Am I not good enough to be a Christian?

[BlackSabbath]

I don't honestly know if I am good enough, I don't know if it is becaue of how I have been socially conditoned, but sometimes I feel it is hard for me to, be peaceful. I think I, but the world has made me cynical, jaded at such notions and I even brought out a dark side to me I never knew existed, or I have experienced dark things in the world that has weighed on my soul and perhaps stolen my innocence and I do not know if it's me or the world sometimes. Another thing too, living a life on the sidelines is difficult for me sometimes and expecting to turn the other cheek. I confess, I wonder if I am truly a gentile at times as well, in however way that was concieved.

I feel guilty because after spending lots of time studying and searching for answers, I found myself experiencing at best I would "illumination" and I see how much of, the bible is actually true and it makes sense to me. I generally know what it is about mostly, I think.

I weigh thr bible against things like science or rationality, and even athiesm and I just cannot help thinking that it's actually true. I really have always believed, in God and I see much of rest of the world as lost or even dammed. I find a bit more solace or comfront now in this fact, but it makes me feel sad and backwards. I believe very strongly in God and what the bible stands for.

There's some things though, I think things like sex before marriage is alright and I think it is fine to express oneself or whatever. Well, I think much of the sadness comes from wanting to live a better world at times. Since seeing the "light" I find it almost unbearable at times. I realize I am a broken person looking for shelter I feel, in the "Lord's temple" perhaps?

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

.

 

[Another Lazarus]

I don't honestly know if I am good enough,

The question is are you obedient enough to God.

Deut 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land,

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days:

 

[Gregory Thompson]

It's not so much about me being good enough, but about Jesus being that good.

 

[mukk_in]

I don't honestly know if I am good enough, I don't know if it is becaue of how I have been socially conditoned, but sometimes I feel it is hard for me to, be peaceful. I think I, but the world has made me cynical, jaded at such notions and I even brought out a dark side to me I never knew existed, or I have experienced dark things in the world that has weighed on my soul and perhaps stolen my innocence and I do not know if it's me or the world sometimes. Another thing too, living a life on the sidelines is difficult for me sometimes and expecting to turn the other cheek. I confess, I wonder if I am truly a gentile at times as well, in however way that was concieved.

I feel guilty because after spending lots of time studying and searching for answers, I found myself experiencing at best I would "illumination" and I see how much of, the bible is actually true and it makes sense to me. I generally know what it is about mostly, I think.

I weigh thr bible against things like science or rationality, and even athiesm and I just cannot help thinking that it's actually true. I really have always believed, in God and I see much of rest of the world as lost or even dammed. I find a bit more solace or comfront now in this fact, but it makes me feel sad and backwards. I believe very strongly in God and what the bible stands for.

There's some things though, I think things like sex before marriage is alright and I think it is fine to express oneself or whatever. Well, I think much of the sadness comes from wanting to live a better world at times. Since seeing the "light" I find it almost unbearable at times. I realize I am a broken person looking for shelter I feel, in the "Lord's temple" perhaps?

None of us are son. That's the marvel of a new birth in Christ. Our unworthiness is what makes Him so worthy. Accept His grace. God bless .

 

[BlackSabbath]

OKAY---science, I see how, many believe in evolution, I never agreed altogether, but I see how it relates, the world and human nature. It bothere me. Subjectively though, to me, it's just "God" it's Kingdom in a sense, and I think it's perfect the way it is. I have a strong attachment to it. It's like in the anime film Princess Monoke sort of. I mean I feel it is a part of me, and strong protective feelings over nature and animals...

Sometimes I think I have the Devil in me or something, or I am just really unruly? I don't to hurt anymore, but I feel really restless at times. Imused to hate Superman but now, I realize what it symbolizes.

Like, I hope it's not seemingly egotistical, but the whole "outer space" thing. I used to feel like I was an alien or from another world. I used to daydream about all this stuff, science technology, space. I wanted to make "progress" or something. But then Krypton reached it's pinnacle, it exploded because they tried to,create a perfect world and it failed and was it's undoing, sort of, like the tower of babel or hubris.


It's just weird, I relate,to the character or something. I honestly felt like an alien from outer space, I was overwhelmed by my senses all of the time, I grew yp in a rural,farming community, and I used to be almost a drifter, (after my father died in my late teens, I wanted to leave "Kansas" and "do" something more then be a farmer, or a tradesman) I searched for meaning for years, feeling so disheartened by the world around me, then like "whoooaaa outerspace" the creators were Jewish suposedly, and I might be as well oddly enough. I,want to fly over the plains of Africa, woosh! Seriously, depression.

 

[BlackSabbath]

Feeling jaded and cynical about how the world is? Join the club!

God is open to anyone becoming a Christian whether they're "perfect" or not. If we had to prove ourselves worthy of being in Christ, then none of us would be going to Heaven. Jesus didn't come to save those we regard as perfect, he came to save sinners who are willing to love God and at least try to improve themselves. It's good that you are admitting that you are broken and the desire of a better world is indeed what Jesus preached, putting emphasis on the next world instead of this one. That's the first step towards being in Christ.

I admit, I am far from perfect and my capacity for loving those who hurt me is dwindling but Jesus died for me and he died for you. You have no reason to feel that God will reject you for your imperfections.

Is it a matter of faith or is it something beyond that? I don't know what it is but since having an "awakening" I'm finding myself struggling with feelings of resentment, anger and such. All the cheesy angst stuff, like man you know, "life's hard in the hood" like Tupac or like Ghetto gospel, seriously I don't know what it is. I'm good but I'm bad.

I feel greatful to Jesus because now I am free and it is amazing, but it's overwhelming. The world is so broken : /

 

[mozo41]

He that keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit of it:

 

[Rescued One]

The Holy Spirit wants us to avoid media and literature and all the things that cause us to think dark thoughts. Let God's Spirit guide you and spend more of your time posting verses to encourage others.

John 12 KJV
35Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

Ephesians 5 KJV
8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

No one is good enough. But God gives us the desire to change. You have that desire. Some Christians have been raised by angry parents who yelled at their children to stop crying or were physically abusive to them. That means that it's more difficult to change, but little by little God reminds us that we are living for Him not ourselves. When we remember the bad things we've done in the past, we know that we have no right to be filled with rage at someone else's sins.

God forgave us for Christ's sake. He told us to forgive others.

Ephesians 4 KJV
31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

If you work with non-Christians who are always angry, I suggest looking for another job. It's very hard to do what's right when you're with the wrong people.

Proverbs 22 KJV
24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

Proverbs 22 NIV
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,

Don't give up.

 

[Sarah G van G]

Please don't prune you free-thinking tentacles to fit into a plastic Christian mould.
Stay authentic and trust Jesus.
Maybe you are just tired of seeking and thinking and want to find The Thing but that's not going to work out for you in the long term. Your gift (or your curse depending how you choose to see it) is to question, seek and hold everything up to the light. You might as well accept it. You're on the right team, that's the main thing. Be blessed

 

[BlackSabbath]

The question is are you obedient enough to God.

Deut 30:15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land,

19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days:

But most Christians always turn the other cheek or passive? How much choice is alloted to,life choices as Christian? Is it really only the ten commandments because that's fairly easy to me...I guess part of how I see Christianity, is a matter of survival, or surviving, .i.e. things like Noah's Ark, and the whole bible. Peehaps it is a matter of faith?

 

[Another Lazarus]

..I guess part of how I see Christianity, is a matter of survival, or surviving, .i.e. things like Noah's Ark,

No, to be a christian is not a matter of bodily survival. But to choose to live in God means to obey God and defend the truth of God.

The early church was fed to lions, they were free to deny their faith and save their lives, but they choosed to defend the truth and obey God.


God told us the story of the poor Lazarus waiting to receive mercy from the Rich man's table, Lazarus accepts his fate and God could use his life for His purpose to find out the heart of the people. So this is the total obedience to God.




Jesus could run away from Gethsemane garden as he knew the people would ambush and arrest Him but He didnt, He faced them without fear of death.

 

[BlackSabbath]

Please don't prune you free-thinking tentacles to fit into a plastic Christian mould.
Stay authentic and trust Jesus.
Maybe you are just tired of seeking and thinking and want to find The Thing but that's not going to work out for you in the long term. Your gift (or your curse depending how you choose to see it) is to question, seek and hold everything up to the light. You might as well accept it. You're on the right team, that's the main thing. Be blessed

Oh great thanks! You know I actually quite enjoy this forum and find it refreshing
Though I don't think I'd be able to communicate so well prior.

Well, if I don't though, does that not make me a Christian? I have trouble often seeing where others are coming from, though maybe it is expected as an adult. I see the perhaps of organization, structure, but also the opposite and to me that's always felt more like "God" to me, which has always been my most re-occurent memory or experience, and often times others wanted to defile or take it away from me...

So in brief, I have spent much of my life running from things, and then "seeking shelter from the storm" as Bob Dylan puts it, lol. Refuge somewhere I guess.

It reminds me of this movie for some reason, I just love it..
This song is how it feels to be though I cannot describe.

 

[BlackSabbath]

No, to be a christian is not a matter of bodily survival. But to choose to live in God means to obey God and defend the truth of God.

The early church was fed to lions, they were free to deny their faith and save their lives, but they choosed to defend the truth and obey God.


God told us the story of the poor Lazarus waiting to receive mercy from the Rich man's table, Lazarus accepts his fate and God could use his life for His purpose to find out the heart of the people. So this is the total obedience to God.




Jesus could run away from Gethsemane garden as he knew the people would ambush and arrest Him but He didnt, He faced them without fear of death.

Sorry, I just feel like I am in the Matrix someone, when faced with really weird philoshopical questions.

 

[BlackSabbath]

He that keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit of it:

[bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse], I think that's exactly what I've been thinking about but uable to articulate or clarify for myself. Yes, that's sort of what I seem to be stuck on...

 

[Sanoy]

Christs promise to you is greater than your sin...always. Faith is trusting in His promise

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

 

[BlackSabbath]

M

The Holy Spirit wants us to avoid media and literature and all the things that cause us to think dark thoughts. Let God's Spirit guide you and spend more of your time posting verses to encourage others.

John 12 KJV
35Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

Ephesians 5 KJV
8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

No one is good enough. But God gives us the desire to change. You have that desire. Some Christians have been raised by angry parents who yelled at their children to stop crying or were physically abusive to them. That means that it's more difficult to change, but little by little God reminds us that we are living for Him not ourselves. When we remember the bad things we've done in the past, we know that we have no right to be filled with rage at someone else's sins.

God forgave us for Christ's sake. He told us to forgive others.

Ephesians 4 KJV
31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

If you work with non-Christians who are always angry, I suggest looking for another job. It's very hard to do what's right when you're with the wrong people.

Proverbs 22 KJV
24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:

Proverbs 22 NIV
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered,

Don't give up.

I haven't read it from cover to cover, I don't know which bible is for me..

I am familair with the whole book and events that take place and have read many excerpts.

 

[Tolworth John]

I don't honestly know if I am good enough

No one is 'good enough', that is the point about Christianity. You don't reach up to God because God is already in the hole you've dug for yourself ready to lift you out of it.

 

[mozo41]

[bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse], I think that's exactly what I've been thinking about but uable to articulate or clarify for myself. Yes, that's sort of what I seem to be stuck on...

our own reasoning brings us to the side of a bottomless pit ...

 

[BlackSabbath]

Christs promise to you is greater than your sin...always. Faith is trusting in His promise

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

But what about the reasoning of others?