Christian "experiences?"

[JoshTraceur]

Hello! First off I want to say that I am seeking being a Christian. I know it's as simple as confessing your sins, ect and then you turn into a Christian, but for me it's trying to know the truth if God is real and cares for me. Honestly, I guess I would be considered more of a Theist Agnostic rather than an Agnostic Atheist because I believe there is enough evidence supporting the view of a God.

Anyhow, recently I've been trying really hard to relate to Christians. One thing that has fascinated me is almost all of them say they have some kind of "relationship" with Jesus. That honestly confuses me because I have tried for the longest time to feel some sort of connection but cannot. Perhaps it's because I'm Agnostic? Since I have dug into the Bible a bit more, tried keeping an open-mind and open-heart to praying, some "strange" experiences have happened to me--which could or could not be related to a God, I'm not entirely sure. I really hope it is though!

But I mainly made this thread for Christians to share some "experiences" with me they have had with God! I didn't make this thread for laughs or to challenge your beliefs, I would just like to know what it's like to have a "relationship" with Jesus. Nobody really dives too much into detail when they talk about it!

Thanks and have a good day!

 

[Bear.Fr00t]

So what are you currently doing to seek God? Do you pray? Do you pray for faith and for God to reveal himself to you? Do you read the Bible?

 

[JoshTraceur]

So what are you currently doing to seek God? Do you pray? Do you pray for faith and for God to reveal himself to you? Do you read the Bible?

Hey Bear.Fr00t! Right now I am trying to pray for God to reveal himself to me under his terms. Maybe speak to me in some way I can understand. I don't read the Bible too much... I suppose once every other day. I try to pray beforehand to get God to speak to me through the Bible.

 

[Tahoenite]

Umm, I guess I can tell you my experience and how I got born again. It started when someone asked me a questions about Christianity and the bible and I couldn't answer them so I got mad at myself and started reading the bible so I didn't sound so inept again.

While reading through the bible I noticed Jesus seeming angry and yelling at the disciples when they were asking dumb questions. This bothered me I always thought Jesus was loving and understanding. On my second time through the bible I got caught up on Jesus praying on the mount of olives, and getting mad at the disciples that were with Him for taking a nap.

Then what He was praying for hit me, He was asking for the cup to be passed to another. He was scared of what He knew was going to happen to Him, but He still did it for us anyway.

It made me think of an older brother that has to bail out their little brother from jail, or something else they got them self into. The older brother will chide the younger, but he will always come to bail him out. That's how I started seeing Jesus, as a big brother tried to teach us things when we were younger so we would not get into trouble. Getting frustrated with us when we didn't listen, but also being the One who is always be there if I need Him.

 

[singpeace]

Great post and very accurate.

 

[drich0150]

If your truly looking for God then you will find it difficult to know Him through the experiences of others. As you have said you have experiences of your own, why not ask God to help you see or dispel His presents in what you have experienced. It has been my experience when God "moves" in your life or if you ask for clarity, their will be no lingering doubt.

 

[razeontherock]

I would just like to know what it's like to have a "relationship" with Jesus. Nobody really dives too much into detail when they talk about it!

Hi Josh - great question! First, let's talk about you reading the Bible every other day. What have you read?


Then, to know what to expect when you "have a relationship with Jesus," read the Bible! What you see on those pages is what to expect. I guess that's why we don't try to fill in too many details? You could also read the dreams & visions forum here, as people share that aspect of their relationship w/ Him. Many of the congregational sub-forums do that too.

Personally, when I first asked Jesus into my heart as Lord and Savior, I had already read a lot of Scripture. And I don't mean just recently at that time, but I mean over many years; 12 to be exact! So any of the man-made stuff like "just say these words" can miss the point entirely. It's really about your own "heart," which probably tells you nothing

Anyway in my case, Jesus showed up and how! He was with me not only everywhere I went, but He was in my very thoughts too. It was over 3 years before this turned into a good thing; before that it was always Him telling me when I was wrong, but not much of why and nothing in terms of how to fix it.
That all changed when G-d filled me with the Holy Ghost.

I think drich is absolutely right when he says our experiences won't give you what you really need. But it can help fill in some gaps in the meantime.

Where do you go to Church, and do the kids there your age have a relationship w/ Jesus that is real to them?

 

[silence_dogood]

Hello! First off I want to say that I am seeking being a Christian.

Why?

I know it's as simple as confessing your sins, ect and then you turn into a Christian

No, actually, there is much more to it than that.

 

[Bear.Fr00t]

Hey Bear.Fr00t! Right now I am trying to pray for God to reveal himself to me under his terms. Maybe speak to me in some way I can understand. I don't read the Bible too much... I suppose once every other day. I try to pray beforehand to get God to speak to me through the Bible.

You are doing the right things, keep praying and reading. Not sure what books you are reading but the Gospels are what did it for me (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).

 

[JoshTraceur]

If your truly looking for God then you will find it difficult to know Him through the experiences of others. As you have said you have experiences of your own, why not ask God to help you see or dispel His presents in what you have experienced. It has been my experience when God "moves" in your life or if you ask for clarity, their will be no lingering doubt.

Ya I feel kind of pathetic asking sometimes. I just wonder if I'm the only person on the Earth that will never ever feel God no matter how hard I try. I have been asking God really hard, maybe it's just not the ways I want to them to be.

Hi Josh - great question! First, let's talk about you reading the Bible every other day. What have you read?

Then, to know what to expect when you "have a relationship with Jesus," read the Bible! What you see on those pages is what to expect. I guess that's why we don't try to fill in too many details? You could also read the dreams & visions forum here, as people share that aspect of their relationship w/ Him. Many of the congregational sub-forums do that too.

Personally, when I first asked Jesus into my heart as Lord and Savior, I had already read a lot of Scripture. And I don't mean just recently at that time, but I mean over many years; 12 to be exact! So any of the man-made stuff like "just say these words" can miss the point entirely. It's really about your own "heart," which probably tells you nothing

Anyway in my case, Jesus showed up and how! He was with me not only everywhere I went, but He was in my very thoughts too. It was over 3 years before this turned into a good thing; before that it was always Him telling me when I was wrong, but not much of why and nothing in terms of how to fix it.
That all changed when G-d filled me with the Holy Ghost.

I think drich is absolutely right when he says our experiences won't give you what you really need. But it can help fill in some gaps in the meantime.

Where do you go to Church, and do the kids there your age have a relationship w/ Jesus that is real to them?

So far I have read all of John 1, 2, and 3. But not the REAL John book I guess. Maybe I should start with the Gospels. I should take the Bible more seriously, I'm sure.

You say you have to "feel" it in your heart. Maybe I confused what genuine feeling is. I try talking to God like I am talking to a friend but I don't feel anything, don't hear any feedback. I often wonder how it feels to feel something genuine... I quite possibly may find it hard to feel anything considering I am used to getting stepped on and abandoned my whole life. Heck, I'm 17 right now and don't have any parents, I'm living with a friend as of now. I grew up as a child getting beat and having to deal with parents using drugs. I was constantly the one that picked up everyone and cleaned up their mistakes, and I'm still paying for them to this day.

I go to a southern Baptist Church and the kids I go with really do have a true relationship with Jesus. They do everything they are supposed to, and don't let anything get in their faith. They always try to invite others to church and do what they can. I have huge respect to them and tell them usually everything I'm going through. Most of them are "new" Christians though but some of them have grown up in a Christian environment.

Why?

I see so many people living Christian lives and seem perfectly happy. They have something to lean upon. I honestly think I could go through life decently without having a crutch, but I do have a feeling a God is out there, and it is a Christian God. Actually it's more than a feeling, I believe I can hold evidence up to the light. I'm just not sure if I can have a relationship with him.

No, actually, there is much more to it than that.

Oh?

 

[Sir Wilshire]

Sadly, a corrective is need because of how modern American culture has influenced how people relate to God. A Christian has a relationship with Jesus, but it isn't a personal one. What I mean is that if by personal, you mean something intimate on the level of a human to human relationship. The relationship is firstly a human to divine relationship. Secondly, it is more akin to a patron-client relationship of the 1st century. God the Father is the patron, Jesus is the broker, and we are the clients. As my source linked below says, "The casualness with which we approach a relationship to the Almighty is decidedly far from what the ancients would have perceived; indeed, the client seldom if ever spoke to or saw the patron (here, the Father) and had even limited contact with the broker (here, Jesus);" Now, this isn't the distance of a deistic God, but Yahweh is more distant than he commonly is thought to be. This would explain well what you said here.

Hello! First off I want to say that I am seekingThat honestly confuses me because I have tried for the longest time to feel some sort of connection but cannot. Perhaps it's because I'm Agnostic?

I would also note that with you not being a Christian, you should feel a separation. Everyone is separated from God until they come to him. When we do come to him, we are entering into a covenant with them. We do this by putting our trust/loyalty in Jesus to save us from our sins and to live by his grace (unmerited favor). This is only done because Jesus has shown himself to be reliable. The Father proved that Jesus was reliable by raising him from the dead after Jesus said the Father would. This is the ultimate basis for being a Christian. If Jesus had not risen, there would be no Christianity. So if that's true, then that should be the decider. Feelings should only play a confirmatory role.

-Source

 

[andreha]

Hello! First off I want to say that I am seeking being a Christian. I know it's as simple as confessing your sins, ect and then you turn into a Christian, but for me it's trying to know the truth if God is real and cares for me. Honestly, I guess I would be considered more of a Theist Agnostic rather than an Agnostic Atheist because I believe there is enough evidence supporting the view of a God.

Anyhow, recently I've been trying really hard to relate to Christians. One thing that has fascinated me is almost all of them say they have some kind of "relationship" with Jesus. That honestly confuses me because I have tried for the longest time to feel some sort of connection but cannot. Perhaps it's because I'm Agnostic? Since I have dug into the Bible a bit more, tried keeping an open-mind and open-heart to praying, some "strange" experiences have happened to me--which could or could not be related to a God, I'm not entirely sure. I really hope it is though!

But I mainly made this thread for Christians to share some "experiences" with me they have had with God! I didn't make this thread for laughs or to challenge your beliefs, I would just like to know what it's like to have a "relationship" with Jesus. Nobody really dives too much into detail when they talk about it!

Thanks and have a good day!

Here's one encounter that I'll never forget...

I was driving to work on the freeway - doing about 80 mph (South African freeway speed limit). My mind was occupied with how the Lord never deserted me, and always protected me. I failed to notice that all traffic on the freeway came to a complete stop. Still blissfully unaware of the danger, I happily carried on - on a collision course that would have caused my death. Seconds before impact, I heard this gentle voice, warning me to apply brakes. I was so lost in thought that I just agreed, but did nothing. The next moment, a haze surrounded me and God took over control of my body. I could see my foot stepping on the brake pedal, but my entire body felt relaxed. After stopping safely, I thanked the Lord until the tears of joy ran down my face. If He didn't step in, I would have caused a pile-up, and most probably died.

 

[razeontherock]

So far I have read all of John 1, 2, and 3. But not the REAL John book I guess.

No, those are REAL books written by John, and they're very very good. I would suggest going to the Gospel of John next, and just reading straight through the whole New Testament. Use a bookmark to keep your place.

You say you have to "feel" it in your heart. Maybe I confused what genuine feeling is. I try talking to God like I am talking to a friend but I don't feel anything,

I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. Definitely do not place too much importance on what you feel, especially what you do or do not feel in your heart. "The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Seeking with your whole heart is not a feeling at all, neither is it really determined by our opinion. Really, when you "find G-d" (if that even makes sense?) it is G-d commending you that you did seek Him with your whole heart. Words don't convey these concepts so well, which is one more reason being involved in Church is so important. Get in every prayer line you can!

I go to a southern Baptist Church and the kids I go with really do have a true relationship with Jesus.

What Mr Dogood has said to you does bring out some possible issues that may help you a great deal. The Southern Baptist wordings tend to gloss over certain elements, as does anything in religion I suppose.

I'm just not sure if I can have a relationship with him.

Re-phrase: you're just not sure how to have a relationship with Him
Yet Hang in there! Keep knocking ...