Should I be a Christian? Help me

[the_lighted_path]

Hello all,
I am from Malaysia, born in a family embracing Taoism and partly Buddhism. Everytime I see people going to church, I feel like, some kind of a "jealous"... Christianity seems like a wonderful religion. sometimes, I have this feeling of wanting to convert, but I always changed my mind in the end. It is because of everytime I think of converting, when I looked at the statue of my beloved goddess, her serene smile, I feel myself filled with guilt. She has protected me since my younger days, in everything. She was the only one who listens to me, all my friends outside were liars, inconsiderate people... She saved me, my uncle and auntie from a horrible accident last year. By turning to Christianity, it is as if I am betraying her. I feel so bad...

Even if I convert, I feel that my parents will not be with me. I love them so very much... Day and night I have them in my mind. My grandparents, parents, relatives... I love them so so so much. What can I do? I want to be with them, for now, for always, In this life, and the life other. Please share your thought

William

 

[Jec]

Yeah, this is hard... but nobody wants you to convert right? I should say go follow some sessions in the Christian group... I dont see whats wrong with that... I think its just the thought that makes it "wrong"

 

[mannysee]

Hi William,

why are you thinking about converting?

God may be drawing you to himself.

 

[the_lighted_path]

Perhaps God IS really calling to me..

But how can I explain the miracles I have with my present saviour? I am really torn apart now..

 

[mannysee]

Miracles occur in many religions.

Do you know what the 'gospel' or good news is?

 

[the_lighted_path]

The good news, you mean, is that Jesus died for our sins at the Cross? And all we need to do is to accept him as Saviour? If that is the point, I get it. But isn't it enough to just believe in Him? I believe Him, I take Him as one of my Saviours, isn't that enough?

 

[Palatka44]

There is only one Savior that brings men to God. That Savior is Jesus the Christ the Son of the living God. While there are many saviors that can influence our lives none has gone into death and defeated it. All others must be denighed. Jesus is faithful to carry us through everything that we face if we want to believe in Him alone. He will even help you with your parents. It may not be something that you will see solved in days. Your new relationship with your parents will take time as they will survey your life with Christ. Your life will be tested and tried but you must not fail for in doing so you will loose your loved ones. Always, always look to Christ read His Word (the Bible) daily.

 

[mannysee]

William,

You are correct in that Christ died for our sins. He does 'save' from sin and condemnation.

I am interested in what type of saviour your goddess is? that is, what does she save you from?

 

[crossrunner]

I am praying that as the Holy Spirit is knocking on the door of your heart (and its very apparent that He is) that you will answer and invite our Lord into your life. God created you, cherishes you and He is the one who protects you (even if you don't follow Him). I would ask that instead of converting to a "religion" that you enter into a relationship with Jesus who dearly loves you and did die for you and is truly the only Way.

 

[whatseekye]

Only Jesus can save us for eternity. I believe that there is only one God, and all good comes from Him. You were saved by the power of the living God, and only by Him. I remember that before I became a Christian, I was miraculously saved on at least one occassion. I had no idea why I was saved. I wasn't worshipping any other gods at that time. But in retrospect, I know that the mercy and goodness of God is given freely to all people, because God loves us all even though we reject Him and are lost in our sin. Without Jesus Christ, we can't know God personally. After I was born again (by accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord God), I realized right away the huge difference it makes to know God personally and to always feel so close to Him. And one thing I realized that very first night after being born again was that God *always* loved me, even when I was lost in my sin, and He was keeping me safe on this earth until the day when I could accept Him on His terms. I believe that God created you with a loving heart of loyalty because He knows that someday you are going to turn to Him and love him with even greater loyalty. He's going to bless you even though you don't accept him now. You don't have to kneel and bow before him to earn his blessings. But to obtain eternal life and to be in a close personal relationship with God, you do have to believe in Jesus Christ and ask him to carry your burden for you. I don't personally understand why it has to be this way except that I know that God had to help us by taking all the penalty of sin on Himself. He will give you faith and strength and love, if you humble yourself and ask Jesus Christ to help you know Him. God bless you and keep you forever and ever.

Your love for your family is good and you will have so much motivation to pray for them and to just keep showing them good and loving kindness, even though they might criticize you or reject your faith. I want to share with you something interesting about my family. They were never religious at all and didn't believe in God. But after I got saved, for 3 years I just kept praying and praying for them. I wouldn't talk about my faith unless they brought it up, and I would stop talking about it if they got angry. But I just kept praying. And eventually, the Holy Spirit directed me to pray in a certain way for them. And slowly they started to get curious about my faith. They also noticed that I had changed and become more patient and loving. So they slowly became interested and now all of them have placed their faith in Jesus Christ too (except for one of my brothers, and I am still praying for him. He is being pursued by God, I know, because he has a girlfriend who just became a Christian! And I feel all the seeds of faith are there.)

 

[Sketcher]

You must choose one or the other, Jesus or your goddess. Jesus has more power and compassion than that goddess. Have you ever read about His miracles in the Bible? Calming the sea, feeding thousands of people, and sending thousands of demons away, terrified, with very little effort?

 

[leigh01]

i would strongly suggest people being chistian i am the only christian in my famly my parents and brothers and sister are non christian so go were ur heart tells ya too

 

[the_lighted_path]

I am starting to fall for it...

 

[WhenFinallySetFree777]

I understand what living with a family of non-believers is like; I was saved two years before my brother, and neither of my parents are saved. It can be tough, but God will help you through, if you ask Him to. I guarantee it.

the_lighted_path, know that God has loved you even before you were born, and He wants you to accept the salvation that Jesus freely offers. No one else died to save you, and no one else will love you as much as Jesus Christ. I sincerely hope and pray that you will accept Jesus into your life and start a relationship with Him. God bless you~!!!

 

[heron]

Is your family required by culture to reject you? Maybe you could talk with them about it, or invite them to a meeting so they could see that you are safe.

 

[ragdolly]

It seems to me that God is tugging at your heart...calling you to Him. Please do not ignore His call. You are His creation. He loves you and He wants you back. It is only your own soul that you have any control over through God, but who is to say that you could not win over your parents and family and friends through your Christian witness? God may have great plans for your life in this area. He definitely does have a purpose for your time here on earth and I believe that He is telling you. Please talk to Him through prayer and just give it all to Him. Your confusion will end and your new life will begin. Bless You.

 

[heron]

God will forgive everything you have ever done. He washes away all guilt, and puts your failures behind you.

 

[Serapha]

Perhaps God IS really calling to me..

But how can I explain the miracles I have with my present saviour? I am really torn apart now..

Hi there!



I'm going to ask you a personal question.... when you pray to your goddess and the prayers are answered... do you pray in an audible voice or do you silently petition the goddess to answer your prayers through mental telepathy? Do you make actions of worship to the goddess as you pray or do you sit silently in a small corner somewhere speaking only to your goddess while no one is aware of your actions?

Honestly, I would like to hear your response.


~serapha~

 

[wykael]

I find myself at a disadvantage in situations like this. I have been a Christian for as long as I can remember (though not always a practising one). I have no conversion experience to recall.

What I can tell you is that, as you have undoubtedly read on this forum and elsewhere, God demands to be the one and only God. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Putting your goddess on the same level as God, or ahead of God is definitely against His will. Also, His son Jesus is the only way to God. Not a goddess. Not good works. He needs to be invited into the driver's seat of your life. Can you have more than one driver? Does that work well with a car?

All I can really say about the matter is "what if?" What if the Bible is true? What if those who choose to not follow the Bible get to the end of their life and find that they should have listened? What are they out? Eternity. They will suffer forever. What if the Bible is wrong? What are Christians out if the Bible is wrong? We will have lived well. We will have people who acted with the best interest of others in mind. We will have lived morally upright lives. We will have few regrets. Which is the greater gamble?

 

[Adoniram]

the_lighted_path

It appears that you are truly seeking! And I can understand how difficult it must be for you to break away from the "faith" you have grown up with and held to all your life. The trouble with so many of the world's religions is that Satan makes them so enticing, so alluring, as to induce people to follow them and away from the true Savior, Jesus. Even to the point of using "miracles" to draw people into them. The Bible describes how Satan does this. (Note- Scriptural quotes are from the New International Version)

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 "...in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved." (Note-this verse is taken a little out of context but shows the devices Satan uses.)

Satan will use every trick in the book to try and deceive men. He sets up false religions and false gods to draw people's focus away from Jesus. No offense intended, but, I'm afraid that is what he has done with you and your "goddess." Yes, it seems right to you. Yes, you may have seen "miracles," but that is the trick that Satan uses to pull you away from Jesus.

The Bible says in Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

What is the correct way? What is the truth? Jesus said "I and the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Believing in Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life in heaven. The only way.

May I suggest that you acquire a copy of the Gospel of John and study it thoroughly. John presents the truth in an easily understood manner.