Question:
Hiya to everyone..
Not sure this is the rite place 4 this, but kinda hopin some kind soul mite feel like helpin! I just started uni this year,+ even tho i always went to church at home with my parents, who r both christians, it was only when i got to uni and met lotsa students who were christians (i went to the cu), that i started proply thinkn bout why i even went to church? i mean, if someone asked me id say i was a christian, but compared to people ive met here i dont reckon i have any rite to say that.. they really believe in jesus, and bein a christain is their life, not just going to church. guess what im really askn..is what am i doin wrong? thinkgs dont seem like a real part of my life. sorry, realise this is kinda confusin, hopin someone gets what im on about! um, how do i get to be like the people im talkn about? i believe in god, i go to church, i pray..er sometimes.. but i feel like somethins still missin, like theres somethin that wrong. anyone gettn me here? jst need some friendly advice! thanks guys
Answer:
Thank you for posting your question. I hope I may be of some help to you.
JustLookin' said: i mean, if someone asked me id say i was a christian, but compared to people ive met here i dont reckon i have any rite to say that.. To be straight forward with you, two major things come to mind after reading your post:
1.There are fence sitters [those who have decided NO to Jesus but think they are somewhere neutral] and those who stand sure with "Yes to Jesus".
There are no middle grounds. To say NO is a decision and to say YES is a decision. To say "maybe" or "not right now" or "I am not sure yet" is not middle ground, it's "No to Jesus".
Jesus said, Matthew 12:30 (NKJV) 30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
Or the NLT says it this way: Matthew 12:30 (NLT) 30 Anyone who isn't helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.
2. Your statement about other people seeming more "Christian" than yourself, may seem to you a good way to judge your own Christianity. But truly, the real question lies here: Compared to Jesus Christ Himself, where do you stand before a holy God? You need to ask yourself: Not where do I stand next to other people, but where do I stand before God?
That, I believe, is the most imperative and the most serious question for you to start with. I look forward to your response and I hope you feel welcome here amongst the rest of us, which are all sinners saved by grace or even those few who are [anti-] instead of or against God as plain as day.
Either way, welcome.
Answer:
Originally Posted by JustLookin' Hiya to everyone..
Not sure this is the rite place 4 this, but kinda hopin some kind soul mite feel like helpin! I just started uni this year,+ even tho i always went to church at home with my parents, who r both christians, it was only when i got to uni and met lotsa students who were christians (i went to the cu), that i started proply thinkn bout why i even went to church? i mean, if someone asked me id say i was a christian, but compared to people ive met here i dont reckon i have any rite to say that.. they really believe in jesus, and bein a christain is their life, not just going to church. guess what im really askn..is what am i doin wrong? thinkgs dont seem like a real part of my life. sorry, realise this is kinda confusin, hopin someone gets what im on about! um, how do i get to be like the people im talkn about? i believe in god, i go to church, i pray..er sometimes.. but i feel like somethins still missin, like theres somethin that wrong. anyone gettn me here? jst need some friendly advice! thanks guys
Have you ever simply asked God to give you The Holy Spirit? Do you believe that Jesus is The Christ, The Son of God, and that He died for the forgiveness of our sins?
Some reasons you may want The Holy Spirit is that we can not live for God with out The Holy Spirit, because having The Holy Spirit within us is what enables us to overcome sin. The Holy Spirit being within us is what ensures us that we are His (Christ's) and that we belong to Him. It also opens the door to a better relationship with Him because we are children of God if we have The Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit is our gurantee that we will goto heaven.
All you have to do is simply ask God to give you The Holy Spirit (and the only way you will be able to do this is by God drawing you and enabling you to do this). Know that you need The Holy Spirit, and that you can not stop serving sin without The Holy Spirit. If you sincerely ask, I am sure that God will give you The Holy Spirit.
If you do have The Holy Spirit, then you may want to pray to God for more of Him in your life.
Wether you have The Holy Spirit or not, I do not know, but if you don't, then that is what is missing in your life.
Answer:
Originally Posted by JustLookin' Hiya to everyone..
Not sure this is the rite place 4 this, but kinda hopin some kind soul mite feel like helpin! I just started uni this year,+ even tho i always went to church at home with my parents, who r both christians, it was only when i got to uni and met lotsa students who were christians (i went to the cu), that i started proply thinkn bout why i even went to church? i mean, if someone asked me id say i was a christian, but compared to people ive met here i dont reckon i have any rite to say that.. they really believe in jesus, and bein a christain is their life, not just going to church. guess what im really askn..is what am i doin wrong? thinkgs dont seem like a real part of my life. sorry, realise this is kinda confusin, hopin someone gets what im on about! um, how do i get to be like the people im talkn about? i believe in god, i go to church, i pray..er sometimes.. but i feel like somethins still missin, like theres somethin that wrong. anyone gettn me here? jst need some friendly advice! thanks guys Do you believe there is a God and he is active and present in the world?
Do you believe in the historical figure of Jesus dying and then resurrecting by the power of God for the redemption of the entire universe to God?
Do you love God and love all men and women? Not just verbally but actively?
If you can say yes to at least the first two and can say that you are at least trying on the third one, then I'd say you were a Christian. Christianity isn't about how often you pray, how often you go to church, how much you read your Bible, or how "on fire" you are with God. Though some of these things can be important, they are not the crux of it all. The questions I asked you above rely on the core of Christianity and the cruciform way of thinking. Sometimes I feel like utter feces and don't reflect this "on fire" way of thinking some Christians seem to exhibit. Sometimes, God certainly isn't the most important thing to me. But I'm trying... and I think that's really the best any of us can do. Anyone that seems to have it all together is merely hiding the times when they're falling apart.
Soren Kierkegaard would argue that your beliefs have to have a real effect on you, otherwise they're meaningless. A lot of people try so hard to try and get all the right theology and philosophy down behind religion, but it's merely something they present to others to try and prove they have it all together, and it has no real meaning or effect on who they are and how they act. Whatever you choose to believe, it must have some effect on who you are.
Welcome to the site. We tend to like spell check here
Answer:
Originally Posted by JustLookin' i believe in god, i go to church, i pray..er sometimes.. but i feel like somethins still missin, like theres somethin that wrong. anyone gettn me here? jst need some friendly advice! thanks guys The fact that you are feeling this way, that you are seeking guidance...
This could very well be God drawing you to him. At this point my advice would be to open your bible, read and pray that He would reveal to you His glory. Develope a thirst for knowledge of the Creator of all things.
Get involved in a good Bible study (theologically solid if you can find one).
Pick up a good book to read alongside your study (Desiring God by John Piper is a suggestion).
Strive to make God and His Son Jesus Christ the center of your life.
And ask questions; whether here, at your study, or to these friends that you mentioned.
There are some good discussions here, and some very sharp individuals that would probably be willing to help as well.
God Bless
Answer:
Originally Posted by JustLookin' Hiya to everyone..
Not sure this is the rite place 4 this, but kinda hopin some kind soul mite feel like helpin! I just started uni this year,+ even tho i always went to church at home with my parents, who r both christians, it was only when i got to uni and met lotsa students who were christians (i went to the cu), that i started proply thinkn bout why i even went to church? i mean, if someone asked me id say i was a christian, but compared to people ive met here i dont reckon i have any rite to say that.. they really believe in jesus, and bein a christain is their life, not just going to church. guess what im really askn..is what am i doin wrong? thinkgs dont seem like a real part of my life. sorry, realise this is kinda confusin, hopin someone gets what im on about! um, how do i get to be like the people im talkn about? i believe in god, i go to church, i pray..er sometimes.. but i feel like somethins still missin, like theres somethin that wrong. anyone gettn me here? jst need some friendly advice! thanks guys
Is there anything that you are unsure of about God or are hesitant about?
Answer:
I agree with the post above that said that the very fact that you are asking these questions is a good start.
The difference you see between yourself and these others around you might be summed up this way--I believe from what you said-They have a personal relationship with God and His Son Christ and you do not yet have that. It's really quite easy-get alone, ask Christ to comeinto your life, tell Him you accept Him as Your Lord and savior, be aware that without Him there is no pathway to God, that He died to save you (and all of us sinners ) from the sin that should have condemmed us to a life apart from God, that because He died for you (and me) it is possible for us to become part of God's family and be acceptable to God---from there it gets easy (and hard)--to live each day with Christ inside yourself.
Answer:
Originally Posted by USGold I agree with the post above that said that the very fact that you are asking these questions is a good start.
The difference you see between yourself and these others around you might be summed up this way--I believe from what you said-They have a personal relationship with God and His Son Christ and you do not yet have that. It's really quite easy-get alone, ask Christ to comeinto your life, tell Him you accept Him as Your Lord and savior, be aware that without Him there is no pathway to God, that He died to save you (and all of us sinners ) from the sin that should have condemmed us to a life apart from God, that because He died for you (and me) it is possible for us to become part of God's family and be acceptable to God---from there it gets easy (and hard)--to live each day with Christ inside yourself. While your "personal" relationship with God can be important, the communal relationship is much more. Find a church you feel welcomed at and spend time with people there sharing about your life and listening to others about their's. Isolating yourself from the community is not always the right way to get closer to God.
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Wooshed to advice.
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Hey thanks everyone, espcially us gold, ive taken on board what youve all said :)
Answer:
Originally Posted by JustLookin' Not sure this is the rite place 4 this, but kinda hopin some kind soul mite feel like helpin! I just started uni this year,+ even tho i always went to church at home with my parents, who r both christians, it was only when i got to uni and met lotsa students who were christians (i went to the cu), that i started proply thinkn bout why i even went to church? i mean, if someone asked me id say i was a christian, but compared to people ive met here i dont reckon i have any rite to say that.. they really believe in jesus, and bein a christain is their life, not just going to church. guess what im really askn..is what am i doin wrong? thinkgs dont seem like a real part of my life. sorry, realise this is kinda confusin, hopin someone gets what im on about! um, how do i get to be like the people im talkn about? i believe in god, i go to church, i pray..er sometimes.. but i feel like somethins still missin, like theres somethin that wrong. anyone gettn me here? jst need some friendly advice! thanks guys Helpful note: This is a forum. You can take all the time you need to spell out the full word. It helps everyone. End helpful note.
At any rate, welcome to my world. There's not a lot in this world that I have yet experienced that can steal the wind out of your sails than seeing another Christian that is just amazing and then trying to figure out how they do that, only to find yourself "incapable" of being that way. Or to stay awake at night arguing with yourself fruitlessly as to whether or not you really believe in God, or whether you're actually saved.
Some people say that people who completely turn their back on God have it bad. Having been on all three sides of the fence, sitting in the middle is the most hellish and hard to get away from.
Frankly, the best thing for me is to just be surrounded by believers. In my church, it's my pastor and the leader of music (she lets me call her that because it's "all majestic."), and the guys in the choir I sing with. Outside of church, it is a number of people here. In person, it's one or two friends scattered across the country.
I find that human faith is fragile when it is isolated to one person, where that person feels and is made to feel alone.
Answer:
"but i feel like somethins still missin, like theres somethin that wrong"
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for holiness, for they shall be satisfied. And may you feel even more hunger.
I know how you feel, I have many times felt pretty guilty when I heard other people praise God and all I could feel was I didn't care, or was angry at God or or just felt kind of nothing. But I got with God more and listened to other people talk about their relationship with God and saw that God was with them and I decided that I wanted that and that "what He's done for others, He can do for me," as the song says.
And I'm glad it took a while because I feel very strong in God because of the difficulty I've sometimes had believing and seeing God in the world and in people. And it's ongoing because the growth is eternal, we're always getting closer to God.
So what you feel is good, even if it doesn't usually feel good. I remember feeling scared also, and I really don't like that, but I still keep getting closer. God wants you to get closer and grow stronger in faith, that's why you feel the way you do. It's a good thing you care enough to ask.
Your personal relationship is the most important thing in your faith life, second only to the fact that God has chosen you. It is very important for you to learn from him. Also, those people who are truly His will help you when you go to church, listen to Christian sermons on radio, TV, tapes, etc. The first priority of the church is to worship God, the second to 'edify' or build up the church. You want to belong and be around the best and strongest most faithful and joyous spirit-filled people you can, in order to be more like them. And eventually you will help others who come to the church for strength.
I had a strong tendency to trust the wrong people, people who were not really saved and who didn't really know God, though they claimed to. They just did not have a love for God and others. This is because I was brought up by people like that. But when I found I couldn't stand to be around those people any more, and retreated to isolation, then to seek God in my isolation, God rewarded me by strengthening my faith and showing me how to care and be with other people.
JUst keep seeking the one true God in your life, and you'll keep finding Him, more and more. You certainly don't want to be lukewarm!