Can I call myself a Christian? Please help.

Chanya said:

If the thread can move away from discussing my sex life, then I'm ok with it staying here. I've already had an offer to email Lisa with the things concerning women only, so if you can ask people to move away from this topic then it's fine. I don't think it's fair that I have to talk about embarrasing things like that in public because that was not why I started the thread.

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Since you mentioned struggling morally with sex in the OP, you might want to edit that out and I can post a mod hat, as well.

Chanya,
I've been poking in and out of this thread and was just wondering if you've actually found any help among the various responses here?

Friendly reminder: this is mainly a pastoral issue and less of a theological discussion

I don't think the issue is really about whether or not you are a Christian based on continuing to live with a specific sin (doesn't really matter which sin). The issue I see in your OP is this:

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.

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At this point you need to figure out who you believe Jesus to be. Consider the following passage:

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ~ Matthew 16:13-15

How would you answer Jesus?

Chanya said:

That's just the thing. I don't want to lie to myself and I don't want to lie to Jesus if he is there. So I can't admit to any more than I can stand for. And all I know 100% certain right now, is that I admire Jesus' teachings. How do I make the leap of faith that he is God? I really want to know cause I really want to be a full Christian. I can't force myself to believe?

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I'm sure you have read the following quote by C.S. Lewis:

"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg--or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us."

What do you admire about His teachings? What is it about Jesus that draws you toward Him? If Jesus said He was God...do you believe Him? If He did believe He was God in the flesh, was He lying or just a lunatic? When you hear about a person (currently living) who believes they are the Messiah you instantly think that they are just crazy. Do you have the same reaction when you read Jesus' words about being the Messiah and about being God?

Chanya said:

I admire his defence of the poor, social justice etc.
How can I believe that he's God from that? I want to believe but I just can't It breaks my heart.

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May I respectfully ask why you use the RC faith icon if that is what you feel? Thanks

Chanya said:

That's just the thing. I don't want to lie to myself and I don't want to lie to Jesus if he is there. So I can't admit to any more than I can stand for. And all I know 100% certain right now, is that I admire Jesus' teachings. How do I make the leap of faith that he is God? I really want to know cause I really want to be a full Christian. I can't force myself to believe?

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All you need to do is believe....

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

That's all that is needed from you; BELIEVE!

You're absolutely right; you cannot force yourself, but you can ask the LORD to help you in your unbelief. Never under-estimate the power of a sincere prayer to God.

PRAY PRAY AND PRAY SOME MORE...

Chanya said:

I admire his defence of the poor, social justice etc.
How can I believe that he's God from that? I want to believe but I just can't It breaks my heart.

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I, personally, like to reference Hebrews 11 when people talk about struggling with their faith.

IMO, we can't base our faith on tangible evidence or specific behaviors[alone]. Having faith does not mean that we won't struggle or that bad things won't happen to us or the ones we love. But, that very faith is where we draw comfort, peace, strength, shelter, and so on when life doles out trials and tribulations. The promises that God has for us pertain more to eternal life and less with life here on earth.

Just my random nattering on the subject. I don't know if that will help you any or not.

Chanya said:

I admire his defence of the poor, social justice etc.
How can I believe that he's God from that? I want to believe but I just can't It breaks my heart.

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You cannot force yourself to believe; it just doesn't happen that way, no matter the external and internal drives you feel.

One wee prayer. Just say it once even if it feels stupid.

> Jesus have mercy of me, Amen.

And be open. God will be after you, I'm certain of it. Just give it time.

Chanya said:

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.

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Let me tell you a secret.

I see you are having problem believing that Jesus is God.

I had the same problem

I came from an atheistic background (born in USSR) and came to U.S. when 15.
Eventually, when about 30 I became a believer in Jesus Christ.
However, I had a secret I never told anyone at the time.

I could not believe that the man on the cross, Jesus could actually be God with a capital G.
Oh, I really, really respected Jesus.
I remember I was actually arguing with people they should call him Mr. Christ and not just Jesus.
... I know, I know ... I was new.

You already have a great foundation for your belief upon which you could build.
You respect Jesus.

This is how I came to believe.

I was reading the Bible and really, really respected the Bible as well.
I figured ... if it quotes Jesus - it gotta be right. ... I know ...

Eventually, over time as I was going to Bible studies and reading my own red letter text ... I somehow, eventually believed that Jesus is indeed God.

I understood that He became man and became humble and obedient even to death.

And His miracles, well, He said that the Father was doing them.
He lived as a man while "hiding" His divinity quiet well.
He never "stopped" being God, He was just hiding it.
There was a reason for that - hiding it from his enemies till the time was right.

Hey, even His disciples had problem believing he is God.
And they were with Him, ate with Him, talked and walked with Him.:o

Read the New Testament.
Find the one with red letters.
The Catholic and Protestant New Testaments are the same, so don't worry about it.

Let me know how it goes.

Thanks,
In Christ,
Ed

simonthezealot said:

I agree, bye Ladies. With dreamgirl sunlover and mamaz and lisalisa your in good hands.

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I agree totally .... Spock out
......beam me up Scottie

Chanya said:

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.

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Here is something I prepared for my Church a while back.

[B]How do you know you are saved?[/B]

I have been wrestling with a question for some time now, as to how do I know that I am saved, I mean I think I know it but how do I really know it?

Most would answer with “Have you said the sinners prayer? Have you asked Jesus into your heart and asked him to forgive your Sin?”

If you say yes then they say “Was it sincere?”

Then most people say “Well I think so”

The problem is:
1. You are trusting your salvation on the sincerity of a single prayer
2. And you will not find the sinners prayer anywhere in Scripture.


Because you see Church, in contradiction to what many evangelists teach about Revelations 3:20; Jesus is not standing at the door of your heart knocking like some needy salesman, if He wants your heart He will kick the door in and say “It’s Mine, It’s always been Mine and it always will be Mine”
So back to the question at hand, How do you know that you are saved, The answer is quite simple, it’s John 3:16, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. However the evidence you have truly been Re-Gened in Christ will tell you whether you believe in Him.

I have three questions which if you cannot answer yes to all three you are in danger of Hell.


1.) Has God done such a work in your heart that you now hate the sin you used to love, and do you continue to grow in that hatred of Sin.

2.) Has God done such a work in your heart that you now thirst for the righteousness you once ignored and hated.

3.) Do you desire with all your heart to see God return now in all his Glory so you may worship Him in His presence for all eternity, because if you don’t want Him now, you won’t want Him when He does return.

I’m not saying you should have the repentance of someone 40 years in the faith, that is why we have Blessed Justification, or some of you may know it as propitiation, what I am saying is that if God has worked in your heart and you believe in Jesus the answers to these questions will be evident in you to you.

The more I study scripture the more these questions make sense for Jesus has said

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God

Blessed are ye that hunger now for ye shall be filled

Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled

But first ye seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness

brightmorningstar said:

I believe in the creed and the Bible and I protest at gay funerals, can I call myself a Christian?

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Sure. There's nothing in the confessions of the faith that refers to proper behavior at funerals. It may not be nice to annoy people in their grief, but Christianity isn't about being nice, else there wouldn't be any Christians at all.

I believe same sex weddings to be ok, can I call myself a Christian?

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Yeah. Christians are allowed to believe in all manner of nonsense as long as it doesn't conflict with the essential confessions of the Faith.

I support the rights of women to abort their babies and the rights of African governments to kill homosexuals, after all its all about 'love your neighbour as yourself'. Can I call myself a Christian?

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It's hard to see how you could be that keen on killing folks and still honestly confess the Creeds, but you'd hardly be unique in that. Yeah, if you actually believed all the stuff you confess in the Creeds, then you'd still be a Christian, although, I'd wager, a troubled one.

I believe in the Nicene Creed and of one God of Abraham so I worship to Allah on Fridays at the mosque, can I be called a Christian?

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A weird one, I'd reckon. The folks at the mosque don't believe those Creeds, ya see. In fact, Islam directly contradicts 'em. They say that "Isa" was not Allah's only Son, that He did not suffer under Pontius Pilate, that He was not crucified, that He did not rise from the dead, that He did not ascend into Heaven, and that he does not sit at the right hand of Allah, the Father Almighty. So you can't be both a Christian and a Muslim, the beliefs of the respective faiths are mutually exclusive.