Hey everyone!
My name is Akasha, I'm 17, Catholic, and a proud Goth.
Anyways, I came to this forum hoping to find some guidance.
A lot of people have been really cruel to me just because I prefer to shave my eyebrows, dye my hair, wear black all the time, and am active in the gothic community... even less are thrilled about the website/forum I run (link in my profile).
I feel so hateful at times. Just because I'm Gothic does not mean I'm a Satanist!
Anyways, sorry for ranting, but like I said... I'm really upset and I was wondering what others thoughts... especially if there's any other Gothic Christians here. What should I do? I am me and I will not change for anyone... just because my taste in music is "harsher" than some or just because I watch shows like Supernatural... it doesn't mean I'm a bad person or going to Hell... does it?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated that.
Thank you and god bless!
Hi and welcome to CF!
I am so sorry people are mean to you. It's awful and as well awful that they think you are a satanist due to your dress and style.
Unless you live in an area where majority dress and have style similar to you, most likely you will always get stared at and the possibility people be mean to you.
Can't change the others; but only can work on how to handle what you receive; since I would think you'll keep getting those reactions.
I have a friend lives around here and she feels much the outcast as there are not others like her here she says.
I can imagine how that must feel. So she stands out quite a bit and is hard for her.
Regarding your question wondering if there are Christian Goths here, there are forums which go by age. I don't know how old you are but is a young adults, and 30s, etc, and is a Christian teens.
Some forums may have certain rules about posters; such as Christian teens may need to have a Christian icon. I didn't notice your icon, so just giving you a link for all the age groups.
Here's the link to those:
http://christianforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=37
It's so hard when people are mean to you and inside yourself need to find where you can say; well, this is how I am and people will either accept me or not.
And if they don't accept me, I can handle that. Is something to work on. Anger hurts you; and so you want to learn how to cope.
But it's always been that way as regards especially teens/20s, who will dress different; look different from others and being different they stand out; get labeled etc.
As regards the music you listen to and what you watch has little to nothing to do with hell or heaven.
It's being in Christ, that makes one a Christian. Forgiven sins, no longer a slave to the world, bible says; freed and so much more.
Trusting Jesus with one's life; committing one's life to Jesus; there are varied experiences of each individuals testimony as to how they came to Jesus; and in Christ, the new life begins; we are then a new creation and for me personally I was changed big time as to what I did; and this not by any person saying anything; I just no longer desired what used to do. Was God in me, the Holy Spirit.
Everyone is different; everyone changes differently; but the music we listen to and things we watch, every thing we put in us or are exposed to has an effect.
I used to listen to a certain band all the time. When I did, I usually to almost always got high when listening. So, whenever I hear that band, to this day, I have the desire to get high, but I don't want to; as I dont' want anything in me, which alters who I am, but so I just don't listen to that unless it doesn't trouble me in anyway.
It can be anything which troubles a person. I can't watch scary tv shows or movies; never could. Plenty people have no problems with it.
On supernatural I have no interest in such; but had some when I was younger, but not a lot; just wasn't a big thing when was younger. If is interesting to another is interesting.
In Jesus we first come to Christ; and as we read the bible and now the Holy Spirit is in us; we read and are changed often times by what we are learning. Our minds are changed about things; not all things; can be one thing, some things; but as we are in the bible we see Gods desire is that we do his will and we strive for that.
I recall that I had no respect for kids, children. Probably cause no one respected me as a child and even much older; but is something I was aware of as I had niece and nephew and while I loved them; had no respect in a sense.
After I came to Christ and I read in the bible that people are precious every one; and changed how I treated them. I saw people incuding myself then, as God sees us. I had no respect for myself but God loved me. Was a big thing to me; as to one unloved and outcast and all. Considered garbage by the world.
So we change in Christ often times and depending on our walk; may change often and quite a bit, but as to who we are, our understandings and all; is who we come to Christ as, and are fully loved and accepted by God who does not look at us as the world does.
There are many different churches out there; you might want to see if you can find one you'd feel comfortable at.
People might stare; but ah, let em, and if you are young would look for one where lots of people your age go as will help alot to be with people your age.
However, even in that can still get said mean things by people.
That's why it's important to know who you are in Christ, to have a solid and firm foundation in Jesus and then as you walk through the world, you can better cope.
Often times it is Christians who hurt other Christians and so is why Jesus is the only one should be on a pedestal in one's life; not other Christians for we fail and fall all the time as we're a work in process and all different backgrounds; etc in people.
Jesus never fails and will never fail anyone.
Take care,
tapero
