Regrowth Into Christianity

[Realizer]

I used to be a Christian, but I believe I was more ignorantly and blindly following because it's what my parents raised me to believe in. I want to believe in God by my own understanding and not being shoved into anything. I want to learn by my own questions and understanding.

A little background, I used to go to a church every single week and loved the community within it when I was in middle school. I felt like I was in an environment I was supposed to be in. But, I didn't understand much of what was going on. I just went with it, sang to the music, talked to my friends, came back the next week.

When I started high school, I moved away from the state that had that church, and we never really went to church anymore. I never found one that I felt comfortable in. I was slowly losing sight of everything I was a part of because the people I looked up to didn't have time to talk to me online. I just spiritually faded away.

After graduating high school in 2016, I decided to go on a search for myself and who I am as a person, because I no longer had to be influenced by my parents -- or at least, so I thought. It wasn't until this year, when I moved out in March, I could really let go and find myself without people breathing down my neck and telling me who I should be. I feel I lost myself more than found myself.

I know because my mental health plummeted instead of rebuilt. I have trichotillomania, OCD, ADD, depression and anxiety. I felt all of that overwhelm me this summer, and then felt myself lost spiritually completely. I had my morals and was still kind and considerate and what not, but nothing felt...right.

So I joined this board to ask questions, understand Scripture, and properly grow a relationship in Christianity.

My first and main question is, how do you know that the Bible is properly translated after being retold for generations, and how do the stories we read from such an early time all apply to our lives today?

Thank you for your time in reading my lengthy post, and I hope I can connect with you all.

 

[Anto9us]

My first and main question is, how do you know that the Bible is properly translated after being retold for generations, and how do the stories we read from such an early time all apply to our lives today?

We can never take it for granted that any English translation was done perfectly, we must always compare, compare, compare...

There are online tools to be able to look at the Hebrew or Greek (I studied two years of Greek but no Hebrew) but the online tools help me even with Hebrew which I never studied.

As to ancient stories having an application to our lives today, commentaries sometimes help.

The Holy Spirit is real, and is here to guide us.

Blueletterbible.org is a quick and dirty tool to see the original languages and to see commentaries on verses -- I used to have a far more elaborate tool than that installed but lost it somehow.

 

[Realizer]

As to ancient stories having an application to our lives today, commentaries sometimes help.

Right, but when things are outdated due to the time of living, would we be sinning because time has progressed our behavior into something else? Such as women not being able to do half the things we do today?

 

[Anto9us]

Time has progressed our behavior into an almost wholesale rejection of slavery (the only people who want it are those who make money on human trafficking), an almost wholesale acceptance of monogamy over polygamy (whereas the New Testament stipulated only a bishop or deacon should be 'the husband of one wife' in a culture where polygamy was common), and as far as women getting to do twice as much as they used to -- that is still progressing. My United Methodist Denomination has female pastors, including my local church; our pastor is female. Other denominations are divided on this still today, and changing as time goes on.

Culture responds to the advances of science since Bible times; I don't know of anyone today (IRL) who LITERALLY believes that Joshua commanded the SUN to stand still; but even our newspapers use out-of-date language in giving times of sunRISE and sunSET

 

[Realizer]

Okay. The reason why I ask is because I have seen so many "old school" Christians trying to tell females not to wear pants and to never cut their hair short and things that are literally way out of this time. I have trichotillomania, so it's essential to keep my hair short otherwise I can cause myself to have big patchy spots on my scalp.

I'm not saying all Christians are Bible thumpers, but I have had quite a few experiences in my life that made me feel like I was being judged while they were contradicting their own beliefs by belittling me and such because I didn't do something strictly by the Bible.

I'm starting from scratch and I know I probably don't make a lot of sense, but I am definitely trying to understand, which is why I'm asking questions, so I hope I'm not asking too much, haha.

 

[Sketcher]

My first and main question is, how do you know that the Bible is properly translated after being retold for generations, and how do the stories we read from such an early time all apply to our lives today?

Concerning the New Testament, there are thousands of manuscripts of varying ages that can be cross-checked. In terms of the stories and teachings, they match at something like 97-98%. The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel (former atheist) cites the original source for that.

As to how the stories apply, context matters:

- Who were they written to? Jews, Gentiles, or both together?
- What questions were the audience asking?
- What was the historical background of the audience, the author, and the story itself?
- If it involves the Law of Moses, does it concern itself with one of the many laws that Jews themselves teach are only for Jews? How much is transferable to the nations assuming the nations do not convert to Judaism?
- What does the story teach about God?
- What does the story teach about people?

 

[Anto9us]

YOU are the authority, in a sense, Realizer, in this, your regrowth into Christianity.

The mental health issues you mentioned may be serious things, but there are medications that will help, but sometimes today medicine is maybe thrown at someone almost TOO readily. I knew a gal with the hair-pulling; she always wore a wig.

But you are where you wanted to be now:

without people breathing down my neck and telling me who I should be

Not that the message board will be totally free of people telling you who you should be. There are some people who think the earth is flat, that the sun goes around the earth, and that women should just shut up in the church. But they are not the majority

 

[Sketcher]

Okay. The reason why I ask is because I have seen so many "old school" Christians trying to tell females not to wear pants and to never cut their hair short and things that are literally way out of this time. I have trichotillomania, so it's essential to keep my hair short otherwise I can cause myself to have big patchy spots on my scalp.

I'm not saying all Christians are Bible thumpers, but I have had quite a few experiences in my life that made me feel like I was being judged while they were contradicting their own beliefs by belittling me and such because I didn't do something strictly by the Bible.

Yeah . . . if they believe the only "real" Bible is the King James, find a different church.

That said, if you're visiting churches, long dresses and a nice cap for your head will help. Trichotillomania isn't common knowledge, so how can you expect the average person at church to know you need to keep your hair short for medical/psychological reasons.

 

[Anto9us]

I have seen so many "old school" Christians trying to tell females not to wear pants and to never cut their hair short

so you might want to aim for more new school Christians, I guess

 

[Realizer]

YOU are the authority, in a sense, Realizer, in this, your regrowth into Christianity.

The mental health issues you mentioned may be serious things, but there are medications that will help, but sometimes today medicine is maybe thrown at someone almost TOO readily. I knew a gal with the hair-pulling; she always wore a wig.

But you are where you wanted to be now:



Not that the message board will be totally free of people telling you who you should be. There are some people who think the earth is flat, that the sun goes around the earth, and that women should just shut up in the church. But they are not the majority

I understand it is not the majority. I also understand that my mental health can be medicated. I am on medication and doing the best I can with it. But if I'm not emotionally or spiritually right, who's to say that medication is enough? I am here for my regrowth and to ask questions and to make myself better.

That said, if you're visiting churches, long dresses and a nice cap for your head will help. Trichotillomania isn't common knowledge, so how can you expect the average person at church to know you need to keep your hair short for medical/psychological reasons.

In all honesty, I have no intentions of hiding my hair. I used to do that when it all started (which was around the time I was regularly going to church six years ago). I want people to understand why I look the way I look, I just feel it's unnecessary for people in this day and age to judge if I come to church dressing nice (but not necessarily in a dress) and basically hairless.

 

[Realizer]

so you might want to aim for more new school Christians, I guess

Yes, of course. I'm looking into a church to try that is giving me promise from the podcasts they have online. I just want to make sure I'm going in with better understanding than the stuff I was raised on and essentially confused with. The only time I felt comfortable with Christianity as a teen was when I was at church when everyone just all had the same views. It wasn't my parents vs. my grandparents or this version of the Bible is better than that of the Bible.

I know I sound like the most uneducated person on the planet. I just want to really understand things from a non-candy coated point of view, and want to understand the Bible for what it is, not what I was raised to perceive it as.

 

[Anto9us]

I think you could find churches where they don't care if you wear pants and are basically hairless.

As far as medication is concerned, you are not your own doctor, of course, but ultimately it is you who must decide if the meds are 'enough' or even if they are helping

 

[FireDragon76]

Okay. The reason why I ask is because I have seen so many "old school" Christians trying to tell females not to wear pants and to never cut their hair short and things that are literally way out of this time.

That's not "old school" Christians so much as what is known as fundamentalism, particularly of the Holiness churches that are known for those types of codes.

I'm not saying all Christians are Bible thumpers, but I have had quite a few experiences in my life that made me feel like I was being judged while they were contradicting their own beliefs by belittling me and such because I didn't do something strictly by the Bible.

That's also more in keeping with Christian Fundamentalism. Not all churches are like that. Anto9us mentioned United Methodists, and that would be one example of a church that isn't like that, generally.

I'm starting from scratch and I know I probably don't make a lot of sense, but I am definitely trying to understand, which is why I'm asking questions, so I hope I'm not asking too much, haha.

The forums can help you explore Christian religious communities and what they believe, but going to actual churches and seeing the atmosphere there and if that's something you want to be involved in, is also important.

One of my favorite Christian writers and preachers is Pr. Nadia Bolz-Weber. She might appeal to you just because she came from a Christian fundamentalist background herself and she struggled with alcoholism and depression.

 

[Realizer]

As far as medication is concerned, you are not your own doctor, of course, but ultimately it is you who must decide if the meds are 'enough' or even if they are helping

Of course. I'm trying to get that to progress, as well. It's just been difficult financially to be evaluated regularly.

The forums can help you explore Christian religious communities and what they believe, but going to actual churches and seeing the atmosphere there and if that's something you want to be involved in, is also important.

One of my favorite Christian writers and preachers is Pr. Nadia Bolz-Weber. She might appeal to you just because she came from a Christian fundamentalist background herself and she struggled with alcoholism and depression.

I am actually looking at a church I'd like to go to, I'm just trying to figure out a budget for transportation, as I have gotten into a car accident and lost my car completely due to that.

I will definitely look into some of her writing, I appreciate the suggestion <3

 

[JIMINZ]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

More than anything else in you life you need to be assured of your Salvation.

Once you really do become a Christian, then your eyes will be opened to a lot of things which are just not available to you at this stage, because you need the Holy Spirit to show you and give you the understanding of them.

Here is a verse which says that very thing.

1Co. 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

If you are not Saved, you are a Natural man, and incapable of understanding Spiritual things.

So my advice to you would be to find a place where you can hear a Salvation message, what kind of a Church were you raised in?

Once you become a Believer, you will need to become Baptized as soon as possible.

Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

First you need to come to the understanding of what Jesus accomplished on the Cross for you, not just a head knowledge, but a Believing that He did die for your sins, once you are able to really call yourself a Believer, then ask to become Baptized.

Don't worry about all of the do's and dont's the why's and wherefore's, just concentrate on those things which make for Repentance, and Salvation, the other things will take care of themselves once you are able to understand them.

Remember, you need to become a Christian before you will be able to live like one.

 

[Realizer]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

1Co. 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

If you are not Saved, you are a Natural man, and incapable of understanding Spiritual things.

So my advice to you would be to find a place where you can hear a Salvation message, what kind of a Church were you raised in?

I was raised in various churches, which is why most of my life was confused. The most I felt truly connected was when I was in a non-denominational church, which is the kind of church I'm trying to visit next week. I guess I'm just trying to make sure I'm going about everything right because I feel like I never knew anything haha.

 

[Sketcher]

In all honesty, I have no intentions of hiding my hair. I used to do that when it all started (which was around the time I was regularly going to church six years ago). I want people to understand why I look the way I look, I just feel it's unnecessary for people in this day and age to judge if I come to church dressing nice (but not necessarily in a dress) and basically hairless.

People are going to notice you have short hair anyway. People are going to remember 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, and if your hair is short and uncovered, they may see that as a problem depending on their interpretation of it. Wearing a cap provides one form of covering that it talks about, thus showing an obedience to that teaching and cutting off at the knees a criticism that non-understanding people will have. If you preemptively take away something that they would have a problem with, you've preemptively made your own life easier. I personally don't believe in giving women a hard time about their hair, and many good Christians will not either. But a good church will attract all kinds of people, so it's best to be prepared, so to speak.

 

[JIMINZ]

I was raised in various churches, which is why most of my life was confused. The most I felt truly connected was when I was in a non-denominational church, which is the kind of church I'm trying to visit next week. I guess I'm just trying to make sure I'm going about everything right because I feel like I never knew anything haha.

.
To tell you the truth, you probably didn't.

The greater majority of people who were raised in a Church assume they are Christians, that isn't necessarily the truth, because you need to be Saved in order to be a Christian and most never came to that point, or they really never understood it because it was so familiar to them they automatically took it for granted that what they believe, they believed was correct when it really wasn't.

When you go to that Church next week, ask the Pastor what you need to do, or just tell him where it is you are in your searching for the truth, he will then take it from there.

Be Blessed

 

[Realizer]

To tell you the truth, you probably didn't.

The greater majority of people who were raised in a Church assume they are Christians, that isn't necessarily the truth, because you need to be Saved in order to be a Christian and most never came to that point, or they really never understood it because it was so familiar to them they automatically took it for granted that what they believe, they believed was correct when it really wasn't.

When you go to that Church next week, ask the Pastor what you need to do, or just tell him where it is you are in your searching for the truth, he will then take it from there.

Be Blessed

Thank you very much. I'll be back with more questions, I'm sure

 

[Anto9us]

Hope to see more of your questions, Realizer.

Oh, I have read some of that Lady Lutheran pastor's stuff - the one mentioned by Firedragon - don't really know that much though