Do I have to -change- that much?

[Star_Pixels]

I was just wondering... I've now decided that, yes, I'm Christian. But do I really have to change that much? Does my entire lifestyle have to turn topsy-turvy?

I'm very excited about my new religion, I feel like telling the world, but I just want to know what the expect in the realms of my job, school, friends, etc...

 

[LiberatedChick]

Nothing has to change but you may start to want it to. As you learn you will grow and change naturally to become more Christ-like. You will turn from sin and this will change you into a better person. Your friends, job, school etc do not need to change at all unless they lead you to sin. If they do this then you will start to want to change them. Before I re-accepted Christ I was pagan for a while...I visited many pagan forums and had online friends there. I didn't want to leave them at first but I grew and changed and eventually no longer wanted to be around them as they'd lead me into sin or would use foul language and talk of things that I did not want to be a part of no more. The thing that changed when I re-accepted Christ was me and that change is good....accept it wholeheartedly because these are wonderful changes. Things you do, say, are part of, etc may change but those changes will take place because you've changed and grown.

 

[Jun_Canada]

I totally agree with Starelda. As you start to grow more passionate about your faith, you wont look at it like "what do I have to do or what do I have to give up". As time passes, u will become more mature and want to change the areas that you know you are in sin. Dont think that your are being pressured to make a total turn around in all the areas of your life by tomorrow. Just act as usual, keep reading the Word, and God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit will guide you in all the areas of your life.
Just remember that even if you stumble and make mistakes, God is not condeming you, He loves you so much and is cheering you on to become all that he wants you to be.
God Bless!

 

[Sketcher]

It depends entirely on what your lifestyle is. If it intimately involves something clearly condemned by Scripture, yes. Like Starelda said, if it leads you to sin, yes. But it's not as if you have to start wearing red jeans because people in the world wear blue jeans. You don't have to change your musical taste unless your music is intimately involved with your sin for some reason. God picked you for a reason, and He knows that He can use you to reach people others cannot, and part of this is because of your style and tastes, not to mention your demeanor and talent. Just submit your lifestyle to Him for His use, it's not that bad, I promise.

 

[VivDaGurl]

I agreed with all the posters here...

When you start to draw yourself closer to God, you'll be surprised with yourself as you'll began to start to change to be more like Christ. Surely, not all of you will be changed and the good part like what Starelda said will remain the same. The main thing is to submit yourself to God and let God to work within you. Let Him mould you. Remember, He is the potter and you are the clay.

 

[Rafael]

The Bible says that we will lose our old life and gain our new eternal life In Christ, as new creatures. It doesn't happen overnight, and the Lord is gentle, longsuffering, and persuasive to His children to bring them into the light and His will for their lives. He only has the very best for His children, so do not fear the changes that come. Look forward to them and run away from sin and things the Bible says are dangerous and could be tools that the enemy could use to hurt you. You have to learn to fight the good fight of faith as a soldier, putting on the full armour of God, preparing yourself with truth so that you won't be fooled by the deceptions of the world and the enemy, the devil.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Php 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Col 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

 

[Star_Pixels]

Um, okay, thanks.

Just one more question: exactly what does God consider sin? I mean, I know that's a silly thing to ask, but what should I expect to grow less... tasteful to me?

I just want to know what's ahead of me.

 

[lovespeace]

Its strange, as you grow, things that did not occur to you that could be sin will shown to be sin. The thing about being a Christian is that it is transforming. You keep up your end of the bargin to obey and follow, then God will lead you in the manner you are supposed to go. What you are now is not what you will be a year from now. Sin, guidelines are in the Bible and the Holy Spirit will teach you as you pray and study.
Join a good church if you have not yet joined one.
God Bless you on your journey.

 

[Sketcher]

In my life, I've found that I have to discipline myself to obey. There is a number of sins that I liked or didn't care about at one point, but I had to train myself to say no. Since I am so used to saying no, they don't even seem desirable anymore. Other sins are more stubborn and I have to still fight the temptation, because many sins are at that moment pleasurable.

The Holy Spirit helps with this. As you pray and submit yourself to Him, he will not only challenge you as I stated above, but He will also change your desires to be more in line with God's desires. For example, as you learn to love others you'll grow to dislike entertainment that exalts the cruel treatment of others. Another case is blasphemy. He's God, He's in you, and He can't stand it, so you won't be able to stand it either.

 

[Truth and Reconciliation]

Purification from sin can take quite some time, especially if the enemy has bastions in your heart for that particular sin. It's not an act of God; you must willingly tear it down yourself, and God will come and help you do that. That takens discipline, which the Holy Spirit will help you with.

Here's a pointer. Keep in mind that the enemy only tempts you to sin what you're familiar with. For example, he may tempt a young man to sin sexually but he may tempt an older business executive to pride. Here's the verse:

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it (overcome it)." - 1 Corinthians 10:13

In Truth,

Vincent

 

[Radagast]

...As time passes, u will become more mature and want to change the areas that you know you are in sin...

It's more than that... as time passes you will change some things not because they are sinful, but because there are better things to do: things that bring you closer to God. What they are will depend on your situation.

For example, I'm here on CF tonight, and that's a better "chill out" than some garbage movie, even though the movie might not be sinful necessarily.

-- Radagast

 

[Rafael]

Um, okay, thanks.

Just one more question: exactly what does God consider sin? I mean, I know that's a silly thing to ask, but what should I expect to grow less... tasteful to me?

I just want to know what's ahead of me.

I hope you can find a newer translation of the New Testament and read so that you can hear the Spirit of God speak to your heart through the words of God in it. It is such a personal experience that going by hear-say or others experience can ruin your own revelation a bit. Here is only a partial list the Apostle Paul gives the Church of Galatia on the works of the sinful flesh and the works of the Spirit of God. I use the the New Living Translation for ease of understanding, but I will put the King James Version too, just so you can compare.
The spirit and the flesh war against each other once we are born again. The old nature is against our new nature given by God. I will post it too as Galatians 5:17 at the bottom in the NLT.

Galations 5:19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure,
20 idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group,
21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.

KJV:

Gal. 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Gal. 5:17 The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.

 

[halifaxhoney]

I've started to make changes. There are some things that I can't change at the moment but I can when my circumstances change. However the changes I've noticed with myself are my friends. There are a few of my friends that I've stopped hanging around with and stopped talking to. They living VERY different lifestyles than I want to or want to be involved with.

It's made me feel lighter.

Crystal

 

[Radagast]

Just one more question: exactly what does God consider sin? I mean, I know that's a silly thing to ask, but what should I expect to grow less... tasteful to me?

There's a moving away from sin, and a moving towards holiness. For the "towards," read about the lives of some famous Christians from the past.

-- Radagast

 

[growingupinhim]

grow in the grace and knowldege..learn to Love God..doing what his word say is loving him..He loves you..he has a purpose..may you bring him glory..look at areas of your life, and let God lead you away from the fleshly things and worldiness..choose him daily

 

[bhirning]

The best thing you can do is surround yourself with your "new" family. The more you get to know them & the more that you meet, the more people you have to lean on when your not strong enough. They will help you up when you slip & fall. I'm new here but it seems that this is another extended family that loves it's members & will help you when you need it. That's why I'm here @ CF. & only my 2nd Day!!