I don't want to be a Christian anymore...

Originally posted by jcstarkenberg777
Listen this is coming from someone who only 8 weeks ago gave thir life to christ I would be more scare to be with out him then of him. And if you dont want to do all the things that you think it takes to make a good christian then ask your pastor or someone in the know or talk to anyone that will talk to you about it. I will let me know I would love to help you in any way that I can.
Praise him and only him for nothing is possible with out him!

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This is awesome. An 8 week old Babe in Christ out offering support to others. Hallelujah! That is what it is all about! May God bless you in your efforts!

We've all felt like that at times ( I think ) but you must pull through and have faith. God will not punish you. As long as your walking the right path you will be ok. If you stop being Christian God will still be in your life. Just stay on the good path and don't stray. If you do leave the church it doesn't mean you can sleep around or do drugs or anything like that because that is bad and I believe God will punish you for that.
I'll be checking in with you from time to time to see what is happening

ghoti,
the main thing now is to be yourself. You also need some time for yourself, probably you're getting over exposed somewhat, i don 't know. But take yourself away and go at your own pace. Don't discard Christianity yet coz as you said, God is real.

He says "Be still and know that I am God" Psa 46:10.
Go slow and meditate on this verse day and night. Say a prayer if you want at anytime.

Originally posted by ghoti
No, but those things are all tangible. I can touch them and see them and hear them. I suspect that you'll then say something about the wind. You can't touch or see the wind, but you can feel it. Can you stop believing in the wind? No, because it's proven by science. Thus I can't deny its existence. I offer a different example: what about love? You can't touch or see love, but you can feel it. Can you stop believing in love? Yes.

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You can see love, you can see it through the actions of others. Can you stop believing in it? No, but you can harden your heart enough to not love. You can deny it, you can not want anything to do with. But it still exists, and you'll still see it through the actions of others.

But then again there are times when we come accross others in our life who will claim to love us, and through their actions, we will see nothing but hate. This could be enough to make us not want to love, or try to deny it exists.

All in all, love does exist and always will. It is real, it's an emotion and we can even feel it. If love exists then so does God. Because God is Love.

 

 

Originally posted by Gerry
Well if you want to get deep then tell me this. If you stop believing in love does that mean it ceases to exist? The answer is obvious, isn't it?

But it is clear fom the way you speak, that you have not met Jesus, because when you do, you will know how real He is and He is just as real as anything "tangible".

So all I can say to you is if you are tired of the struggle of "trying" to be a Christian, I don't blame you. It would indeed be a chore for anyone. So quit trying and invite Jesus into your life as Lord and Saviour, and He will make Himself REAL to you.

Nevertheless you are not satisfied with any answer given here or any answer in you thread, about the meaning of life. Yet another indication you have not met Jesus, because He tells us the meaning and purpose of life many times over in writing.

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ghoti, Gerry is right on.

You follow God though the law, as if being a christian is about "doing". Our faith is not about what we do, or can do. It is about what Jesus has DONE. All God wants is a relationship with you. At this point you are probably griping at these words, since you supposedly know everything, but stop for a minute and ask yourself why some of these people are replying to your posts. And ask yourself why you started it in the first place. It is no secret that you have a conscience, and that is it a force that you deal with. Do not ignore it. Find peace in the words give to you in this thread. There is much hope in the Lord, I hope you see that.

Ghoti,

I'll be praying for you, brother. I felt compelled to reply to you because for someone like me who never knew Christ for most of their life, the grass is definately not greener on the outside....there's just too many weeds to plough through.

A couple of years ago I felt like giving up being a Christian for some of the reasons you'd mentioned - no support or friends at church, plus I didn't read my Bible very often. Back then the only thing I was sure about was that God existed and yet I perceived Him as someone distant and not someone I could talk to. Because I was and am still a babe in Christ I didn't feel I could aspire to be like some of those church members around me. In my eyes they were soooo 'perfect' and here was I like 'filthy rags'. Little did I know back then that I was being deceived (Eph 6:12).

This is where I felt the need to write to you. I'll admit that at my lowest point I gave up - I had previously been an athiest and thought that life would be better if I left my faith behind, you know, less hassle and such like. I was under the illusion that I had no worries when I didn't believe. In reality, I was more unhappy than I had been when I believed - I just didn't know the solution (i.e Christ) to make my life happier.

So please don't lose hope, of all the friends you should lean on, lean on Jesus. I know it may sound a little crazy but what I did was, during my quiet time, I wept, I yelled, I asked...... I just talked to God. I told Him how I felt. And because our Lord IS real, He'll answer you. After much soul searching the Lord called me back to Him through the Bible (Jer 29:11-13 with emphasis in my case on verse 13).

Take each day at a time, but just speak with the Lord and as someone wrote earlier, take heed from the Psalmists "Be still and know that I am God..." (Ps 46:10) Listen to Him and wait, please wait for Him to come to your rescue.

Remember, because you're working for the Lord, you're 'public enemy number one' to the enemy. And he'll come at you with all his got to try to make you stumble especially with the 'grass is greener as a non believer' line.

Be blessed, and be rest assured that there will be many here who will offer up prayers of support for you.

God bless you!

Originally posted by ghoti



Why did I start it?  I could just constantly argue with everything that's being said.  No, I'm never satisfied.  Go ahead, condemn me some more...

Haha!  What peace?  Forgive me, I'm being cynical.  Tis what usually happens when I open my mouth to ask a question.  I've found that asking questions usually leads to doubt, anger, and more confusion.  Twas probably better to remain in oblivion.

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You are never satisfied, thats an insightful answer.

If you want to know what that peace is like, then do as I suggested and heed these words. Obviously you do not know it because you do not accept what is being told to you.

Ok, so asking questions leads to doubt, anger, and confusion. This begs the question: Is it the answer that makes you feel this way or your own personal issues? I would argue that it is not the answers.

I understand you are in a difficult position right now. But if you plan on getting out of it, then try doing something different than you have before. If ignoring wise words has lead you to anger and confusion, then maybe its time to listen.

Well I would just like to say nothing is wrong with you. I think every christian has valleys. I mean if you are saved then you are saved ,but that doesn't mean that everyday you feel like standing praiseing the Lord all day or reading his word everyday all day long.

There are some days I really just dont feel like praying or studying his word.

If you are saved you have a Heavenly home and that is enough to make me love the Lord. I mean he died on hte cross for us,we should praise him everyday ,but thats hard and not many do.

I kinda look at this way, I love my husband, but there are days I dont want to spend time with him or even talk to him, does that mean I'm gonna divorse him? No, thats just life.

So cheer up. It will get better?

-Eldons wife&nbsp; <IMG onmouseover="this.style.cursor='hand';" style="CURSOR: hand" onclick="smilie('');" alt=smile src="http://www.christianforums.com/images/smilies/smile.gif" border=0>

Ghoti,
God already knows we aren't perfect, Not one of us is without sin. Only by the blood of Jesus can we be freed from our sins. Anyone who thinks they are perfect is far from the truth, and also far from God himself. We shouldn't worry about what others think about us, or what they may say about us. What it all boils down to is pleasing God and Him only. The only way to learn how to do that is to read and study His Word, and pray for understanding as we read it. He is the only one who can teach us the truth that is found in His Word.

Ghoti,

You wrote, "Chruch members/Christians are the last thing from perfect. Most of them are proud, ignorant hypocrites. I am."

See, that was the deception! It was exactly what I once perceived but not necessarily how those people actually were. Also as someone else wrote, God knows what He has to work with. What God would see in you is different to what you see in yourself or what others see in you and yet He's still called you into His service even if, like Jonah you may not want to. God knows you better than yourself and He also knows your potential.

I meant to say this the last time. When you'd mentioned earlier about how it was your fear of God's judgement/hell (to paraphrase) that keeps you on your current path, I meant to say that perhaps this is not such a bad thing. Sometimes we tend to sugar-coat our faith at times when leaving it seems quite tantilising but the fact is, it is written somewhere that the punishment for someone who is entrusted with much but does nothing with it, is worse than one who didn't know at all and sins (found it! Check out Luke 12:47-48). That's why you need to take this to the Lord during your prayer times and also why leaving your faith is not such a good idea.


But as I said, we'll keep praying for you in the hope that you'll come out of this dilema triumphant and stronger in your relationship with the Lord.

Don't give up Ghoti!! I skipped to the last page here, so sorry if I'm repeating what someone else said!
I think the easiest part is becoming a Christian! After that is when the going gets tough. Though I've never wanted to become "unChristian" I have felt like saying to God ,"what good are all my prayers when nothing ever happens?! Well, I have to confess i've felt like that quite recently, due to things in my life, but we're talkin about you! I have to say this, though it may seem a little wacko. Reading the Bible, going to church, participating in church events and all, are not what make you a Christian. Your relationship with God is the most important thing. Though, you should read your Bible, which I've recently been neglecting. *blush* I can be such a hypocrite sometimes!!! Forgive me!!lol! Also, it may be a time of God testing you! I recently felt like God was doing that to me. I had a very "dry" spiritual yr, and maybe still am! So please hold on for awhile, you can pull through this!! God luvs ya!

24th January 2003 at 09:09 AM Gerry said this in Post #27



You mentioned that you know a lot of things. But the One thing you failed to mention knowing is JESUS! And you are right. If you don't know Jesus, it is an unbearable struggle to TRY to be a Christian. And you are right, reading the Bible and Praying is a chore and unfruitful.

Until you know Jesus in a personal way, just as you know your mother and father and your friends, Christianity will never be anything but a long, difficult, unfruitful and unbearable struggle.

As for whether or not He will zap you with a bolt of lightening, I do not know. I know he did one man not long ago who dared Him to. The man (an attorny and alledged intelligent man) stood in the front of his boat and lifted a beer can to the heavens and said words to the effect: "Here! Hit this, if you can"! Imagine those for last words, and imagine him a split second later standing not in his boat, but face to face with God!

Anyway, when you know Jesus you do not have to TRY to be a Christian because you ARE a Christian. And you were right in your observation that Christians are not perfect, just forgiven. And we all struggle through life to some extent. I find no Character in the Bible who served God that did not have trials and struggles. NONE. From the Old Testament to the New. Beginning with the struggles of Adam, whose son was a murderer. The Apostles, and Paul and, my goodness, have you read the life and times of Jesus?

You can complain about wanting to ENJOY LIFE but until you know Jesus you will never have life to enjoy.

My prayer is for you to know Jesus in a real and personal way.

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Gerry:

Your words are so full of conviction and love, i just love reading your posts.

This is so true.&nbsp; I can relate to these feeligns because there was SIN in my life I did not wish to deal with.&nbsp; I wasan't TIRED of loving God, nor doing good works, but there was a particular sin hidden inside me that I jsut didn't want to deal with.&nbsp; Having a personal realtionship with Jesus means we will have to deal with some of the ugly chambers of hearts.&nbsp; With an active relationship with Jesus, things hidden will be revealed as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Him.

My friend, take it from me.&nbsp; Fall on your face and beg God for mercy.

I just felt the need to reply to this. I am very glad I joined here already!

I can understand not wanting to read the Bible and go to church and such, I have a hard time with that as well, but I agree, you just gotta keep plugging. People have said some VERY good things on this thread. I just love to read what others have wrote.

Hmm, so you are saved without a doubt. I agree you may be putting emphasis on the not most important thing, while the most important would be a relationship with God/Jesus. I don't doubt when you say you are saved, I think you are just struggling through a tough time.

I totally agree with the person who said that becoming a Christian is the easy part, after that it does indeed get a lot harder!! I am finding this as well! But I think it is vital that you just keep hanging on, you may be missing an impotant point, but don't just turn away, I agree you won't be able to get very far. I would just talk to God about it earnesty, everything. I am sure He knows just what you are gonig through, and He is the one to talk to. Keep posting!

I have felt the same way. And I spent oh almost a year doing just what I wanted, not going to church or reading my bible, not doing any bible studies or anything. I have never been so depressed and miserable in my life. I have definately noticed a difference in my life when I am actively seeking a relationship with God and when I am not. God never left me though, I just ignored his presence. And when I finally turned around, God threw his arms open wide to let me know He loves me no matter what. I have gone through some really tough times the past 6 months. But they were no where near as miserable as my time away from God. Don't look at seeking God in terms of it being a chore. He is your friend, your father, your bridegroom. He wants to meet with you face to face as friends do. I am terrible at reading my Bible on a regular basis, I am not that disciplined when it comes to going to church on Sunday morning. I go to a week night college worship service and that is the highlight of my week. God is the only one who fully understands our pains and joys and fears and desires. Being with him helps me not feel so alone. I pray that you too can find that with God.