unloved/ unwanted by christian groups

[homeofmew]

please don't say Jesus loves you because it doesn't help.
I never belong in any Christian cliques or anything. I have a few good friends.
Recently went to the Pokemon TCG national Championships and had a good time. I seem to have many non Christian friends but feel unloved and unwanted by Christians, in a Christian setting. One of my room mates at Nats I think was a christian but it was a non church environment.

Please give advice for fitting in in a christian environment.

 

[AlbertanFarmGirl]

I could not tell from the above if you are a Christian or not? If not I know it can be difficult because we Christians are usually fairly passionate about our faith and I think that we can tend to make people feel uncomfortable. Also if you do not beleive you can be sure that you will likely have a hard time fitting into a Christian environment because evil is going to be fighting to make you uncomfortable and try to get you as far away from God as possible.
I have not been to church in years, my home situation has not really allowed it and when I have gone I never really fit in and found everything a bit too formal/stuffy. I suppose that it can be that way no matter where you are or who you are with. A lot of churches have already been developed, most of the people have been there for years, live near each other and are not entirely sure what to do with new people. There has only been one church where I have really fit in, that was one near where we lived 10 years ago and it is really the only one I've found that I can still go to and not feel as though I am being isolated.
I do not really know what to tell you as to how to fit into a church environment other than that God puts us where He wants us and in His timing. I do not know why you are having a difficult time fitting in, perhaps it is just where your faith is at or not quite at. Perhaps God has something else waiting for you, somewhere else where He wants you to be.
You asked us not to tell you that Jesus loves you, sometimes it can be hard to see and accept. So instead I will tell you that Jesus is with you right now wanting you to love Him. It is all a matter of where your soul is at and where God wants you; Ecclesiastes 3:1, the verse states that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. Trust that your season will come, and try to have faith that God will get you there. If you can, pray. You will know when He answers and you may be surprised with what He has planned for you.

 

[Restored_Son]

please don't say Jesus loves you because it doesn't help.
I never belong in any Christian cliques or anything. I have a few good friends.
Recently went to the Pokemon TCG national Championships and had a good time. I seem to have many non Christian friends but feel unloved and unwanted by Christians, in a Christian setting. One of my room mates at Nats I think was a christian but it was a non church environment.

Please give advice for fitting in in a christian environment.

Hello there,

Fitting in is never easy, like making new friends. First you have to find a church where the spirit of God resides. A place where you can grow. It can be scary at first, and if you are still a new christian. The sermans may turn you off, specially when it places your life style in question.

Start with a relationship with the Lord, and keep seeking his pressence every day. Find a bible version that you feel comfortible reading or can understand. Like New Living Translation or The Message.

Don't worry about what others think about you. Once you found the place the Lord wants you to be, over time you will get to know them. Your spiritual growth is important.

After sometime, get involved in the church. Ask if you can help out with a ministry that intrest you. When you join a ministry, you are part of a team. Also be a part of mens bible study, that will be a great way to get to know the others in the church.

Lastly is are two biblical truths for you. 'True love' and 'sow and harvest'.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Remember a church is never perfect. Filled with imperfect beings, and as such they can make mistakes. Use this to help defination to help you survive the friend making process. It is a process and takes some time.

Galations 6:7-10

7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Throughtout the bible 'sowing and harvesting' is mentioned. If you plant seeds of love in some of your brothers and sisters in Christ, good chance you will harvest some new relationships. Just don't expect to happen overnight. Just like planting seeds, it takes watering and work for crop to be ready for harvest.

 

[TheMainException]

Christians are a nasty sort aren't they? Never cared much for most of them myself...finally have begun to find some good ones out there. I'm a Christian and I'll be the first to admit that we can be awfully unwelcoming quite a bit more than we ever should be (never). I think you should experiment in a lot of places and try getting involved in many different types of christian settings...cuz every church and every group of people is different. You can't just sit around waiting for them to reach out to you tho, you need to get involved and make an effort...christians are really just a scared group of people reaching out to someone who can change their lives...other groups just respond differently to life and are in different groups for different reasons.

 

[johnabaptist]

I'd say that fitting in anywhere, for me, is based upon how I feel about myself
I suffer from depression, and lots of times, I am getting out and about, surrounded by people, but I feel all alone
Sometimes the lord sends me an angel, in human form, who kind of takes up with me, and makes me feel at home, whereever I am
Sometimes I leave and go home, before that angel can reach out to me
Every group setting is different, some are really outgoing and can make anyone feel at home
I'll bet that no one knows how you feel, until you let them in, like you have let us in, by sharing in this forum