/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

Here's my advice

Any church worth joining is only encouraged by the presence of visitors, all the more if you have a troubled past. There's no reason to be anxious but don't feel guilty about it, that's a normal social problem. If its more comfortable go with someone you know. A pastor would be more than happy to meet for coffee on some weekday even if you haven't met.

If you would be more comfortable meeting fewer people who would introduce themselves to you, you could try a Wednesday or a Sunday evening service. Alternatively if you visit a large church you can slip in without needing to socialize.

When you say "found God in my struggles" did you come to a saving faith through the gospel?

>>850295

Thank you, I appreciate your kind advice. I'm planning to attend a catholic church in my town soon, hopefully this Sunday if I'm up to it.

I'm not sure to be honest. I have been through a lot of hardships over the past year and I have experience things that cannot easily be explained. I used to be very addicted to porn and vice and I did not think twice about hurting people and resorting to manipulation to get what I wanted. I terrorized the household and I thought it didn't matter anyway because if you're a materialist that is the only logical conclusion. If nothing matters and we're all just particles dancing around in the void and all morals are relative and there is no ultimate justice I might as well do whatever the hell I want right? Wrong. I did this for years and years until eventually I became incredibly depressed, my d— stopped working completely and I lost my intellect. God was teaching me a lesson, however I was still a devout atheist and I resorted to existentialism and mindless distraction, started doing drugs, smoking, drinking etc. and I had some experience on drugs where I thought I was going to die. One experience in particular I was 100% that I was going to die and I cried my guts out and I looked around and my eyes stopped on my bluetooth speaker (pic related) and I looked at the cross and I grabbed my bible and I kissed it and I cried and I said "God please, I don't want to die. I love my family so winnie the pooh much and I am a mess please let me live and I will never do drugs again. I will believe in you, I will walk the walk." and after this trip I told my family about my addiction and I dilligently started working on fixing myself and I began watching apologists on youtube and doing my own bible research, although this was very difficult and still is. My mental faculties are severely impaired at the moment and I find it difficult to focus on anything or even solve simple math. I have this extremely warm gut feeling whenever I read the Bible or think about God. A few weeks ago I was in despair, I was crying and I was considering suicide because the withdrawal was so intense and for some reason I felt the urge to go outside. So I went outside and I mindlessly walked in a specific direction and I saw this poster "It gets better" and I think this was a sign. Then last week I was watching a video on youtube about Christianity in the background had a sign and it said "Echt *my name*" "echt" means "truthfully" in my language and I think this might also have been a sign. It's difficult to say though but I can't deny the existence of God after everything that has happened. I think everything that happened was fated.

>>850324

The main thing right now is that I am still not quite sure about the how's and why's of a lot of things. I haven't really looked at the evidence for the resurrection, I haven't really delved into Jesus as much as I should have and I still have a lot of questions about metaphysics and why things happen in the world. I'm working on it though.

>>850297

You're right, I'm obsessing over myself while in reality nobody will even notice. Like when I am outside I don't really pay attention to other people so I'm sure it's the same for them. The thing is, anxiety isn't rational and even though I can rationalise that it is useless I still experience these intense feelings. I'm just trying to take small steps right now like going outside and shopping and things like that.

>>850311

I think he meant it in a good way.

>>850325

Thank you, I agree that it might've been his plan all along. I think my suffering was inevitable and I don't hold a grudge against Him. If I need to suffer then let me suffer.

>>850330

Here is a chart which helps to show how that God is indeed in three persons, being co-equal in substance. In other words, one God - the one God - is three persons that can be referred to as God. See also, the Lord our God is one Lord. Deuteronomy 6:14.

The three persons are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. They might be called the Son of God, the Spirit of God, or the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, or other names in the Bible. God naturally refers to this one God.

>>850340

>The Holy Spirit and Christ are not God by themselves

I'm afraid that is heresy.

Colossians 2:

2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

1 John 5:

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Colossians 2:

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

>are not God by themselves but by being image and spirit of the Father.

Scripture just said otherwise. In Christ dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

>Basil of Caesera who helped solidify the Trinity

No he didn't. God has existed since eternity past. God was not "solidified" by someone as if the Lord were a mere mental concept and not real. That is Absolutely appalling and turns my stomach. May I never have to see or hear such appalling ideas again. None of the random, fallible writings of fallible people is definitional of God, He is found accurately in sacred Scripture, which is God's own word. This is God's revelation to mankind where we know who He is, and this is also the record that God gave of his Son. If you reject it, you will be judged. Like it says in the apostle John's first epistle general:

1 John 5:

10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.