insane in the membrane

[peteey]

okay, it's been a while since I last posted...moving and all.
it's been three months since I have gone to church...a LONG while since I actually sat down to read the word...and I rarely pray....I don't know what it is I am going through....some kind of drought....but obviously it's been bothering me greatly.

I've really been taking steps backwards I feel. questioning what I believe and why I believe it...and I feel that sometimes when I come on CF to read or post..it just makes me more confused about my faith..and if it's genuine. one person says this is how you get to heaven, and another person says yes...but you must do this as well....
and it makes me all the more frustrated.

I just don't really know what to do...or where or what to say....it's incrediably frustrating to me.....

I was raised a christian, and went through rough times....I was taught that all you needed to be saved was faith in christ...but I sometimes feel that christianity is a guilt religion. I just sometimes get the impression that "man if I do something wrong...I better make it right or God is going to kick me out..." when I was raised that there was nothing you could do to get kicked out once you accepted christ. but I am really just struggling with that right now.... I was constantly worrying if I was doing the right thing....and fearing my next move....this does not seem christian like does it?
I just really need some guidence or words or wisdom....scripture? or am I just wasting my time?

 

[wayfaring man]

Hey peteey ,

Many people have many different perspectives .

Find the time to pray and study Scripture ( I recommend The Old King James )

Wait for some part of Scripture to " ring true " in the eyes and ears of your understanding .

Highlight that passage , look up key words within it ; meditate on it .

Continue this daily , if at all possible , then you will know , what you believe , based upon The Lord's Word within you , and you won't be troubled by the conflicting assertions made by others .

Now regarding , once saved , always saved - verses - we must continue faithfully to be saved : these things are both true in their proper application .

God sees the beginning to the end ; so if indeed He has chosen us , He has done so with the foresight to know that we are going to " be saved and stay saved . "

However , one can be self-deceived , or deceived by the devil into believing they're saved when in truth they are yet alienated from God .

Jesus said we'll be able to tell a tree by it's fruit , ( or a good example of a believer from a bad example ), by the fruit that they bare - i.e. the offering , or contribution which they make to others , the nature of the influence of that offering and the effect , or impact , that offering has on those who receive some of it ; especially with regards to how that effect / influence affects our following of God's Will for us , as the redeemed of Jesus Christ .

Pray that The Father would give you the Gift of The Holy Spirit to bring the wisdom and understanding you need to have that Blessed Assurance and Everlasting Joy , which Salvation affords us in Christ .

To The Glory of God The Father . Amen .

Sincerely ,

wm

 

[Breetai]

Hey, I've gone though the very same thing myself. If you read about Martin Luther, you'll find that he went though something very similar.

In a way, Christianity is very much about guilt. We are able to look upon ourselves and realize just how much we mess up. Good thing that Christianity is also about forgiveness. Because of Jesus, God declairs us to be perfect! Remember the criminal on the cross beside Jesus? That man did a lot of things wrong, yet because he recongized that Jesus was unjustly being killed, he was promised paradise. He said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He acknowledged who Jesus was; God. That all that this man did...acknowledged Jesus when he was near death and he was saved. Even though you might be doubting Jesus, let me assure you, Jesus is certainly not doubting you!

To be honest, I often hate being a Christian. I am constantly reminded about how many times I have messed something up. I've drank way too much, I've smoked plently of drugs(even snorted a few), found myself asking girls names only after I'd already gotten to know their bodies, and I think I want to stop thinking about things that I've done now! There's a good chance that I'll mess up and do some of these things again in the future(well, not to the same extent!) and I'll feel guilty about that too. I already feel guilty knowing that I'll probably do stupid things in the future. Feeling guilty is good, because that how we know that we have the Holy Spirit within us! We are convicted by the Holy Spirit when we sin. This brings about change. When we know Jesus, we are changed. We realize that we sin and we work to change that.

One of the best things that you can do is to hang around other people who believe in Jesus and that try to live according to how Jesus wants us to(running from sin and proclaiming the gospel

). This could include going to church, but even more so, it includes hanging out with a good group of friends. If you spend your time hanging around people who like to party or who think that Jesus is a waste of time, you are going to become like them.

I don't know what else to say, so I guess I'll just hit reply and say a quick prayer for you.

Cheers

 

[Frankie]

Being a Christian is not always easy. It is much easier to live as the world would have us live than to live as God would have us live. However, the good news is that God never gives up on us and once we are His, He never leaves nor forsakes us. He knows us so much better than we know ourselves. We can always pick up where we left off and God is right there, with open arms loving and accepting us just as much as He did before we went off the path.

I am older now, am a wife and a mother and live a pretty mellow life but there was a time in my life that I was not a Christian and I was more than a bit "wild". There are times when I look back on my "younger days" and I think about the ungodly things I did and I just cringe at it but then I remember that I am an adopted child of the One true God who forgave me long before I forgave myself. Even with all the terrible things I did, He was still there, drawing me to Him and loving me just as I was. Even when I didn't want God, He wanted me as His own.... ME, a wicked, good for nothing, sinnful trouble maker. To think that He wanted me as His child is amazing to me. But that's the God we love and serve! A God who would and has done everything for us who don't deserve it. WOW! What an incredible thing that is!!!!

We all make mistakes, we all sin, we are all human and selfish. Lucky for us in Christ, we are the children of a God who is everything for us when we are nothing. He is perfection for us who are totally un-perfect. He knows how we grieve and regret our sins, he knows we long to do better, to be more like HIm yet we struggle with our flesh. He knows us, he loves us, he is there for us, he suffered for us and he mediates in our behalf. It is never to late to return to God's will for our lives and He will ALWAYS be there, waiting for us, loving us and welcoming us back with open arms and understanding!

God Bless

 

[HoosierCanuck]

I know how you feel. I wasn't raised Christian....dad was a backslidden Christian and mom is very-much-non-Christian. I am also part native american (mom's side). I have a war going on inside of me much of the time. I too, haven't been to church much this summer (or all year for that matter). Praying is getting better but I'm really struggling with the Word. I find myself getting too distracted and frustrated every time I try to read it. Hang in there. It will eventually pass. Just keep on trying!

 

[just_dance]

Don't worry you are not alown I went throught that you are just going through what I would call a test in faith and you don't realy know what you want if you are truly serious about this then you will bounce back don't worry

 

[Rafael]

The world will try to press you into its mold of materialism, greed. and fear, and if we do not renew our minds daily, it has to have an effect of making our faith weak. We have to abide in the Word of God, as the Lord said that we cannot bear the fruit of the Spirit if we are not abiding in Him - the Vine and source of our faith and strength. Feed yourself God's Word everyday and renew your mind. If not, you will be what you eat of the world and all the lies and fears that go along with it.
By reading the Bible and the words inspired by the Holy Spirit, you give God opportunity to impart life and Spirit to you, (see John 6:63) making you strong, full of faith, and ready for service and love towards others.

Ro 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.

John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.
5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Colossians 2:6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him.
7 Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.
8 Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ.
9 For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body,
10 and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

 

[rogsr]

Hello,
I do not know if this has been brought up yet but there is a saying for you. The saying is "faith without works is dead." Without some works being done our faith slowly becomes wordy and noisy...Paul said that while in this state we are noisy like a gong ..I've always found that statement funny..I wonder if Paul meant it to sound kind of comical. Regardless, he meant that when our faith is stale we are worthless, at least to the cause. I have been through this before and the best way to kick start things back into gear is to go out and do some good works. Go to a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, home for disabled children, or whatever. The point is that you are reaching beyond yourself and in to the lives of others. This is when we learn the most.

Sean

 

[TheMainException]

Man, we all go through this...but God's not this big evil dude in the sky ready to throw lightening bolts at us...he loves us...he wants to have a relationship with him...a relationship based on love...that's why Jesus died...for us alone. Try to get your hands on a book by Brennan Manning called "Abba's Child." It will help you understand the relationship that Christ wants to have with you. I'll be praying you through my dear friend and sister.