is it really better to be born and raised christian?

[CrystalBrooke]

ive been noticing some things latly. ive noticed, and it may very well just be me, but it seems that ppl who have converted from Catholic to Baptist for example make better Baptists than the ones I know that were born and raised Baptist, (myself included). I've also noticed ppl that we're born and raised in church at all seem to make better christians, not to say one person is better than another, im talkin about habits, how much they pray, read the bible...ect...

am i just crazy, or does anyone else notice this too? thoughts, comments...

 

[bleechers]

am i just crazy, or does anyone else notice this too? thoughts, comments...

Great thread!

I have often talked about this with friends. I have great Christian friends who converted as adults and Christian friends who were raised in the church. My conclusion is that God has His purposes for both groups. We function as a Body and there are things that we all bring to the whole.

The advantage of accepting Christ at a young age and being raised in a Christian home are many. There are many times I wish I had had the guidance of the Holy Spirit in high school and college, but God has His purposes!

I think one of the areas in which those who grew up in Christian homes suffer is in the area of music. I have yet to find a Christian-homer who can converse about contemporary music in any substantive way... but I realize that is WAY too picky!

Ex-RC born-again Christians are a tight group. I have ex-RC friends around the US that I fellowship only by email, but the bonds are strong. We know the system from the inside and I think we're all amazed that God could rescue us out of it. We've been trashed by certain Evangelicals who have labeled us "vociferous" and "problematic in the ecumenical process" etc.... Well, DUH!!

At the end of the day, I thank God for saving me as an adult. Like Paul, having seen the "other side," I can use that knowledge to appreciate truth. Then again, having lived through college without the Holy Spirit and the scriptures, I suffer many scars that need not have been.

The CIA has well-educated, brilliant people in it (who are very necessary) but when they want to understand the enemy better, they go out and recruit ex-whatevers (mafia, islamofascists, communists, etc.). So between the two groups, the whole is made stronger. I think that's how the church works too.

So God stuck this ex-RC in a local Baptist church...

Vociferous? Sometimes. Thankful? Always!!

 

[CrystalBrooke]

great post Bleechers

 

[Mary_Magdalene]

my womens bible study has this discussion a few times. i was just saved 7 years ago and most women in my study grew up in the church. they say they "wish they were on fire" like me, that i "spend time in the word much more" than they do and i "dont take my salvation for granted".

my response was that they grew up a Christian. have had years to mature in Christ and His Word. Have not had the bad memories of past sin lingering in your mind (even though they sin of course, it isnt bad memories of doing drugs or premarital sex, etc. that I have to deal with). i like the word Bleechers used in his post "Scars". That they are. They will always be there but make my thankfulness of God's forgiveness SO SWEET!

 

[OracleX]

If it wasn't for the things in my past I wouldn't be the same person I am today. I wasn't in a Christian family till after the age of five. If any of you have read my testimony you know that I had a rough go with abuse and the whole nine yards. Would I give that start up? Not a chance. Those pains and scars have made me in to a person that understands others who have been through the same thing better than most people who grew up in the 'Christian' family.

There is a difference between choosing and living the life of sin before being saved and forced to live in certian situations. Even when I have strayed and turned my back on God and done some terrible things and made some aweful choices, those scars and pains also have been very helpful in helping others avoid or recover from the same things.

I fully believe that God has not let a single thing bad thing in my life (whether brought on by myself or forced on me) go by without turning it around to be used for His glory in the end.

 

[Mary_Magdalene]

If it wasn't for the things in my past I wouldn't be the same person I am today. ....................Those pains and scars have made me in to a person that understands others who have been through the same thing better than most people who grew up in the 'Christian' family.
.........I fully believe that God has not let a single thing bad thing in my life (whether brought on by myself or forced on me) go by without turning it around to be used for His glory in the end.

Very good points Oraclex!! I will have to try to remember that! Thanks!

 

[TwinCrier]

It just seems easier to be the prodigal son than the other brother.

 

[OracleX]

It just seems easier to be the prodigal son than the other brother.

The hardest thing for us to do is to pick up our cross every single day and walk with Christ. It doesn't matter if you were saved at 30 or at 3, carrying that cross can be very hard.

Some people who were saved at 3 are in the 'habit' of carrying the cross and so they are strong Christians. Many have had shelter from much of the garbage in this world and so they have less distractions in thier walk.

On the flip side of the coin though,

Some people who were saved at 30 are greatful for what they have been saved from and thus have a strong desire to walk with Christ.

Those are generalizations but they do capture some of the differences.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

these are all wonderful posts, and i think i understand more of why I seem to get into more trouble...i dont do drugs or anything like that....but nonetheless, i do things i shouldnt. and i guess its bc all of my life i was sheltered from the bad things in the world, and now they are distractions in my walk with God...please pray for me so that i can not be so easily distracted.

 

[OracleX]

these are all wonderful posts, and i think i understand more of why I seem to get into more trouble...i dont do drugs or anything like that....but nonetheless, i do things i shouldnt. and i guess its bc all of my life i was sheltered from the bad things in the world, and now they are distractions in my walk with God...please pray for me so that i can not be so easily distracted.

We are all in the same boat. We all need prayer. I will remember you in prayer.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore seeing we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily ensnare us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such hostility of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds.

I have had a colorful past, but that doesn't mean that avoiding sin is any easier for me. In fact I find it harder with many things to stay away from them.

God bless.

 

[Mother Vashti]

No matter how a child is raised, if the parent genuinely sees the kid as a burdensome duty instead of a person, things won't turn out for the best at all.

 

[Echoes Peak]

I don't know if "better" is the word. People come to Christ at different points, paces and reasons in their lives. I think spiritual maturity is probably a better term, because I doubt that in God's sight..we are "better" Christians than others considering how flawed we all are. Regardless, how you get there, I am sure He is more concerned with the hearts of His children than whatever habits we may or may not have perfected.

 

[Grace_of_God]

I think it is best to be raised in a true Christian family. By this I mean a family that builds their entire LIFE upon God, not just their Sunday mornings. I think people raised in a family such as this, can and usually do grow up to be strong Christians as well. However, I think people raised in a "Christian" home, where they do not pray together or study the Bible with one another, where they watch immoral things on TV, swear all of the time, go to bars, not taught to be responsible and respectful, etc and yet attend one service weekly, are given a false impression of what Christianity is really all about. These are the people I have the most pity for, not ones born in non-Christian families altogether. These children are likely to be confused and mis-understand what God really teaches since they will never be taught the true meaning of the Bible.

I was raised in a home such as this. I mean, I didn't have a bad childhood, don't get me wrong. But we were "religious Christians" (Catholic actually) and we attended mass every week and holiday. However, we were never encouraged to pray, never encouraged to spend anytime learning about the Bible, never taught what GOD said was right and what He said was wrong and never taught the IMPORTANCE of the faith we were supposed to have. There was gossip around the house, immoral things on television, excess alcohol, and clothes which were far too unGodly. We were not taught to respect eachother (I am referring to me and my brothers), we were not even taught to respect our parents. We were spoiled, were not taught responsibility and got away with everything. This caused me to lose what little Christianity I did have and I fell and prayed to idols. I left God for years. I ended up coming back to Him through my OWN study because I was spiritually void at the time I decided to start seeking. If I had been raised in a family that encouraged all of this from day one, I don't have a doubt in my mind that I wouldn't have strayed from God for so long, if at all.

So definately, children raised in a home with labels identifying themselves as Christians yet whom do not live a Christian lifestyle are DEFINATELY at a dis-advantage. IMO, and from my own experience, it is easier to point out errors to non-Christians, than it is to these folks, since these folks usually truly believe they are living a Godly life. The most fortunate people, IMHO are those few who are born into families which truly seek to live by the Bible and follow the Word of God.

God bless! In Christ,
~Grace~

 

[tesnusxenos]

Christian kids grow up with so many rules that often they feel that they have lived pretty righteously on their own. They may tend to rely on themselves more and Jesus less.
Luke 7
47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

 

[ukok]

Converts of any 'variety' are typically zealous for their faith

 

[Nikicarol]

I became a christian when I was 16 and I didn't grow up in a christian home. God caught me just in time really before I got too worldly, but still I remember the difference He made to my life. So now that I am married with 4 kids, and we are doing our best to raise them in a good christian home, I have often wondered how my kids would come to realise that they needed to make a decision for themselves, and they weren't just christians cuz they go to church and stuff. Well, last month, my two oldest children 9 1/2 (boy) and 12 (girl) became christians and it was because of the breaking of bread, as we had decided not to give the communion to our kids, until such a time as they became christians - anyway, questions were asked and one thing led to another and they came to a realisation that they were not christians until they had asked Jesus to come into their lives and forgive their sins, for themselves. Now I look at them and think yes, it is good to be brought up in a christian home, they have much more of a sense of right and wrong than their non-christian friends do, they don't swear and they respect other people, I believe that knowing Jesus from a young age can really help a person through teenage years and also they can reach out to those of a similar age like noone else could.

 

[Carrye]

It just seems easier to be the prodigal son than the other brother.

Wow, that's an awesome insight TwinCrier!