Falling away

[AllworthThunder]

The last time I posted here, I made the announcement that I was saved and was going to give my life to Jesus Christ.

Now two or three months later, I find myself no longer interested in Christianity.

While I've mainly ignored most religious people trying to inject their political views (while holding firm to mine) and praying daily, I have yet to know that the Christian God is the one true God. I had faith and have trusted, but I lost it. Like giving faith that money is going to grow in my backyard, I haven't see it yet.

I'm going to give up on Christianity.

 

[AllworthThunder]

Mods, if you feel that this should go elsewhere, please do so; thank you. I understand that this is a Non-Christian forum and I don't really understand where this would go.

 

[MikeMcK]

Looking at your old posts, I have to say that I'm not surprised.

You started out challenging people to "save" you and it looks like you've bought into the lie that all you have to do is to "accept Christ" and you'll be saved.

There was never anything about your sin or repentence or about placing your faith in Christ's atonement on your behalf.

How long can a house stand unless it has a foundation?

In this case, the foundation is repentence and faith in Christ.

In all fairness, I did the same thing when I was young.

I bought into the pop-Christianity lie that we "accept Christ" because "something was missing" and silliness like that.

I got a haircut and threw out all of my old rock records, I walked around spouting off bumper sticker phrases and bits of verses of the Bible, taken very much out of context. I was generally just a self-righteous jerk to everybody I came into contact with because I didn't understand the difference between the outward sheen of righteousness, which always leads to self-righteousness, and what it meant to be born again and to be a new creation in Christ.

So, sure enough, the first time I ran into any trials, the outward facade crumbled.

I built a fine looking house, but there was no foundation and all of the timbers were rotten.

It wasn't until many years later that I came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit for my sins and was born again.

It sounds like you're just the latest victim of pop-Christianity that teaches a false Gospel and cheap grace.

 

[aiki]

The last time I posted here, I made the announcement that I was saved and was going to give my life to Jesus Christ.

Now two or three months later, I find myself no longer interested in Christianity.

While I've mainly ignored most religious people trying to inject their political views (while holding firm to mine) and praying daily, I have yet to know that the Christian God is the one true God. I had faith and have trusted, but I lost it. Like giving faith that money is going to grow in my backyard, I haven't see it yet.

I'm going to give up on Christianity.

Why do I get the feeling this was the plan all along? Maybe I'm just overly suspicious...

Anyway, what Mike said.

If you are really and truly "born again" you'll know it. I mean, if the Holy Spirit of the God of the Universe is dwelling inside you, you can't be the same person you were. Oh, one who is saved will struggle with things, but there will be this bedrock certainty about God and an impulse to walk in fellowship with Him that endures. This is the testimony of those who are truly saved.

1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Meeting a holy God inevitably means a humbling of yourself. Coming to God with the attitude "prove yourself to me" is not salvation. Accepting Him with the provision that He jump through your set of faith hoops is not salvation. Real salvation begins with recognizing your own depravity, which is seeing yourself as God sees you, and in so doing acknowledging your desperate need of a Saviour. No one can come to God with their head held high.

Peace to you.

 

[tapero]

The last time I posted here, I made the announcement that I was saved and was going to give my life to Jesus Christ.

Now two or three months later, I find myself no longer interested in Christianity.

While I've mainly ignored most religious people trying to inject their political views (while holding firm to mine) and praying daily, I have yet to know that the Christian God is the one true God. I had faith and have trusted, but I lost it. Like giving faith that money is going to grow in my backyard, I haven't see it yet.

I'm going to give up on Christianity.

Hi, I just want to say that faith is grounded in Jesus and has nothing to do with other Christians in what they say or do, as our walk is with Jesus and not dependent of course on other Christians at all.

You wrote; like giving faith that money is going to grow in the backyard, and havent seen it yet.

I assume you are joking about the above, but rather mean things didn't occur which you thought should have?

Not sure, but just in case, if you take about God from others without knowing what the word says, you will be let down, because many, including some Christians think God does things or apply things to God which are not of God.

Christians will turn away from God because they got ill or a death etc, as they attribute it to God things who had nothing to do with such.

In the same way, some think if they aren't happy or prospering financially or have other troubles, that God let them down. Again, all is from not knowing about God.

Not saying the above occurred with you as you didn't say, but if your knowledge of God comes from what others say about or pertaining to God, including tv preach/radio preach etc, then that is where one's faith is in; man rather than God.

Faith of course needs to be in Christ and learn for one self what the bible says and what it does not say.

And while our faith is in Christ alone, it is very helpful and important to have the friendship and support of another Christian or two in one's life, someone who is trustworthy, non judgemental etc, and can often be found in a bible study or church etc.

Someone one can talk to about anything.

In your past thread you never replied back to those asking how are you doing and so while you may have sought support or help with questions elsewhere you didn't here.

So, your point which you are now at, may be the result of many things.

The bible says as Christians we will suffer and struggle, and if you didn't know of such, and only thought other things would occur, would be another problem.

So, again, all may be on what your preconceptions, misconceptions, were or are, which only you know.

Below is a parable which may reveal to you what is occuring with you.

Jesus says:

Then he told them many things in parables, saying:

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.

6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.

7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear."

then his disciples asked him, what does this mean?

and Jesus replied:

Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

20The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.

21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

22The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Please feel free to pm me any time should you desire to about any thing at all.

take care,
God bless,
tapero

 

[AllworthThunder]

Thank you for your replies. For what it's worth, I expected that I would be in this for the long haul. Nothing was planned out and I wasn't purposely trying to not answer questions posted here about me. I have the tendency to not reply to personal questions because I try my dandiest to keep my personal life just that, and a relationship with God is just that.

 

[Digit]

I think pretty much what Mike said.

Out of interest, what have been doing differently since you proclaimed you were a Christian?

Digit

 

[AllworthThunder]

I think pretty much what Mike said.

Out of interest, what have been doing differently since you proclaimed you were a Christian?

Digit

Let me ask you this. What kind of change is expected of me?

 

[ebia]

The last time I posted here, I made the announcement that I was saved and was going to give my life to Jesus Christ.

Now two or three months later, I find myself no longer interested in Christianity.

While I've mainly ignored most religious people trying to inject their political views (while holding firm to mine) and praying daily, I have yet to know that the Christian God is the one true God. I had faith and have trusted, but I lost it. Like giving faith that money is going to grow in my backyard, I haven't see it yet.

I'm going to give up on Christianity.

I am, admittedly, guessing from the very scanty information here, but there doesn't seem much evidence of exploring the Christian journey at all, beyond some prayer life.

Perhaps you could give us an outline of what you have (and have not) been doing over that time?

I have the tendency to not reply to personal questions because I try my dandiest to keep my personal life just that, and a relationship with God is just that.

Yes and no. Christianity cannot be reduced to "a personal relationship with God". That is a (necessary) part of it, but it is a long way short of the whole. Christianity is very much a public, corporate, whole-way-of-life, etc thing. The idea that it can be practiced as a private thing is an enlightenment lie to rob Christianity of it's power to challenge and change the world.

 

[Digit]

Let me ask you this. What kind of change is expected of me?

Is my question so hard that you must skirt it?

Answer mine, and I will in turn answer yours.

Digit

 

[AllworthThunder]

Is my question so hard that you must skirt it?

Answer mine, and I will in turn answer yours.

Digit

In all honesty, I've felt somewhat more happier, and some sense of belonging in knowing that there is one that I can always go to.

 

[AllworthThunder]

Hi, I just want to say that faith is grounded in Jesus and has nothing to do with other Christians in what they say or do, as our walk is with Jesus and not dependent of course on other Christians at all.

You wrote; like giving faith that money is going to grow in the backyard, and havent seen it yet.

I assume you are joking about the above, but rather mean things didn't occur which you thought should have?

Not sure, but just in case, if you take about God from others without knowing what the word says, you will be let down, because many, including some Christians think God does things or apply things to God which are not of God.

Christians will turn away from God because they got ill or a death etc, as they attribute it to God things who had nothing to do with such.

In the same way, some think if they aren't happy or prospering financially or have other troubles, that God let them down. Again, all is from not knowing about God.

Not saying the above occurred with you as you didn't say, but if your knowledge of God comes from what others say about or pertaining to God, including tv preach/radio preach etc, then that is where one's faith is in; man rather than God.

Faith of course needs to be in Christ and learn for one self what the bible says and what it does not say.

And while our faith is in Christ alone, it is very helpful and important to have the friendship and support of another Christian or two in one's life, someone who is trustworthy, non judgemental etc, and can often be found in a bible study or church etc.

Someone one can talk to about anything.

In your past thread you never replied back to those asking how are you doing and so while you may have sought support or help with questions elsewhere you didn't here.

So, your point which you are now at, may be the result of many things.

The bible says as Christians we will suffer and struggle, and if you didn't know of such, and only thought other things would occur, would be another problem.

So, again, all may be on what your preconceptions, misconceptions, were or are, which only you know.

Below is a parable which may reveal to you what is occuring with you.

Jesus says:



then his disciples asked him, what does this mean?

and Jesus replied:



Please feel free to pm me any time should you desire to about any thing at all.

take care,
God bless,
tapero

I think this is the best advice I've gotten since I started my walk.

I think a lot of people forget how thye were when they started their life in Christ. Reminds me of Lifehouse's album "Stanley Climbfall:

We stand
We climb
We fall

Patience is a virtue.

 

[Digit]

In all honesty, I've felt somewhat more happier, and some sense of belonging in knowing that there is one that I can always go to.

Well, that's good, but my question was what have you been doing differently?

My reason for asking is that there is a good passage in the Bible that talks about faith and likening it to seeds that take root in various places. (Matthew 13:1-9)It seems from what you have said, that your faith may be like those that fell in the rocky places, sprung up quickly and then faltered. In addition, I wished to know what you were doing differently, because a good relationship with God relies on you repenting of your sins. Unrepentant sin is talked of in the Bible as a barrier between you and God. It makes it hard to feel his presence to want to feel it and to live a life that proclaims His integrity and character.

God isn't sitting about and just dying for a chance to become a part of your life, it's the other way around we are very literally dying for Him and it takes effort to make that connection to Him.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation, but I know that all will be as God will's it, so I hope and pray the best for you no matter what happens.

Cheers!
Digit

 

[AllworthThunder]

Well, that's good, but my question was what have you been doing differently?

My reason for asking is that there is a good passage in the Bible that talks about faith and likening it to seeds that take root in various places. (Matthew 13:1-9)It seems from what you have said, that your faith may be like those that fell in the rocky places, sprung up quickly and then faltered. In addition, I wished to know what you were doing differently, because a good relationship with God relies on you repenting of your sins. Unrepentant sin is talked of in the Bible as a barrier between you and God. It makes it hard to feel his presence to want to feel it and to live a life that proclaims His integrity and character.

God isn't sitting about and just dying for a chance to become a part of your life, it's the other way around we are very literally dying for Him and it takes effort to make that connection to Him.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation, but I know that all will be as God will's it, so I hope and pray the best for you no matter what happens.

Cheers!
Digit

Lets just say that I don't dwell on the past too much, and I'll leave it as that . If you wanna talk in private, by all means, but it's nothing that should be posted here.