How dose one know where they belong?

[LennCor]

How can a person be sure that the chosen path of spirituality is the correct one for them?

Sometimes doubt, and confusion creeps in?

 

[Crashfreak]

Well there is only one path, and that is the path to Christ. You will always doubt, you will always be confused. I don't believe the walk of a christian is one of surity and complete understanding. You are always fighting to understand God and what he does and says, and even if he exists. And this is why faith is emphasized so much in the NT. Faith is only needed where there is doubt, for example you need no faith that when you drop something it will fall to the ground, simply because you have no doubt in your mind about it. Yet with Christ you need to be continually working through your doubt, believing despite yourself. This is not saying that a Christian is one who believes blindly, God speaks he just tends not to raise his voice that often so it is difficult to hear when there is so much noise in your life. As it says, "Faith is the evidence of things unseen." It is a difficult verse to truely understand but it is saying that you believe in something that cannot be seen on earth yet the evidence of the unseen presence is clear in the world around you. Do not worry yourself so much about denomination, religion or you path of spirituality. Worry about your relationship with Christ, he will guide even when you feel like you are lost. Just keep looking to Christ and you will find the right way.

Reading your post however I note that you may not specifically be speaking about Christianity. So in regards to that, I would say that your spirituality is of your own choosing. However there are things that make Christianity slightly different and I would challenge you to at least look into this. But grace is quite unique to Christianity as well as the fact that God is actively searching for you more than you are searching for him.

It is difficult to find the path. I mean I feel I have, but I still doubt sometimes, I am still confused and do not understand everything. But the world seems to speak so much of the God that I serve that even though sometimes it is difficult I can't seem not to believe.

 

[ConstanceB]

Hello, Friend!

Your question is one we all wrestle with. Do you know that Jesus spent the night before his arrest and crucifixion praying (and I'm roughly translating here), "Look, Father, I don't want to do this. Does it really have to happen this way? Well, if I have to . . ."

When God told Moses to represent the children of Israel and intercede on their behalf to Pharoah, Moses argued with him. "I don't even talk th-th-that good," he complained.

Peter, the "rock" upon which Jesus built His church, and Paul, who preached to the Gentiles (non-Jews), those two? the best known of Jesus' followers? They fought over how non-Jews must act after they became Christians!

Whether you mean choosing Christianity or a whole 'nother religion, considering different denominations within Christianity, or considering different church bodies within one denomination, yours are not easy decisions. I encourage you to ask for guidance -- just like Moses, Jesus, and Peter and Paul did -- from God, through prayer & reading Scripture; from people you respect, and those who are studying and living along the "paths" you are considering. Meanwhile, you can know that people here at Christian Forums are praying for wisdom and strength for you as you come to peace in your decision. God bless you! cb

 

[WashedClean]

Hello LennCor and Welcome to CF!

I'm a little puzzled by your post. You have a seeker icon, but your profile mentions the date you accepted Christ and were baptised. If you're a Christian, the enemy will always try to create doubt in our minds. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me". There are not many paths to God, as society wants us to believe. So if you're asking, what is the right way, the answer is Christ. Each individual's path to Christ will be different, but Jesus meets us right where we are, if we will just believe on Him and accept His sacrifice on our behalf.

Hope this helps. God bless you friend.

WashedClean

 

[GodFlute2]

You just know. If you have the right path you have faith that that's what's right. If not then it's not the right path and something needs to change.

 

[jason_the_ecumenicalist]

Good question. A very good question indeed.
It is a matter of faith. Many religions will claim to be the "right way" to God. Especially western religions, they often claim to be the only way and absolutize everything. So Christianity is not alone in this. It really doesn't matter what any religion says, because they will all claim to be correct. Now, this doesn't help you, but religion is a matter of faith.

Now I do believe Jesus is the only way to God, because of substitutionary attonement theology. But I also realize that is something I accept on faith alone.

Now, I sense you are doubting. You know what that is okay? Don't let people condemn you. I am a theology student who one day will be a proffesor of chruch history. I sit in my office right now with a book shelf full of theology books on eveyr possible topic. But I do have doubts at time, manytimes caused by frusterations with the chruch. But I take that to God and grow through that.

 

[LennCor]

Thank you all for you wonderful responses. To answer the question about the icon I chose; I am having such doubts now, that I have started to explore other alternatives to Christianity, mostlyearth based, but at one time I had excepted Christ and for many years I did believe with all my heart.

 

[sinner/SAVED]

1. Scripture
2. Tradition
3. Reason
4. Experience

All four point me directly at Jesus Christ.

 

[Crashfreak]

... for many years I did believe with all my heart.

He still believes in you

 

[Vi]

It's just possible that you have an earthly need that you are trying to fulfill. Maybe it is something that your Christianity isn't going to fulfill, so you might be tempted to turn away from it, thinking mistakenly that CHristianity is wrong for you because it did not fulfill your need in this instance. A mistaken deduction.

Maybe you can separate your Christianity from it, make them two separate issues. Deal with the issue you have of something not being fulfilled. Did that make sense?

It sounds like you are looking into a wiccan belief system or something of that nature. tell us more, what is lacking in your journey, what are you looking for and not finding?

 

[JJB]

LennCor,

What are your doubts and confusion? God is not a God of confusion.

 

[godsgirl4ever]

Thats might sound crazy but i know who i belong to cause God told me & you can find it in the holy bible too.

 

[Jonteel]

You are a Christian. Focus on being in the presence of God. Brother Lawrence was a dishwasher, and he said that in the midst of the hectic kitchen, he felt God's presence. If you seek first the kingdom, then all else will be added to you. To seek the kingdom, first seek the King.

When I first became a Christian, I came back home and asked,"How do I hear God?" I began a search. Seek and ye shall find. God is out there, and He wants to talk to you. God usually gets what He wants, but you have to help him. Listen. Most Christains can't hear God. You may be on your own in this.

I don't know you, but I tell people that when they go to a church, "Look for love and power."

 

[L.A.W.]

Search for the Kingdom of Heaven before all else.

 

[LennCor]

It's just possible that you have an earthly need that you are trying to fulfill. Maybe it is something that your Christianity isn't going to fulfill, so you might be tempted to turn away from it, thinking mistakenly that CHristianity is wrong for you because it did not fulfill your need in this instance. A mistaken deduction.

Maybe you can separate your Christianity from it, make them two separate issues. Deal with the issue you have of something not being fulfilled. Did that make sense?

It sounds like you are looking into a wiccan belief system or something of that nature. tell us more, what is lacking in your journey, what are you looking for and not finding?

You are a very perseptive person Virakech

I was going through a time of "earthly needs", and I was slipping back to my Wiccan roots, looking for a since of control in my life. With Christianity there seemed no control, there seemed no clear direction for solving a problem. But, through everything I did, this feeling of caring kept coming back to me and it did not feel as though it was the Goddess calling me back; it was more then that. A family feeling.

Faith is hard. But, after taking some time to work things out in my mind. Letting my meditations and prayers lead me. I have come to a knowledge, that Christ is the center and all else revolves around him. But to surrender all my issues to Jesus was very difficult. Though now I can say that it is true he will provide a way. Whether we accept that prompting or not is up to us as well as the consequences of our decision.

Lenn

 

[seebs]

How can a person be sure that the chosen path of spirituality is the correct one for them?

Sometimes doubt, and confusion creeps in?

Yup.

So what? Dance with the one that brung you.

 

[Athanasian Creed]

How can a person be sure that the chosen path of spirituality is the correct one for them?

Sometimes doubt, and confusion creeps in?

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

** God's Word is the "map book" showing us the path we should take - it illuminates our way so that we don't walk in darkness and confusion.



Proverbs 14:12 There is a way (path) which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death (leads to death).

** There are countless numbers of people merrily on their way to everlasting destruction, many convinced they are "good" people deserving of everlasting life. God's Word says such confidence in self leads to death.


Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way (path), that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way (path), which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

** Christ speaks of only two paths - the one wide and broad that leads to everlasting death on which MANY will travel and the other, strait and narrow on which FEW will travel.



John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

** Here is Christ's definitive statement that He ALONE is the One that man must come to in order to be saved. He is the the ONLY way, truth and the Source of life eternal.

It is by the Word of God that we learn the difference between truth and error. It is by it and by it alone that we come to know Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ and Saviour of the world !



Ray

 

[lonnienord]

i have come to the conclusion that the only thing that matters is my relationship with GOD!!

all for JESUS!!
lonnie

 

[Serapha]

How can a person be sure that the chosen path of spirituality is the correct one for them?

Sometimes doubt, and confusion creeps in?

Hi there!




Just a little information that might help you along your spiritual journey...


Inside every person is the inner man that needs communication with God. When a person uses the inner man in communication with other spirits such as in paganism, satanism, or practicing wiccan, then there is always the possibility in past practices to have entertained demonic spirits within the person... with or without their knowledge and with or without their permission.

Sometimes doubt, and confusion creeps in?

I would suggest that your previous spiritual practices continue to be a constant source of spiritual warfare over you. I certainly hope that your "conversion experience" to Christianity was a "born again" experience with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. With the presence of the Holy Spirit, other demonic forces cannot stay in the same body.


I want to bring something to your attention that you might not have been told or realize. When we sin, and we seek forgiveness, and are saved and reconciled back to God, the sins are forgiven, but there can still be repercussions from those sins. An example that is easy to understand is sexual immorality... the sin can be forgiven and forgotten by God, but the physical body may endure a lifetime of problems related to those actions... AIDS for example.

Applying this to your past practices, while in your conversion to Christianity, you were seeking forgiveness for sin and reconciliation to God, and the sins are forgiven and forgotten by God, you still have that spiritual warfare, such as your statement to convert to being wiccan...

I would suggest you have lingering spiritual problems from your wiccan past. That can only be eliminated from your spiritual life by rebuking the practice and everything associated with it. That means making an oral demand that any of those things affiliated with your former practices be rebuked in your allegiance in and through Jesus Christ to be reconciled to God. Rebuke the practices, rebuke the demonic oppression, and rebuke the source of the demonic oppression.


"spiritually" clean house... the house is your body and the spiritual realm around it


~serapha~

 

[Stinker]

How can a person be sure that the chosen path of spirituality is the correct one for them?

Sometimes doubt, and confusion creeps in?

If you don't want to be drinking emotional, psychological, and spiritual saltwater for the rest of your life, one will choose and stay with the religion of the word of God and a church that follows it.

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water sringing up into everlasting life." (Jn.4:14)