Feeling distressed

[Brother Charlie]

In the last day or two someone who Im not going to tell you about has done it again: used the fact that I say I try to follow christ to call me a hypocrite. Whenever I do something bad or mean, or whenever we get into an argument, this person always throws me the line: "you are the typical religious hypocrite, you know that?" Its making me wish I wasnt a christian anymore because it makes me feel bad and I know it must be true, since i still do bad stuff. I wish I didnt sin anymore, or I wasnt a christian anymore. But I know that I cant stop being a christian now that I know so much.

 

[Michelina]

Charlie, we are all sinners. Any version of Christianity that pretends otherwise is a hollow sham. You should thank the person who called you a hypocrite, if that person was saying that you don't always live up to God's will for you. Who can say that he does?

Growth in Christ is hard, especially at your age in this decadent world. If you fall, get up and seek Jesus. He is with you. Use the means of Grace that are available. All day long. Don't expect Lucifer to sit idly by while you try to grow in Christ. He'll do evrything he can to bring you down and then he'll kick you repeatedly. He'll punish you for the Grace that is in you and for wanting to be more like Jesus. But he has been beaten. Hold on to that Victory.

 

[ps139]

Charlie, do not feel distressed. Remember what Our Lord said? You are blessed when someone persecutes you for His sake. As Christians we strive to be like Christ, we strive for lives free of sin, precisely because we are sinners. This person seems to think that Christians think they are sinless. If we were sinless we would not need Christ in the first place. So he is making a judgement on a distortion of the facts. And what is it to him that you are a Christian? Why should that bother him??? God bless you! Stay strong!

 

[Maggie893]

Brother Charlie,

We are all sinners. Being a Christian doesn't mean you have it all together, it means you are willing to admit that you don't and the only one who can get you there is Jesus. If someone finds fault with you, acknowledge the truth in it if there is some, if not then recognize that they have set up poor expectations and it's their issue. People who are afraid of Christianity tend to expect perfection from Christians, and that perfection I might add is their personal view of perfection, not necessarily Christ's perfection. You can never live up to all the expectations others will have for you in this world. All you can do is daily submit to the will of God in your life, minute by minute. And if you do that, in the end, you may not have pleased all the people in the world, but you will find a perfect and permanent home with Jesus.

I'm praying for you.

 

[Brother Charlie]

Thanks for all your replies . Its not like this is an athiest who is so critical about christians. The thing is, she herself is not afraid to say she is a christian, but I think that my efforts to become christian are all a joke to her. So when I sin, which I often do, she is really critical and I dont think she ever will believe I am taking this seriously. She also is really condescending and acts as if I dont know anything Its not like she is a bad person, I dont want anyone to insult her, I actually esteem her highly, but this is making me frustrated.

 

[MParedon]

I think maybe you should tell her this. Tell her that you are trying very hard to grow on your path to the Lord and what she says makes you feel like she is undermining you and what you feel strongly about. Once she understands that, I don't think she'll have much more criticisms to pass around.

 

[Dream]

You'll be fine Charlie, don't let it bother you. If you have said something that would have offended her, then maybe her calling you a hypocrite is just a harsh reminder that you are a Christian. After she calls you a hypocrite, then is the best time to apologize.

I've had people say that to me too sometimes. Although it makes me angry, it does make me think for a minute about what I had said or done.

 

[FullyMT]

To just make sure she know's you're not a hippocrite, tell her that you're sorry for any sins you have committed against our Lord as well as her. Some of my friends like to tell me I'm being a hypocrite if I accidently say something wrong (ie accidently cussing, or telling someone a story and maybe embellishing because I can't remember the exactness of it). I tell them I'm sorry and will try harder not to next time. First of all, I do this because I actually am sorry, and also, it shuts their mouths. Pray for the girl too...don't tell her your praying for her though