I want to stick with God, can i do it?

[delvida]

Hi all,

It's my first post & very new to being a Christian. In fact I hadn't actually told anyone yet until last night, I have just had a gradual change in my heart since a couple of months ago, when i decided to find out more. Anyway I was listening to a preacher at a conference on the web, a bit secretively, when my partner walked in, so i thought here goes.... So he got a bit agitated & said, amongst other things, -If you want to believe in God thats fine, but not that stuff, he said that the people in the conference were looking like the preacher was God.

Well, now I'm wavering, cos i was getting a lot of strength to believe that I can make it as a Christian from those videos and I don't want to watch in secret. If he catches me watching again I know there'll be conflict. Is this what it's like to be a Christian? I remember a bit- (don't know my bible at all really, keep reading bits, thinking ooh that's good, then losing them again) where Jesus says something about not coming just to bring peace to people, about families turning against each other- What's that bit? It's a little scary to me right now...

Really, my partner is probably going to be the most supportive of anyone i know- At least he believes in God! My co-workers/ friends / family think it's at best weird and some are eloquently atheist/ anti-religion. How can I handle cleverly constructed opposition? I really want to succeed with God because I can see the effect on my thinking already and am just ready to start doing differently too, especially with my kids and in work.

 

[paul1149]

You can do it through Christ, because "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world". I would keep praying for wisdom. There often is opposition, especially at first, among family, because essentially we are switching allegiance to a different kingdom than the world they know. That's no small thing. But sometimes new Christians are not wise with how they go about things, so they bring unnecessary problems on themselves.

It's hard to say what to do about the secret/open thing. I would get it settled in my heart that I was not trying to cause friction, but at some point it is necessary to stand your ground, and confrontation ultimately is unavoidable. Stay in prayer that it happens at the right time, under the right conditions, and that your attitude is right.

 

[tturt]

Glad that you've become a believer! It's good that you're asking questions.

In regards to family and friends, some say that Lee Strobe's book, The Case for Christ, is good for those who don't believe. Perhaps others can give a personal recommendation.

In regards to viewing programming that you want to watch, guess I'm wondering how would you handle it if the subject matter was something else. Just because he thinks every person there is idolizing the speaker doesn't mean that's the way it is. I mean look at the faces of folks who are watching a football game. not all of them are idolizing the players but most of them are interested!

As far as the family disagreements (families turning against each other) I believe that Scripture is more about end-time emphasis. Yeshua wants us to have the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance Gal 5).

Can you do it? "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13.

 

[trulyconverted]

I would rely more on what the Bible says, keep reading it +++. And beware of false teachers in sheep's clothing - there seem to be many of them on the web. I would only believe what they say if I myself have read/understood it from the bible. God bless.

 

[delvida]

Thank you paul1149, tturt and trulyconverted for your wise comments. I just read Gal 5 & Phillipians 4 & they really help to strengthen resolve. It is so good to have this forum to ask questions, I have already learnt so much from other people's threads and bible references. Thank you CF!

 

[theophilus40]

So he got a bit agitated & said, amongst other things, -If you want to believe in God thats fine, but not that stuff, he said that the people in the conference were looking like the preacher was God.

It is possible he was right. I don't know because I don't know what the preacher was teaching but there are a lot of false teachers. It is important for you to study the Bible for yourself so you can use it to judge the truth of what you hear.

Well, now I'm wavering, cos i was getting a lot of strength to believe that I can make it as a Christian from those videos and I don't want to watch in secret.

The best way to get the strength to believe is to communicate directly with God by prayer, studying the Bible, and doing what the Bible says.

If he catches me watching again I know there'll be conflict. Is this what it's like to be a Christian? I remember a bit- (don't know my bible at all really, keep reading bits, thinking ooh that's good, then losing them again) where Jesus says something about not coming just to bring peace to people, about families turning against each other- What's that bit? It's a little scary to me right now...​

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.
(Matthew 10:34-36 ESV)
​

But immediately after Jesus said this he gave this promise.

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
(Matthew 10:39 ESV)
​

Following Christ often entails hardship and suffering but in the end it will be worth it.

How can I handle cleverly constructed opposition? I really want to succeed with God because I can see the effect on my thinking already and am just ready to start doing differently too, especially with my kids and in work.

Right now it would probably be best to simply focus on living for God and don't try to get too involved in discussing the subject. As you study the Bible you will be able to explain your beliefs to others more easily.

Here is information about a good site that can help you understand the Bible.

http://www.christianforums.com/t7706751/

 

[Harry3142]

delvida-

It sounds like you have a wise partner who truly cares for you. And what he sensed when hearing that preacher is what's called exploitation. It's rampant in some of the more radical denominations, where the goal of their leaders isn't to enlighten, but to confuse and then overpower others.

If you don't Have a Holy Bible, there are many online sites where you can access one for free. Here are some passages which will help you understand Christianity better:

Romans 3:19-5:10. Our salvation isn't attained through our own efforts via keeping a set of laws. Instead, it's attained through our accepting what God himself has already done in order to atone for our shortcomings. That's why Jesus' sacrifice is called 'an atoning sacrifice'. What we need to do is place our trust in the efficacy of that sacrifice as the perfect atonement for our shortcomings. It is through Jesus' work already accomplished that we have assurance of salvation, rather than its being through our own attempts at being righteous.

Galatians 5:16-26. Christian behavior is measured by motivations rather than a set of laws. The nine 'fruit' (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) are seen as the only proper impetus for our words and actions.

Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus himself instructed his disciples that their faith in him was to show itself through the compassion they had for those in need. And that compassion was to be exhibited not through pious words while pushing them away, but instead through practical action designed to lessen their suffering.

There are denominations who attempt to either downplay the passages I have just referenced, or else claim that they no longer are the responsibility of Christians to attend to (this is especially so in regards to Matthew 25:31-46). Their arguments against these passages are a clear sign of what they are really after, namely, wealth and power for themselves rather than the enlightenment of others. To alleviate suffering would require that they distribute money instead of just taking it in, and they find that to be totally unacceptable.

There are also denominations which claim that accepting Jesus' sacrifice is not enough. The people must also obey the ecclesiastical laws which that denomination has formulated. Whenever I have encountered a denomination which taught this (and I have encountered quite a few in my 67 years), those 'laws' have invariably culminated in the members' being required to give the leaders of that particular denomination almost absolute power over every facet of their lives.

You need only one person between yourself and God, and that person is Jesus Christ himself. Anyone who tells you that you need him and his leadership in order to attain salvation is a person you need to stay away from. None of us can save anyone, including ourselves. We can only direct others to the one person who can save everyone, namely, Jesus Christ.

God bless-

 

[Living in the Light]

Please do not be deterred. You are wise enough to know that you cannot do this thing called life by yourself. Certainly, one cannot depend on other people to do it either. We need God.

 

[FredVB]

Delvida, it is vital to have true faith in God's work in us, according to faith we have in Christ, make sure it is real and that you mean it, and with that God makes sure that we are never lost again. As it was said you need a Bible and need to read it, as much as you can give time for it, without a physical copy you would still be able to find it online, keep praying to God so as to be in relationship with him and to further know him, and have fellowship with other true Christian believers. I encourage any to such fellowship, and make it possible as far as I can myself.

Tturt also had good points elsewhere.

By praising Yahweh by name, it requires for us to be humble and acknowledge who He is. How thankful we are that He is our God. We rejoice and honor Him because He is our heavenly Father. The joy of the Lord is our strength. We will tell others of His greatness. He is merciful, compassionate, righteous, and gracious. His kingdom is forever and His name is holy.
(2 Corinthians 11:3; II Cor 10:5; Rom 12:2; Neh 8:2; Psa 145).

 

[SharonL]

Delvida - You are searching for God - but the miracle is that he is calling you.

Any time we try to draw close to God, the enemy will make sure he puts doubts in your mind.

The main thing is just to ask Jesus into your heart to be the Lord of your life - once you repent (turn from your sins) and ask God into your heart your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life and your sins are in the lake of forgetfullness and God sees them no more. Then from that point it is just onward and upward.

Just gather your children around and get into the Bible - you can learn so much from just family reading - the Holy Spirit will guide you - you just have to show the desire. Just let the Joy of the Lord shine through your life and it will speak all that needs to be spoken to family and friends. You don't have to meet anyones requirements, only God's.

It is a beautiful walk and Jesus walks closer than your shadow and only a heartbeat away. The Bible tells us that Jesus is your friend - you can talk to Him like a friend. You will grow in your faith and be a witness to those around you that is weaker in their faith. Just hang in there and stay close to the Master.

If you are unable to get into a church at the moment, there are some good people on TV - just let the Holy Spirit guide you and let peace be the teacher - don't listen to all those that try to tear down every evanglist - the Holy Spirit will make sure you don't have peace if it is something you should not watch. Let peace rule.

 

[Bible2]

delvida said in post 1:

(don't know my bible at all really, keep reading bits, thinking ooh that's good, then losing them again)

The best way to get to know (and remember) the Bible, as a whole, is simply to read every word of it (Matthew 4:4) over and over again.

One way to read every word of the Bible is to think of it as seven volumes:

1. Genesis to Deuteronomy
2. Joshua to Esther
3. Job to Song of Solomon
4. Isaiah to Malachi
5. Matthew to Acts
6. Romans to Philemon
7. Hebrews to Revelation

You can read a chapter in each volume every day. This will keep you current in every part of the Bible. After a while, there won't be any part you haven't read recently enough to remember what it says. When you reach the end of a volume, simply start again at the first chapter of that volume. In this way, you will be cycling through smaller volumes like #6 and #7 much more often than larger volumes like #2, but the smaller volumes are so much more dense with doctrine, it can be profitable to read them over and over more often.

Also, you can listen to recordings of people reading the Bible, whenever you need to keep your eyes on something else while you listen (such as keeping your eyes on the road while you drive, or on a cutting board while you're preparing food, or on your clippers while you're trimming a hedge). In this way, you can listen to the Bible throughout the day, whenever you don't need to be thinking about something else (such as at your workplace). Also, you can listen to the Bible even while you're going to sleep, so that it will become part of even your subconscious mind.

 

[delvida]

Thank you everyone for your posts- I am overwhelmed and moved to tears by the time and care you have put into your replies in this busy world. I can see I have found true followers of God here, i can't tell you how amazing that is.
I have a Bible and now i have a marker pen too! Maybe the next thing is church, but that will need some investigation! In the mean time I will study and try to keep true to Jesus' message. Thank you so so much.

 

[asiyreh]

Podcasts are really helpful Delvida. Stick them on your mp3 and listen while you work.

I recommend Defenders from Dr. william Lane craig.

I have conflict with my wife also Dev so I know how you feel. She's very catholic, we live in Northern Ireland and I converted to Christianity. So if you know anything about our politics here you can imagine the problems this caused.

But she came around. the Lord will test you, often to the last minute but if you're following his path and stay true to your faith, you shouldn't have anything too difficult thrown at you, that you can't handle, in that particular time in your life.

Keep strong the most important thing in your life is your faith if you and your husband can both accept that then how happy you will be.

Defenders - check it out; you'll be defeating those well polished atheist friends of yours in no time.

http://www.reasonablefaith.org/defenders-2-podcast

.

 

[Emmy]

Dear delvida. In Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus tells a Lawyer: " The first and great
Commandment is: Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: Love thy neighbour as thyself." Then Jesus states this great fact: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Love is very important to our Heavenly Father. Start by treating all you know and all you meet, as you would love to be treated: with kindness and always friendly words. God is Love, and God wants loving children/sons and daughters. Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will empower us with Love, also.
Jesus told us: " ask and ye shall receive," then thank God and share all Love and Joy with our neighbour: Matthew: 7: 7-8. Everything we say or do, everything we advice or stand for, should be from Love for God and for our neighbour. Keep asking God and thanking God, and sharing all Love and Joy with your neighbour: friends and not friends. God will see your efforts and God will Bless you. It might be strange for us at first, but Love is very catching. People around you will treat you the same, and life will be as Jesus promised us: abundantly. We might stumble or forget, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on Loving and Caring. I say this with love, delvida.
Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ. P.S. I am sure you can do it.

 

[delvida]

Thanks Emmy, yes, I'm beginning to think I can too! Like someone said earlier, maybe not by saying- but by doing things a bit differently- more patience, more love, more respect etc.
And Asiyreh, I'll not be ready for the "well-polished atheists" for a while yet , but will certainly check out the podcast options, good idea. Thank you!

Peace to you all. Really appreciate your replies one & all.