[OPEN]A struggle in my faith

[flautist]

I have been hanging out on a few Christian boards lately. I love them. My faith has grown a lot. However, there is something that I am having problems with. It sounds a little petty, but please hear me out.

I worry that, as far in my walk as I am, I still am nowhere NEAR others. So many people invoke the name of God for everything, like it's second nature to them. It's almost as if they are in a constant state of prayer.

I feel like I am, too, but it's completely different. I take the phrase "walk in the faith" very literally. My life and my works are my prayers. Don't get me wrong, I do still cry out to God when I am having trouble, and I do still thank him when things work out, but otherwise, my prayer IS my walk. I live my life the way I think Christ would want me to, and in doing so, my prayer is to be more like him.

But, when I see others who talk about God all the time, who follow every sentence with "amen" or "thanks be to God" or are always creating prayer threads and the like, I just wonder if I'm doing something wrong, if maybe I'm not as close to God or as far on my walk as I should be.

Does anyone else ever feel like this? Does anyone have any advice?

 

[Im_A]

I have been hanging out on a few Christian boards lately. I love them. My faith has grown a lot. However, there is something that I am having problems with. It sounds a little petty, but please hear me out.

I worry that, as far in my walk as I am, I still am nowhere NEAR others. So many people invoke the name of God for everything, like it's second nature to them. It's almost as if they are in a constant state of prayer.

I feel like I am, too, but it's completely different. I take the phrase "walk in the faith" very literally. My life and my works are my prayers. Don't get me wrong, I do still cry out to God when I am having trouble, and I do still thank him when things work out, but otherwise, my prayer IS my walk. I live my life the way I think Christ would want me to, and in doing so, my prayer is to be more like him.

But, when I see others who talk about God all the time, who follow every sentence with "amen" or "thanks be to God" or are always creating prayer threads and the like, I just wonder if I'm doing something wrong, if maybe I'm not as close to God or as far on my walk as I should be.

Does anyone else ever feel like this? Does anyone have any advice?

my advice is, to not let the use of adjectives make you think your faith isn't strong.

strength is seen in fruit.

i've dealt with this before with some of my old friends, but now, actions and deeds are more important than what the tounge can do.

and maybe the best advice i can give, is to not compare your faith to others or others faith to yours.

 

[flautist]

my advice is, to not let the use of adjectives make you think your faith isn't strong.

strength is seen in fruit.

i've dealt with this before with some of my old friends, but now, actions and deeds are more important than what the tounge can do.

Well, I've always thought that myself before now, but I have had people actually be surprised when I tell them I am a Christian because I don't use that sort of language. I try to let my life be it's own witness.

 

[Im_A]

Well, I've always thought that myself before now, but I have had people actually be surprised when I tell them I am a Christian because I don't use that sort of language. I try to let my life be it's own witness.

i think it's a bad area to let people's expectation dictate the strength of your faith.

i mean, there is no real, substantial reward for gratification for being all wordy about one's faith. all one will get, or at least seems to be getting is, some outside response to think they are a Christian. that's nothing. that's no real reward. all it is, is someone agreeing with you about the facts that have already been true. may even create a big head, or give a sense of unhealthy power (no wonder there are some many flaming debates here at CF eh? )

but seriously. i remember when i was hanging out with my old friends. they seemed so strong. i mean their everyday talk was "amen!", quoting scripture like memorizing a science book. but yet i never felt that to be enough. people memorize the Bible is rather pointless to me, and saying things like a zealot, well this world don't need anymore zealots. and the ironic part to me was, when they were around me and only me, they seemed more "human" if you will. i'm not giving myself a big head, but i remember one friend specifically. when we were with the group, oh you'd hear him saying all the things you've mentioned, but then when he was around me, it was either less amount of i saw a more human side of him. since then actually i haven't cared anymore, or it's the way i dealt with it.

now none of us are in contact with each other anymore.

if your living your life the best way you can to the 2 greatest commandments and fruit is being produced and planted, that's just as good, if not better, than some mouthy zealot showing too much emotion.

and i'm sure you have had recognition of you being a Christian from you fiancee and maybe other people that you know that can see your faith shine. from a personal experience of my own at work, there's a co-worker there who is really i don't know what this co-worker would be considered with religious stuff, i've never really asked or talked about it with this person. but i gurantee you, when i'm at work, i don't sound like an all typical Christian...lol. i can be a "holy" sailor at times. there's no amens coming from my mouth unless the line is going down and there's downtime. but i remember once this person told me in discussion after i got back from my break, that i'm weird, but in a good way. and that showed me that my faith is being shown to the people that need to see it, as compared to people that really don't need to see my faith, cause we are the same. this person knows i'm a Christian, cause having the tattoos i have well, when people ask you what they mean you always get into that kind of discussion. and this person was surprised to say the least. and when the person found out about my faith, this was long before the comment came, so the person had the ability to see how i am. people learn a lot about each other in a stressful work enviroment. and it helped me to realize that people that see something different about us is so much more important and even spiritually fulfilling than having another person in the faith seeing it. cause there is a need hopefully being met, or at least if anything, a reason to not judge God or Christians. (sorry for a short story here.) and plus i think it helps to hold on to the comments you do get. things like this with my co-worker, my fiancee especially helps me out in this area.

and on another note, don't you think it could be just a personality difference instead of a spiritual difference?

 

[112657]

Hey! Don't let other people's ideas about how a Christian should walk and talk discourage you. Be your own special self with Christ! And, it is totally natural to have ups and downs...days you feel like "Super Christian" and days when you are sure you are failing Him in all possible ways. I think that's meaningful--you care about Jesus and your relationship with him enough to wonder if you are failing him in some way. Think about that! You love the Lord enough to ask this question! Praise God! Keep up the good work!

 

[freespiritchurch]

Well, I've always thought that myself before now, but I have had people actually be surprised when I tell them I am a Christian because I don't use that sort of language. I try to let my life be it's own witness.

I think you have to find a balance between word and deed. One of my friends, who had some very bad childhood experiences with church, started going to church after she got to know another friend and I: she said: "I saw that Christians didn't have to be *******s." It was important that we weren't *******s, but also important that we let her know that we were Christian. But you have to let it come up more or less naturally: for me, conversations started when I explained why I had to get up on Sunday morning, or stuff like that.

 

[wiggsfly]

Don't worry about what they say, it's what is in their heart, and yours that is important. Remember actions speak far louder than words and considering your description of your own faith I don't think you'll have a problem.

 

[Teshi]

I wouldn't worry about it too much, flautist

5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

I'm sure not saying anything against folks who use a lot of religious language and pray in public - if they're not doing it for show, that's cool and all, and I'm not the judge of whether they're doing it for show - but it sounds to me like you're following the teaching of Christ in this matter full well.