Living As A Christian Where it is frowned upon

Matthew Calvin Wilkinson · Dec 6, 2018

Hey Y'all
This is my first post and I just wanted to introduce myself and explain to everyone who I am and where I came from.
I'm Matt, but people also call me Wilko cause of my last name. I live in Lausanne, Switzerland but am at a boarding school in England. I have been a Christian for just under a year, despite having no religious parents. I became religious through speaking to the Chaplain (Pastor) at my school and just being interested during sermons and actively attending bible studies. I am a big Football (both types) fan. I also enjoy many varieties of music, specifically music from the early 90s.
At my school attending church is compulsory as we have a chapel on site and the school is historically religious. This causes some uproar with students who aren't religious, so 90% of the school. They often comment about it being brainwashing and not allowing people to make their own decisions. They also speak harshly about the Chaplain, who has become like a father to me as I am away from my father during term time. I find it really hard when they are talking trash about God and Christianity, something that I myself care a lot about. Moreover, I feel that I am being attacked personally when they come up to me and mock me for my beliefs, saying that I was brainwashed and that I am stupid to believe in the bible and God.
Does anyone else have similar experiences and if so, how did you cope?
Thank Y'all
Matt

Go Braves · Dec 6, 2018

God bless you. You're from Switzerland & you spelled y'all correctly. I'm from Georgia, we say y'all all the time. It's a pet peeve of mine when folks spell it ya'll. Most who do aren't from around here.

Lol, well now that that's out of the way, welcome!

Matthew Calvin Wilkinson · Dec 6, 2018

Thank you and may God bless you also.

messianist · Dec 6, 2018

Hi, Wilko welcome to cf,

Serving Zion · Dec 6, 2018

Matthew Calvin Wilkinson said:
Hey Y'all
This is my first post and I just wanted to introduce myself and explain to everyone who I am and where I came from.
I'm Matt, but people also call me Wilko cause of my last name. I live in Lausanne, Switzerland but am at a boarding school in England. I have been a Christian for just under a year, despite having no religious parents. I became religious through speaking to the Chaplain (Pastor) at my school and just being interested during sermons and actively attending bible studies. I am a big Football (both types) fan. I also enjoy many varieties of music, specifically music from the early 90s.
At my school attending church is compulsory as we have a chapel on site and the school is historically religious. This causes some uproar with students who aren't religious, so 90% of the school. They often comment about it being brainwashing and not allowing people to make their own decisions. They also speak harshly about the Chaplain, who has become like a father to me as I am away from my father during term time. I find it really hard when they are talking trash about God and Christianity, something that I myself care a lot about. Moreover, I feel that I am being attacked personally when they come up to me and mock me for my beliefs, saying that I was brainwashed and that I am stupid to believe in the bible and God.
Does anyone else have similar experiences and if so, how did you cope?
Thank Y'all
Matt

Welcome to CF Matt! .. and yeah I understand your struggle :crosseo:

You know, I think that if everyone knew the truth from the start, they wouldn't be against Jesus one little bit, so the problem comes as a result of the way they have started to think during that ~17 years of life to the present day.. and the truth of that comes in a couple of different ways. On one hand, there is a type of person who is so attached to their sinfulness, that there is a cost of repentance associated in order for them to accept the truth of Jesus Christ - so they are personally invested in opposing it that way. But there is another type of person who has become the innocent victim of misinformation about Jesus Christ, and has fallen into a state of mind of a mocker - where if they didn't have those wrong perspectives, they would be on the side of Jesus Christ. So perhaps there is an opportunity in that for you to identify some people who are worthy of patience and others who you should rise above.

To a large extent, it comes about as a result of the false doctrines that were introduced to Christianity early, and the wild ideas that people come up with in order to defend those doctrines instead of repenting of them (this is why there is so much confusion and disagreement in Christianity these days - whereas the original disciples were one and in agreement with each other).

If you want more to consider about that, think about what the scriptures on this page are saying.

.. Plus, keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus and the reality of The Gospel: that He lives through us.. so whenever there is an opportunity for someone to really call upon Jesus, that is what we are there for. That is why you have a good relationship with your chaplain that not many others do.. you have a knowledge and heart for God that you know your chaplain is a vessel for His ministry to you. In time, you will see how God is using you in the same way, especially as you begin to apply Jeremiah 15:19, and see the mockers as mockers, while giving a word of wisdom to the wise.

.. Same principles apply around here, btw

.. See you round! :wave:

WESTOZZIE · Dec 6, 2018

Hi mate, ..er..Matt. :clap:

I never believed in Jesus until I was 28 so I don't have the same experience you are having.
But I have had jobs where others have mocked me or where my faith got me sent to another district because the skipper of the patrol boat I was assigned to hated religion/God etc.
In those days I was young in my faith and zealous.
Just keep praying for those who mistreat you...they are blinded.
Have you ever seen Hacksaw Ridge? Good movie. Maybe it would encourage you.
Grace to you brother

Matthew Calvin Wilkinson · Dec 6, 2018

Serving Zion said:
Welcome to CF Matt! .. and yeah I understand your struggle

You know, I think that if everyone knew the truth from the start, they wouldn't be against Jesus one little bit, so the problem comes as a result of the way they have started to think during that ~17 years of life to the present day.. and the truth of that comes in a couple of different ways. On one hand, there is a type of person who is so attached to their sinfulness, that there is a cost of repentance associated in order for them to accept the truth of Jesus Christ - so they are personally invested in opposing it that way. But there is another type of person who has become the innocent victim of misinformation about Jesus Christ, and has fallen into a state of mind of a mocker - where if they didn't have those wrong perspectives, they would be on the side of Jesus Christ. So perhaps there is an opportunity in that for you to identify some people who are worthy of patience and others who you should rise above.

To a large extent, it comes about as a result of the false doctrines that were introduced to Christianity early, and the wild ideas that people come up with in order to defend those doctrines instead of repenting of them (this is why there is so much confusion and disagreement in Christianity these days - whereas the original disciples were one and in agreement with each other).

If you want more to consider about that, think about what the scriptures on this page are saying.

.. Plus, keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus and the reality of The Gospel: that He lives through us.. so whenever there is an opportunity for someone to really call upon Jesus, that is what we are there for. That is why you have a good relationship with your chaplain that not many others do.. you have a knowledge and heart for God that you know your chaplain is a vessel for His ministry to you. In time, you will see how God is using you in the same way, especially as you begin to apply Jeremiah 15:19, and see the mockers as mockers, while giving a word of wisdom to the wise.

.. Same principles apply around here, btw .. See you round!

Thanks for the advice. I will try and identify those that I can have patience with, and try to have a meaningful discussion with them. I will try also to ignore those who I feel are purely mockers, and remember that Jesus is there for us.
Again thank you for the advice

Serving Zion · Dec 6, 2018

Matthew Calvin Wilkinson said:
Thanks for the advice. I will try and identify those that I can have patience with, and try to have a meaningful discussion with them. I will try also to ignore those who I feel are purely mockers, and remember that Jesus is there for us.
Again thank you for the advice

.. yeah, it's difficult to give a prescribed approach to success! .. but every word that we say provides an opportunity for judgement.. so, in that way, the real key to success is to be confident in who you are, and not having any anxiety .. which is sometimes hard to keep sight of when you are surrounded by mockers. So if you can, just find people who are supportive and fair-minded and guard your heart in other company

I think the biggest trap is to think we have a duty to convert everyone who doesn't believe.. whereas if we let go of that responsibility and recognise that it is God's work in us that brings us to repentance, then you will find the words are not being forced of your own desire, and they will find opportunity for conviction in His good time.

Go Braves · Dec 7, 2018

Matthew Calvin Wilkinson said:
Thanks for the advice. I will try and identify those that I can have patience with, and try to have a meaningful discussion with them. I will try also to ignore those who I feel are purely mockers, and remember that Jesus is there for us.
Again thank you for the advice

Sounds like you've got a level head on your shoulders. Good!

ArtosGalleries · May 27, 2019

Hi Matt,

Stand firm, pray for them, answer questions if they ask you. I suggest studying how Christ & others in bible responded to mockers/haters. I'm sure God has placed you in there for a reason... You could be influencing others already!

I had similar experiences and noone around me was reading the bible and they didn't understand why I was doing it. But kept doing it while they went their way. Some would ask questions, others think you're stupid. People do watch how you respond to their remarks.

If you stand firm confidently, you can influence people in just holding your ground.

There are some great proverbs verses that come to mind... Proverbs 15:12, 9:7-8, 13:1..

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Living As A Christian Where it is frowned upon

Matthew Calvin Wilkinson

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