Can I call myself a Christian? Please help.

[nephilimiyr]

Hi guys, I have a question. I have been struggling a lot with my faith lately, and I want to preserve my Christian identity, but I'm wondering if I can even call myself a Christian anymore. Let me tell you a few things about myself. I'm a member of the catholic church, I have been to church a lot in my life, I seriously believe that Jesus Christ said some magnificent things to live by and is a great role model, and as such I'm his follower, but I'm not sure if he was the Son of God. Or if God even exists. I've had a major faith crisis in the last couple of years. I do, however, try to live my life in a moral way, I don't drink, smoke, party but I have failed morally when it comes to sex, but this is something I'm working on (getting out of that sin). Based on the following, can I at all call myself a Christian? Only serious answers please, since this is something that means a great deal to me and bothers my mind constantly.

Hi Chanya, I think many of us at one time or another have been right where you are now in questioning such things. I know that I have asked the same questions and have had trouble with the answers, all-be-it many years ago.

I've found throughout the years that christianity is not about following a set of rules or laws, it's not even about following a moral code. That being a christian is mainly about putting my faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Being a good "moral" person isn't what moves God in my life but putting my faith in him has always moved him to make the changes in my life for the better. Yes those changes have alot to do with being a good, kind, and loving person who also has become victorious over several naging sins but being victorious over those sins isn't what makes me a christian, those things are evidence, but it's my faith in him that I believe is what makes me a christian.

The only problem I see you having to deal with, if I can be so bold, is your faith, not the moral way you run your life. You yourself have said that it's your faith that is in crisis. All I can tell you to do is keep searching him out, call on him, do everything you can do to get to know him because He will hear you and He will respond. You may not always fell like it, LOL, or you may never fell like it, but everybody recieves their opportunities in this life when circumstances dictate that turning to him is the only answer because there simply is no one else to turn to.

I hope I've been of some help.

 

[Chanya]

Hi guys,

I'm overwhelmed by the response to this thread. It warms my heart that so many of you care, thank you all so much. The responses are so many that I can't address absolutely everything that's been said and asked, but I will try my best. And I will continue to ask God to manifest himself for me and do some more soul searching.

I see that many of you mention that the label is not important, and that the label itself (calling myself a Christian) doesn't make me Christian. I agree. However, the reason why I'm concerned about this is the fact that some of the things I do in my life are Christian things (for example going to Church and singing Christian songs, as I enjoy Gospel music very much) while other things I do in my life are sinful and, like I said, I have doubts about God. This makes me feel like a hypocrite, and I'm overwhelmed by fear that if I continue to do these Christian things while not really being a Christian, and when I die I discover that God really is real, then I'm in for some severe punishment having lived my whole life as a hypocrite taking the Lord's name in my mouth while not really believing in what I say, or sing. Does this make sense?

But then again, stepping into and being part of the secular world, with drinking, cursing and denying God's existence, is not something I am keen to do either. I have no desire to do it, and I also seem to fear God without even knowing if God is real. Does this make sense? This whole crisis scares me beyond words. Once again, thanks for all the replies.

 

[MamaZ]

Hi guys, I have a question. I have been struggling a lot with my faith lately, and I want to preserve my Christian identity, but I'm wondering if I can even call myself a Christian anymore. Let me tell you a few things about myself. I'm a member of the catholic church, I have been to church a lot in my life, I seriously believe that Jesus Christ said some magnificent things to live by and is a great role model, and as such I'm his follower, but I'm not sure if he was the Son of God. Or if God even exists. I've had a major faith crisis in the last couple of years. I do, however, try to live my life in a moral way, I don't drink, smoke, party but I have failed morally when it comes to sex, but this is something I'm working on (getting out of that sin). Based on the following, can I at all call myself a Christian? Only serious answers please, since this is something that means a great deal to me and bothers my mind constantly.

Do you have Christ in you? Call on the name of the Lord and you will be saved. He is not angry at you. He loves you. A faith Crisis is not greater than Christ. Even if we are not faithful He is.

 

[daydreamergurl15]

Hi guys, I have a question. I have been struggling a lot with my faith lately, and I want to preserve my Christian identity, but I'm wondering if I can even call myself a Christian anymore. Let me tell you a few things about myself. I'm a member of the catholic church, I have been to church a lot in my life, I seriously believe that Jesus Christ said some magnificent things to live by and is a great role model, and as such I'm his follower, but I'm not sure if he was the Son of God. Or if God even exists. I've had a major faith crisis in the last couple of years. I do, however, try to live my life in a moral way, I don't drink, smoke, party but I have failed morally when it comes to sex, but this is something I'm working on (getting out of that sin). Based on the following, can I at all call myself a Christian? Only serious answers please, since this is something that means a great deal to me and bothers my mind constantly.

I have a question for you, how often do you study the bible?

 

[Chanya]

I have a question for you, how often do you study the bible?

I took a look at the Gospels today, but that was the first time in a seriously long time, so I would say almost never. I guess I'm afraid I will find things that will hurt my faith even more.

 

[nephilimiyr]

Keep in mind, we're all a work in progress. Jesus wasn't called to help perfect people but the imperfect. I don't know Chanya, I just think you're too hung up on sin, and that's understandable but unnecessary. Hey, we all sin, none of us are perfect. People usually fail at stopping sin if they believe it's all up to them but the only way to get rid of a sin in your life is to put your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and then walk in the Spirit, live in the Spirit. And that is easy for me to say but it isn't always easy to practice while living in this world with sin all around us.

My message to you is stop beating yourself up over your moral failings. With God's standards all of us fail, you're not alone in that.

 

[Chanya]

I know. Thanks. But does God punish me more for sin than he punishes others for sin? Let's say I have pre-marital sex (which I am in the process of getting out of by making it marital sex, hopefully) and then later go to church, wouldn't this be mocking God and deserving of punishment? For example something terrible happens in my life

 

[nephilimiyr]

I took a look at the Gospels today, but that was the first time in a seriously long time, so I would say almost never. I guess I'm afraid I will find things that will hurt my faith even more.

That's possible if you have that frame of mind but one of the main reasons why the Bible is there for us to read is so that we will see the love of God for us. God is all about love and forgiveness. Jesus came not to condemn us but to save us.

 

[hedrick]

However, the reason why I'm concerned about this is the fact that some of the things I do in my life are Christian things (for example going to Church and singing Christian songs, as I enjoy Gospel music very much) while other things I do in my life are sinful and, like I said, I have doubts about God. This makes me feel like a hypocrite, and I'm overwhelmed by fear that if I continue to do these Christian things while not really being a Christian, and when I die I discover that God really is real, then I'm in for some severe punishment having lived my whole life as a hypocrite taking the Lord's name in my mouth while not really believing in what I say, or sing. Does this make sense?

God doesn't expect your faith to be perfect. Many people in the NT doubted to one extent or another and were still accepted (Thomas, the person who said "I believe, help my unbelief"). Similarly, Jesus didn't people because of their sins. However he did expect people to live the best lives they could.* He is certainly not going to condemn you for trying to follow Jesus even though you have doubts. Many people find that development in their faith comes out of living and worshipping as a Christian.

Hypocrisy is claiming a perfection you don't have, which you are certainly not doing.

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*This statement could be read as suggesting that we've saved by good works independent of faith. That is certainly not what I mean. We're part of God's people because God loves us and has called us, even though we don't merit it. But what he wants is for us to live in obedience, not because we think we're going to earn something by it, but because we know it's what he wants, i.e.g because it's right. It's never wrong to do what Jesus taught because you think it's right, whatever the subjective state of your faith at the moment.

 

[nephilimiyr]

I know. Thanks. But does God punish me more for sin than he punishes others for sin? Let's say I have pre-marital sex (which I am in the process of getting out of by making it marital sex, hopefully) and then later go to church, wouldn't this be mocking God and deserving of punishment? For example something terrible happens in my life

Well in my opinion, and the way I know God, I would have to say you don't know God's character very well. Once Jesus died for our sins and then rose again from the dead, God has declared peace to all of us. God is no longer in a war with us humans over sin, He has declared peace.

Let me write you my favorite verse in all the Bible.

Romans 5:1-2, Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

 

[daydreamergurl15]

I took a look at the Gospels today, but that was the first time in a seriously long time, so I would say almost never. I guess I'm afraid I will find things that will hurt my faith even more.

Staying away from the Scriptures because you fear that it will convict you of sins will play on your faith. Scripture is there to help you, not hinder you. Yes, it will convict you but most importantly it will lead you to Christ and explain to you the love that God has for you. God loves you and the things that He says in scripture is for our benefit. When you come to Him with a godly sorrow and repent to Him and be baptized in the blood of His Son giving your life to Him than you are allowing Him to be in your life and to guide your life to the path that He so desires for you.

Proverbs 2:7 tell us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. One of the reasons why God had to punish the Israelite in the Old Testament was because they had no knowledge of Him and they kept doing things that was contrary to what He desires. The knowledge of God is so important when it comes to our faith, it really do help our faith.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
-Romans 10:17


17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
-2 Peter 3:17-18​

I want to make something clear so as not to confuse you. God is who we have a relationship with and the Scriptures help foster that relationship because it communicates to us what God desires of us. It is important to have that knowledge of Him. One of the reasons why we doubt is because we don't know enough about Him. We doubt His love, we doubt His Son, Christ, and we doubt His existence because we let other things in our lives define Him but we don't allow the Scriptures, which is His word, to define who He is. You can't know what God wants without reading His word and you will never know what God desires unless someone tells you or you read it yourself in His word and that's where the strength of your faith will come in. You'll be able to know who God is in our lives once you have allowed Him to tell you, through His word.

But if you run away from the Scriptures, you run away from the Holy Spirit help guiding you to God.

 

[Chanya]

God doesn't expect your faith to be perfect. Many people in the NT doubted to one extent or another and were still accepted (Thomas, the person who said "I believe, help my unbelief"). Similarly, Jesus didn't people because of their sins. However he did expect people to live the best lives they could.* He is certainly not going to condemn you for trying to follow Jesus even though you have doubts. Many people find that development in their faith comes out of living and worshipping as a Christian.

Hypocrisy is claiming a perfection you don't have, which you are certainly not doing.

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*This statement could be read as suggesting that we've saved by good works independent of faith. That is certainly not what I mean. We're part of God's people because God loves us and has called us, even though we don't merit it. But what he wants is for us to live in obedience, not because we think we're going to earn something by it, but because we know it's what he wants, i.e.g because it's right. It's never wrong to do what Jesus taught because you think it's right, whatever the subjective state of your faith at the moment.

Thank you. This posts actually helps a great deal, and makes sense. It puts my mind a bit more at ease, for now at least. Thank you.

 

[hedrick]

I know. Thanks. But does God punish me more for sin than he punishes others for sin? Let's say I have pre-marital sex (which I am in the process of getting out of by making it marital sex, hopefully) and then later go to church, wouldn't this be mocking God and deserving of punishment? For example something terrible happens in my life

I'm not sure what you're asking. You're afraid that going to church makes your sin worse? That seems wrong. You might argue that making false claims for yourself increases the offense. E.g. a minister who preaches all the time about some sin which he is secretly committing. But all ministers are sinners, too, and most don't try to deny it. It's giving the false impression of sanctity that's the issue. If you think of Church as a place for people to meet God and deal with their sins, which I believe is the case, then God *wants* people who realize they need moral or spiritual help to come to church. That's what it's for. Church isn't just for people who are already saints.

 

[nephilimiyr]

Well, I have to go. I'll leave you with this song which I think sums it all up. I don't know if you like U2 but please listen to the lyrics of this song because what we're all talking about here is all about grace, the greatest gift from God.
YouTube - ‪U2 Grace‬‏

 

[Chanya]

I'm not sure what you're asking. You're afraid that going to church makes your sin worse? That seems wrong. You might argue that making false claims for yourself increases the offense. E.g. a minister who preaches all the time about some sin which he is secretly committing. But all ministers are sinners, too, and most don't try to deny it. It's giving the false impression of sanctity that's the issue. If you think of Church as a place for people to meet God and deal with their sins, which I believe is the case, then God *wants* people who realize they need moral or spiritual help to come to church. That's what it's for. Church isn't just for people who are already saints.

That makes sense, too. Thanks. What I'm asking is, if I sing Christian songs that proclaim Jesus, yet I personally have doubts, wouldn't I be a big hypocrite and deserving of God's punishment (if there really is a God)?

 

[hedrick]

That makes sense, too. Thanks. What I'm asking is, if I sing Christian songs that proclaim Jesus, yet I personally have doubts, wouldn't I be a big hypocrite and deserving of God's punishment (if there really is a God)?

I think it depends upon the context. Again, if you pushed this then only saints could worship God. But that's pretty clearly not the intention.

However in a public setting if somehow you created a false impression that could be a problem. E.g. some Christian music groups do concerts which are also evangelical tools. You wouldn't want to be part of a group that is spreading a Gospel you're not sure you believe, just like you shouldn't be preaching a sermon giving the impression that you believe something you don't.

But God isn't sitting there looking for excuses to judge you. He judges your intent, in a forgiving way. You might choose not to sing some song because at the time you just don't feel right. That makes sense. You are obviously bothered by this, and in general people should not go against their conscience. God may be speaking to you through it. Since that seems to be happening, you might want to skip songs that you just don't feel right about singing. Something can be OK in general but still wrong for you. But God is not sitting there grading your faith and saying that only people who get at least 66% are allowed to sing this song.

Again, hypocrisy is about being dishonest. To live according to a faith you don't feel at the moment is not normally dishonest as long you don't give a false impression to others, or worse, deceive yourself.

 

[Cuddles333]

Your posts reveal, at least to me, that you were born again according to John 3:1-8

A person who had never been regenerated would not even be posting here or even be concerned about their spiritual condition. The moment you were born again (saved) you were saved for eternity.

I think if we could look into the lives of all church goers we would marvel at the level of carnality we all live in. Somehow preachers have been able to make us have this unrealistic expectation that believers should have lives similar to isolated monks

 

[Chanya]

< staff edit >
I generally feel sickened by the state the world is in, be it drug use, alcohol, a sexualised society etc. That makes me think I belong in the Christian group. I have that feeling of wrong and right according to Christian values, and I'm trying my best to do right. But I'm not perfect. I'm not sure if I'm a hypocrite for singing Christian songs and pretending to be a Christian when I have the doubts I have and sin like I do, that's what bothers me. < staff edit >

 

[Walter Kovacs]

Sounds like how a Christian should be to me.

 

[LinuxUser]

< staff edit >
I generally feel sickened by the state the world is in, be it drug use, alcohol, a sexualised society etc. That makes me think I belong in the Christian group. I have that feeling of wrong and right according to Christian values, and I'm trying my best to do right. But I'm not perfect. I'm not sure if I'm a hypocrite for singing Christian songs and pretending to be a Christian when I have the doubts I have and sin like I do, that's what bothers me. < staff edit >

< staff edit > pray, pray, pray. Did I say you should pray? < staff edit >
If you never prayed that Christ come into your heart than do it now. We all struggle < staff edit >