What do I do?

[rosemaree]

Hi all,
I am a Christian, or wish to be.
Problem is I can't accept a lot of teachings I have heard.
I began a bible study, in which the pastor teaches the literal bible (is this right?).
He also teaches that to be a true Christian you MUST strive to be holy and perfect, as Christ was perfect. (I have a hard enough time just striving to improve on myself, never mind perfection!)
I think he says we must reach this state, to get to Heaven.
He also teaches tithing and a lot of old testament stuff.
He teaches some really good things too, that's why I'm so confused.
I am intimidated out of wanting to learn more, for fear that I just don't have what it takes to be a Christian.
What does it take?
I had a strong belief for a year or so, but it seems to be faded and now I feel I don't know what to believe.
I see bad Christians everywhere, really selfish people who seem to want to be a Christian because they figure it's the only way to get rid of their bad ways, selfishness etc... Then I know some really wonderful people, just naturally self-less and kind, who don't believe in God (honest!!). That's hard! They just seems to live well, treat others really well and don't need 'a God'.
I guess I have a lot of conflicting factors in my life. Does anyone share them, or have any comment?
I hate being stuck in the middle, I love Jesus' teaching, but don't know if I love Jesus. I know if everyone followed Jesus' teachings, the world would be Heaven. But I don't feel this need to worship. I don't get it and need help. I have fallen away I think, but from what the bible teaches me, it's wrong to do that...I feel like I am not supposed to be happy or like this world, but what do I do when I really love the world, the trees, the air, the mountains...and I don't want to leave!
Sorry I have too many things going on, Thanks.

 

[ukok]

Rosemaree, i appreciate the difficulties that present themselves to you at the moment, you raise some very valid point's, and you are not alone in this. I can only really offer you the sugestion of prayer...because Faith is such an individual relationship between us and the Lord... I will pray for you also. I hope that thing's improve for you.

God Bless.

 

[ps139]

Welcome Rosemaree,

Like ukok said, you raise some great questions. You seem confused about a lot but you are on the right track, and many of us have been in your shoes, where we just did not know what is true? What to believe? From what it looks like I wouldn't agree with your pastor's approach, I'm not a literalist when it comes to certain things in the Bible, but thats just me. If you ever want to ask some questions and get great answers, join us here in the "One Bread One Body" Catholic subforum:
http://www.christianforums.com/f26

May God bless you!

 

[Daughter of His]

Rosemaree,

You have what it takes to be a christian. You do! Once you ask Jesus into your life, you can be transformed from the inside out. It's a process, and with some like myself it's taking a lot of years to get where God wants me. Sure, most of us get confused once in a while and we mess us, sometimes bigtime. My suggestion, keep in word daily, join a bible study, maybe not even at your own church, and pray, I think the Lord is knocking at your heart. I've felt exactly as you described, confused at doctrine. Before you read, ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you are reading--HE will.

The trees and beauty of nature are God's handiwork for us to enjoy, I love them too! Think of heaven with the tree of life bearing a different fruit each month of the year, we haven't seen anything yet. The world that we are not supposed to love is the sin in the world, I think that is what you were referring to. It is confusing, you aren't alone there. I'll pray the Lord will help clear up some confusion and guide you and give you His peace.

Blessing to you !

 

[rogsr]

To be one with Jesus Christ is to never taste the bitterness of death. He is the true bread from heaven which sustains us forever. Through Jesus Christ, the Father gave us two huge things one being redemption from the corruption which we are all born into, and the other being God's peace. A person who truly walks with Christ in faith and love has the redemption to begin anew, and the peace to never fear death. I say those who truly walk with Christ because many talk the talk but few walk the walk.

Peace-

 

[eviltangerine]

Hi all,
I am a Christian, or wish to be.
Problem is I can't accept a lot of teachings I have heard.
I began a bible study, in which the pastor teaches the literal bible (is this right?).
He also teaches that to be a true Christian you MUST strive to be holy and perfect, as Christ was perfect. (I have a hard enough time just striving to improve on myself, never mind perfection!)
I think he says we must reach this state, to get to Heaven.

Nobody said being a christian was the easy route to do anything. It's tough sometimes to do the right thing and watch others do the wrong thing and still succeed. But yes, as I was told we're to strive to perfection, however we can never be perfect because we are not Jesus (kind of one of the most frustrating things, imo). It sounds intimidating, but no one said you had to do it over night. Try working on a few pieces of your life at a time and eventually the rest will fall into place (oh, and pray for it too!)

He also teaches tithing and a lot of old testament stuff.
He teaches some really good things too, that's why I'm so confused.
I am intimidated out of wanting to learn more, for fear that I just don't have what it takes to be a Christian.
What does it take?
I had a strong belief for a year or so, but it seems to be faded and now I feel I don't know what to believe.
I see bad Christians everywhere, really selfish people who seem to want to be a Christian because they figure it's the only way to get rid of their bad ways, selfishness etc... Then I know some really wonderful people, just naturally self-less and kind, who don't believe in God (honest!!). That's hard! They just seems to live well, treat others really well and don't need 'a God'.
I guess I have a lot of conflicting factors in my life. Does anyone share them, or have any comment?
I hate being stuck in the middle, I love Jesus' teaching, but don't know if I love Jesus. I know if everyone followed Jesus' teachings, the world would be Heaven. But I don't feel this need to worship. I don't get it and need help. I have fallen away I think, but from what the bible teaches me, it's wrong to do that...I feel like I am not supposed to be happy or like this world, but what do I do when I really love the world, the trees, the air, the mountains...and I don't want to leave!
Sorry I have too many things going on, Thanks.

and yea, I know how distressing it can be to see other christians do some "un-christian" things...but that's just judging other people, we're not here to do that. And getting to your thought about whether you're able to be a christian? You most certainly can be. Just pray and keep faith, do whatever it takes to maintain faith. Watch a movie (the passion, perhaps?), listen to some christian music (I'm a biiiig fan of switchfoot), or just go and reread some of the bible, like the sermon on the mount always got me going (Matt 5-7 (?))

god bless!
et

 

[ps139]

or just go and reread some of the bible, like the sermon on the mount always got me going (Matt 5-7 (?))

Great advice, the Sermon on the Mount is probably my favorite part of the whole Bible.

 

[Emma!]

Hi all,
He also teaches that to be a true Christian you MUST strive to be holy and perfect, as Christ was perfect. (I have a hard enough time just striving to improve on myself, never mind perfection!)
I think he says we must reach this state, to get to Heaven.
I am intimidated out of wanting to learn more, for fear that I just don't have what it takes to be a Christian.
What does it take?
I feel like I am not supposed to be happy or like this world, but what do I do when I really love the world, the trees, the air, the mountains...and I don't want to leave! .

I dont know what you have been taught but i want to first say some things about your q's above.

As a Christian you DONT have to strive at all, we are saved by Gods grace when we accept Jesus and all that He did for us. We are NOT saved by striving to do good things, or be perfect.

One of the resons that Jesus came was so that we DIDNT have to strive, because NONE of us can be perfect. That is why Jesus was sent for us because He was the ONLY perfect sacrifice for us.

Jesus came to set us free, not so we would have to follow all these laws and try to become perfect.

However, the more that you get to know God and have a personal relationship with Him you will want to follow His teachings because you love Him. Thats the way that it works, its not because we have to, but you will find that later on, you will see that you want to, and you will know that it is such a peaceful way to live following His lead.

On the cross Jesus did everything so we CANNOT win our way to heaven, it is given to us after we accept jesus and what He did on the cross.

It is SOOOOO great that you want to learn more, and all it takes to be a Christian is to accept Jesus and what He did on the cross for you and love Him and that is it!!!!! The rest Jesus did!

As i said before that the more you learn about Him the more you want to become like Him, and that does happen the more you come to know God. It is a natural process, you know how if you hang out with someone you can start to sound like them etc. Its kind of like that.

God also wants you to be happy!!! God LOVES you and wants you to enjoy life and that is why Jesus has done everything so that we dont have to strive. I love the trees and flowers and land etc that is a good thing that means that you appreciate Gods creation. When it say in the Bible not to love the world, it is talking about the sin in the world, the things that are against what God teaches. It does not mean the creation.

I hope that this clears things up for you, i would love to chat further with you if you want to, thankyou for asking the q's

I am praying for you,