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.
-
Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
Can I call myself a Christian? Please help.
- Thread starter Chanya
- Start date
Welcome to doubt. It's natural. For you, the questions of God's existence and the nature of Jesus seems to still be open. You haven't decided to answer either negatively, so you're still within the boundaries of Christianity--albeit a Christian with doubts.
Upvote
0
Thanks for your answer. Can I ask you to clarify - I am still a Christian if I have doubts of God's existence and the nature of Jesus? How do you know this? Thanks again for your answer, it gives me hope that I'm still a Christian.
Upvote
0
I don't know anything about the state of affairs in your soul. It's up to you to answer that question. I can only take a guess based on what I read.
You will get several variations of answers in GT:
1. Yes, you are a Christian.
2. No, you are not a Christian.
3. We don't know.
4. An attempt to derail the thread into an unrelated debate.
The reasoning behind each answer will vary. I can only answer based on my own personal experience and the experiences of people before me. Look up the dark night of the soul.
Upvote
0
- May 19, 2015
- 125,550
- 28,531
- 74
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Libertarian
Or those who fall in the middle, such as the JW's and Mormons
Unorthodox Theology - Christian Forums
Unorthodox Theology A forum to discuss/debate theological doctrines not accepted by mainstream evangelical Christianity (eg. Full Preterism, Unitarianism) Orthodox* and Unorthodox members welcome
Upvote
0
Dorothea
One of God's handmaidens
- Jul 10, 2007
- 21,649
- 3,635
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Eastern Orthodox
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Others
Well, the part about your not being sure if Christ is God and if God even exists, that's a bit of a difficulty.... It's not my place to tell you whether you're a Christian or not, but you are asking so I would say if you just had doubts once and a while, like we do, and did believe that Christ is God and that you are trying to make changes toward growing in Him, then I'd say you are a Christian.
Upvote
0
OpenDoor
Faith + Hope + Love
When you read the four gospels, or one of them (Mathew, Mark, Luke, John)
What is your understanding of who Jesus is and why He died?
You don't have to have perfect doctrine to be a Christian or have a perfect understanding of the faith, but you will have a hard time following Jesus if you disagree with Him (not saying you do).
Upvote
0
sunlover1
Beloved, Let us love one another
- Nov 10, 2006
- 26,146
- 5,348
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Others
Why?
Why do you want to "preserve your Christian identity"?
(Answering this might help you to realize where you're at..)
We wont hold that against you
So He was a great teacher... I think this is what the JW's believe too
I understand
We all have missed the mark somehow sometime.
God cleans us up once we're born again, but you know
what, it's not about sin.................. Jesus tackled sin.
It's about being transformed into what He created you
to be. It's about submitting to God and letting Him pour
Himself INTO you.
You literally become a vessel that carries GOD to the world
so..
When you enter a room, people are changed.. helped!
There lives will never be the same after they've been
in your (HIM INSIDE) presence...
It's all about the kingdom of God and the King and
it's not visible to the eye but the after effects are..
What would it take for you to believe that Jesus is the Son of God?
Upvote
0
sunlover1
Beloved, Let us love one another
- Nov 10, 2006
- 26,146
- 5,348
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Others
Well He's still in the miracle business so I guess that's no biggyIf she is anything like me it will take a miracle
..."You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matthew 16:16
Upvote
0
Just my humble opinion, but you shouldn't worry about titles because they won't save you. Many that call themselves Christians aren't and won't be recognized by Jesus when He comes again because they were cold, cruel and self serving in this lifetime.
I would ask you this........do you pray? I mean really pray? Are you reading your Bible and trying to build your relationship with Him?
True Christianity is not a religion, or a title, it's a relationship that a person has with their Lord and Savior.
If you do not have this relationship, and I don't believe that you currently do because if you did you wouldn't be questioning His existence, you can start to build one with Him.
You can do that by getting yourself a copy of the Bible, and start reading it. You can start to talk to Him in your own home. Tell Him everything that you're thinking, how you feel, what's going on inside your mind and heart. Trust me, He already knows anyway, but He wants to hear from you.
Get to know Him, and you will come to adore Him and have a strong relationship and bond with Him all by yourself, no church necessary if you don't want.
Jesus adores you, and is waiting for you. He's calling you to "come".........come to Him and seek His face.
I would ask you this........do you pray? I mean really pray? Are you reading your Bible and trying to build your relationship with Him?
True Christianity is not a religion, or a title, it's a relationship that a person has with their Lord and Savior.
If you do not have this relationship, and I don't believe that you currently do because if you did you wouldn't be questioning His existence, you can start to build one with Him.
You can do that by getting yourself a copy of the Bible, and start reading it. You can start to talk to Him in your own home. Tell Him everything that you're thinking, how you feel, what's going on inside your mind and heart. Trust me, He already knows anyway, but He wants to hear from you.
Get to know Him, and you will come to adore Him and have a strong relationship and bond with Him all by yourself, no church necessary if you don't want.
Jesus adores you, and is waiting for you. He's calling you to "come".........come to Him and seek His face.
Upvote
0
dvd_holc
Senior Veteran
So you questions is...can you be a Christian if you doubt there is a God and Jesus is His Son?
From what I have learned, to be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus and no one else. Are you learning to live and think like He did? Are you learning to see and treat God the way He did? Are you learning to trust that love, kindness, and mercy are the things that are core of existence? Are you developing your heart in such a way that the Grace of God is displayed through you?
Jesus did not make claims of being a good moral teacher. He claimed to be the Messiah, the hope of the creation, the Loin of Judah, and the promise of God. There is not one thing that was taught by Jesus that did not depend upon what He claimed to be and what He was planning to accomplish.
Even though you doubt this, just keep with it Gods grace can and will provide in the midst of this doubt.
Upvote
0
Achilles6129
Veteran
I will attempt to answer your post point by point.
I've seen many people leave Christianity because they have problems with one or another doctrine, evolution, or whatever. You must decide what's best for you.
One of the main problems in modern Christianity, in my opinion, is the really rather poor analysis of the Scriptures that goes on at church.
Part of being a real Christian is obeying the sayings of Jesus Christ. Without said obedience, you simply cannot be a real Christian. Jesus Christ claims that if you will obey his sayings, he will prove to you whether the entire Bible is true or not:
"16Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." Jn. 7:16-17
For obvious reasons, if the gospel of Jesus Christ is true then the entire Bible is true. If it is false, then the entire Bible is false. Christ claims that if you will obey his sayings he will experientially prove it to you. I can tell you that what he said was a fact.
Again, it is your choice what you want to do here. If you wish to reject Christianity you will hardly be the first person I have seen leave. However, if you wish to stay in Christianity my advice to you is to actually study the Scriptures and find out what they mean for yourself. You will have to use a concordance and/or a Vine's Expository Dictionary to really study the Bible and arrive at the true meaning of the words.
In essence, if you want to be a Christian I suggest you seek out God:
"7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Mt. 7:7-8
"6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb. 11:6
Being a real Christian (as opposed to fake or professing Christian, which the modern church is full of) is not easy, so be forewarned (Mt. 7:13-14). You may want to study what you're getting yourself into before you make a decision to be a real Christian (see Mt. 24, 2 Tim. 3, 1 Jn. 3, many other verses/chapters, etc.). If you decide that it is not for you, then the best thing for you is to leave.
Anyways, I hope you make the right decision.
I've seen many people leave Christianity because they have problems with one or another doctrine, evolution, or whatever. You must decide what's best for you.
One of the main problems in modern Christianity, in my opinion, is the really rather poor analysis of the Scriptures that goes on at church.
Part of being a real Christian is obeying the sayings of Jesus Christ. Without said obedience, you simply cannot be a real Christian. Jesus Christ claims that if you will obey his sayings, he will prove to you whether the entire Bible is true or not:
"16Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." Jn. 7:16-17
For obvious reasons, if the gospel of Jesus Christ is true then the entire Bible is true. If it is false, then the entire Bible is false. Christ claims that if you will obey his sayings he will experientially prove it to you. I can tell you that what he said was a fact.
Again, it is your choice what you want to do here. If you wish to reject Christianity you will hardly be the first person I have seen leave. However, if you wish to stay in Christianity my advice to you is to actually study the Scriptures and find out what they mean for yourself. You will have to use a concordance and/or a Vine's Expository Dictionary to really study the Bible and arrive at the true meaning of the words.
In essence, if you want to be a Christian I suggest you seek out God:
"7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Mt. 7:7-8
"6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb. 11:6
Being a real Christian (as opposed to fake or professing Christian, which the modern church is full of) is not easy, so be forewarned (Mt. 7:13-14). You may want to study what you're getting yourself into before you make a decision to be a real Christian (see Mt. 24, 2 Tim. 3, 1 Jn. 3, many other verses/chapters, etc.). If you decide that it is not for you, then the best thing for you is to leave.
Anyways, I hope you make the right decision.
Upvote
0
Ortho_Cat
Orthodox Christian
If I were you, I wouldn't focus too much on labels. I would focus more on living the message of Christ; for example, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, shelter the homeless, and see Christ in everyone. He has a way of revealing himself through others. Just my 2c
Upvote
0
Cribstyl
Veteran
- Jun 13, 2006
- 8,993
- 2,068
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Pentecostal
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Democrat
Jhn 3:16 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.
Jhn 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Jhn 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jhn 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Jhn 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Jhn 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Jhn 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jhn 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Jhn 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Upvote
0
If you are sad about it, then you are a Christian. If you have doubts, please study. Start with some C.S.Lewis, Rudolff Otto (The idea of Holy). And please pray, and look for a good chaplain who will give you better advice.
Upvote
0
Optimax
Senior Veteran
- May 7, 2006
- 17,659
- 448
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Word of Faith
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Republican
Hey Chanya:
Consider this:
The Bible says the following. It explains how to be saved. Read verse 9 several times.
Rom 10:9-11
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
KJV
Believing in your heart means believing in your innermost being.
So if you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and are willing to say outloud with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord.
The moment you say that out loud from a believing "heart" you will be saved.
Once you do that those scriptures are your proof.
God, who does not lie said it. You believed and spoke accordingly.
Upvote
0
I'm kind of traditional about these things. I think to be a Christian you have to believe at least some minimal things, such as that God exists and loves us, and that Christ is his way of joining us in hunanity.
If eventually you really don't think there's a God, you can still admire Jesus, but I wouldn't call you a Christian. But that's not a judgement I'd make quickly. Lots of people go through periods of doubt, although some people do end up deciding that they can't accept the reality of God.
I do think that Christians have often had too narrow a definition of what Christian means. Jesus didn't teach theology, so I don't think all the traditional formulations of what it means to be the son of God are essential. But if you don't eventually decide that in some way God's fulness was in Jesus, I wouldn't say you're a Christian.
But in the short run, I'd suggest that you continue to live as Jesus taught, talk to Christian friends and mentors, and trust that God won't abandon you. I agree with the comments above that the label doesn't matter so much.
Upvote
0
Similar threads
