Please READ.

[JackSalmons]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. Nice to be here.

I'm having what's called a "crisis of faith". Let me elaborate.

I think I'll start by diving into my religious background. When I was a child, I was baptized as a Catholic and my family practiced. Then my family moved to where we live now and it was then I became a "born again" Christian at my mother's request. I must been about 8 or 9 years old at that time. Up until like...age 16 I had a pretty decent faith in Jesus and God. I didn't practice my religion by going to church. But I was a good enough person. Somewhere around age 17...I started questioning EVERYTHING. I'm sure that's natural, right? Well...I'm not ashamed to admit this, I know a lot of people might dislike me for it, but I renounced my faith. Because I was open to all ideas..not just the Christian ideology. I was open to thoughts from Buddhists, Islamic people, Humanists, etc. I didn't reject any idea as being wrong. The reasoning behind all of that was...I had lost my brother before I ever got the chance to know him so I guess I've always harbored some resentment and anger towards God about that. I had some close friends commit suicide, family members turn their backs on me, and some other bad things happen in my life. At those times of crisis...my faith didn't get stronger..it just got weaker and weaker. To the point where I just didn't wanna be religious at all. I wanted to just live my life day-by-day. I became a man of science more than a man of faith. My family wasn't pleased at all. I'm now 20 years old. Recently I've had a new niece come into my life, got a new job, and lived happy. Even then I couldn't fully thank somebody else for those things. But even more recently..the girl I was in love for over 3 years left me, I got into a bad accident, and had to spend a night in jail, and some other personal things. I sat there in my cell the other night thinking to myself, "look at me...in jail...alone." I felt like I hit rock bottom at such a young age. I thought maybe God's is giving me these challenges because he wants me to return. Stop being such a prodigal son. I'm just scared that I won't be accepted because of how I thought for the longest time. I'll also feel like some sort of hypocrite. I just want some kind of encouraging words from anyone on here. Tell me what you think I should do. I've been thinking of joining the Catholic church again. Go back to where I was originally baptized. Your kind and honest opinions will be deeply appreciated. A thousand thank you's.

[-SEEKING-]

A couple of things I'd like to say. First and foremost I want to welcome you to the forum. Now what I can tell you is that if you truly want to find God, He will be found. You need to repent of your current lifestyle and ask God to forgive you, and make a committment to follow Jesus and acknowledge him as you Lord and saviour. There is never a hole big enough to keep us away from the love of God. But we must cry out to him. We must be willing to change those things in our life that we know don't honor Him. The good news is that He will help you. Cry out to Him and ask Him to take you back into His loving arms. God never turns away a humble heart.

[Vhayes]

Hi Jack. I'm glad you made your way here. Please know that God has never moved - He is right where He has always been. And, more than that, He loves you. Talk to Him. Tell Him all the things that are in your heart and mind; your doubts, your fears, those things which make you happy, the things that make you cry. He already knows, so this will not come as a shock to Him.

Jesus is the answer - He always has been. Give your life and your loyalty to Him. He loved you enough to die for you, He asks that you live for Him. Make Him your constant companion, grow in your relationship with Him.

Enjoy your journey - it's an exciting one.
V

[Twin2]

... I'm just scared that I won't be accepted because of how I thought for the longest time. I'll also feel like some sort of hypocrite. I just want some kind of encouraging words from anyone on here. Tell me what you think I should do...

Jack - welcome!

Being a Christian isn't about being perfect. The Lord wants you to come to him as you are and allow him to cleanse you. The church you attend will not save you. Put God first in your life, serve him with all your heart. Pray and ask Jesus to come into your life and be your savior. Ask him to forgive you of all of your sins. Ask him to lead you to the church you should be at. Read the Bible - the book of John is a good place to start. You can start anywhere, but this book is often recommended as a starting place. Get started in church. The worship is important, but also the learning and the fellowship are important.

I believe each person comes to a reality that God is real and then has to decide if they want to serve him or not. Then they have to decide how they will do that, which doctrine they will follow. Some, it's natural they will continue in what their parents have taught them. Even they have to decide if that is how they will live though. Others, are presented with so many ideas, all of them supposedly the truth. So, people are faced with various lifestyles and it comes to a point that they have to decide how to live.

God doesn't cause the hurts in our lives, but he can use them to bring about good in your life. He can strengthen you, teach you lessons from them, but he doesn't cause them. God also has power over the enemy and can stop those hurts as well.

7"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
8"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:7-8 KJV

[Kahtar]

You have called yourself a 'prodigal'. Have you read that story?
The son wanted to go his own way and experience the world, and his father allowed him to do that. Eventually, the son found himself working in a pigstie, knee deep in mud and pig doo. The world was not quite as great as he had imagined.
He then decided it would be better to be a servant in his father's house than where he was now. At least his servants had something to eat besides pig food. So he returned.
His father saw him coming a long way off, and ran down the road to meet him, arms open wide.
The father then dressed his returned son in good clothes and prepared a feast, saying 'my son was dead, and is now alive!'
Notice, the son never stopped being a son. The father never stopped considering him a son.
When the son returned, he was restored to the same place that he had left. The father did not browbeat the boy for running off and being foolish, he gave him a feast for returning.
Good lessons in that story.
The thing about being a Christian is, it is not a religion like Hinduism or Islam. It really IS a relationship with our Father. Relationship involves both talking and listening, sharing feelings, standing by each other in all circumstances.
Jesus said that many would stand before Him and say Lord Lord, we did this and we did that in your name, and he will say to them 'depart from me, I never knew you'. That means knowing Him is important. Very important. And knowing Him implies relationship.
So, as you return, do not return to a religion, but rather to the Father who loves you, and already sees you coming, however far away you may be. And he is anxiously awaiting you, ready to welcome you with open arms and dress you in righteousness and give you a feast and restore you to the kingdom.

[pekoe]

Hello JackSalmons.
It's difficult when pain comes into our lives, but God allows things like that to turn us toward Him.

Very sorry about the loss of your brother. I've lost people close to me too. It made me realize that everyone and everything we hold dear in this life belongs to God. It's ok to be sad, but our sadness is turned to joy knowing Jesus overcame death for us. Believe in Him. Love your family and the girl who left you like Jesus loves them.

Don't worry too much about spending a night in jail (been there a few times too.) Ok, you screwed up, but you realize it and that's very important. So ask God for forgiveness and don't do it again. You're fine.