being a Christian

tenn22 · 12-10-2004, 01:06 PM

I am a Christian and have be en for almost 7 years. I have be backsliding for the last couple of years. I feel that I am too lazy to do anything about it but at the same time I know that if I don't that there will be consequences....ie) a poor relationship with God. Is anybody in the same boat and how did you get out of it?

Sometimes I just want to say

to all the Christians who try to tell me what I am doing wrong, but I know that they are right.

dreamweaverdude · 12-10-2004, 01:24 PM

Tenn,

When you accept christianity as a way of life you accept of life continual struggles because it is something you are always working on becoming. You never acheive finality. That doesn't mean you don't try to become a better person and live a better life, but the struggles of life make it very difficult.

When you choose that life you choose to de different in most regards and it causes tremendous pressures as you see others 'get by with things'. DOn't let life get you down... Hang in there.....

Never give up...

Sexychiick16 · 12-10-2004, 02:32 PM

Yep when u accept The Lord as your personal savior he puts you through number sof test

Trials and Tribulations...It says in the bible...but yeah im a slacker when it comes to readin gmy bible and doing what it says and i have a bestfriend who is the one who brought me to knwo Christ as my personal savior , but she drives me nuts sometimes. Shes God her own problems as well...Like The Lovely drug ( Marjauna)...And having sex ( before marrige)...More over its with the PAsturs Son...

So yess mamm i know where ur comin from on this...God Loves to Test us and see if we are following his word....Its hard and ( iN tImE) we will get it right ...

keep your head up and dont do anything stupid!

Switch187 · 12-10-2004, 02:33 PM

I had that same problem a few years ago too. I grew up a Christian, and I started to loose my way when I was in my Junior year of HS. I kept backsliding so much and got into some really bad things (heavy drugs, drinking everynight, sex with random girls, fighting, and all sorts of other things). This went on for a couple years, until I was just turning 21. During that time I had just started to date my current g/f, and she was also a Christian. She had also gone through some of the same things (sex and alcohol) but had broken that cycle a year before we met. She said the best things she did for herself was to just keep going to church, admitting to God the sins that she made, and made a conscious decision to put her effort into not making those same mistakes. So needless to say I started to go back to Church as well, and have also admitted to my sins and have done my best to stay away from those situations (I don't do drugs, drink on occassion but not to get wasted, only have sex with my g/f, and appreciate all that I have). I know how you feel about wanting to let other Christians to just back off, especially since many Christians have a different view on what a "good relationship with God is." What should be really important to you is how you feel your relationship with God is, and not try to live to other peoples standards. Some people think that you have to go to Church everyday to get a good connection, while others believe that as long as God is in your heart you can worship anywhere, not just in Church. In my view neither one of those people is wrong, but they will fight with each other on who is right.

A great relationship with God starts in your heart. Only you can tell yourself how good your relationship with Him is, no one else.

poppet · 12-10-2004, 02:47 PM

hey babes i totally understand where you're coming from im a christian too and going through a time in my life where i just cant be bothered with it and keep rebelling against it. I belong to a church which my family have been going to for as long as i can remember. I havent been to church for months coz where i work has changed my contract to work while its on (which i am sorting out). But anyways i just feel really out of touch with God, Luckly friends from my church keep asking me to meetings and social events which has kept me faith buring inside me. Juat be strong sweetheart I know its hard but the only way you are gonna get back into it is forcing yourself to do it, dont slip away, you are precise and God loves you no matter how far away from God you feel, he is always with you.I know its cheesy but i find just putting some christian music on lifts my spirts high. Hope some of this is helping. Keep going and well done for not totally going

to God. Look to him and he will give you strength. God bless love me xxxxxxx

wendella · 12-10-2004, 04:59 PM

I have been there too.

I was raised in a strict christian home, no TV, no radio, no cutting our long hair, no pants for us girls, only skirts, church 4 times a week.

God did not intend us to have to try and be perfect. IF WE WERE PERFECT WE WOULD BE GOD!!!!

I am no longer affiliated with that religion. I know, I know christians think that christianity is not a religion and the only way to god. I've never quite believed that one religion has the rights to god.

I have been through to many things in my life to count or comment on, some brought on by me and some by others, but I will tell you I have lived. If you have read some of my post you know.

After all I have seen in this world, I understand the want to do the next right thing, and that is all god expects us to do. Goodness is what is love, being humble, helping others, and giving of ourselves when we might not want to.

Not bow down and do silly things. We serve others; help them when we can, try to be the best human being we can be, but after all we are only human.

Now I am not saying go out and do bad things because after all god has to forgive, but please as a recovering Christian, don't think that god is going to strike you down for swerving off the path.

If you truly believe, you know that no matter what you do god will always love you and he is always there for those who seek him.

You don't have to try to be perfect. Stop doing it, and no matter what those crazy Christians think, like you know the ones, the ones who take the bible literally and verbatim, just know that you don't have to be like them and you can still have a relationship with god.

And here's a kicker for you, my grandfather was a Christian preacher and I have attended I think every Christian conference in the northern Midwest.

I know today that god is whatever I imagine him/it/her to be. No one truly knows and if you think you do know what god is, hmm you are a little vain.

So to all, keep your faith belief and love, especially for yourself. You are all you've got, treat others and yourself good!

GOD = GOODNESS not GUILTY CONSCIENCES

AMEN!!!

wendella · 12-10-2004, 05:02 PM

in all the posts when people say there are a christian the next sentence or so they are self-defeating and sound really guilty

I am telling you if that's your way of life, that's cool but hey you don't have to live like that. Feeling guilty all the time.

And yes you will still go to heaven.

People have truly ruined GOD with religion.

PERIOD

wendella · 12-10-2004, 05:05 PM

oh and one more thing,

my sister goes to that church occasionally still, she is 21, and she told me things i can't believe from such "christian"people

like some of the members in line to be an elder just can't wait for the elders to die so that they can take their spots after they pass.

one of the "christians" who ran a strict christian camp was caught with freaking porn at the camp where there are hundreds of kids there every year

and the list goes on that is scary..

Santa · 12-10-2004, 05:56 PM

I think religion was designed as a way to understand and worship God, and live a good life, and to encourage people not to do wrong.
At the end of the day, I don't believe its the means that count, it's the end result.

thisisnotanexit · 12-10-2004, 11:44 PM

some Christians have given christianity a bad name, but the beliefs it is founded upon are good. we're not supposed to be perfect. the resurrection makes it ok for us to be human. god forgives and loves all. life is hard sometimes and there are tricky questions, but there are good explanations for them from a biblical perspective..and it takes some faith. if you ever wanna find pretty good explanations for some tough quetsions, check out this site:
everystudent.com or just type stuff in search engines. read the word and pray..God will see you through it.

take care all

12-10-2004, 01:06 PM	#1
tenn22 Offline Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Age: 27 Posts: 26	being a Christian I am a Christian and have be en for almost 7 years. I have be backsliding for the last couple of years. I feel that I am too lazy to do anything about it but at the same time I know that if I don't that there will be consequences....ie) a poor relationship with God. Is anybody in the same boat and how did you get out of it? Sometimes I just want to say to all the Christians who try to tell me what I am doing wrong, but I know that they are right.

12-10-2004, 01:24 PM	#2
dreamweaverdude Offline Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Age: 50 Posts: 281	Tenn, When you accept christianity as a way of life you accept of life continual struggles because it is something you are always working on becoming. You never acheive finality. That doesn't mean you don't try to become a better person and live a better life, but the struggles of life make it very difficult. When you choose that life you choose to de different in most regards and it causes tremendous pressures as you see others 'get by with things'. DOn't let life get you down... Hang in there..... Never give up... __________________ Absence is to love what wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small, it inflames the great.” — Bussy-Rabutin, French soldier and writer (1618-1693)

12-10-2004, 02:33 PM	#4
Switch187 Offline Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Age: 28 Posts: 324	I had that same problem a few years ago too. I grew up a Christian, and I started to loose my way when I was in my Junior year of HS. I kept backsliding so much and got into some really bad things (heavy drugs, drinking everynight, sex with random girls, fighting, and all sorts of other things). This went on for a couple years, until I was just turning 21. During that time I had just started to date my current g/f, and she was also a Christian. She had also gone through some of the same things (sex and alcohol) but had broken that cycle a year before we met. She said the best things she did for herself was to just keep going to church, admitting to God the sins that she made, and made a conscious decision to put her effort into not making those same mistakes. So needless to say I started to go back to Church as well, and have also admitted to my sins and have done my best to stay away from those situations (I don't do drugs, drink on occassion but not to get wasted, only have sex with my g/f, and appreciate all that I have). I know how you feel about wanting to let other Christians to just back off, especially since many Christians have a different view on what a "good relationship with God is." What should be really important to you is how you feel your relationship with God is, and not try to live to other peoples standards. Some people think that you have to go to Church everyday to get a good connection, while others believe that as long as God is in your heart you can worship anywhere, not just in Church. In my view neither one of those people is wrong, but they will fight with each other on who is right. A great relationship with God starts in your heart. Only you can tell yourself how good your relationship with Him is, no one else. __________________ "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world"

12-10-2004, 02:47 PM	#5
poppet Offline Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: uk Age: 23 Posts: 13	hey babes i totally understand where you're coming from im a christian too and going through a time in my life where i just cant be bothered with it and keep rebelling against it. I belong to a church which my family have been going to for as long as i can remember. I havent been to church for months coz where i work has changed my contract to work while its on (which i am sorting out). But anyways i just feel really out of touch with God, Luckly friends from my church keep asking me to meetings and social events which has kept me faith buring inside me. Juat be strong sweetheart I know its hard but the only way you are gonna get back into it is forcing yourself to do it, dont slip away, you are precise and God loves you no matter how far away from God you feel, he is always with you.I know its cheesy but i find just putting some christian music on lifts my spirts high. Hope some of this is helping. Keep going and well done for not totally going to God. Look to him and he will give you strength. God bless love me xxxxxxx __________________ What you see is what you get and what you see is me!

12-10-2004, 04:59 PM	#6
wendella Offline Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: minneapolis Age: 35 Posts: 55	faith belief and christianity I have been there too. I was raised in a strict christian home, no TV, no radio, no cutting our long hair, no pants for us girls, only skirts, church 4 times a week. God did not intend us to have to try and be perfect. IF WE WERE PERFECT WE WOULD BE GOD!!!! I am no longer affiliated with that religion. I know, I know christians think that christianity is not a religion and the only way to god. I've never quite believed that one religion has the rights to god. I have been through to many things in my life to count or comment on, some brought on by me and some by others, but I will tell you I have lived. If you have read some of my post you know. After all I have seen in this world, I understand the want to do the next right thing, and that is all god expects us to do. Goodness is what is love, being humble, helping others, and giving of ourselves when we might not want to. Not bow down and do silly things. We serve others; help them when we can, try to be the best human being we can be, but after all we are only human. Now I am not saying go out and do bad things because after all god has to forgive, but please as a recovering Christian, don't think that god is going to strike you down for swerving off the path. If you truly believe, you know that no matter what you do god will always love you and he is always there for those who seek him. You don't have to try to be perfect. Stop doing it, and no matter what those crazy Christians think, like you know the ones, the ones who take the bible literally and verbatim, just know that you don't have to be like them and you can still have a relationship with god. And here's a kicker for you, my grandfather was a Christian preacher and I have attended I think every Christian conference in the northern Midwest. I know today that god is whatever I imagine him/it/her to be. No one truly knows and if you think you do know what god is, hmm you are a little vain. So to all, keep your faith belief and love, especially for yourself. You are all you've got, treat others and yourself good! GOD = GOODNESS not GUILTY CONSCIENCES AMEN!!! __________________ I wish you the best. Wendella

12-10-2004, 02:32 PM	#3
Sexychiick16 Offline Member Join Date: May 2004 Age: 21 Posts: 543	Yep when u accept The Lord as your personal savior he puts you through number sof test Trials and Tribulations...It says in the bible...but yeah im a slacker when it comes to readin gmy bible and doing what it says and i have a bestfriend who is the one who brought me to knwo Christ as my personal savior , but she drives me nuts sometimes. Shes God her own problems as well...Like The Lovely drug ( Marjauna)...And having sex ( before marrige)...More over its with the PAsturs Son... So yess mamm i know where ur comin from on this...God Loves to Test us and see if we are following his word....Its hard and ( iN tImE) we will get it right ... keep your head up and dont do anything stupid!

12-10-2004, 05:02 PM	#7
wendella Offline Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: minneapolis Age: 35 Posts: 55	I have noticed in all the posts when people say there are a christian the next sentence or so they are self-defeating and sound really guilty I am telling you if that's your way of life, that's cool but hey you don't have to live like that. Feeling guilty all the time. And yes you will still go to heaven. People have truly ruined GOD with religion. PERIOD __________________ I wish you the best. Wendella

12-10-2004, 05:05 PM	#8
wendella Offline Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: minneapolis Age: 35 Posts: 55	heated topic fo rwendella oh and one more thing, my sister goes to that church occasionally still, she is 21, and she told me things i can't believe from such "christian"people like some of the members in line to be an elder just can't wait for the elders to die so that they can take their spots after they pass. one of the "christians" who ran a strict christian camp was caught with freaking porn at the camp where there are hundreds of kids there every year and the list goes on that is scary.. __________________ I wish you the best. Wendella

12-10-2004, 05:56 PM	#9
Santa Offline Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 493	I think religion was designed as a way to understand and worship God, and live a good life, and to encourage people not to do wrong. At the end of the day, I don't believe its the means that count, it's the end result.

12-10-2004, 11:44 PM	#10
thisisnotanexit Offline Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 582	some Christians have given christianity a bad name, but the beliefs it is founded upon are good. we're not supposed to be perfect. the resurrection makes it ok for us to be human. god forgives and loves all. life is hard sometimes and there are tricky questions, but there are good explanations for them from a biblical perspective..and it takes some faith. if you ever wanna find pretty good explanations for some tough quetsions, check out this site: everystudent.com or just type stuff in search engines. read the word and pray..God will see you through it. take care all