How do I get a good solid Christian foundation?

[chi_cchick]

I'm 23, and although my parents were/are Christians, I wasn't raised as a Christian.

I'm not used to praying with others, praying before meals, thinking in a Christian way, putting God first, tithing etc.

I don't feel like I have a solid Christian foundation, that others built during childhood. I don't know Christian songs or children stories, I'm not familiar with veggie tales, and I'm not familiar with Christian culture.

What should I/can I do aside from reading scripture and praying?

 

[ezeric]

Thinking "in a Christian way", is all a matter of GRACE.
The "good foundation" you talked about is the GRACE (love in action) of JESUS.

When you read the scriptures, and really all of life (many of the movies) are a lessons in
Law vs. GRACE.

Romans talks about this - especially the chapters of 5- 8.
Galatians is all about it.

Tithing, and church going and 'doing' the Christian thing is NOT the Christian thing.

The Christian thing is really walking with GOD (DAD/FATHER) daily.
It is hearing HIS voice and receiving HIS LOVE - which makes us lovers and thus treating folks with compassion & not judgement.

Because we although sinners (you and I) were loved and forgiven right in our mess.
And that is how we love others, because we are loved so. Romans 5:8

So, its this miracle living JESUS in every situation by HIS GRACE through you.

Paul called it "walking in the SPIRIT" see Galatians 5:18

Basically we are either under Law or GRACE.
And being a Christians (CHRIST in, is what it means) is this:
"You are not under the law but under GRACE" see Romans 6:14

Law in the Bible means 'our effort' and GRACE is 'JESUS (GOD'S) effort'.
We rest in that GRACE and that starts to empower us to live a GRACE life towards others!
HE lives HIS Life through us, and we give up doing things our way or what religion says.

Wonderful!
There is no other life! CHRIST is your life! see Colossians 3:4
And this one, as you walk in it, opens up to miracles and answered prayer!

Praise the LORD!

-eric


the-exchanged-life.blogspot.com

 

[prov1810]

I don't feel like I have a solid Christian foundation, that others built during childhood. I don't know Christian songs or children stories, I'm not familiar with veggie tales, and I'm not familiar with Christian culture.

Well, Christian culture is going to vary depending on which denomination you wind up in. Find a church that you like and remember to always check everything against Scripture.

It would be helpful if you could find a church with an Alpha course or something equivalent - I did Alpha when I was a new believer and it helped me to get connected with the church that hosted the course, and I could discuss the basics of the faith.

 

[Harry3142]

chi_cchick-

Christianity is a religion in which the motivations which underlie what we say and do either confirm our sincere acceptance of God's gift of salvation, or expose us as merely 'going through the motions':

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

the acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5:16-26,NIV)

The motivations listed as 'the acts of the sinful nature' are those which lie at the root of all sinful acts. Their dictating people's actions identify them as being narcissistic, having a "Me first, last and always" attitude toward those around them. No action which emanates from any of these motivations can be seen as righteous, due to the motivations themselves being sinful. This includes even those actions which are camouflaged as pious. Just as a poisoned tree cannot yield good fruit, actions emanating from any of these motivations cannot yield righteous results.

On the other hand, the motivations listed as 'the fruit of the Spirit' are those which lie at the root of all righteous acts (hence the words "Against such things there is no law"). They identify us as having truly accepted God's gift of salvation, thus receiving the righteousness that comes by faith in God rather than in ourselves. In order for our actions to conform to what God wants of us, the impetus for those actions must also conform to what God wants of us. And in order for that impetus to conform to what God wants of us, it must be those motivations which are 'the fruit of the Spirit'.

The 'upside' to this new nature is that we can demonstrate it every day of the week without appearing to be 'show-offish'. Through our having these motivations dictate our actions as we interrelate with those around us, we not only practice our faith, but also help to alleviate the burdens of others, in true imitation of Christ.

 

[Emmy]

Dear chi cchick. Jesus tells us in Matthew 22: 35-40: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Love God with all your hearts, with all your souls, and with all your minds, also: love your neighbour as you love yourselves. Matthew 7: 7-10: tells us: " ask and ye shall receive."
We ask God for Love and Joy, then thank God, and then share all Love and Joy with our neighbour: all we know and all we meet, friends and not friends.
We keep asking and receiving, then thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour. God will see our loving efforts, and God will approve and Bless us. God is Love, and God wants Loving sons and daughters.
The Bible tells us: " Repent and be Born Again," i.e. change from being selfish
and unloving, to loving and caring men and women. Jesus our Saviour will help and guide us, and we will find, that to Love and Care will change us gradually: Love is very catching. ALSO!! Satan and all his followers will flee from all LOVE. We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on loving and caring, and also the occasional hand.
We live in an imperfect world, and only Love freely given, with NO conditions
tagged on, will show that we are followers of Jesus Christ. Let us follow Jesus
back to God. I say this with love, chi cchick. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[NannaNae]

well the only thing I can add is that I disagree with some here when they say we are either under grace or law..as if we have to choose one or the other.
I believe we are to keep flesh and it's desires as our servant / slave.
and it is to remain under law , that flesh is what the law was given for.
because it will kill our new man..if we let it .
so we have to control it.

WE CAN let our new spirit that he has promised to create in us and our new man stay under grace, it can be a baby , whine some , poop it's drawers but potty training is a good thing .., it can learn to walk by falling down and getting up, it will bang it's head a few times. it can grow slow and sure ,and it will grow up ! it has His timing as long as you keep searching for him ... but the goal is to grow up INTO Him and not remain a baby forever and not allow your flesh (with it death releasing desires) to kill that new being off. because Life and death can not dwell in you at the same time..
just a little sewer water makes the water undrinkable , deadly even.
if I were you I would take the words 'law' and 'grace' and 'good' and 'evil' out of your vocabulary for a long time..
because there is only those things 'RIGHT ' with God and 'wrong' with God..
RIGHTousness and UNRIGHTousness because this is about what is right with Jesus ... and not what seems right to us. we are not to make our own definitions that IS SIN that is what happened at the tree of good and evil. ADAM died because of that alone. Man wanted to judge Good and evil for himself. and take a look around and see where that got us.
We are not the writer of the laws of this universe, and He is . so is it our job to find out what is right in his eyes and do our best to try to work with his good laws , or at least try and be willing to be willing to work within his good laws ...
Always give him permission to work in your life and permission to change you into who he would have created you to be if Adam had not fallen. that is the gift he has for you. that is the promises he is making. he promises to to save that person you will become.
He is NOT going to save your flesh and he isn't going to white wash it. he isn't going to make it good enough..
but HE will create a new you in you worthy to be saved , it isn't going to be easy , it will be stretching and like surgery can be healing , but it will be painful! but he is loving and fun and funny and He WILL be there in it with you ..and it is for your good because he loves you and wants to spend eternity with the you you were intended to be.
the you who you can be !
the you he has prepared a place for .
he has designed it for you .
it is designed to you and your true desires .
your true being and it's gifts and inheritances
and you are designed for that place in his kingdom also.
I will pray for you honey! and may your journey be wild and crazy fun and funny as mine is and has been !
remember He only is trust worthy !

 

[jannikitty]

I'm 23, and although my parents were/are Christians, I wasn't raised as a Christian.

I'm not used to praying with others, praying before meals, thinking in a Christian way, putting God first, tithing etc.

I don't feel like I have a solid Christian foundation, that others built during childhood. I don't know Christian songs or children stories, I'm not familiar with veggie tales, and I'm not familiar with Christian culture.

What should I/can I do aside from reading scripture and praying?

You need fellowship and support. Get in a bible believing congregation and join up with a small group within that congregation. Make friends who are believers. And, yes, continue to pray and learn the bible. It is important to not only read the scriptures but to learn how to apply them. Fellowship with believers will help you do that.

 

[graceandpeace]

I'm 23, and although my parents were/are Christians, I wasn't raised as a Christian.

I'm not used to praying with others, praying before meals, thinking in a Christian way, putting God first, tithing etc.

I don't feel like I have a solid Christian foundation, that others built during childhood. I don't know Christian songs or children stories, I'm not familiar with veggie tales, and I'm not familiar with Christian culture.

What should I/can I do aside from reading scripture and praying?

Hello.

First, do you have a church home? If not, finding a local church where you can connect with others & worship would be beneficial. I don't know your theology or preferences, but if you're interested I attend the Episcopal Church.

In general, the Episcopal church is traditional, sacramental, accepting of modern scholarship in understanding the Bible/living out the faith, & welcoming to all people. Services are full of Bible reading, prayer, & songs, with communion offered regularly & treated with dignity.

Second, have you been baptized? When possible, this would be an important step to take, which identifies one with Christ & the Church. Depending on which church you attend/seek out to attend, there may be classes or a process of some sort prior to receiving baptism.

Third, Americanized "Christian" culture is not something worth being a part of, IMO - so don't worry about absorbing it. Connect in a church where you can learn & grow, love & serve those in need - far more important things.

 

[chi_cchick]

Yes I do have a church, and yes, I am baptised.

 

[insurchoftruth]

The most important thing, for a christian to do, is to pray, especially praising and worshiping God, and thanking him every day, and reading his Word, which is the food for our hearts and makes us strong spiritually. Also, going to church regularly, because if we do not, how are we able to love one another, as Jesus commanded us, and how can we serve one another?

Jesus said, that a man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out from the mouth of God. You see, if we do not feed our hearts with the Word of God, on a regular basis, our hearts or spirits will become weak. It is like if we do not feed our bodies with food, on a regular basis.

Worshipting God and thanking him, praising him, is the most important prayer, because we were created first of all, to worship God. Our mouth and voice, was not created first of all for talk and eating, but to praise the Creator and worship him.

Psalm 119:164, 2 Timothy 2:20,21, Psalm 113:3, Psalm 27:6, Psalm 29:1, 2, Isaiah 6:1-4, 42:8,10,12, 43:6,7,21, 66:23, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, 10:31, 1 Chronicles 23:5,30, Acts 12:23, Romans 1:21, 12:1, Hebrews 1:6, Revelation 1:6, 4:8-11, 5:10-14, 7:11,12, 19:1-10,16, 20:6, 22:8,9, Psalm 66:1-4

 

[graceandpeace]

Yes I do have a church, and yes, I am baptised.
__________________
I'm not a brand new Christian, but I never gained a strong relationship with God, so I'm still learning/relearning the basics. Just call me a bit rusty around the edges.

Ok. What do you think it means to have a "strong relationship with God?"

 

[1watchman]

Mainly, the answer is to know God and be in communion with His beloved Son; and to trust what God is saying and be thankful to Him. Its all about a personal relationship --would you say?

 

[AWorkInProgress]

I'm 23, and although my parents were/are Christians, I wasn't raised as a Christian.

I'm not used to praying with others, praying before meals, thinking in a Christian way, putting God first, tithing etc.

I don't feel like I have a solid Christian foundation, that others built during childhood. I don't know Christian songs or children stories, I'm not familiar with veggie tales, and I'm not familiar with Christian culture.

What should I/can I do aside from reading scripture and praying?

I noticed all your posts and just how you been trying to grapple with 'Christianity'. I admire your efforts, but I like to give you a fresh or different perspective about where you are, and how this relationship works best.

Establish a little about who God is
God is a creator(Genesis 1) and he is a Father(1 Corinthians 8:6). Thru his Son Jesus, he created and teaches us. What is hidden from you and I, are clear as day to him. He does things in his own unique ways. He made a way so that we can have a relationship with God himself. So much that once you receive Jesus into your heart, the Holy Spirit comes to live within you. Like you have direct connection to the creator of the universe.

The Process

Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV
'For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven'

God doesn't act like impulsive human beings. He is sovereign, and he does things in due seasons and in times he has set.

I am a guy who likes to resolve things now and I hate the process. I will do what I can to speed things up and get to the finish line. My wife is a detailist. She LOVES the process, and she gets really frustrated with me when I impulsively try to jump the gun. Lord had to teach me to enjoy the process and I learned a great deal from her. In the process are steps and each step are important to creating a good outcome.

Born again, Spiritual birth

John 3(recommend read the whole thing) ESV
v3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

v6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Concept is about being born again. Birth is when life entires the world for first time. Typically humans and animals are birth into the world helpless and defenseless. Jesus said that the flesh births flesh, and the Spirit births the spirit.

So I see on your profile that you were born into this world 24 years ago. Which during that time you gone thru development cycles in life.

1. New born
2. Toddler
3. Year old
4. 5 year old
5. Teen
6. Young Adult

Each phase of life had its challenges. New born learning to speak, toddler learning to crawl, to walk, to run. Throughout these stages they had hard times, but there was lot playing and having fun mixed into it. Play was great way to interact with the new world.

I say this because when you received Jesus, your spirit became one with God's spirit. By the power of the Holy Spirit inside of you, you now have a new life in the Spirit.

Enjoy your new relationship
Just like a new born child into the world. God is not going to expect you to run and jump and skip when all you can handle at this time is a bottle. Learn to enjoy your time with God, and don't think of it as a ladder to climb. Just as a baby laughs and giggles at the funny faces of their parents, so enjoy your time with your Father in heaven. Have fun learning to interact and listening to God. Enjoy your time with him and don't be afraid to ask him what's on your heart. You be amazed how personal he gets with you.

Naturally he will want you to mature and to grow up in Christ. Just you can't expect to get there over night. You are going to make MANY mistakes, but that's part of growing up. By the blood of Jesus, he can forgive us our sins and restore our relationship. In honesty, we are harder on ourselves than God is.

I hope this gives some perspective and helps you to enjoy your relationship more =)