/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

Get a discipler

I get your cycle. Only charity and enforcing clear boundaries can help you out there, if you lack one, you will become too hateful, and if you lack the other, you will become a doormat. Our pride, our ego stands in our way between God and us. If we accept that we are responsible for our actions that brought us here, we can become steadfast in our convictions and faith in God.

So, quick question, God saved you, correct? When Jesus died on the cross, He died to forgive you of all your sins, past and future, correct? So, when God looks at you, he sees the perfection of Christ in you, correct? If that's the case, why can't you come to Him?

Study the Bible, don't study Islam. If you keep having issues with growing in Christianity, focus on Christianity. Don't worry about arguing with Muslims. I knew an Orthodox guy, he knew nothing of the Bible and studied every other religion to disprove it. That was three years ago. Now he's gay, doing drugs and not sure God exists.

That is the process of repentance

Rinse and repeat daily just like saying the Lord’s Prayer

This is literally me. I left the faith at 15 and called myself an atheist for six years. Even now, I struggle sometime with faith. Sometimes I can feel God's work in my soul, and other times, it's just an empty void. I still have difficulty praying, as I can't help feel foolish when I do it, like I'm doing something disingenuous. I've gone down the road of studying other religions, so trust me when I say all it does is cause needless confusion. Pray. Read scripture. Go to church. Confess your sins to your priest. Fast according to church strictures. Try to limit your online time and maximize times spend in church or in solemn prayer. Take it from someone who's been there, is there, and likely will be there again. Faith is the only cure for a broken spirit.

>>839260

>So, quick question, God saved you, correct?

He gave His life to save me, but I believe in the Orthodox view of salvation, and I'm currently not very cooperative with God's plan

> I knew an Orthodox guy

>doing drugs and not sure God exists

Minus "knew nothing of the Bible" and "gay" that's literally me

I actually recently bought a big Bible that I started reading too.I'm also extremely preoccupied with worldly things such as work and my (non-sinful) hobbies. For some reason I feel guilty about those even if it's illogical.

>>839209

>become too hateful

That's me… I'm not sure what to do. Today I started to feel pity for lgbt people for the first time in ages because of a song. The rest of the time I'm having aggressive thoughts

>>839266

I'm also Orthodox. I really should go to Church more and live a better life. I haven't went to confession in a very very long time.

>Try to limit your online time

I actually don't procrastinate all that much, I'm seeing to my hobbies and my work usually. I only have 2 friends, but I like to go outside on weekends and sit in nature and read.

I think I need to rearrange the priority list in my brain.

>>839295

Oh, ok, you're Orthodox, but you know the Bible? What's Ephesians 2:8-9 say? Why aren't the Pharisee holy?

Also, that guy would say he knew the Bible, he had just gotten a huge collection to read where all the numbers were removed.

>>839314

>Ephesians 2:8-9

I don't believe in a works salvation. It is the Orthodox definition. Which is by grace through co-operation.

I don't want to argue denoms really…

>>839318

It's not an argument of denoms. It's an argument of the Bible. If you want to believe you're saved by works, stop saying you believe the Bible and did yourself out. Otherwise, accept the grace of God and enjoy life with God.

>>839197

>face inability to repent

That's why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit (pls don't at Orthos), so Christians could be sanctified and become holy.

>>839759

*at me

pls no

>>839197

>>regain faith

>>face inability to repent

>>lose faith

>>rinse repeat

The problem here is your definition of faith. It's hard to tell what you think faith is but it sounds like you believe that it's an emotion. If you feel a certain emotion, you think you have faith and then when you feel a conflicting emotion, you have no faith.

Faith underlies emotions and it underlies thought. It's not something that changes with the weather, it's an underlying component of your character. It's one of the building blocks that makes you you. Your problem isn't faith, it's your desires. You are double-minded and unstable. You need to be honest with yourself about what you really want.

>>839787

I think this has been the best response so far. Thank you so much.

I've been thinking about this a lot, because even when I stop praying and follow my desires, I feel guilt in my heart and I want to stop sinning.

Only after a long period of being ignorant towards repentance I start to question if this is all real, which I always come to the conclusion that it is.

The reason why I'm so terrified now is that for salvation it is necessary to not only say with your mouth that you love God, but actually keep his commandments, take up your cross and follow Him.(If you love Me, keep My commandments) Which I struggle with a lot.