Do I still count as a Christian

[Stormy]

So its my fault? I'm a rubbish Christian, i brought al this on myself. thanks! Thats all i will say.

No I'm not throwing a tantrum you don't have a clue about who i am or how long this has been going on, I came on here for help but hey, never mind i will get myself out of it as usual

I am sorry that you are so unhappy. Try to hang in there. I pray to God a lot. But one time my words were for Satan. I told him that no matter what trouble he brings my way, or how he tries to steal my faith... I am always, ALWAYS, going to love God! Things did eventually get better, and maybe they would have anyway. But the peace that came into my heart in the very moment that I swore my love to God was immediate. Maybe you should just hold on tighter, and know that God will use even this for your good.

LOVE You.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

So its my fault? I'm a rubbish Christian, i brought al this on myself. thanks!

Not at all. God is in control of everything. Put your trust in Him. He is trying to build you up.

 

[Psalms34]

So its my fault? I'm a rubbish Christian, i brought al this on myself. thanks! Thats all i will say.

No I'm not throwing a tantrum you don't have a clue about who i am or how long this has been going on, I came on here for help but hey, never mind i will get myself out of it as usual

I didn't say that you were throwing a tantrum, but from what you wrote it can appear as if you are/were, so I asked if you were with a question, not an accusation. As for being a rubbish Christian, it looks like my post is mostly declaring that I am such a one. Believe me, there is no way at this point that you have done things as bad as I have done or even close. I'm glad that God the Father sees all us Christians through the same Jesus colored glasses.

Whether or not you are throwing a tantrum, the advice to seek counseling from your church is still a sound one. They know your situation far better than I know from what you have written.

 

[WhereareyouGod?]

My church don't have a clue what is going on with me, two people that i actually know that know what is going on with me. I can't tell anyone else. They will all hate me.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

My church don't have a clue what is going on with me, two people that i actually know that know what is going on with me. I can't tell anyone else. They will all hate me.

I certainly don't hate you. Anyone who is following Jesus commands shouldn't hate you. We all sin, we all do bad things, but we still love each other. Even St. Paul killed Christians, and now he is one of the great theologians! And the greatest thing, of course, is that God loves you and will never stop

 

[WhereareyouGod?]

People telling me that God loves me doesn't make a difference with me, you may as well record it onto CD and play it to me for all the good it will do, I am fat, ugly and a cow to everyone i know, why would they like me. Saying the words, 'I love you' aren't hard to say if you don't mean it

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

People telling me that God loves me doesn't make a difference with me, you may as well record it onto CD and play it to me for all the good it will do, I am fat, ugly and a cow to everyone i know, why would they like me. Saying the words, 'I love you' aren't hard to say if you don't mean it

Yet He still loves you all the same

I certainly don't think you are the things you mentioned. You sound like a much better person than you think you are

 

[WhereareyouGod?]

Thanks

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Thanks

If you want to talk, send me a PM. It doesn't matter what you have done

 

[sureenough]

God forgave me, he's still forgiving me now.
Despite the fact I'm living a lie every day, and I'm so ashamed, let alone him.
I don't feel like he loves me, so I hold onto the fact he'll always be there if I turn back. I'm praying for you.

xxx

 

[Paul_Wright_luvr]

ad long as you have accepted Jesus as your savior, you will always b a Christian. read Romans 8:28-29

 

[FaithfulInHim]

Hmm....

Well basically to give you the short version. I gave my life to jesus about 2 years ago. Last september my pastor left taking half the church congregation with him. Including two of my best mates who now hate me. My life didn't seem worth living. Started to cut myself, didn't eat etcetc.

Didn't pray for about 6 months, no joke. Still attended church and made out everything was fine. Went to soul survivor (Christian festival) in the summer of this year. Kinda sorted myself out but the screwed up again and haven't been at all good since.

I don't have a clue where i stand with God at the moment. Everytime I try and pray i find myself doubting that there is even anyone listening and the i can hear satan laughing at me. I don't know what to do

I don't always know where I stand with God either hon. I am constantly doing human things and getting myself into trouble. I have many struggles and there are times that I just am not "feelin’" it. I pray, I get nothing. Just silence.



I know that God is there. I know He knows what's going on with me. I know that He loves me no matter what. He loves you too. He knows your circumstances and He knows your struggles. He knows your heart.



I have learned in times of stress, depression, sadness, anger etc. my faith in God is put on the line. It's easy to go to church, it's easy to read the bible. It's easy to do all the "right" things on the outside but when you feel like your world is falling apart and you pray and things aren't going the way you think they should, it's so easy to lose that faith. It's easy to doubt. And even more so, it’s human.



When I’m reading a book, I think I know how the book is going to progress and there’s this twist in a chapter and I think surely there is no way these characters can get out of this pickle they’re in and my mind starts racing with all the different possibilities. But I’m just the person reading the book and I’m not really sure what’s going to happen. But the author knows.



My life is this huge novel with many different chapters. I never know what's going to happen in each chapter of the book. But God knows, right down to the ending. So I put my faith in God even though things don’t look so great at the moment b/c I know He knows what’s going to happen in the next chapter.



So I have to have faith. I have to put all my trust in Him. Just putting that one act of pure, absolute faith in Him will bless me ten-fold. It’s not always easy, but with an open heart and a humble mind, I know that God will see me through to the next chapter with peace and comfort.



You are a child of God and He loves you more than you could ever comprehend. If you ever need to talk, pm me.

 

[SPALATIN]

Hmm....

Well basically to give you the short version. I gave my life to jesus about 2 years ago. Last september my pastor left taking half the church congregation with him. Including two of my best mates who now hate me. My life didn't seem worth living. Started to cut myself, didn't eat etcetc.

Didn't pray for about 6 months, no joke. Still attended church and made out everything was fine. Went to soul survivor (Christian festival) in the summer of this year. Kinda sorted myself out but the screwed up again and haven't been at all good since.

I don't have a clue where i stand with God at the moment. Everytime I try and pray i find myself doubting that there is even anyone listening and the i can hear satan laughing at me. I don't know what to do

Question: What are you doubting? God is listening are you? You have seemed to wrap yourself up in this cloud of doubt for the last two years and have let others determine your faith for you. You say that you gave your life to Christ 2 years ago, but have you received his life? Too often I hear this same story because of a misunderstanding of how God works in our lives.

I became a Christian, not by anything I did (accept him, give myself to him etc.) but by what he did in me. He died on a cross 2000 years ago for me. For you also. Let go and Let God do his work in you and quit trying so hard. The main you reason you keep hearing Satan laugh at you is because you are listening for that laugh.

Receiving him is a passive thing done to us and not something we do. There are many churches out there, christian churches teaching errors about this. Seek God through church, word and sacrament. Sacraments are a means of Grace by which God works his miracles. Baptism is how we receive Christ and are Born again. I don't care what the Baptists, Pentecostal or non-denoms say about Baptism because I believe that they teach the error that Baptism does not save, but in fact it does. See 1 Peter 3:21.

Check out the Lutheran church and stop relying on yourself to get anywhere with God on your own effort. Lutherans are good people, but they are sinners and they recognize that each and everyday they have to battle temptations to sin. Sometimes they win and sometimes they lose. When they lose they confess their sins to Christ through the Pastor and Christ through the Pastor forgives them for those sins. When they win they rejoice that God has given them the strength to overcome the temptation.

Now don't get me wrong I don't believe that Baptists, Pentecostals and non-denoms are not saved, but that their teaching is in error of the scriptures.

 

[SPALATIN]

Do you believe that Jesus Christ came to earth as the son of God and of man and died for our sins? Do you also accept his death to pay for your sins and have repented for them?

Excuse me why should I have to accept him? That is not what scripture teaches. What you suggest is that we have something to do with our salvation, but the Bible teaches that we can't do anything for salvation. It is ALL Christ!

 

[WhereareyouGod?]

This is not a denominational debate. I am quite happy in the church i am in, there is nothing wrong with what they are teaching.

Thanks for the advice everyone i am going to try and speak to someone on Sunday

 

[SPALATIN]

This is not a denominational debate. I am quite happy in the church i am in, there is nothing wrong with what they are teaching.

Thanks for the advice everyone i am going to try and speak to someone on Sunday

Good Idea.

 

[Dmckay]

WhereareyouGod?,

God is where He always is, all around us, and ever with us, despite how we feel, or what we think. There has been some excellent information shared here by other posters. Judging, by the handle that you are using for yourself, and the fact that you have posted the question that you asked in this forum, I don't want to make the mistake of letting you assume that you are a Christian and missing the best advice that you might need. Paul wrote o the Corinthian believers in II Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves. Know ye not yourselves how Jesus Christ is in you unless you are discredited." So considering the things you mention as having happend to you your examination of your salvation is a wise thing to do.

If you are concerned for your salvation, and I believe that you have reason to wonder, that is easy enought to take care of. Studies have shown that if an individual hasn't developed a relationship with Jesus by their mid-teens they probably never will. Not that they can't, but probably they won't, being set in their ways. At your age there are so many changes that you are going through emotionally, physically and values wise, that abstract ideas like salvation and Christian living can be difficult to comprehend.

Human nature, and thus the sin nature that we need salvation from, is what makes us desire to be in control of our own lives. If, at the time that you "gave your life to Jesus, two years ago" you understood your need for salvation and you sincerely meant it when you, as you said, "gave your life to Jesus" then I would say that, yes, you are a Christian. In that case what you need, and are lacking is discipleship or training in living the Christian life. Since your church suffered a church split that has resulted in you losing the friendship of two of your "mates" I would say that it appears that there wasn't a lot of Biblical ministry going on in your church.

I am concerned about a couple of things that you said about your state, "Started to cut myself, didn't eat etcetc." Now this could just be indicative of a depressive state from all of the things that you have gone through, coupled with the normal emotional and hormonal imbalance that comes with being a 15 year old young woman. Since you say, "cut yourself" I am assuming that you are talking more about hurting yourself and not actually trying to commit suicide. The fact that you are writing about it tells me that you are concerned about this and are seeking serious assistance.

Jesus said to some who came seeking to follow Him that they ha to, "take up their cross daily, and follow Him." I could go into a lot of other passages to give you more detail, but I think this is sufficient. What Jesus was saying is that being His disciple entails surrendering control of our lives to Him every day and following Him. Taking up our crosses daily is symbolic of dying to ourselves, our natural drives and desires, and allowing Him to control us through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

God never leaves us, but it is possible for us to drift away from God. It doesn't usually happen overnight, but rather slowly over a period of time. Kind of like the analogy of putting a frog in a pot of cold water and slowly bring it to a boil. The frog won't notice the slow change, and before he knows it finds himself boiled. But if you dropped it into a pot of boiling water it would hop out right away. Your slow drif away from your relationship with God is what has derailed your prayer life and feeling of being "saved". You have to be the one to make an effort to turn things around. Just like the prodigal son, who had to lift himself out of the pigsty, and set himself on the road home, only to find that his father was still lovingly watching and waiting for his return.

Now, how do you do this? First, purpose in your heart that you are going to come back to the Father. Start each day with prayer, even if you feel like you are talking to the ceiling. Give the day to the Lord, asking Him to guide and direct you in your decisions during the day, and surrendering it to His control. During the day, as you feel yourself straying and trying to take control of your life back, pray again, giving control back to the Lord.

Begin, or return to reading your Bible faithfully, every day. Start with the Gospels, and continue reading through them until you become very saturated with the text. You can't depend on someone who you don't know. The better you know them the more you can trust them. The same is true of your relationship with Jesus and God the Father. If I came up to you on the street and asked you to close your eyes and fall over backwards trusting that I would catch you, would you do it? I hope not, since you don't know me. But, if it was your father or another loved one who you knew very well you wouldn't have a problem with it. The same is true of your walk with the Lord.

Also, one of the reasons that we don't immediately get taken to heaven when we accept Jesus as Lord is because the Lord has work for us to do. We all have a part to play in the Body of Christ. Each believer is slowly being conformed in their lives into the image of Christ. This is maturing or growing in our faith. To facilitate this in your life you need to find and join with a good Bible-based church where you can be discipled or trained in your faith. Unfortunately, this isn't as easy now as it used to be, since so many churches are forsaking the Scriptures for social activities and fellowship.

If you need help or advice on finding a good Bible-based church in your area I am sure that with the large number of members on this board there must be someone in your area of England who can make recommends to you if you but ask. I hope this helps you in some manner. We have all had doubts at times in our Christian walk. Doubts to mean that God has forsaken you, only that your human nature is trying to impose it's will over you. If you have other questions, ask, and you will receive.

 

[WhereareyouGod?]

I already have a good church but thanks anyway

 

[GodAtWorkToday]

I was drawn to this thread while scanning the list. I was about to go elsewhere, but something said "Go to this one". So hopefully I can post something that you will find helpful.

There are lots of things I could say, so I will likely spread it over several posts rather than just dump a load on you.

Firstly, we are all imperfect Christians, because we are human. We stuff it up, only too regularly. Let me return your honesty with some of my own.

I was saved when I was 21 years old. About 2 years later, I found myself in a relationship with a girl. Despite my knowing better, that relationship became sexually active. The conflict and guilt between my human desire, and the standards of the Bible nearly tore me apart. I am sure I was close to the brink of a mental break-down.

I came across one passage that was a great comfort at that time, although it did not change the situation.

Psa 103:8-11 ESV
(8) The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
(9) He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.
(10) He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
(11) For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

Note: verse 10. There are many other verses that say that we will be punished because of sin, so this verse is not a license to continue sinning. Anyway it comforted me greatly.

However, not too long later, I was in an outreach worship service, and I "saw" Jesus. Well I kind of saw up to His shoulders, but it was His hands that I was focussed on. I saw him moving towards me with His hands reaching out. I could see blood still fresh on His hands. He then spoke into my spirit and said "Your sin is adding to the blood of my hands." I was completely undone. The relationship with my girlfriend was ended within a couple of weeks of this event.

Many of us dream of having encounters with Jesus. From my experience, they usually challenge you to the core of your understandings.

Many years after the above experience, I was walking home from the train station, and God spoke into my spirit. He said "Why do you love me?". I tried to come up with a whole lot of proper sounding answers but then He said to me "Isn't it because I loved you FIRST?" I was completely undone again. That was the day that the penny dropped the short distance from my head to my heart. And I had been a Christian for some 10 years at this time!

Christianity is about relationship, not a set of rules. God set the conditions of that relationship. We help build that relationship by the time we spend in worship, in reading His Word, in prayer. However, God is sovereign and He will determine the times and the methods by which He will reveal Himself to you. The more you give of yourself to God, the more He will repay, in ways that you cannot even yet comprehend.

Does God love you? The answer is a resounding YES. Here is a site that will emphasize that point.

Does He love what you do? Probably not.

Will He help you become the woman, he created you to be? Absolutely Yes. (if you let him).

Jer 29:11-13 ESV
(11) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
(12) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
(13) You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart,

The Christian life is not alway an easy road to walk. Sometimes it is downright challenging. It is however the greatest adventure we will ever encounter.

May God bless you richly.

 

[SuperNova]

Good Idea.

I second that.