Christianity 101

[bccc06]

Is it me, or is being a Christian a very hard task to achieve? I sit here drinking a beer wondering what has happened to me. I got saved in 2006, and the Holy Spirit was in control of my every move. Today, I still call myself a Christian (because I believe Jesus died for my sins, and I do still pray to God almost everday). I put a lot of pressure on myself when it comes to comitting sins (like drinking: even though I have not gotten drunk in more than ten years, masturbating: even though masturbating is not specifically listed in the bible as a sin: Looking at women inappropriatly: while my lust factor remains low). That is only a small portion of the daily sins I commit, but are the ones that bother me the most. I know Jesus died for my sins, but I feel like I am taking Gods' grace, and mercy for granted. I ask for forgiveness everyday, and ask Him to help me change. My heart wants to serve Him, but I just can't seem to do it. I feel like a failure as a Christian, and my faith in Him is a mere fraction of what it should be. I thank the Lord everyday for His blessings, but don't feel like I deserve them. Right now I suck at church, and just want to give up sometimes. I need encouragement please, not judgement. Thank you, and God Bless.

 

[DrFrank]

Asking people not to judge you makes sense but what I read in your message is a great deal of self-condemnation which must be the principal reason your faith is failing.It looks like you've burned out spiritually to a great extent because you seem to think you're a failed sinner."I feel like a failure as a Christian, and my faith in Him is a mere fraction of what it should be. I thank the Lord everyday for His blessings, but don't feel like I deserve them." Welcome to the club man! NONE OF DO!!

The place to start to revive your faith is with your "sins" by recognizing that none of those you keeping condemning yourself for are actual sins.1.Drinking only becomes a sin when it causes drunkenness.It is safe to conclude that Jesus and His Disciples drank wine daily because at that time there was little pure water available.2.Masturbation is a necessary body function that acts like urination to remove waste material from the body.The only moral issue occurs when it is associated with pornography and then its the pornography that becomes the problem.3.Haven't you noticed that looking at women inappropriately is impossible to avoid in our society? It will only become a moral issue when it is done excessively for the purpose of lust which occurs when men utilize pornography media.

So here is your score card:


SELF-CONDEMNATION: 3

SIN: 0

When you stop thinking that you are a wretched sinner and start thinking of yourself as a Child Of God in need of Jesus' forgiveness,God's wisdom and the Holy Spirit's leading,your faith will definitely re-bound!

Here's a good slogan for you to keep repeating to yourself:LET GO (of self-condemnation) AND LET GOD (lead and purify you)

 

[K_Wright]

Hi. I hope you don't mind that I am a female. But I believe the brother DrFrank gave you some great advice. Self condemnation will destroy your peace. Remember "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ." Also, I recommend you read about our beloved brother Paul in Romans 7. I I would suggest that you find a church or even a small Bible study group that will not judge you but will "restore you gently."
Lastly: Renew your mind to the Word of God.
God bless you. I will pray for you.

 

[bccc06]

I always knew I put too much pressure on myself, but this is in a whole new light. When I read your e-mails I could feel the burden lift off my shoulders. You are both beautiful people, and i thank you for taking the time to read my letter. God Bless both of you.

 

[K_Wright]

Praise God. He laid you heavy on my heart last night. Then he told me to tell you that He is with you, He always has been, and He always be.
Lastly, He told me to tell you to go back to the cross.
I will be praying for you.

 

[Criada]

I'm glad you are feeling less condemned, brother.
If you have a chance, watch this video... it always reminds me of God's unconditional love for me.

YouTube - The Inheritance for Men and Women

 

[bccc06]

I've been doing better since I first posted. Going back to the cross is exactly what I need, but am not sure how to start. Thank you for the message from God. I still need prayers that God will help me tear down my own Jericho, and let Him take control. Thank you for your prayers.

 

[dariya]

Hi,
Are you happy in the Church where are you going now?
Maybe you need other Church , where you can find a friends ?

 

[bccc06]

To be honest with you, i'm not sure. I am a deacon at my church, and I play the drums as well (which I love doing) but the message just doesn't always seem to speak to me. I'm not sure if it is the preacher, or me (probably me). I have a lot of work ahead of me before I can blame my church for my confusion in Christianity. I cried as I prayed, and asked God to help me start over, to have total faith in Him, to make Jesus the center of EVERYTHING, and to read His word everyday. Pray for me to stay consistent with all this to help me grow as a Christian. Thanks for caring enough to reply. God bless.

 

[Robin Shawn]

...I put a lot of pressure on myself when it comes to comitting sins (like drinking: even though I have not gotten drunk in more than ten years, masturbating: even though masturbating is not specifically listed in the bible as a sin: Looking at women inappropriatly: while my lust factor remains low). That is only a small portion of the daily sins I commit, but are the ones that bother me the most...I need encouragement please, not judgement. Thank you, and God Bless.

You are not happy and you are feeling guilty. I encourage you to stop drinking, masturbating, and looking at women inappropriately, and you will find that your mental health will improve greatly.

God bless you,
Shawn

 

[dariya]

To be honest with you, i'm not sure. I am a deacon at my church, and I play the drums as well (which I love doing) but the message just doesn't always seem to speak to me. I'm not sure if it is the preacher, or me (probably me). I have a lot of work ahead of me before I can blame my church for my confusion in Christianity. I cried as I prayed, and asked God to help me start over, to have total faith in Him, to make Jesus the center of EVERYTHING, and to read His word everyday. Pray for me to stay consistent with all this to help me grow as a Christian. Thanks for caring enough to reply. God bless.

God bless you....

You are honest ... Lord will help you, take your time nothing is over night.
I am sure that one day you will be god Christian.
I will pray for you

 

[UnitynLove]

Is it me, or is being a Christian a very hard task to achieve? I sit here drinking a beer wondering what has happened to me. I got saved in 2006, and the Holy Spirit was in control of my every move. Today, I still call myself a Christian (because I believe Jesus died for my sins, and I do still pray to God almost everday). I put a lot of pressure on myself when it comes to comitting sins (like drinking: even though I have not gotten drunk in more than ten years, masturbating: even though masturbating is not specifically listed in the bible as a sin: Looking at women inappropriatly: while my lust factor remains low). That is only a small portion of the daily sins I commit, but are the ones that bother me the most. I know Jesus died for my sins, but I feel like I am taking Gods' grace, and mercy for granted. I ask for forgiveness everyday, and ask Him to help me change. My heart wants to serve Him, but I just can't seem to do it. I feel like a failure as a Christian, and my faith in Him is a mere fraction of what it should be. I thank the Lord everyday for His blessings, but don't feel like I deserve them. Right now I suck at church, and just want to give up sometimes. I need encouragement please, not judgement. Thank you, and God Bless.

Christianity is very simple

1. Believe in Jesus John 6:28-29
2. Love God and Love Your brother

Believers living under the New Testament have one commandment, which is to love as Jesus loved.
By keeping this one commandment we fulfill all other commandments given to stop sin.
JOHN 15:12 NKJ
12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
JOHN 13:34 NKJ
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
1 JOHN 3:23 NKJ
23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
One command summarizes God's will -- yet there are many aspects or outworkings of it.
Divine Love A Sign Of Divine Life 1 JOHN 3:10,14-15 NKJ
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
Natural, unregenerate humans do not have the ability to love as Jesus loved. We must have God's life in us to manifest God's love through us.
ROMANS 5:5 NKJ
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
1 JOHN 4:7-8 NKJ
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
JOHN 13:35 NKJ
35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Love Fulfills The Law GALATIANS 5:14 NKJ
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
ROMANS 13:9-10 NKJ
9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
How Love Acts The opposite of walking in divine love is not only walking in hate -- but walking in selfishness.
1 JOHN 3:16-18 NKJ
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
EPHESIANS 4:31-5:2 NKJ
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.
1 Therefore be followers of God as dear children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Love is the nature of God. He desires for us to be like He is.
Love Should Control Us 2 CORINTHIANS 5:14 NKJ
14 For the love of Christ constrains us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
1 CORINTHIANS 14:1 NKJ
1 Pursue love . . . .
1 JOHN 5:3 NKJ
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
2 JOHN 1:6 NKJ
6 This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
Without Love You Are Nothing 1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-3 NKJ
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love Explained 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7 NKJ
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love Produces Victory 1 CORINTHIANS 13:8 NKJ
8 Love never fails . . . .
1 JOHN 2:10-11 NKJ
10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
GALATIANS 5:6 NKJ
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Conclusion 1 JOHN 4:19-21 NKJ
19 We love Him because He first loved us.
21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.