and spiritual direction we need to go, and the rest will be up to us to put into effect through our own obedience to His Will. But, I guess some churches teach the Bible in such a way that when one becomes a Christian, he develops a high expectation to experience some kind of "Holy Spirit Cleaning House."

 

[primarymay]

Even Paul admitted in Scriptures that there were times he willed himself to do good and be perfect, but his sinful flesh, OUR sinful nature, made him be a knucklehead. If we say we have no sin, then we are liars, and the truth is not in us.

You may as well give up if your religion has no profound effect on your inner soul.

 

[Dirk1540]

The greatest struggle I had when I was a Christian, was that I saw no visible results in myself or my life when I believed in Jesus.

This was a big issue for me, and forced me to confront the reality that this particular god would not transform me, inside and out.

Strangely enough it was only after I abandoned the faith that I made progress. I don't know why it ended up this way, instead of the other way.
I still have a few issues, but I don't trust Jesus to finish what I started.

Your own post might reveal the issue. Christians are actually supposed to be very gung ho over Jesus. I actually consider myself to be one of very few people who has had periods in my life where I completely believed Christianity was true, yet would rather watch paint dry than be Christian. When you say that your life was simply better without the faith (if I'm reading you right about 'Making progress') you sound like somebody who is actually gung ho about Jesus taking a hike. Let's be honest, a better paying job and being lonely isn't a better life than a lower paying job with the best friend or wife that you could ever ask for. Have you ever seen how ecstatic some Christians are over Jesus?? It's right up there on the level of a great friend or wife. Tell them that life is better without Jesus but with a few pay raises.

You can't not want it, then say "Where's the transformation??" Honestly, I'm not that different from you though, emotionally wanting it is definitely my worst quality as being a believer (and sadly it's supposed to be the foundation piece of being a Christian, it's actually supposed to be the pleasure zone of Christianity). The reason that I can talk about transformational moving Jesus moments in this forum is because I have experienced them and I mean convincingly! However, I have experienced them just in drips & drabs in my life. Now do I sound like a strong Christian to you, with a term like 'In Drips & Drabs'?? Lol not exactly.

I know all too well what it's like to intellectually believe yet not desire it. And it's easy to blame Jesus. Strangely, and again in drips & drabs, there have been times where I've emotionally thrown the towel in and fully committed, and the desire part actually strengthened inside of me as a result (but boy was I good at switching gears and turning back in the other direction). Intellectual belief still dominates my emotional desire. It's a very interesting fine line. It's not about checking off 'I'm living like a Christian' boxes, it's about being overjoyed about being a Jesus follower. Hmm, who am I lecturing here you or me?? Lol, probably both.

 

[primarymay]

Your own post might reveal the issue. Christians are actually supposed to be very gung ho over Jesus. I actually consider myself to be one of very few people who has had periods in my life where I completely believed Christianity was true, yet would rather watch paint dry than be Christian. When you say that your life was simply better without the faith (if I'm reading you right about 'Making progress') you sound like somebody who is actually gung ho about Jesus taking a hike. Let's be honest, a better paying job and being lonely isn't a better life than a lower paying job with the best friend or wife that you could ever ask for. Have you ever seen how ecstatic some Christians are over Jesus?? It's right up there on the level of a great friend or wife. Tell them that life is better without Jesus but with a few pay raises.

You can't not want it, then say "Where's the transformation??" Honestly, I'm not that different from you though, emotionally wanting it is definitely my worst quality as being a believer (and sadly it's supposed to be the foundation piece of being a Christian, it's actually supposed to be the pleasure zone of Christianity). The reason that I can talk about transformational moving Jesus moments in this forum is because I have experienced them and I mean convincingly! However, I have experienced them just in drips & drabs in my life. Now do I sound like a strong Christian to you, with a term like 'In Drips & Drabs'?? Lol not exactly.

I know all too well what it's like to intellectually believe yet not desire it. And it's easy to blame Jesus. Strangely, and again in drips & drabs, there have been times where I've emotionally thrown the towel in and fully committed, and the desire part actually strengthened inside of me as a result (but boy was I good at switching gears and turning back in the other direction). Intellectual belief still dominates my emotional desire. It's a very interesting fine line. It's not about checking off 'I'm living like a Christian' boxes, it's about being overjoyed about being a Jesus follower. Hmm, who am I lecturing here you or me?? Lol, probably both.

There is simply more out there, more to learn. It can't all stop at Jesus.

 

[xianghua]

The greatest struggle I had when I was a Christian, was that I saw no visible results in myself or my life when I believed in Jesus.

This was a big issue for me, and forced me to confront the reality that this particular god would not transform me, inside and out.

Strangely enough it was only after I abandoned the faith that I made progress. I don't know why it ended up this way, instead of the other way.
I still have a few issues, but I don't trust Jesus to finish what I started.

do you believe in god basically?

 

[MyGivenNameIsKeith]

You may as well give up if your religion has no profound effect on your inner soul.

Then it's a good thing that I don't give up. A religion is a philosophy, whereas God is real. God has an effect on my inner soul. I'm still in the flesh, so I am still tempted to do sinful things. I didn't make up the rules. I just trust in the creator to guide and instruct me in righteous paths. I don't trust in darkness to light my way.

 

[primarymay]

do you believe in god basically?

Why is god for us humans synonymous with believing?

 

[primarymay]

Then it's a good thing that I don't give up. A religion is a philosophy, whereas God is real. God has an effect on my inner soul. I'm still in the flesh, so I am still tempted to do sinful things. I didn't make up the rules. I just trust in the creator to guide and instruct me in righteous paths. I don't trust in darkness to light my way.

You are not making a convincing argument.

 

[MyGivenNameIsKeith]

You are not making a convincing argument.

It is difficult for one to see change if the observer has no knowledge of the other's past. But if I may pose a question.. How does a professed atheist, believe that the soul exists?