Question

[Luther073082]

When does someone stop being considered a "new" Christian? Is it just the strength of their relationship with God or is there an amount of time involved or what do you think.

Because I've been a Christian for maybe 4 years now. But I don't consider myself a new Christian and havn't for a while now.

 

[rejectreality]

I think that's kinda hard to explain. My best guess (and this may be confusing) is that it is when one feels they understand what it means to be a Christian, and what goes along with carrying said title. I don't think anyone will ever "figure it all out", and we should never stop seeking and learning about God. So, I think it's just each of us deciding ourselves when we're no longer "new" to Christianity. I don't know if that makes any sense or not, but hopefully a wiser person can explain something more coherent.

God bless

 

[ephraimanesti]

When does someone stop being considered a "new" Christian? Is it just the strength of their relationship with God or is there an amount of time involved or what do you think.

Because I've been a Christian for maybe 4 years now. But I don't consider myself a new Christian and havn't for a while now.

MY BROTHER,

i would answer your question by quoting from the Letter To The Hebrews, "WE HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS, BUT IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN BECAUSE YOU ARE SLOW TO LEARN. IN FACT, THOUGH BY THIS TIME YOU OUGHT TO BE TEACHERS, YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TEACH YOU THE ELEMENTARY TRUTHS OF GOD'S WORD ALL OVER AGAIN. YOU NEED MILK, NOT SOLID FOOD! ANYONE WHO LIVES ON MILK, BEING STILL AN INFANT, IS NOT ACQUAINTED WITH THE TEACHING ABOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS. BUT SOLID FOOD IS FOR THE MATURE, WHO BY CONSTANT USE HAVE TRAINED THEMSELVES TO DISTINGUISH GOOD FROM EVIL." (Hebrews 5:11-14)

"THEREFORE LET US LEAVE THE ELEMENTARY TEACHINGS ABOUT CHRIST AND GO ON TO MATURITY, NOT LAYING AGAIN THE FOUNDATION OF REPENTANCE FROM ACTS THAT LEAD TO DEATH, AND OF FAITH IN GOD, INSTRUCTION ABOUT BAPTISMS, THE LAYING ON OF HANDS, THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, AND ETERNAL JUDGMENT. AND GOD PERMITTING, WE WILL DO SO." (Hebrews 6:1-3)

In other words, one ceases to be a "new Christian" when they move past their concern for Justification and begin to focus on, and address, their need for Sanctification. Unfortunately, precious few Churches ever take members that far, spending most of their time and energy preaching and re-preaching Salvation basics to the Saved because of trying to attract the unsaved.

A BOND-SLAVE IN CHRIST,
ephraim

 

[Luther073082]

I agree with you, but I will say that I don't want to blame it entirely on the church though.

People in this time especially don't care to be sanctified through Christ. Only justified. My pastor often preaches on sactification and seperating ourselves from worldy traditions and culture that seperates us from God. Unfortunutly for at least 70% of the congregation it falls upon deaf ears.

I actually couldn't belive some of the people, because he once called out people who leave service right after communion in a sermon and I still saw about 20 people who had the GUTS to go ahead and leave service right after communion, right after Pastor Dennis had just called them out on it.

Most of the students entering our confrimation program don't know the difference between the old and new testimate when they enter. This is something that in my opinion they should know by the time they are 11/12 years old and in 6th grade.

I fear that often our faith has turned into more of a tradition for many people.

 

[malckiah]

I guess that would be the like asking when a person goes from young to old! It's all a matter of perspective and everyone is different. We are technically all young believers in God's perpective and in the fact that we never stop learning about God! But i guess in our perspective it would be judged on how familiar with The Bible you are. God Bless!

 

[Luther073082]

I guess that would be the like asking when a person goes from young to old! It's all a matter of perspective and everyone is different. We are technically all young believers in God's perpective and in the fact that we never stop learning about God! But i guess in our perspective it would be judged on how familiar with The Bible you are. God Bless!

LOL but then the question is, compaired to whom?

Oh well I thought I would see if I should find out. Because 4 years doesn't seem like a long time compaired to 19 years of atheism/agnostisim and about 2 years of being called into a closer relationship with Christ.

 

[malckiah]

It is all perspective just as i said. It is all relative. God bless!

 

[ephraimanesti]

I agree with you, but I will say that I don't want to blame it entirely on the church though.

People in this time especially don't care to be sanctified through Christ. Only justified. My pastor often preaches on sactification and seperating ourselves from worldy traditions and culture that seperates us from God. Unfortunutly for at least 70% of the congregation it falls upon deaf ears.

The problem, i think, is that in the majority of churches the Gospel has been watered down so far that little of its power to transform is left. Much of Western Christianity today considers the walk of a Christian as consisting of a 30 second alter-call in which Jesus is asked into the heart followed by a long period of waiting for the Rapture while, in the meantime, feeling free to enjoy all this world has to offer while feeling safe and secure that one is "saved."

This common attitude is obviously not conducive to a struggle towards sanctification--"becoming perfect as our Heavenly Father is Perfect" (Matt 5:48)--with the aid and support of the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps this is a sign of the times.

WITH LOVE IN CHRIST,
ephraim

 

[Luther073082]

The problem, i think, is that in the majority of churches the Gospel has been watered down so far that little of its power to transform is left. Much of Western Christianity today considers the walk of a Christian as consisting of a 30 second alter-call in which Jesus is asked into the heart followed by a long period of waiting for the Rapture while, in the meantime, feeling free to enjoy all this world has to offer while feeling safe and secure that one is "saved."

This common attitude is obviously not conducive to a struggle towards sanctification--"becoming perfect as our Heavenly Father is Perfect" (Matt 5:48)--with the aid and support of the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps this is a sign of the times.

WITH LOVE IN CHRIST,
ephraim

Meh I think showing up to church every Sunday is considered a heavy committment to Christ these days.

Actually trying to live out the gospel in everyday life. Thats almost unheard of.

 

[JPPT1974]

Meh I think showing up to church every Sunday is considered a heavy committment to Christ these days.

Actually trying to live out the gospel in everyday life. Thats almost unheard of.

It is a heavy commitment and unheard of
But we have to do what we have to do you know.

 

[ephraimanesti]

Meh I think showing up to church every Sunday is considered a heavy committment to Christ these days.

Actually trying to live out the gospel in everyday life. Thats almost unheard of.

Perhaps now we can understand what our Lord meant when He asked: "HOWEVER, WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES, WILL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?" (Luke 18:8)

The sad part is that all this watering down of the Gospel and lowering of the bar regarding what it takes to be a "christian" came about with the idea of attracting the unsaved back to "church" by making it "enjoyable" and "relevant." Unfortunately, all this has accomplished is the contaminating the church with worldly values and therefore making it unable to feed those who are attracted with any REAL spiritual food, and so we end up with such abominations as the "prosperity gospel". LORD HAVE MERCY!

IN CHRIST,
ephraim

 

[Luther073082]

Perhaps now we can understand what our Lord meant when He asked: "HOWEVER, WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES, WILL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?" (Luke 18:8)

The sad part is that all this watering down of the Gospel and lowering of the bar regarding what it takes to be a "christian" came about with the idea of attracting the unsaved back to "church" by making it "enjoyable" and "relevant." Unfortunately, all this has accomplished is the contaminating the church with worldly values and therefore making it unable to feed those who are attracted with any REAL spiritual food, and so we end up with such abominations as the "prosperity gospel". LORD HAVE MERCY!

IN CHRIST,
ephraim

Thank God my pastor doesn't preach the prosperity gospel. Although I was a bit disturbed that our intern pastor had a book by Joel Olsteen in his office.

 

[ephraimanesti]

Thank God my pastor doesn't preach the prosperity gospel. Although I was a bit disturbed that our intern pastor had a book by Joel Olsteen in his office.

i assume you reported him immediately to the proper authorities!

ephraim

 

[Luther073082]

i assume you reported him immediately to the proper authorities!

ephraim

I like my church but the national organization has absolutly no backbone.

 

[ephraimanesti]

I like my church but the national organization has absolutly no backbone.

If what you are doing is working for you, spiritually speaking, why are your worrying about " the national organization?" How does it impact your Christian walk?

ephraim

 

[Luther073082]

If what you are doing is working for you, spiritually speaking, why are your worrying about " the national organization?" How does it impact your Christian walk?

ephraim

It doesn't, I'm just saying that there arn't any authorities that would do anything about it.

 

[ephraimanesti]

It doesn't, I'm just saying that there arn't any authorities that would do anything about it.

NO!, it was a joke--note the smiley. i'm really not a spiritual nazi (much as i detest the "prosperity gospel.")

ephraim