New to Christianity

[fishunt83]

Im new to religion in general. I'm 27 years old with a loving girlfriend and 6 year old daughter. I never group up around religion or ever thought of needing it. I have always struggled in life and made things harder for myself. Yes I have made poor choices in life, but I have also made the best, rare choices that most don't make. I am afraid to step into a church because I don't feel accepted. Been that way the few times I have stepped in.

Just looking to understand and let my prayers be known, even if they are not answered.


Thank you.

 

[Mr Dave]

Im new to religion in general. I'm 27 years old with a loving girlfriend and 6 year old daughter.

Hey there welcome to site, it's good to have you with us
Great that your girlfriend is so loving to you

I never group up around religion or ever thought of needing it. I have always struggled in life and made things harder for myself. Yes I have made poor choices in life, but I have also made the best, rare choices that most don't make.

Who hasn't made poor choices?
Good to here that you can recognise the good ones you've made though.

I am afraid to step into a church because I don't feel accepted. Been that way the few times I have stepped in.

Just looking to understand and let my prayers be known, even if they are not answered.


Thank you.

I'm really sorry to hear that you haven't felt welcomed when you've been to church before that's not what church is about, it should be a place where all feel welcomed, not one where people are pushed away.
I hope and pray that you'll have the confidence to return to a church and find a place where you are welcomed, accepted, and feel part of the family there.

 

[joey_downunder]

Hello there, I hope you find this forum welcoming and friendly!

Don't worry about being a little unsure when approaching churches- even christians sometimes feel the same way. I have to move around a lot and I always find going to new churches difficult because I am on the shy side.

 

[Mr Dave]

Don't worry about being a little unsure when approaching churches- even christians sometimes feel the same way.

LOL! So true. I remember when I started uni, and went to church for the first time when it was purely my decision I was so nervous! Worked out for the best though me thinks

 

[fishunt83]

I'm sure through learning and accepting, it will become easier to search for the right church. Im reading along on how to pray. I can pray and pray and nothing seems to work.

 

[Mr Dave]

I'm sure through learning and accepting, it will become easier to search for the right church. Im reading along on how to pray. I can pray and pray and nothing seems to work.

I commend your determination and perseverance
I'm holding you in my prayers too

 

[Julian of York]

I Thessalonians 4:7 "For God hath not called us unto uncleaness,but unto holiness."
Hebrews 12:14 "Follow peace with all men,and holiness;without which no man shall see the Lord."
Have you ever communicated with a person whose life was written about in the Bible? Mine was.Or at least someone so like me,there can be no mistaking it.
Mark 8:36-37"For what shall it profit a man if He gain the whole world, and lose his own soul. Or what shall a man give for his soul?"
In Mark chapter ten , Jesus is stopped by a young man that rushes up to Him and says,"Good Master, what must I do to that I may inherit eternal life?" Jesus replies and says,"Why callest me good? There is none good but God." This Jesus said to make the point that He indeed IS God. Jesus then (in verse 19) says,"Thou knowest the commandments: Do not commit adultery,do not kill, do not steal,do not lie, Honor thy father and mother. Don't cheat." The young man,who was rich, said to Jesus,"ALL these things have I done since my youth".
Can you imagine? This man had,from childhood,striven to keep the laws and Ten Commandments of God! Yet,as good as he was,and as hard as he tried, HE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG! The Bible says Jesus looked at him and had compassion and love towards him. And in love Jesus Christ the Son of God said,"One thing thou lackest."
What MORE could he do to gain eternal life WHAT?!?
The rich young man had done everything to help himself. All his will was bent towards being a Christian! But Jesus said,"One thing thou lackest. Go and sell all that thou hast and give to the poor,and come,take up thy cross,and follow me."
And the poor rich man went away sad,because he was rich and wouldn't,couldn't give it up.
You see, the first Commandment,the one Jesus did not mention, is "Thou shalt have NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME." There were things in the young mans life that he wanted more than Jesus.
His self will. His money. His own plan to get to Heaven his way.
Oh, my friend, THIS is the trap of the Religious person! What God says is,Ma'am,Sir: "One thing thou lackest".The young man was in control of his life.What Jesus deserves,requires of all who would be holy and TRUE Christians is HE wants to be Lord of your life. He wants YOU to "sell out all that you have", not material things (although there may be some "idols "you need to get rid of,) but rather to sell out your control of your life and make Jesus the Lord of your life. He wants you to do things for the poor,to glorify Him, and He wants you to follow Him. To pick up the cross,letting go of your life you said you messed up anyway, and follow Him.
Your six year old daughter needs a true Christian daddy,that loves the Lord, and is not a fake. Your girlfriend deserves to be married and have a Christian husband to love her as Christ loves us.
What are you going to do about it?

In Prayer,
Julian of York
"Oh wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our LORD..." Romans 7:24-25
For more info, GOOGLE up "A.W.Pink on" Is Jesus Your Lord?"

 

[fishunt83]

Very interesting Juilian and thank you VERY much! One of my biggest things is understanding how to read a bible. I don't always have the ability to go to church because I work consistently. I own multiple businesses which keep me on my feet all the time. How will I be able to follow the Lord and find faith in him, if I don't have much time to devote?

 

[salida]

Maybe first take a denomination test.
http://www.selectsmart.com/FREE/select.php?client=christiandenom



The church you attend should treat you like your part of a family because they will have the love of God in their heart. You shouldn't feel like you are walking in a morgue.

Are you a good person? www.livingwaters.com/good/

Take one day at a time and get some inspirational friends that love God by their actions. Read the bible and pray daily. Get involved in a serious church. Its a life long lifestyle and you will know God more and more. True faith is demonstrated by actions than then the feelings will come. Feelings alone are like a roller coaster. Feel free to email me if have questions.

Also, keep yourself separated from vulgar movies and t.v. Remember with a computer its garbage in and garbage out-same with a human.

 

[salida]

I would search out an online bible study-since you work a lot.
NIV is a good translation.

http://www.bible-interpretation.com/
http://www.apologeticsindex.org/b02.html

www.TheBibleProofBook.com, (you will need acrobat reader for this), read The Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell a former agnostic- (its overwhelming circumstantial evidence of bible) and Examine the Evidence by Muncaster a former athiest/The Case for Christ and The Real Jesus by Lee Strobel a former athiest.

www.equip.org (articles), http://www.gotquestions.org/,
http://christiananswers.net/

This is enough for a start. If you have anymore questions, feel free to email me.

 

[razeontherock]

One of my biggest things is understanding how to read a bible.

Welcome to CF! I've been where you are, at least in some ways you express. reading the Bible and getting light from it is my strength, even before I was born again. so I am very much an anomaly in that regard, but I'll dish my ideas on that one, what works for me. First, I say find a translation or version you're comfortable reading. There have been some flame wars recently on this very issue, which I find utterly absurd! No one version is going to give you 100% understanding of ANY section, and no version is all that bad either. I happen to find something called The Message drives many points home really well, but someone far more knowledgable than I says something called Beck (AAT, for An American translation) and also God's Word (GW) is better. GW is on biblegateway.com, and so is The Message. I haven't found Beck online. Moving on:

1. Approach the Bible with the attitude that it is God speaking to you, telling you about how to relate to Him. Pray with a quiet, meditative spirit, for exactly that. Ask Him to show Himself strong to you, in ways you haven't known yet. It's ok to stir up your hunger, but try not to let that stir up your emotions.

2. Do this every morning, and every evening. We can talk about Scriptural reasons in depth later, but it is God's way.

3. As you read, anything that looks good PRAY FOR IT. Specific examples I've found powerful:

a. Is 50:4 "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to [him that is] weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. (Jesus got this, prophetically. (Jesus got this, prophetically. Talk about humility!)

b. “That[bless and do not curse]the[bless and do not curse]God[bless and do not curse]of[bless and do not curse]our Lord Jesus Christ,[bless and do not curse]the[bless and do not curse]Father[bless and do not curse]of[bless and do not curse]glory, may give unto you[bless and do not curse]the[bless and do not curse]spirit[bless and do not curse]of[bless and do not curse]wisdom[bless and do not curse]and[bless and do not curse]revelation[bless and do not curse]in[bless and do not curse]the knowledge[bless and do not curse]of[bless and do not curse]him:” Eph 1:17

c. Realize EVERY instance of "the wicked man" in Proverbs is you (me / us).
Yeah, ouch.

4. If there's time for more involved praying after this, fine; but more likely there will be other things you need to go do. Don't think they take you away from God because they DON'T! Just don't leave home w/o Him. It's in the doing that prayer seems to be most helpful. "Pray w/o ceasing," keep a prayerful attitude; there is room in His kingdom for

I don't always have the ability to go to church because I work consistently.

Did you mean to say you work constantly? I've been self-employed for 20 years, and it was really rough at first so I understand. I'll spare you the spiel that's meaningful to me, such as money can be a false god / idol, there really is sense to keeping a sabbath day of rest, etc. None of that is meaningful to you at this point, but this is:

How will I be able to follow the Lord and find faith in him, if I don't have much time to devote?

First of all, reverse that order. Seek Him with your whole heart FIRST, then you'll find Him. Then, He'll take care of the Faith part

THEN you can worry about trying to follow the Lord. I don't need to be a Prophet to tell you that it will be the hardest thing you've ever attempted, and also the most rewarding. Your concern here is very realistic: we DO in fact need to devote some time to Him, just like any other relationship. Of the many many devotionals I've encountered, by FAR the most radical I've ever come across was a link on CF, about how to "pray the hours" of the Eastern Orthodox Church, which I am not a part of, and know very little about.

I can't even imagine following the whole routine unless I lived in a monastery as a monk, but it gives good direction IMHO. And it's always accessible online. It's strikes me as a grand irony that the most radical should be Orthodox, but I use the word to also mean effectual. As in, if you do it to the best of your ability, it will make a difference.

The Dynamic Horologion And Psalter : Matins

 

[fishunt83]

The idea that people are so willing to help teach the Word of God is amazing to me. Today for the first time, I felt as though something was reaching out to show me some power I have yet to feel.

Thank you razeontherock. I will remember to look back and read this if I need moreo guidance.!