/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

>>535160

Some people will say you just need to dump your friends and move on. But it's best if you just keep a healthy distance, back away from sinful activities, and be there for the people in your life. They need Christ too and you can be a good influence on them.

>>535160

Got plenty of flacks for it. Comes with the territory I guess, been that way since the first year of our Lord as far as I know. And with the direction the world is heading towards now, I bet it would not be long before we are categorised as cultists if not already now.

I have no super good advices, but I keep asking myself what would Jesus do. So I guess just be a good Christian, do what you can and do not brag about it, set an example and lead until the wicked came after you and make a martyr out of you. Do not be afraid of character assassination I guess? The wicked and the agents of Satan do that since the first century. The people who know you and witnessed your deeds would know, and that would be enough.

Also this >>535163. If they listened, good. If not and you are getting flacks to dangerous levels, then wipe your feet of the sand.

>>535160

I made the mistake twenty years ago, out of misguided loyalty, to keep in entirety the group of friends I had developed prior to salvation.

I never lost my faith, but I wasted a lot of time arguing with the militant atheists amongst them and our interests diverged more and more as God changed me until I had practically nothing in common with any of them yet gave them my time rather than finding more brothers in Christ to be friends with.

The one friend in that group that was Christian is far less devout than me but at least I still have a friend from that time. We're the only two with well-functioning families.

So much time, so much effort, maintaining pointless relationships. I was able to end half of them, by my own loyalty rules, as they inevitably cheated and lied to me over the years- not that Christians might not do that as well, but these folks did so unapologetically.

I should've just followed God's rules, came out and been separate from them, and I'd have good Christian friends I'd known for twenty years instead of just beginning to acquire them now in my middle age.

If you're a young man, don't make my mistake. Preach to them once, witness, implore and if it don't stick- shake the dust off your sandals and find new friends.

I am about to begin RCIA classes but have told no one, only the church knows that I'm becoming a catholic.

All of my friends are college party types but aren't rude, and family are "laxed" protestants and call themselves Christians even though they have never read the bible and attend any old random anti-trinitarian church (Baptist,Methodist, protestant) in distant on Easter, maybe even Christmas if you're lucky.

I'm not insulting them, i'm just disappointed that there are people like this out there who have such a lack and total disregarded for a thing the claim to be. It's so silly.

Anyway, I have no reason to tell others of my conversion , it's been a 3/4 year personal progress for my decision. I guess I'll just show up one day with a cross around my neck and then the questions will start.>>535163

>>535204

>>535215

Mods fix flood

>>535254

>but we should not hide our love of Christ.

I wont hide it but i wont shout from my window to tell others. If someone sees me with something related to the Church then it's here they can ask questions.

I kind of just want to keep a low profile for some reason and i'm not sure why.

I'be brought some back home to the Church. Others I have at least had back open to being accepting of "Christcucks."

No friends, so nothing to worry about.

>>535254

>Thats good advice, but I wouldn't drop them as friends unless they rejected me because of my faith.

That's how I tried to do it. It was just a giant waste of time that didn't lead to fruitful relationships because we were going very different directions. Most stayed single, only one had a kid while I became super family oriented. They got more into materialistic hobbies, I became more about education and good living. They were more and more critical of me and the faith the better God made me to make me- it was weird. They didn't share the joy of the spirit changing me, instead, they acted as if I was still the same person I was ten or fifteen years ago.

You end up with nothing in common, only obligations which they feel themselves not bound to reciprocate.

>>535254

>Has character assassination happened to you and if so what happened?

Not really because thankfully I do not live in the west. But I had some brushes with sensitive issues and surprisingly earned no flacks for it. This is when the media hyperbole falls short. The media painted every Christians like those Westboro guys, when people see it, people expect a hot headed yelling angry cultists. When they see a level headed, calm, polite, and yet stands firmly in his view; the illusion will be shattered.

Even Jesus is called black magician, heretic, and other names under the sun by the wicked; and even with the Gospel and the bible and the universal acknowledgement even from other religions that Jesus is real and he is good and great, some wicked still calls him name.

Just do your best and smile, either way, we hang on together, or though undeserved, will be hang out to dry together on a cross ten or twenty years later. Pretty much full circle.

Wrote this in a different thread but I am posting it here too as verbatim. Honestly mate, I don't care anymore. I don't care what friends or family think. There is Truth and there are "truths". I found the Truth today.

Hey guys. /pol/ack here. I just wanted to share this. I don't know if im breaking any forum rules or anything like that. But i'm just wishing to get this out. Mods may delete this if it doesn't align with anything or is in the wrong place. I've always been sceptical of the jews and their hatred for Christ. Today I woke up wishing death upon myself. I've been so lonely, no fellowship, nobody. My job is shit, my life feels like a dead end and i'm numb…. at least I was until now just. It feels like everything is a blur. I struggle with alcohol and reality.

Regardless. I met a messianic jew today. He was visiting a property which is for sale… It's strange because I asked in passing if he was a jew and he told me he was a messianic jew… And I don't know how to describe it but we had fellowship. We prayed, before we prayed he began to cry as he spoke the gospel to me. We both cried and sobbed like babies, and laughed and hugged. Even as I type this I am beginning to tear up. We didn't bother with legalism or traditions, we opened up a bible, read it and prayed. He prayed over me, spoke in tongues, I felt the Holy Spirit's living water upon me. I feel broken and healed at the same time. Like somebody that knocked the wind out of me. I knew that in that moment, is where i'd want to be for the rest of my years on this earth. I just wanted to let you know that. All the Glory to Jesus. I don't know if any of you have felt like this before… but man, it was definitely a unique experience and I am so grateful to my God for this intervention. I cannot explain or express what I experienced in words, nor can I clarify to you how I feel right now. But from wanting to off myself and get out of this world, to wanting to get out of this world to be with Jesus Christ has given me a full 180 on my outlook. I am ashamed, humbled and so grateful for my Father and what he did for me today. Jesus Christ is king and I want to tell you all about this. Sorry for the personal blog post but I am hoping that somebody may read this and that it will give them encouragement. I was not expecting it whatsoever and I am truly grateful to God. He will never let you down. I repented today. I will try to retain that repentence. And silly sins which include depression, anger and unforgiveness… even anger to God. I laid it all out on the table and we cried, laughed, cried and cried and cried. I wasn't sad, I was just crying for the sake of releasing everything, giving it up to God. Here are my sins Lord, I cannot do it through works, I cannot do it alone. I'm buggered without you and I miss you. It was an amazing experience and I just wanted to say it here in the hopes that there are other people who have also experienced it. "Though the deer pants for water, so my soul longs after you. You alone are my hearts desire and I long to be with you."

I hope we will all make it anons. I don't see this place as home anymore and never will again. Today pushed all my buttons, all my stereotypes were broken. And I am so appreciative of a random man whom I sincerely believe was sent by God. Anons, God is good. That's all I wanted to tell you. I want you to know that God is good despite it not being or feeling that way at times. I was skeptical but today it felt like the scales had fallen off my eyes. Fellowship is good. God is Good. God Bless you.

>>535364

That is a great witness but I don't think anyone has anything against Christians. Messianic Jews are Christians. Jews, however, are the modern continuation of Pharisees who reject Christ and denounce him in there books.

How did having a Christian of Jewish descent break stereotypes? Were you holding grudges against the ethnicity- why? Galatians says we shouldn't do that. Do you think a messianic Jew's actions reflect at all on a normal Jew's actions or state of mind- they don't

>>535364

Says the otherworldly beggar who wants only for death and/or suicide. You claim to love Christ yet cannot bare another day on earth to savoir in the beauty of all things that He has made but carry with you your old wishes and now transform them into 'religious' wishes.

Come on, son. Literally made me mad. How old are you?

>>535539

You fucking mongoloid, this man has finally converted, he despises the world now just as it is taught.

The world is corrupt and he hates the corruption and you have the gall to criticize him for doing exactly what is asked of him?

>>535577

>he despises the world now just as it is taught.

This Nihilist christian viewpoint, point to me where it is in scripture.

>The world is corrupt and he hates the corruption

I agree but to praise and want to attend to otherworldly matters as soon as he can is destructive and selfish

>>535539

Hi anon. I'm 28. I've been through a lot. Experienced a lot of loss. I want to go home and I want to be with the people I miss, the family that i've lost… I was lonely and I was looking around. Nothing fitted. I still don't fit but I know God is with me now. I have that knowledge without having to see it in writing. It was an experiential knowledge that I felt imposed upon me… And yes, that was a new and unique experience for me. I do love my life and value it as a gift from God. I wasn't attempting to spit in his face but I felt abandoned and alone. The morning I woke up I couldn't help but think it. It was on my mind. I'm not an attention whore and I have no friends. I was on such a buzz that I had no inclination to go anywhere but here because I know some of you a believers and you were the only and first people I wished to tell about my experience. Because in contrast to how I felt, to how I feel now… things feel very different. I honestly felt changed even though I have been baptised, yesterday felt different… something changed in me, or perhaps it was God proving that he was with me all along. For he tests all of us and will never give us something we cannot handle. I experienced something which had nothing to do with religiosity or denominational value. I saw the love in a strangers eyes toward me and he preached truth into my life. I felt he Holy Spirit in that moment and it touched me such a degree that I didn't know what to do. I'm sorry if I made you angry, perhaps i'm not as mature in my faith as you are…. I have my stumbling blocks and bondage to sin - that's not an excuse whatsoever. But I was giving you my honesty in full and declaring my mind-set because I thought there may be people who felt the same way as I did just yesterday morning. I don't believe we belong in this world, but we are called to save, heal and deliver and I felt like I became an initiate of something. I felt God and Love like I have/cannot remember. It's been a long time and I was happy. I wanted to share my joy with you guys. I wanted to show you that we can find joy in our darkest hours. That was all.

>>535577

Thank you for your post. I got sick and tired of being sick and tired and Jesus came to comfort me. I really appreciate the fervour and your defense. I hope you have a lovely day and thank you for seeing it as it was. I'm not perfect. Far from it, but yesterday was something I won't forget.

>>535583

My reading comprehension is perhaps not that great, but I do believe that we are not to dine at two tables. That Jesus sets a table for us with Him in the midst of the enemy. That he is literally our covering. That those who enter into Him are safe. I didn't mean to sound selfish. I just wanted to tell a story. I thought it would help others remember a memory, or perhaps it would give some hope. It was a testimony of some sort but i'm not from this board and i'm not going to divide it or intend on doing so. I just know that if two or more are gathered in His name, we are then having church, but if we stand divided, how does the Holy Spirit present itself? Thank you for your input and I apologise if you thought I was being selfish. I was being excited and happy.

>>536061

Same Anon here

>>536058

>I don't know what you mean by otherworldy matters.

These mean references to after-life and death

Please be careful with your depressive thoughts and mixing them with interpretations of Christ. Its so wrong

>>535391

>>536062

Ah okay, no I completely understand. I think you misunderstood me. You see, I just felt distant from my God. I believe we all have a calling in this life, but I also believe we under the curse of death. I kind of feel/see it as God is the programmer, he is the Alpha and Omega. True love cannot exist without free will, which is why we choose life or choose death. The world started affecting me, I was longing for love, purpose, reason. It was all blurry and I had a moment of clarity that wiped my eyes clean. I could see the Truth in my spirit if that makes sense? My tears cleansed my soul, I felt new. I felt refreshed and I felt loved. It was indescribably and I tried to put it as best as I could.

I don't know much about nihilism but I do believe we all have a purpose. I am just a bit slow. I also don't know anything about the saints or their preachings. To be honest, I care about Jesus and Jesus Christ only. I think the saints are inspirational people, but the lady in the picture doesn't mean anything to me. I believe that Jesus Christ is my leader and not man-made doctrines. I believe in the Holy Trinity and the virgin birth. I believe in His resurrection and that he died and payed for our sins in full. I believe that nothing can seperate His love from us. I think oil and water don't mix, which is why when you feed the flesh, your spirit man suffers and vice verse. My spirit and my flesh were both suffering but I do not believe it was God's fault. Yes, I was depressed to answer your question but I was brought up to "harden the f**** up" and I don't believe in pity parties. I actually said and spoke more than I would have ever done so… It was a crazy crazy crazy and beautiful and wonderful experience. And I am so grateful for it.

>>536062

In other words, the world didn't matter to me. I found peace in the conflict. I found peace in the craziness, I found peace in my apathy. I found utter and solid peace for the first time in a very very very long time. I was quiet, I knew who He was. I was still. The thoughts out of my control that were bombarding me for so long, the constant draining of my existence ceased to be and I was still. I was still to know that He is God. And for me, well… it was just amazing. It was wonderful. It was surreal. And I am so grateful because I didn't think it happened and I actually experienced it. It was genuine, it flowed naturally. It was real.

I hope that makes sense. Apologies for my bad grammar and spelling errors. I typed too fast..

>>536062

Sorry for samefagging. But yes, I do agree with you. Those thoughts are not from God and I am fully aware of it. I know that and Jesus is Life, those thoughts are death. I felt overwhelmed but He pulled me out of it and I just wanted to share my testimony because I honestly don't care what non-believers or skeptics think. Let them mock me, let them scorn. I can give scientific and worldly evidences to back up the word of God, but I solidly believe in the spiritual transformation and belief through faith in order to receive. So I posted here to perhaps also give anons a sense of not worrying what the world thinks of us. Let them say those things and do those things. We as believers are called to Jesus Christ and not the wicked things of the world. We are all here for for a reason and i'm definitely against nihilism in all its aspects.

>>536067

The Saint's offer inspiration and teaching, saints are able to draw one closer to an understanding of the faith and educate on meanings, doctrines and ways of magnifying ones faith. Saints are very important.

It sounds like you've literally just discovered Christianity and are still in a bit of hysteria, mixing opinions you've forged yourself and clashing them with current systmes which makes a lot of what you're saying not make sense or at least, sound erratic and a bit disorderly. What denomination are you pulled towards most?

If your opinions/interpretation of your recent events are all that of Christ, then I recommend finding a book called the Imitation of Christ which I think will help you on whatever journey you're on. It's a very popular book.