New Christian needs encouragement...

[scotty2397]

Hi there,

The whole concept that Jesus died for me, so that I could be saved is something that is very new to me and has deeply touched me... Previously I had always believed in God but because my contact with Christianity was through Jehovah's Witnesses (a fair few friends and family) where salvation comes more from works rather than faith and that only 144,000 people go to heaven, I never really knew the truth about Jesus - that his death means that I do not have to have to earn my salvation (in fact it is impossible for sinful humans to do so...)

Recently I have been going to a church at my university to try and get to know other christians and get a bit stronger with my new found faith. The problem at the moment is that I do this secretly because firstly, JWs stigmatise those who go to any church other than their own and second, because I worry about what other people think of me. I know this is wrong because I need to start sharing with others what I have come to realise, to start REALLY putting faith in Jesus in my day-to-day life rather than occasionally sneaking of to a church on a sunday... This is something I really want and I suppose that I basically need some strength to start implementing the neccessary changes in my life.

I've basically put down my thoughts because at the moment I feel rather crushed about this, that I dont deserve what Jesus has provided and feel like a bit of a fake. I want to start demonstrating belief. I ask for some advice from those who have been in similar situations, how they tackled with that, and also where they are now - a good outcome for someone who had similar difficulties would be a great encouragement. Any prayers that can be offered will be appreciated as I know that prayer has got me as far as I have got now. I did pray regularly to realise the truth and meaning of Jesus' sacrifice and that has now been revealed to me. I would like to become a better and more self-assured Christian rather than the hesitant and rather weak one I am at the moment...

[Dondi]

Do you have any questions about how to be a Christian? Do you know what it's like or what it means to be "born again"?

[JesusFreak4L]

If you have any questions dont hesitate to PM me and i can help u through anything that is confusing you!

[scotty2397]

Well, I guess a good question would be how does someone who can now appreciate Jesus' sacrifice take that further when others will display a disapproving attitude?
How do Christians such as yourselves conduct your day-to-day lives when being a Christian can be a difficult thing?
And how would you explain that belief to others when your belief rests more on faith than a clear understanding of the Bible?

It seems at the moment that I know it to be true in my heart because I have been moved by it and want to now act on it, yet cannot really explain why I believe what I believe - its an inside feeling. As such I feel incapable of telling the people I know and as such stay quiet. I really do want to overcome this as the knowledge of Christ has made me feel liberated inside and wish to start living for Him in thanks, but the first few steps seem very hard - the easy option would of course be to just leave it, but I guess posting here shows that I dont really want to do that...

[Dondi]

Well, I guess a good question would be how does someone who can now appreciate Jesus' sacrifice take that further when others will display a disapproving attitude?
How do Christians such as yourselves conduct your day-to-day lives when being a Christian can be a difficult thing?
And how would you explain that belief to others when your belief rests more on faith than a clear understanding of the Bible?

It seems at the moment that I know it to be true in my heart because I have been moved by it and want to now act on it, yet cannot really explain why I believe what I believe - its an inside feeling. As such I feel incapable of telling the people I know and as such stay quiet. I really do want to overcome this as the knowledge of Christ has made me feel liberated inside and wish to start living for Him in thanks, but the first few steps seem very hard - the easy option would of course be to just leave it, but I guess posting here shows that I dont really want to do that...


When Jesus was mocked, ridiculed, spit upon, beaten, whipped with a cat o'nine tails 39 times, had a crown of thorns mashed down, and finally crucified like a criminal, after all that, what did He say to his executioners and enemies?

"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." - Luke 23:34

Jesus said,

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." - John 15:13-14

When you consider that all his disciples died a martyrs death, save one, and that there are millions of those who have given their lives for the cause of this One Man, that others may know the love of God, that love that transcends understanding, that love that has changed so many lives, mine included, it no longer becomes a question. It becomes the Answer.

Who cares what others think?

[JesusFreak4L]

Well, I guess a good question would be how does someone who can now appreciate Jesus' sacrifice take that further when others will display a disapproving attitude?
How do Christians such as yourselves conduct your day-to-day lives when being a Christian can be a difficult thing?
And how would you explain that belief to others when your belief rests more on faith than a clear understanding of the Bible?

It seems at the moment that I know it to be true in my heart because I have been moved by it and want to now act on it, yet cannot really explain why I believe what I believe - its an inside feeling. As such I feel incapable of telling the people I know and as such stay quiet. I really do want to overcome this as the knowledge of Christ has made me feel liberated inside and wish to start living for Him in thanks, but the first few steps seem very hard - the easy option would of course be to just leave it, but I guess posting here shows that I dont really want to do that...

good questions.....


well dispite the disproving attitude that will be put forth by others toward you, look at the positive that can be taken out of this sacrifice...Start having an alone time daily to read the Bible and to Pray. I have been doing this, and instead of finding the disproving attitude of others toward my personal faith, i have been able to find the positive out of it!


I formally attended a public school where i was ridiculed daily because i believed in God...My science teacher and math teacher and students always found it interesting to call me a Jesus Freak and Bible Nerd!...instead of arguing back and yelling insults back at them, i just lightly ignored them and tried to witness to them. Instead of ridiculing others for not being Christians, i just witness and dont conform to the ways of Modern Society!


My belief in God rests on both faith and Biblical knowledge...I read the scriptures daily in my religion class at school and we discuss them in class...Also previous to my Grandpa dying, i would discuss matters from the Bible as well as literal meanings and metophoric meanings that are stated in the Bible ((My Grandpa was a pastor for 50 years)) at my church i also had to do projects containing to various verses in the Bible by writing what the verses actually meant!

Stick with Christianity!...although i cant feel in the same sense as you, because i have been raised in my faith since a young age, You will find it overwhelming at first and will want to just quit!...but just think of the reward that will become of you once you die and receive eternal life in Heaven from the Lord!!

Hope this helped and God Bless


--JesusFreak4L--

[twistedsketch]

Well, I guess a good question would be how does someone who can now appreciate Jesus' sacrifice take that further when others will display a disapproving attitude?
How do Christians such as yourselves conduct your day-to-day lives when being a Christian can be a difficult thing?
For me, I'm not afraid of being called a Christian or any of the slurs they use for "Christian." I went through a small gauntlet of debating unsavory characters and being influenced by Christian hard music to get to this point. It took time. And of course, this was an active period of prayer and devotion. The tricky thing if you go on this path to boldness is not to hate the unsaved people, rather love them while only considering their derision worthless.


And how would you explain that belief to others when your belief rests more on faith than a clear understanding of the Bible?
For me, when I rededicated my life to Christ, that was a very real spiritual experience. I knew this very well, and kept this close to my heart. Even if I couldn't convince someone else, I knew in my heart that this was true. And who knows, someone may benefit from hearing God's story of work in your life.

Now, if you're afraid of people asking questions and providing arguments you don't know how to answer, that is a legitimate fear you can take to God in prayer. There are very good books out there that destroy a lot of these intimidating arguments from unbelievers, many of them by former skeptics. Lee Strobel, Josh McDowell, C.S. Lewis - all were once atheists, but God used facts and reason to draw them to Himself and they have written a good amount of book that counter an atheist's argument against Christianity. I don't know the backgrounds of Ravi Zacharias or Norm Giesler, but they are also very good authors dealing with apologetics (defending the faith).


It seems at the moment that I know it to be true in my heart because I have been moved by it and want to now act on it, yet cannot really explain why I believe what I believe - its an inside feeling. As such I feel incapable of telling the people I know and as such stay quiet. I really do want to overcome this as the knowledge of Christ has made me feel liberated inside and wish to start living for Him in thanks, but the first few steps seem very hard - the easy option would of course be to just leave it, but I guess posting here shows that I dont really want to do that...
What I would do here is cry out to God and ask Him how to do this. He wants you to live for Him and He owns you now, so I'm sure He's got some ideas. You're willing, and He likes that. Take this to prayer, read your Bible, do this every day. I'm sure He'll give you an answer through either your church or privately.

[Radagast]

... at the moment I feel rather crushed about this, that I dont deserve what Jesus has provided
None of us deserve it.

But he saves us anyway. :clap:

Welcome to CF, and ask all the questions you want here.

[scotty2397]

Thank you all for your comments!

I think the best start for me now would be to commit to a regular routine of daily Bible reading so that I get more familiar with the Word - i'll start with Matthew and work on from there. I'll pray for greater understanding and for my heart to become more inclined towards leading a more openly Christian lifestyle. Thanks to twistedsketch for suggesting some reading - I'll see if I can get hold of some of these books so that I can increase my understanding and feel more capable of explaining my beliefs when I have to defend them...

I know that Christianity really is a great thing so I'll work on this and let you guys know how this goes...

Thanks again!

[JesusFreak4L]

also if you are interested in a video series, i would check out www.nooma.com ((this is a great video series, but can be on the pricier side of things!

[Controverse]

Hi there,

The whole concept that Jesus died for me, so that I could be saved is something that is very new to me and has deeply touched me... Previously I had always believed in God but because my contact with Christianity was through Jehovah's Witnesses (a fair few friends and family) where salvation comes more from works rather than faith and that only 144,000 people go to heaven, I never really knew the truth about Jesus - that his death means that I do not have to have to earn my salvation (in fact it is impossible for sinful humans to do so...)

Recently I have been going to a church at my university to try and get to know other christians and get a bit stronger with my new found faith. The problem at the moment is that I do this secretly because firstly, JWs stigmatise those who go to any church other than their own...

I'm sorry if I seem a bit... rude here, but WHAT THE HECK!!!

That's just... man, I'm glad you're thinking that way at the moment, what I'm reading about them just confirmed my suspicions all along.

They have no idea of the whole concept. O_O
Amazing.

It's funny as well, because a couple of JW's were asking me at my door, "How often do you read your Bible?"
>_< XDXDXD

Ark

[DanCF]

One great organization is Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I would look to see if there is a group at your campus even if you aren't an athlete.

[Chubo]

Might I also suggest some in-depth reading of John’s Gospel. Then camp out in Ephesians for a good long while and soak it all in.


It's funny as well, because a couple of JW's were asking me at my door, "How often do you read your Bible?"

I wonder how they might have responded if you had countered their question with “How often do you praise God for sending his only begotten Son to die as a sacrifice for our sins, that we may be saved?”.

[JTLauder]

First I want to say congratulations for trying to search out the truth and being bold enough to challenge your current beliefs to do that.

Recently I have been going to a church at my university to try and get to know other christians and get a bit stronger with my new found faith. The problem at the moment is that I do this secretly because firstly, JWs stigmatise those who go to any church other than their own and second, because I worry about what other people think of me.

I'm curious about this statement. Is that to say you are still spending a significant amount of time with other JWs? I'm not saying to completely abandon your old JW friends. But for a young faith, it's important to surround yourself with other mature Christians. That's how you learn to live Christ in your daily life--by the positive reinforcement and encouragement of other mature Christians.

Are you involved in a fellowship or Bible Study group in your church? Most universities have student fellowship groups too. I STRONGLY encourage you to join one. Studying the Bible and praying on your own is essential, but especially for new christians, it's important to be part of Christian body where you can learn and grow together, where you can encourage one another and hold each other accountable. That's what being part of the Christian family is about.

Now, if you were to suddenly start hanging around other Christians instead of your old JW friends in public, then you will be noticed. Questions may come, and you may get ridiculed. That's rough, but that's why you want the support of christian friends, especially for new Christians. Also, do you really want to hide and live a lie?