What were your expectations as a new Christian?

[Jermayn]

Looking to get a little more insight from multiple people from multiple backgrounds on this. Thank you in advance to anyone who responds.

-When you first became a Christian, what did you expect life in the church to be like?

-What were your hopes or assumptions about how things would go?

-What was your first experience with the church community?

-Did those expectations match reality, or were there surprises?

-How do you feel now about your place in the church?

 

[Lukaris]

I fully realized that my conscience is a flawed and limited guide for living. The Lord’s Gospel made me realize I needed His truth for everlasting life and daily living.

On a basic & sensible level, the Lord’s commandments, to me, confirm how I need to live life, treat others, & be law abiding ( see Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 7:1-12, Matthew 19:16-19, Romans 13:1-14 etc.).

I understand that I am still deeply flawed & subject to sin ( 1 John 1:5-10 etc.). The Lord wants us to be charitable & pray for ourselves & others ( see Matthew 6:1-13, 1 Timothy 2:1-6). He wants us, in some way, to help spread the Gospel; at least as part of charity and prayer ( see Matthew 9:36-38). I don’t claim to be a worthy evangelist.

The Lord wants us to know Him as God and Savior & to live by faith in Him ( John 3:16-21, Ephesians 2:8-10 etc).He wants us to have a sound understanding of our faith. Christians have a lot of variances; personally I don’t know every precise truth but I believe cooperation is necessary. I believe careful reading for ex. of Philippians 2:1-30, Colossians 1:1-29 are helpful in this.

 

[ChubbyCherub]

-When you first became a Christian, what did you expect life in the church to be like?
Opening and warm but instructional re: teachings of Jesus and how to apply these to modern life

-What were your hopes or assumptions about how things would go?
Not sure I understand this question, sorry!

-What was your first experience with the church community?
I walked in one evening, sat down and listened to the sermon.

-Did those expectations match reality, or were there surprises?
I am often surprised by the attitudes of fellow churchgoers towards volunteers.
I was surprised that the church taught so much love but not about repentance and sin

-How do you feel now about your place in the church?
I still don't know! I'm trying to figure that out

 

[Paidiske]

-When you first became a Christian, what did you expect life in the church to be like?

I'm not sure, to be honest. I started going to church as a young adult who already had faith, and was looking for "more" than I had experienced in personal, private prayer and Bible reading. I found that "more," but it was a very mixed bag! (This kind of covers your next question, too).

-What was your first experience with the church community?

I went to an Anglican parish that (I didn't realise at the time) was quite low church and charismatic. On the one hand, there were real strengths, such as the valuing of the gifts of all the members, and seeing the whole church as active participants in the church's life and mission. On the other hand, there were real weaknesses, as well; it was quite an unhealthy place in some ways, and I ended up leaving due to the really limited opportunities for women.

-How do you feel now about your place in the church?

Now, nearly thirty years on from those first visits, I think I have a much more realistic view of the church as a deeply flawed and compromised institution, through which God still works. I've also been able to find ways to grow, contribute, and pursue my own sense of vocation (these days I work in a mix of hospital chaplaincy and parish ministry as a priest). I think the key thing is to look to God, and be discerning about what the church offers.

 

[Bob Crowley]

I didn't know what to expect. When I became Christian, I was going through a divorce, had the flu, was out of work and was going to lose the home I was paying off to the bank. I thought "there has to be more to life than this", and it was in that situation that I became Christian.

I've already said this elsewhere, but at that time the 1982 Commonwealth Games were on in Brisbane, Australia. I don't normally watch sport but since I had the flu and couldn't do anything anyway, I ended up watching quite a bit of the games.

But as I did this image of the local Presbyterian Church where I'd had bit of Sunday school years before kept intruding into my mind. It was very persistent, and I eventually decided I'd better go. So I did and a few weeks later I made a commitment.

I didn't know what to expect, but I soon gravitated to the main church in the parish where there were more young people, I got to know the pastor in paricular over a period of time although it wasn't immediate. I remember being at a ten pin bowls night and the parish assistant said to me "Don't you know yet that he (the pastor) is a real character??!" At that point I hardly knew him but I soon became better acquainted.

So, no, I didn't know what to expect. Years later I became Catholic, but I still have good memories of that particular Presbyterian congregation, not because they were "Presbyterian" but because of the quality of the people.

And I learnt a lot in a short time.

 

[Jermayn]

-When you first became a Christian, what did you expect life in the church to be like?
Opening and warm but instructional re: teachings of Jesus and how to apply these to modern life

-What were your hopes or assumptions about how things would go?
Not sure I understand this question, sorry!

-What was your first experience with the church community?
I walked in one evening, sat down and listened to the sermon.

-Did those expectations match reality, or were there surprises?
I am often surprised by the attitudes of fellow churchgoers towards volunteers.
I was surprised that the church taught so much love but not about repentance and sin

-How do you feel now about your place in the church?
I still don't know! I'm trying to figure that out

To follow up on question 2, think of it as asking what you're expectations where as a new Christian. Were you expecting your life to get easier or harder? Were you expecting your family and friends to act or treat you differently? Did you expect a certain amount of support from your church or other Christians in general? Did you have an expectation on how other Christians would/should act or treat you? How did it all pan out for you?

What do you mean by being suprised by the attitudes of fellow churchgoers toward volunteers? Was it negative or positive?

 

[Jermayn]

I'm not sure, to be honest. I started going to church as a young adult who already had faith, and was looking for "more" than I had experienced in personal, private prayer and Bible reading. I found that "more," but it was a very mixed bag! (This kind of covers your next question, too).

I went to an Anglican parish that (I didn't realise at the time) was quite low church and charismatic. On the one hand, there were real strengths, such as the valuing of the gifts of all the members, and seeing the whole church as active participants in the church's life and mission. On the other hand, there were real weaknesses, as well; it was quite an unhealthy place in some ways, and I ended up leaving due to the really limited opportunities for women.

Now, nearly thirty years on from those first visits, I think I have a much more realistic view of the church as a deeply flawed and compromised institution, through which God still works. I've also been able to find ways to grow, contribute, and pursue my own sense of vocation (these days I work in a mix of hospital chaplaincy and parish ministry as a priest). I think the key thing is to look to God, and be discerning about what the church offers.

You have a unique view as someone who is a leader within the Church.

Looking back on your early life as a Christian, do you feel like you received the support you needed from the church and church leadership? Since you said you left due to limited opportunity, it sounds like that is a no, but I don't want to assume.

As a leader now, do you feel like any expectations you had in your earlier Christian life were unreasonable? Or perhaps the opposite. Do you feel like you should have expected more from God, the Church, other Christians, etc.?

Do those early experiences shape the way you minister as a Church leader today, specifically when dealing with new or young Christians?