Has Your life been better since becoming a Christian?

[Floatingaxe]

No problem EricH.

Is that a No True Scotsman fallacy I see Floatingaxe? Come on, I stayed up into the early hours of the morning praying for guidance, wisdom, understanding from God. I never heard anything that wasn't coming from my own thoughts. The times I asked for the Holy Spirit to fill me, getting no response, wondering what I was doing wrong. As my ex-pastor said, I was given a great deal of faith. Didn't help.

is the only possible answer that I was not a true Christian? Never TRULY asked for Jesus to lead my life? Ask any members of my old church, you will see the opposite is true.

We need to hold onto our faith and stop listening to our own thoughts. Sometimes those thoughts are not even our own! You had major opposition. I wonder why? Maybe it was because the devil saw a potential for leadership in you? Could be. Now you have forfeited that potential, that calling, in favour of pleasing the enemy of your soul. Of course, now, seeing as it has been a relatively short time, you will have some sense of "relief" because the devil isn't snapping at you anymore. He's got you right where he wants you.

Being a Christian is not easy...it's a narrow road. It's easy taking the broad path. You have chosen to jump lanesm, but your road leads to destruction.

It isn't too late to come back to Jesus! I pray the Holy Spirit continues to move upon you with His love, and His conviction.

[Floatingaxe]

We need to hold onto our faith and stop listening to our own thoughts. Sometimes those thoughts are not even our own!

Christianity meme complex at work again. Incredible thing really. Alas, that is not the case - during my many conversations with "God" or battles with "Satan", I found in all cases I either anticipated what was to be said (even in the case of words of wisdom), or I could control the voice of God/Satan - either way indicating the voices were simply my own thoughts.

Being a Christian is not easy...it's a narrow road. It's easy taking the broad path. You have chosen to jump lanesm, but your road leads to destruction.

Positive assertion? *places burden of proof on your shoulders*

It isn't too late to come back to Jesus! I pray the Holy Spirit continues to move upon you with His love, and His conviction.

If he didn't move on me while I was prayying for him to, it's not gonna happen now.

Maybe not. You are what the bible says is a "stiffnecked" one---just the type we are warned against arguing with. Only fertile ground are the ones we are supposed to be seeking for Jesus Christ.

[Guest]

{{{ Very subtle put down there, not bad. Still you have not addressed and/or refuted what I've said. }}}

You are a wonder!

You chastise her for Your failure to search for God with all your heart!

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

[[[ It isn't too late to come back to Jesus! I pray the Holy Spirit continues to move upon you with His love, and His conviction. ]]]

{{{ If he didn't move on me while I was praying for him to, it's not gonna happen now. }}}

Wonderful and oh so smart! You even mock her prayers for you.

"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." (Proverbs 8:17)

{{{ Positive assertion? *places burden of proof on your shoulders* }}}

What a wonder you are!

She gives you The Truth and she pleads to Heaven for your soul and then you demand that she opens your mind and your heart to God?

You really owe her a manly apology for shameless quibbling.

"How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?"

"Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you." (Proverbs 1:22-23)

Want The Truth, look to Jesus!

[systemstrike_7]

I guess we only have ourselves to judge whether these things are wishful thinking or not...

[maguschris]

This is a practical question. If you have been a non-Christian for part of your mature life and a Christian for part of it, is your life better in physical ways? Is it worse in physical ways?

Please include how long you were a non-Christian and how long you've been a Christian. Explain your answer. Thanks.

I was raised christian. When I was old enough to um see i've been forced into going to church. I hated it. I was ridiculed, mocked, beaten up, cast away, etc etc. When I was about 16 or so I flat out told my parents the only way your getting me to church is to drag me out of this bed on sunday morning and physically carry me to church. Well apparently this was unacceptable and I was finally free from getting up at 730 on my only other day to sleep (sunday) I became pagan for a few years and was still cast away, ridiculed, mocked, but not physically harmed. at this point I had obtained just under a black belt in Karate. People were not overly fond of attacking the guy in the large black trench coat who always looked angry. Now I dont believe in violence (except self defense of course) I used my appearence to keep muscle heads at bay and away from me.

To my amazement, after settling into my new supposed role, I found more acceptance as a rebel than a christian, even from christians.

After a time I signed up at another Christian forum (http://www.bonnie-q.com/Jesus-is-King) and I converted back to Christianity. I now lost the freinds I had FINALLY made (I'm a sophmore in college at this point) and i was ridiculed, mocked, and cast away again. hmmmmm interesting no?

I recently began to question my beliefs, the Bible, Christianity and many other things. For questioning (seeking, you know as in "seek and you shall find" for all you christians here) certain member were not to pleased that I questioned and I was not overly happy with their attitude towards me for seeking, so I left.

Currently: I believe in God, but I also believe in Magick. I believe in science but also the supernatural

Has my life been better while I was a christian? Thats too broad. Overall no.

The only time I was truly happy with myself and the world was when I was wiccan (pagan) and I meditated religiously (excuse the pun) everyday. I was in harmony with myself and the world.

[Guest]

The Power of God!

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

Tick! Tick! Anytime!

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matthew 24:14

[maguschris]

The Power of God!

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

Tick! Tick! Anytime!

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matthew 24:14

uhhhh ok your point? Im not understanding here.

[Guest]

[

uhhhh OK your point? I'm not understanding here.

It's OK!

You just can't help yourself.

"Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity." (Hebrews 5:2)

Good? Faithful?

"Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?" (Proverbs 20:6)

Self Righteous?

"Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?" (Proverbs 20:9)

The Natural Goodness of The Heart, Not!

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

Dear Heart:

You may think we argue with You and with Your understanding of God's creation but our fight is not with you! You Just Can't Help Yourself.

Our war here is with spiritual wickedness! Your eternal soul is The Stake!

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

I know, I know! It's OK! You're just not understanding here!

Seek Oh Quester, Seek!

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

"Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning." (Joel 2:12)

The Wonder of All Time and Space!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God." (Revelation 19:11-13)

I pray God with bless you with understanding and wealth beyond the sum total of all the Cosmos!

I pray God will bless you with Jesus and Him Crucified!

Mercy, Grace, Salvation, Love and Eternal rejoicing in The King of King and Lord of Lords.

Dear One, I know you're not understanding here.

Call out to Jesus!

[Guest spiersdodgerblue]

God Bless you EG,

And, it seems you missed *this* portion:

QUOTE

He is all we ever wanted, needed, or desired.

What does that even mean to you if it doesn't have relevance to practical matters?

Dave, perhaps I should add tangible to practical. What you said:

QUOTE

Mt 16:26

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

That is a very real practical matter.

Is not knowable, so it still doesn't weigh that heavily compared with the life I have to live on earth. How do you "love God" or feel that he is all you want or need if it doesn't bear out in tangible ways in your life?

EG,

I'm sorry for not getting back to you. I am being blessed currently, practically, and tangibly. So my time has been short and my attention span even shorter. I apologize. I also know that this question bears a weight for you personally. You are so thoughtful and your questions have a weight to them often. God see's that weight.

Jesus Christ is all I ever wanted, needed, hoped for, or ever desired. The tangible and the practical are tied together and let me explain as best I can in my limited earthen vessel kind of way.

My life prior to knowing Jesus Christ or being born again had no weight of Glory. It only bore the life of a dead man trying to realize a Hope. Yet that was it and the Hope was never going to be realized.

The practical is Faith and so is the tangible.

You said the Scripture I posted was not knowable. I disagree. I know today that by Faith the Promise of God is Good. Despite what my circumstance might have to say about it.

In My sig line I have this written;

Faith is a tangible thing. It's The Substance (The Reality) of things hoped for.

Have you seen Hope?

He's alltogether Lovely and Worthy to be Praised!

Again that may just be another set of words to you. Yet to me despite circumstance. In experience I have learned that it is True.

It all boils down to Faith.

Today my circumstance might be mean. Therefore I might draw the conclussion that God is mean because practically speaking I see no benefit from knowing God. However by Faith I know this;

That God so Loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, That whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I know God is Good. Despite my Circumstance.

In other words my circumstance and experience in the flesh might be another story alltogether. Yet the reality is that God is Good. Now I have a choice to make.

Do I believe my very physical reality today on the ground running my circumstance as it is currently. Or do I believe God?

Then to take it a step further I have a practical choice to make so that my Faith will become tangible.

It works like this for me. Sometimes I find myself in a difficult circumstance. How can we avoid it in this fallen world? It will happen. a difficult person, a death of a loved one, a mean spouse for whatever reason, a faithful brother or sister letting us down even. Who knows? We get hurt. Immediately the flesh wants to say , "How can God possibly Love me? I mean look at the results of my Faith". Ah' but we have just placed the results of fallen man and the fallen world in the lap of God. His charecter hasn't changed at all. He has still sent His only begotten Son no matter the circumstance. Matter of fact despite the circumstance God has indeed Loved us.

As I was saying it works for me like this;

I arise feeling not so maybe Loved. Maybe the day is a long one and I have had a few encounters with people who are not so lovely? Maybe I'm just a little depressed today? I'm not sure which example holds true.

I know this by Faith though;

The gift makes way for the giver.

I know am Loved by God.

I know that we enter His Courts with thanksgiving and His Gates with praise.

I know;

Ps

[Joshua-777]

Wow there are some majorly impressive posts in here