Anyone else struggle with feeling like they are not worthy for heaven compared to other christians?

[NothingIsImpossible]

Oddly enough I am on here usually helping people like me currently. But here I am feeling nervous. Since covid has gone on I haven't been to church since the start. Haven't even caught an online service from our church. Still do my daily bread and read the "bible in a year" and pray...etc though. Obviously this gives you all lots of time to think.

I see many christians I know and I see how amazing they seem. They always bring up God on social media. They are always at events (safe masked...etc of course) praising God, singing...etc. They are giving God glory. While I know they are not perfect, I look at my life and feel like I am no where near how they are and thus maybe I am one of those who will be "Gnashing the teeth" after realizing I didn't get it.

I truly believe of course in God. I believe in Jesus my whole life. I know I am saved. But currently doubts are creeping back in. Even despite more changes like being free of many "chains" now.

I see that my wife works and I am the "stay at home" husband who manages things, does the chores, takes care of the house, makes the lunch for my wife... and so on. I wonder "Maybe that won't get me in because the roles are wrong, even if I am disabled!". Or I may play a bit of a game and say "Am I not worthy because of this?", even though I know the game for example is not my priority. It does not take up my time that I need to pray, read...etc. Which is how it should be of course.

I see other couples (as stated) and say "Do I need to be like them to be worthy really?". Again, I know we are saved and obviously not by works. But when I see others lives I really feel like I don't compare at all. I sometimes just cry out and want to hug God.

I also wonder if this has to do with the fact I am about to turn 40 and the fact my dad is almost 70 now and not doing well. Death is something I am starting to think about with him. Something I never really thought about before. How much I will miss him. How hard it will be...etc. I myself don't fear death of course, I know where we go. Again, I just pray I could be like others.

I often wonder what my mother in law thinks if she knew how my wife and I are since she (my MIL) is a pastor. Would she think I am doing good or bad as a christian husband? This is also why I miss church. It feeds you. It makes you feel fresh. You feel close to Him. And with my wife being third shift we never can catch a stream of our church since we go to bed about 8am.

 

[Bond-servant of Christ]

More correctly, how many Christians have there been since the Foundation of the Christian Church, who have been "worthy" for heaven. the simple answer is ZERO, NONE, ZILCH! etc, etc. Whatever "worth" that any true believer has, is ONLY because they have a "union" with the Lord Jesus Christ, that their sins have been forgiven, for His sake, and we are Justified with Him, because of His work on the Cross, and that we are going to heaven, because of His Resurrection!!! It is ALL about Jesus Christ!

 

[returntosender]

I didn't read it all but I feel the same way you do every day for what I read of your post. It can be defeating to see so many perfect Christians. I don't believe God wants us to feel that way and sometimes I feel I shouldn't be here since it makes me feel so bad about myself around all the perfect people.

 

[Bond-servant of Christ]

so many perfect Christians.

I am NOT a "perfect" Christian at all. My main point is NOT to show how great or good that I AM, but to show the Christians true WORTH, is ONLY in the Lord Jesus Christ, because it is ALL about HIM!

 

[A_Thinker]

Oddly enough I am on here usually helping people like me currently. But here I am feeling nervous. Since covid has gone on I haven't been to church since the start. Haven't even caught an online service from our church. Still do my daily bread and read the "bible in a year" and pray...etc though. Obviously this gives you all lots of time to think.

I see many christians I know and I see how amazing they seem. They always bring up God on social media. They are always at events (safe masked...etc of course) praising God, singing...etc. They are giving God glory. While I know they are not perfect, I look at my life and feel like I am no where near how they are and thus maybe I am one of those who will be "Gnashing the teeth" after realizing I didn't get it.

I truly believe of course in God. I believe in Jesus my whole life. I know I am saved. But currently doubts are creeping back in. Even despite more changes like being free of many "chains" now.

I see that my wife works and I am the "stay at home" husband who manages things, does the chores, takes care of the house, makes the lunch for my wife... and so on. I wonder "Maybe that won't get me in because the roles are wrong, even if I am disabled!". Or I may play a bit of a game and say "Am I not worthy because of this?", even though I know the game for example is not my priority. It does not take up my time that I need to pray, read...etc. Which is how it should be of course.

I see other couples (as stated) and say "Do I need to be like them to be worthy really?". Again, I know we are saved and obviously not by works. But when I see others lives I really feel like I don't compare at all. I sometimes just cry out and want to hug God.

I also wonder if this has to do with the fact I am about to turn 40 and the fact my dad is almost 70 now and not doing well. Death is something I am starting to think about with him. Something I never really thought about before. How much I will miss him. How hard it will be...etc. I myself don't fear death of course, I know where we go. Again, I just pray I could be like others.

I often wonder what my mother in law thinks if she knew how my wife and I are since she (my MIL) is a pastor. Would she think I am doing good or bad as a christian husband? This is also why I miss church. It feeds you. It makes you feel fresh. You feel close to Him. And with my wife being third shift we never can catch a stream of our church since we go to bed about 8am.

Nobody is worthy of heaven. It just so happens that we were born into the family. And so, it is our inheritance.

I grew up in a large family, ... all of us siblings different. Not one of us was worthy of my Mom and Dad's love and care, ... but we were all born into the family ...

 

[Carl Emerson]

Without the sacrifice of Jesus, the very best of us are toast from Peter & Paul down.

 

[Tolworth John]

Since covid has gone on I haven't been to church since the start. Haven't even caught an online service from our church. Still do my daily bread and read the "bible in a year" and pray...etc though

know I am saved. But currently doubts are creeping back in.

I haven't quoted it but the basic thrust of your post is " I feel "
Let me illustrate how pointless this is.
You are married, is that because you ' feel ' you are married or because of a fact?
How relevent is the feeling of being married compared to the knowledge of the legal fact and of your daily experience of being married.

You admit you deliberately have not tried to watch/take part in on line services and you wonder why you are spiritually down!
That doubts are creeping in, well face them. There is nothing wrong with having doubts or questions. The sin is in doing nothing about finding answers to them.

Be honest, are you such a great intellect that you and only you have discovered a reason to doubt Christianity, or is it that you have a common run of the mill doubt that has been answered many many times.

May I suggest that you watch Sundays on line service and that you ring/text/message/email a church friend and discuss the sermon.

Find out whether there is a church ' ways app' or whether there are church zoom meetings and get involved.
Are there other men at home due to illness, unemployment, retirement etc that you could communicate with, do on on line Bible study with.

Here's a challenge start down loading, listening to and sharing with church member some of twenty years of the online Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones sermons from the site of the same name a brilliant biblical expositor.

 

[Bond-servant of Christ]

It just so happens that we were born into the family

no human being can ever be "born into" the Family of God. No one can ever be "born" a real Christian, it is Biblically IMPOSSIBLE. Jesus Himself says, that to become a real Christian, the sinner must "REPENT ( of their personal sins) and BELIEVE in The Gospel" (Mark 1:15), that He ALONE is the Saviour and can forgive the truly repentant sinner!

 

[Bond-servant of Christ]

Without the sacrifice of Jesus, the very best of us are toast from Peter & Paul down.

Even Enoch "who walked with God", is in himself UNWORTHY!

"and I began to weep loudly because NO ONE WAS FOUND WORHTY to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David Jesus Christ!), has Conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals.”" (Revelation 5:4-5)

 

[Heavenhome]

Oddly enough I am on here usually helping people like me currently. But here I am feeling nervous. Since covid has gone on I haven't been to church since the start. Haven't even caught an online service from our church. Still do my daily bread and read the "bible in a year" and pray...etc though. Obviously this gives you all lots of time to think.

I see many christians I know and I see how amazing they seem. They always bring up God on social media. They are always at events (safe masked...etc of course) praising God, singing...etc. They are giving God glory. While I know they are not perfect, I look at my life and feel like I am no where near how they are and thus maybe I am one of those who will be "Gnashing the teeth" after realizing I didn't get it.

I truly believe of course in God. I believe in Jesus my whole life. I know I am saved. But currently doubts are creeping back in. Even despite more changes like being free of many "chains" now.

I see that my wife works and I am the "stay at home" husband who manages things, does the chores, takes care of the house, makes the lunch for my wife... and so on. I wonder "Maybe that won't get me in because the roles are wrong, even if I am disabled!". Or I may play a bit of a game and say "Am I not worthy because of this?", even though I know the game for example is not my priority. It does not take up my time that I need to pray, read...etc. Which is how it should be of course.

I see other couples (as stated) and say "Do I need to be like them to be worthy really?". Again, I know we are saved and obviously not by works. But when I see others lives I really feel like I don't compare at all. I sometimes just cry out and want to hug God.

I also wonder if this has to do with the fact I am about to turn 40 and the fact my dad is almost 70 now and not doing well. Death is something I am starting to think about with him. Something I never really thought about before. How much I will miss him. How hard it will be...etc. I myself don't fear death of course, I know where we go. Again, I just pray I could be like others.

I often wonder what my mother in law thinks if she knew how my wife and I are since she (my MIL) is a pastor. Would she think I am doing good or bad as a christian husband? This is also why I miss church. It feeds you. It makes you feel fresh. You feel close to Him. And with my wife being third shift we never can catch a stream of our church since we go to bed about 8am.

None of us are worthy, least of all me but somehow God loves us with an everlasting love, which makes me all the more thankful whilst never taking it for granted.
After a long time of reading of other Christians and how they have been used by God and thinking I was missing something, I finally realized that each one of His children are exactly where God wants them to be and in all honesty the only one we are to strive to be alike is Jesus.

 

[A_Thinker]

no human being can ever be "born into" the Family of God. No one can ever be "born" a real Christian, it is Biblically IMPOSSIBLE. Jesus Himself says, that to become a real Christian, the sinner must "REPENT ( of their personal sins) and BELIEVE in The Gospel" (Mark 1:15), that He ALONE is the Saviour and can forgive the truly repentant sinner!

Christians are BORN, of the Spirit, ... into the family of God ...

John 3

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

 

[Bond-servant of Christ]

Christians are BORN, of the Spirit, ... into the family of God

without repenting of their personal sins? where in the Bible does it say this?

 

[A_Thinker]

without repenting of their personal sins? where in the Bible does it say this?

I didn't say that repentance wasn't involved ... I affirmed that believers are BORN into the family of God ...

John 1

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which are BORN, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

 

[Hazelelponi]

Oddly enough I am on here usually helping people like me currently. But here I am feeling nervous. Since covid has gone on I haven't been to church since the start. Haven't even caught an online service from our church. Still do my daily bread and read the "bible in a year" and pray...etc though. Obviously this gives you all lots of time to think.

I see many christians I know and I see how amazing they seem. They always bring up God on social media. They are always at events (safe masked...etc of course) praising God, singing...etc. They are giving God glory. While I know they are not perfect, I look at my life and feel like I am no where near how they are and thus maybe I am one of those who will be "Gnashing the teeth" after realizing I didn't get it.

I truly believe of course in God. I believe in Jesus my whole life. I know I am saved. But currently doubts are creeping back in. Even despite more changes like being free of many "chains" now.

I see that my wife works and I am the "stay at home" husband who manages things, does the chores, takes care of the house, makes the lunch for my wife... and so on. I wonder "Maybe that won't get me in because the roles are wrong, even if I am disabled!". Or I may play a bit of a game and say "Am I not worthy because of this?", even though I know the game for example is not my priority. It does not take up my time that I need to pray, read...etc. Which is how it should be of course.

I see other couples (as stated) and say "Do I need to be like them to be worthy really?". Again, I know we are saved and obviously not by works. But when I see others lives I really feel like I don't compare at all. I sometimes just cry out and want to hug God.

I also wonder if this has to do with the fact I am about to turn 40 and the fact my dad is almost 70 now and not doing well. Death is something I am starting to think about with him. Something I never really thought about before. How much I will miss him. How hard it will be...etc. I myself don't fear death of course, I know where we go. Again, I just pray I could be like others.

I often wonder what my mother in law thinks if she knew how my wife and I are since she (my MIL) is a pastor. Would she think I am doing good or bad as a christian husband? This is also why I miss church. It feeds you. It makes you feel fresh. You feel close to Him. And with my wife being third shift we never can catch a stream of our church since we go to bed about 8am.

I dont think I'm not worthy of heaven, I know I'm not...

I don't need to compare myself with other Christians to know that either, all I have to do is compare myself to Christ, the only one to ever enter into heaven based on His own worthiness, the one who made my own salvation possible.

Who cares where anyone else is, or what they need. What matters is where you are...

So are you saved based on the worth of our Savior? Yes!

Are you struggling being apart from the BODY of Christ? Yes!

So what? God gave us the body for a reason, your just one who recognises best as to why He did...

That likely makes you a better Christian than those who seem to have zero issues at all, truth be told, and that's not a bad thing at all!

 

[xaris]

Anyone else struggle with feeling like they are not worthy for heaven compared to other christians?

It's a feeling alright, but this time it's based on a fact!

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

Thanks for the answers. I love having brothers and sisters in the Lord that are reassuring and always there no matter what the answer is.

 

[turkle]

When you are comparing yourself to others, you are trying to rank yourself in holiness. In that mindset, if you feel less than some, you will inevitably feel better than others. Either way, it is self-centered and a pathway to being judgmental. It is all about pride, whether positive or negative. We are called to run from pride.

A follower of Christ must not be self-centered like that. We need to be Christ centered. We are sinful people who are dependent upon the extravagant grace of Christ every day. He didn't go to the cross so that you could feel better or worse about yourself by comparing yourself to others. He went to the cross so that you could abide with Him.

He is your measuring stick. You will never measure up to Him. Yet in His love, He extends grace and mercy to you even while you are a sinner. As a Christ follower, that is your only goal... to follow Him.

On a practical note, most churches record their on-line services, so there is no excuse to miss out on church and be fed. I recommend that you and your wife find a way to engage at least once a week.

 

[Junia]

Oddly enough I am on here usually helping people like me currently. But here I am feeling nervous. Since covid has gone on I haven't been to church since the start. Haven't even caught an online service from our church. Still do my daily bread and read the "bible in a year" and pray...etc though. Obviously this gives you all lots of time to think.

I see many christians I know and I see how amazing they seem. They always bring up God on social media. They are always at events (safe masked...etc of course) praising God, singing...etc. They are giving God glory. While I know they are not perfect, I look at my life and feel like I am no where near how they are and thus maybe I am one of those who will be "Gnashing the teeth" after realizing I didn't get it.

I truly believe of course in God. I believe in Jesus my whole life. I know I am saved. But currently doubts are creeping back in. Even despite more changes like being free of many "chains" now.

I see that my wife works and I am the "stay at home" husband who manages things, does the chores, takes care of the house, makes the lunch for my wife... and so on. I wonder "Maybe that won't get me in because the roles are wrong, even if I am disabled!". Or I may play a bit of a game and say "Am I not worthy because of this?", even though I know the game for example is not my priority. It does not take up my time that I need to pray, read...etc. Which is how it should be of course.

I see other couples (as stated) and say "Do I need to be like them to be worthy really?". Again, I know we are saved and obviously not by works. But when I see others lives I really feel like I don't compare at all. I sometimes just cry out and want to hug God.

I also wonder if this has to do with the fact I am about to turn 40 and the fact my dad is almost 70 now and not doing well. Death is something I am starting to think about with him. Something I never really thought about before. How much I will miss him. How hard it will be...etc. I myself don't fear death of course, I know where we go. Again, I just pray I could be like others.

I often wonder what my mother in law thinks if she knew how my wife and I are since she (my MIL) is a pastor. Would she think I am doing good or bad as a christian husband? This is also why I miss church. It feeds you. It makes you feel fresh. You feel close to Him. And with my wife being third shift we never can catch a stream of our church since we go to bed about 8am.

I feel this way a lot.

Regarding the wife working, this is not. Salvation issue at all. In the Bible women are not forbidden to work.

 

[Junia]

Christians are BORN, of the Spirit, ... into the family of God ...

John 3

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Yes so if born again you have nothing to worry about. Just keep on in the faith

 

[grasping the after wind]

I didn't read it all but I feel the same way you do every day for what I read of your post. It can be defeating to see so many perfect Christians. I don't believe God wants us to feel that way and sometimes I feel I shouldn't be here since it makes me feel so bad about myself around all the perfect people.

Where did you find these perfect Christians? I have yet to meet one. Every Christian I know, myself most definitely included, is flawed in serious ways and unworthy of the Grace that God has so generously given us.