Are You A Christian?

[tigerpaw]

Hi!  There are many Christians that I know that struggle, with Anxiety, and it's meaning in context with their faith! I am the Men's Ministry Leader at our church and over the years I have had many discussions about the Bible, Jesus and sometimes the question Where is God in all of this?  We all struggle and its nice to know you can air out your feelings with other Christians and hopefully see where their walk with Jesus has taken them.

This Thread, is really meant for those searching for the Truth or Born Again Christians wanting to share their needs, wants, desires, hopes, fears, joys, and testimonies with other Christians.

So please feel free to discuss whatever God brings to your heart, and together we can walk out our faith.

Your brother in Christ Tiger

[crazygirl1]

 :action-smiley-065:Christian here. and yes I do wonder where is God in all of this at times...

[Statesman63]

One thing that has really helped me out lately is putting on the whole armor of God.  Just as those who fight in Iraq don't go out without first putting on their battle armament and grabbing their weapon, so too we need to put on our spiritual armor of God and grab our weapon, the Spirit, which is the word of God. Since our spiritual tools are invisible, we can put it on in the invisible way.  Look at yourself in the mirror and imagine putting on each piece: the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith and the feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace and the sword of the Spirit.  That passage says that this armor will thwart all of Satan's attacks against us and the shield will extinguish all of his flamming arrows he shoots at us.  We are in a spiritual battle against evil demonic forces, not against flesh and blood: man.  We have to fight this spiritual war using God's spiritual weapons.  Imagine even going out fully equipped and waving your sword of the Spirit towards Satan. He will have to flee and leave you alone because he cannot withstand God's armament.  It works for me.  Fear has no power against you when you are wearing it. 

Also, be filled with the Spirit.  When you are filled with the Spirit there is no fear.  The more your mind stays on Jesus, the more filling of the Spirit you will get until you become totally filled with the Spirit and there is a special indescribable power there that takes away all fear. 

[surfmonkey]

I couldn't agree more!! God has said that unfortunatly war must happen. When he made us he new what would happen years from then. He knew exactly. War can be within ourselves or with anyone or anything but if look to jesus and god for help then surely we can withstand any war. Psalm 91 says "if you hold onto me for dear life I will get you out of any situation. Give you the best of care" it also says that you will remain untouched. Thousands may fall at your hand but you remain untouched. He is there when the anxiety is but if you ask him for some help, you'll receive that!

[tigerpaw]

Psalm 91:9-16 NCV..................Good Word!!

 9 The Lord is your protection;
       you have made God Most High your place of safety.
 10 Nothing bad will happen to you;
       no disaster will come to your home.
 11 He has put his angels in charge of you
       to watch over you wherever you go.
 12 They will catch you in their hands
       so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.
 13 You will walk on lions and cobras;
       you will step on strong lions and snakes.

 14 The Lord says, "Whoever loves me, I will save.
       I will protect those who know me.
 15 They will call to me, and I will answer them.
       I will be with them in trouble;
       I will rescue them and honor them.
 16 I will give them a long, full life,
       and they will see how I can save."

[abaggett2]

I am a Christian and have been for many years.  There was a time in my life that I lived only for myself, but found that I was lonely and without the one true GOD.  I talk to God daily, I read my bible, I read prayer books and daily devotions and know that he is here walking this journey with me and sometimes carrying me.  There is many days that I am really upset and wonder where God is at that time, but I always come back to HIM.  HE is my savior and my protector.  The one verse I have found that I read almost daily is this:

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 4:12-13  (New International Version)

It sums up my daily anxiety and makes me feel great when I read it.  I know that the LORD will carrying me out of this and I will become a greater person on the other side of this dreaded Anxiety.

God bless

Anna

[crazygirl1]

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 4:12-13  (New International Version)

I love this but can someone please explain it? lol...
also, I am a Christian too although I struggle, (as some of you who know me-can remember) God does NOT answer every prayer,if He did then none of us would be suffering fro this anxiety or our other issues...I'm not trying to fight it-but I just must be missing something... I guess in my recent struggles, I keep praying & praying & nothing is happening...nothing at all and it's just so sad...

[abaggett2]

Crazygirl,
Your prayers are being heard and the LORD will answer them in his time.  Everytime we suffer and believe that God is in control and will heal us, it brings us closer to God.  Do not get discouraged, keep praying aned believing.  HE will answer on his time not ours.  I have a hard time myself with this becuz I have been dealing with anxiety for over a year now and I want it gone.  But, I pray every night and I read his word and I believe that it has a purpose in my life right now even though for the life of me I can not figure out why.  Stay strong and keep positive thoughts.  God bless

[tigerpaw]

Isaiah 48:10 (New Century Version)

 I have made you pure, but not by fire, as silver is made pure.
       I have purified you by giving you troubles.

Isaiah 48:10 (King James Version)

Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

In another version it says, "I have tested you in the furnace of affliction."  Here God is saying that through our troubles, anxieties, fears, He the Lord IS THERE and our afflictions/troubles are mere ways of him burning off the unchristian qualities and making us more like Him and Drawing us closer to Him!

Charles Spurgeon says in reference to this verse, "Whatever happens to me in this vale of tears, I know that He has chosen me........In the silent room of yours, there sits by your side One whom you have not seen, but whom you love; and when you know it not, He makes all your bed in your affliction and smooths your pillow for you."

Let me leave you with this, Psalm 46:1, "God is our protection and our strength, He always helps in times of Trouble."

[Princein]

Unfortunately I am an atheist, which I think makes a battle with anxiety and depression a million times worse.

[crazygirl1]

Princein---may I ask what your beliefs are?

[Princein]

I'm fond of Existentialist Philosophy. I believe that existence is inherently meaningless so we, as individuals, must build our own meaning. However, how much free will we have is up for debate.

[Cuchculan]

To widen the topic a bit. In my view the belief is more important than the God. Once you have a belief, it doesn't matter what you are believing in. I could have a rock. To me that rock could hold, what I believe, to be healing powers. Once I have that belief inside of me, it will work for me. So that is my question. What is more important. The belief or the God? Noadic science may be something worth looking up for everybody. Yes. Those people of science are studying prayer and collective thinking generated towards people and places and the effect it has on the people or places. So religion and science can mix. It makes for interesting reading. As to what I really believe in? Buddhism is one thing I love to read. Because it fits in well with daily living. And I think Western psychology has borrowed so much from Buddhism and claimed it as their own. When it has been around for thousands of years. Sort of shows you that you are just a bit part in life. Like on a beach. You are one grain of sand. Plus there is no God to pray to. The highest ranking person would be similar to Jesus. A person who walked the earth. No invisible Gods. That will strike you down and send you to hell if you do wrong. It just makes for peaceful reading. But I do think we all need something to believe in. Without a belief we have an emptiness. Close your eyes and you see nothing at all. But with any kind of belief you can have that something within. Something to hold onto. To give you hope. And help you try and make sense of the life you are living.

[Statesman63]

To widen the topic a bit. In my view the belief is more important than the God. Once you have a belief, it doesn't matter what you are believing in. I could have a rock. To me that rock could hold, what I believe, to be healing powers. Once I have that belief inside of me, it will work for me. So that is my question. What is more important. The belief or the God? Noadic science may be something worth looking up for everybody. Yes. Those people of science are studying prayer and collective thinking generated towards people and places and the effect it has on the people or places. So religion and science can mix. It makes for interesting reading. As to what I really believe in? Buddhism is one thing I love to read. Because it fits in well with daily living. And I think Western psychology has borrowed so much from Buddhism and claimed it as their own. When it has been around for thousands of years. Sort of shows you that you are just a bit part in life. Like on a beach. You are one grain of sand. Plus there is no God to pray to. The highest ranking person would be similar to Jesus. A person who walked the earth. No invisible Gods. That will strike you down and send you to hell if you do wrong. It just makes for peaceful reading. But I do think we all need something to believe in. Without a belief we have an emptiness. Close your eyes and you see nothing at all. But with any kind of belief you can have that something within. Something to hold onto. To give you hope. And help you try and make sense of the life you are living.

It seems very rational that to believe in something is better than believing in nothing. That makes for a great argument and it is a great point, however, it only applies in the secular, non-Christian realm.  Christians believe that it is all or nothing.  Christianity is an all or nothing religion.  We believe that the only way to get to God is by Jesus because Jesus Himself said, "No man cometh to the Father but by me."  And the bible teaches that salvation comes through faith alone through Christ alone, not by any other merit or source.  So in the perspective of a non-Christian, to have any god is good enough, but Christianity is not so lenient on the available options of where we place our faith.  So to answer your question that I bolded from the Christian perspective, the God we place our faith in is the most important, and then growing in our faith and maturing from there is the second important thing.  God waters, nurtures and matures our faith once the seed is planted.  He grows us without our efforts, we just only have to submit to Him.  Just as a plant does not have to strive to grow from the sun and water that nature provides, so too God waters us and grows our faith.  Even the faith of a tiny mustard seed, Jesus teaches is enough for God to work with and grow into a giant huge mustard plant. 

[Czad]

Unfortunately I am an atheist, which I think makes a battle with anxiety and depression a million times worse.

I'm an atheist too. Only I don't see it as making my anxiety worse. In fact it's quite the opposite with me. I was raised a Christian, and nothing was more terrifying than going to church on Sunday. Stories of eternal damnation and hellfire can be quite traumatic for a child. I believe that had a LOT to do with my having anxiety in the first place. Getting away from religion was like lifting a huge weight from my shoulders. It's helped me to understand that I am the one in control. Most people find comfort in religion, but I never could. So, try if you can not view atheism as "unfortunate." Instead, see it as liberating.

[Cuchculan]

I just think it is when people get too fanatic about their religious beliefs and start to link them to the problems that you have a serious issue. We did have an example of it on the forum a month or so ago. A person who thought they had done wrong in the ways of the religion and their God and ended up as they were. They wanted to know how they right the wrongs in a religious way so as not to be punished any more. To have that kind of thinking must be wrong and bad for you? You must do everything by the book. Or else you feel / imagine that you will pay in life. Far from a healthy way of thinking of all. And if preachers do preach such rubbish then they are wrong to do so. It is like scaring people into believing. That is not a choice. That is a forced belief. And that is the only thing I have trouble with. Other than that it is each to their own.

[tigerpaw]

I am the one in control. Most people find comfort in religion, but I never could. So, try if you can not view atheism as "unfortunate." Instead, see it as liberating.

First in order to understand a Christians point of view you need to read the Bible. A Christan doesn't expound on some superficial beliefs or conjure up a philosophy. As a matter of fact Christians beliefs are based on Biblical history and Christ's teachings, culminating on His death and reserection.  So, for a Christian being an atheist, isn't liberating, its a condemnation of a life style that brushes aside Christ's atonement for sin on the Cross, for a lost people. I would suggest that believing in Jesus is as liberating as it gets. We have a promise for help here on earth and a home in Heaven for eternity.  I won't start quoting scripture, but generally that's my comment on "atheism" as a liberating benefit to people.

[Czad]

First in order to understand a Christians point of view you need to read the Bible. A Christan doesn't expound on some superficial beliefs or conjure up a philosophy. As a matter of fact Christians beliefs are based on Biblical history and Christ's teachings, culminating on His death and reserection.  So, for a Christian being an atheist, isn't liberating, its a condemnation of a life style that brushes aside Christ's atonement for sin on the Cross, for a lost people. I would suggest that believing in Jesus is as liberating as it gets. We have a promise for help here on earth and a home in Heaven for eternity.  I won't start quoting scripture, but generally that's my comment on "atheism" as a liberating benefit to people.

Ok... here we go. I have read the bible. Many times. There's some pretty sick stuff in that bible. Have you read it? My post was directed toward a fellow atheist on this board, to try and help him/her view his/her situation in a more positive light. I wasn't looking to get preached at, or for a religious debate. I don't mean to sound confrontational, but you've got to understand that I deal with this kind of thing on a daily basis. EVERYONE tries to "save" me, or they assume I'm some terrible person, just because I don't believe in God. I know you mean well, it just gets really old after a while, so I'd like to nip this one in the bud early. Understand that atheism isn't some evil "choice" I've made. I can't believe in God anymore than you can believe in Zeus or Thor. It's just a silly concept to me. We're both atheists actually, when you consider all the Gods man has made up over the millennia. There are hundreds of Gods we both denounce... I just take it one God further. Besides, how can you be so sure the Muslims are wrong? Or the Jews? Or the Hindus? Or the Buddhists? Or the Zoroastrians? Or the Raelians? Or the Wiccans? Or the... well I think you get the idea. There are way too many religions, and each adherent believes, with all their heart, just as much as you do, that their way is the right way, and that their God is the right God. I can't make heads or tails of any of it, so I'd really rather just stay out of it, and remain a nonbeliever... it's much simpler. Again I apologize as I don't mean to sound so confrontational, but I find that (in the real world at least) people seem to be quite hostile (yes even violent) towards me when they hear the word atheist. *gasp* And this is just how I've learned to deal with it.

-And that's about all I have to say about it. All the best, to everyone, regardless of your beliefs (or lack thereof).

[tigerpaw]

That's fine Czad.  I apologize for any zealous, albeit meaningful Christian, who isn't more Loving in His/Her approach to questioning your belief or lack thereof.

The reason I titled this Thread ...........Are You A Christian?.........was more to draw other like minded individuals who could relate openly about there Christian beliefs and generally discuss what ever came up.  I wasn't looking for a DEBATE at all.

Obviously, there are some now that have jumped in and do not support Christian Foundational Beliefs, and thats fine, except it does beg an answer.




 

[Statesman63]

First in order to understand a Christians point of view you need to read the Bible. A Christan doesn't expound on some superficial beliefs or conjure up a philosophy. As a matter of fact Christians beliefs are based on Biblical history and Christ's teachings, culminating on His death and reserection.  So, for a Christian being an atheist, isn't liberating, its a condemnation of a life style that brushes aside Christ's atonement for sin on the Cross, for a lost people. I would suggest that believing in Jesus is as liberating as it gets. We have a promise for help here on earth and a home in Heaven for eternity.  I won't start quoting scripture, but generally that's my comment on "atheism" as a liberating benefit to people.

Ok... here we go. I have read the bible. Many times. There's some pretty sick stuff in that bible. Have you read it? My post was directed toward a fellow atheist on this board, to try and help him/her view his/her situation in a more positive light. I wasn't looking to get preached at, or for a religious debate. I don't mean to sound confrontational, but you've got to understand that I deal with this kind of thing on a daily basis. EVERYONE tries to "save" me, or they assume I'm some terrible person, just because I don't believe in God. I know you mean well, it just gets really old after a while, so I'd like to nip this one in the bud early. Understand that atheism isn't some evil "choice" I've made. I can't believe in God anymore than you can believe in Zeus or Thor. It's just a silly concept to me. We're both atheists actually, when you consider all the Gods man has made up over the millennia. There are hundreds of Gods we both denounce... I just take it one God further. Besides, how can you be so sure the Muslims are wrong? Or the Jews? Or the Hindus? Or the Buddhists? Or the Zoroastrians? Or the Raelians? Or the Wiccans? Or the... well I think you get the idea. There are way too many religions, and each adherent believes, with all their heart, just as much as you do, that their way is the right way, and that their God is the right God. I can't make heads or tails of any of it, so I'd really rather just stay out of it, and remain a nonbeliever... it's much simpler. Again I apologize as I don't mean to sound so confrontational, but I find that (in the real world at least) people seem to be quite hostile (yes even violent) towards me when they hear the word atheist. *gasp* And this is just how I've learned to deal with it.

-And that's about all I have to say about it. All the best, to everyone, regardless of your beliefs (or lack thereof).

I didn't see Tigerpaw's comments as being confrontational.  It seems that those in your life who have tried to convert you may have tried so in an unhumbled way and so you have your antenae up for anything remotely similar and want to run away from it all.  You are right, to each his own when it comes to religion, so I don't think anyone's goal on here is to convert you.  My goal is not that, but I would like to just discuss one point that you made.  You raised the question: How do we know the Muslims are not wrong...and all the other religions?  Christianity is the only religion that I am aware of that proves itself through prophesy.  I don't see any way around that except by ignoring it.  Everything that it has prophesied has come to pass except for the few that are left unfullfilled.  There are too many prophesies that have come to pass on to the letter.  Jesus was predicted to die on the cross, to die for our sins, to resurrect from the dead, to have a spear through his side, to have a crown of thorns on his head, to be called King of Isreal and Lord of Lords, to be born a virgin birth, the place of birth, Bethlehem was predicted, his power was predicted, his lineage that he would come from the line of David was predicted, how many days he would be in the grave was predicted, that he would be sold for 30 pieces of silver, on and on there are so many examples of prophesies that were written centuries beforehand that have come to pass completely accurate.  These are from manuscripts that acheaologists can prove how old they are, which date centuries before Jesus was born.  Prophesy, on top of the fact that people like the Apostle Paul would die for Jesus.  Paul's conversion serves as testimony to the authenticy of Christianity because Paul wanted to kill all Christians.  He hated Christianity.  But something drastic happened to him that made such a person do a one eighty turn and give his life for Jesus.  Just about all the apostles that walked with Jesus died for him.  Peter was crucified upside down for his faith.  Others were beheaded.  These people would not give up their lives for something that they themselves made up.  They are the ones who wrote the New TEstament.  The last proof that I'll mention is the fact that we have more early witnesses of the New Testament than any other historical document.  There are over 5,000 early manuscripts compared to only one or two that tells us that Columbus discovered America or less than 10 that tells us that certain people were the president of the United States.  There is more "proof" of Christianity than there is that Lincoln was once our president.  I'm not being confrontational, or trying to convert you....just food for thought.

[Statesman63]

I just think it is when people get too fanatic about their religious beliefs and start to link them to the problems that you have a serious issue. We did have an example of it on the forum a month or so ago. A person who thought they had done wrong in the ways of the religion and their God and ended up as they were. They wanted to know how they right the wrongs in a religious way so as not to be punished any more. To have that kind of thinking must be wrong and bad for you? You must do everything by the book. Or else you feel / imagine that you will pay in life. Far from a healthy way of thinking of all. And if preachers do preach such rubbish then they are wrong to do so. It is like scaring people into believing. That is not a choice. That is a forced belief. And that is the only thing I have trouble with. Other than that it is each to their own.

(I'm not typing this for you, but for Christians, assuming that you are not one.  I am typing this out of response of what you said, but not directed to you, but to Christians.) 

That is bad, but not what the bible teaches.  The New Testament teaches grace, which is the opposite of legalism.  Legalism is what you just explained: trying to complete a list of commands to please an angry God.  Grace is what God wants us to live by in the New Testament.  Which is living free, without worrying about commands at all.  The New Testament says that if you simply live by love, you've covered all the commands.  And that love covers a multitude of sins. 

Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burndened again by a yoke of slavery."  Jesus came to break the yoke of legalism.  In the same book, Chapter 3, he talks about legalism.  He says in verse one, "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?  Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.  I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?"  That is, of course, a rhetorical question meaning that they received the Spirit by believing and not by observing the law.  He continues, "Are you so foolish?  After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?  Have you suffered so much for nothing--if it really was for nothing?  Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?"

He is saying that since you received the Spirit by believing and not by human effort, don't try to receive a miracle from God by human effort.  Christianity is a life of grace, which means: God giving us what we do not deserve, as opposed to mercy, which means: God not giving us what we do deserve.  We are to simply believe for the miracle, just as much as believing for God's Spirit and salvation, without striving to do this or that command.  Jesus broke the yoke of legalism of the old testament.  We are now in the day of Grace.  The OT was the Day of Legalism.  It is for freedom that Christ came.  He came to set us free.