Who here is also someone who is Born Again but was not raised in a Godly manner?

[boatbums]

I was baptized a Catholic and we were taken to Mass a few times a month. Dad was in the military so we attended as a family every once and awhile. My Dad converted to Catholicism to marry my Mom, who was a Catholic. We were sent to Catholic school for about three or four years all together and mostly public schools when not, though we all went through catechism classes and first communion and confirmation. I'd say we were not really raised in a "religious" family as church-going was a Sunday, sometime thing. Around the house, the subject of God wasn't discussed and we probably feared Dad more than God. He was very strict.

My parents divorced when I was thirteen so after that we rarely were taken to Mass. I remember visiting my grandparents in the summers and hearing Billy Graham on TV. It had an effect on me though it took years for it to sink in what he was talking about. Sitting in Catholic religion classes and always sensed that I wasn't getting the whole picture somehow. When I was nearly sixteen, I remember walking home from Mass (I went on my own) and praying, "God, if you are real and there is any such thing as truth, I want to know it.". Within five months I learned the truth of the Gospel from Scripture and received Jesus Christ as my Savior. I determined that from then on I was going to learn everything I could about the Bible and not just rely on what someone else said was the truth anymore. I worked my way through Bible college and graduated with a B.A. degree.

My life is infinitely changed from that time as a child and I have been happily married for over twenty years. I have found peace and joy in knowing Christ and I try to live my life in a way that glorifies God and honors the grace He has given me. I don't know how my life would have ended up had I not heard and obeyed the truth of the gospel. I thank and praise God every day for the blessings He has given me.

[boatbums]

I'm probably more concerned about what some strident FReeper might nefariously use about what I say than that a “newbie” has ulterior motives for asking. But that's just me. ;o)

[Persevero]

Me. Raised to mock religion, basically raised atheist, converted to Christianity at age 21.

[Persevero]

And if so, what was the difference in before and after turning to God?

I was really born again. Opinions on all sorts of things, including politics, basically did a 180. Yet basic personality traits remained the same (like extroverted, introspective, likes to read, etc.)

Did you find it had a profound effect on your ability to empathize with others and see things from their perspective? Absolutely.

Did it make you less selfish and less antagonistic - yes

and did it make you more independent, productive and self sufficient? yes and no. I became less of a rugged individualist, and do best when I realize my weaknesses and acknowledge it is ultimately God who is getting me along. I am more productive, though, much so. Much of my non-Christian life was focused on destruction of various sorts.

What were other changes that happened? A tremendous underlying sense of security and purpose. A cohesive and logical world and life view.

[boatbums]

It is the primary problem when all you have is third-hand testimony or worse.

Just curious, what would qualify as "first-hand" testimony? Does having direct and precise answered prayer count? How about a miracle or miracles happening? Would a completely changed life through knowing Almighty God and His touching your heart count as first-hand testimony? The awesome thing about Jesus is that we don't have to see to believe, in fact, we are MORE blessed because we believe even when we haven't seen first. Instead of "seeing is believing" it's more like "believing is seeing". That's what I have found to be true even after more than forty years of being a Christian.

[caww]

You’re right, you do see conflict among the various faiths and denominations and rightfully so. You would understand this if you were a Christian far better then observing on the sidelines.

Let me say the conflicts are not about which one is right....the conflicts are about ‘TRUTH’... and the infiltration of false doctrines and teachers that have come into the body of believers to distort, deceive and draw then away from the centrality that is in Jesus Christ.

This has been so since the beginning of Christianity and will continue til He comes for us. Jesus said there would be wolfs among the sheep, even to His Disciples who also had to contend for the Truth. And over the years there have also been many “counterfeits” of Christianity who try to look like it, and claim it, but are far from the Truth and doctrines of Christianity. This will only increase more and more.

As for what to do if you don’t know where or which to turn to....??? I would recommend you read your Bible and ask God to show you what He wants you to know about Him and His Son....and keep reading until He does. Too many put it aside too early.

Doesn’t sound to me like finding a “right” church is the place to start for you....rather you might better take note of the Words He wrote to you for the direction you need. But if you’re simply looking for a church to be a part of....even in that you will need His guidance.

BTW......How do you define a Hypocrite?

[Prospero]

Add me to your list. I was raised by reprobate Baptists, and all we heard about "God" around our dinner table was framed around an epithet.

Regardless, I was drawn to reading the scriptures and then was sharpened by having to defend those beliefs by an opinionated secular, actually Norman Thomas socialist, father and indifferent mother.

Came to understand Christ through a study of the Old Testament prophets, in the context of history. Reading John's Gospel required a Yes or No answer. The "Good and Wise Teacher" nonsense didn't jibe with the reports about the man's claims about himself as reliably described by the witnesses. Their credibility was enhanced by their having stuck to the story to their deaths at the four corners of the compass, and the obvious changes in their behavior following the resurrection.

So, he was either "The Messiah, the Son of the Living God," or an even greater fraudster the our current president. There's really no honest alternative.

So... yes. There are a lot more of us raised like today's kids than many think. Won't say "and I turned out okay," though. But I did turn out believing in eternal truth, and that Jesus of Nazareth is who he was reliably reported to have said he was.

[caww]

My home life wasn’t religious at all, though my mother was Catholic and raised as that, she changed to Protestant when she married my dad. I have no recollection of conversations about God or salvation.

We basically went to ‘church’ on special occasions such as Christmas and Easter. Remarkably my older sister was made to take us to ‘Sunday school’ from which we left afterwards. So there really was no church services to speak of..... However I distinctly remember loving to sing ‘Jesus Loves Me’ and learning He liked kids as we were taught about Him, which as a youngster left a big impression, (as my dad died when I was four), which when I became a Christian later on I would see and understand how significant that truly was.....Jesus had His hand on me long before I had my hand in His.....

It was not until I was married with a son and my husband was overseas serving that I began wondering who God was and if He was truly real. I suppose now ‘being alone’ at 18 and with a son might have caused me to reach out to God....but in retrospect He had been reaching for me all along.

That night I asked God to send someone to tell me if He was real or not...the next day Jehovah Witnesses were at the door! It was not long before I realized clearly they did not have the truth I was looking for. Thereafter a few years passed and the Mormons showed up at the door...I studied with them for several months before it was clear their Book wasn’t jiving with the Bible...and the truth was still escaping me.( BTW I insisted on using mine though they made many attempts I use theirs).

Again years past til I was 27 with two sons, a home and husband. I was very unhappy with life as there just seemed to be such a hole in it...though I had everything most would want in life. My neighbor was involved with the Charismatic movement and invited me to a prayer meeting and to speak with their Pastor.....who went through all that is common about coming to Jesus, talking in tongues, miracles etc. Yet empty of what I needed, and just too much ‘inner discomfort’ about the whole encounters among them...which I was told I’d get use to.

By this time my frustration about all churches and faiths was clearly evident...so I sought the scriptures on my own with God alone. Many afternoons reading and reading more...and questioning God as I did so. I believe He knew I meant business with Him and was sincerely wanting to know the Truth. I was already becoming a student of Gods Word without realizing it.

It has been said ..”When the student is ready God provides the teacher”....I had read many verses about being saved....and Who it was that made this possible...I just couldn’t figure out How.

Long story short a retired Pastor from Moody Bible Institute came to work for us at our company.....I asked Him many questions and He answered many using the scripture He knew by heart....and He encouraged me to keep reading.

In time He and his wife invited me to their home where we searched the scriptures together....and the Gospel message was given. I understood...at last! I knew not only knew the Truth...I knew WHO the Truth resided in fully and completely. I was saved that night....and everything thereafter changed ‘in me’....and for that how I saw all of life and relationships.

[Gene Eric]

>> so called “christians”

Christianity is Faith. Individuals are made of flesh not Faith.

[Elsie]

Me

[Elsie]

Those things were supposed to happen??

Just kidding. In me, it has taken years - decades even (and I am STILL learning) - to become a 'better' human.

[Elsie]

Excuse me, but I'm on my way to the roof.

I feel like shouting....

There is no sin too great that it cannot be forgiven of a sincere person who has repented however, God is good.

[Elsie]

My start was the opposite direction - looking up at the brilliant stars one night and asking, "Where didja come from?"

I 'knew' what the 'scientists' have said - Big Bang!

POOF!! There it is!

All this matter from and infinitesimal point of energy.

Made sense to me! After all E=mc²; right??

---

But, math cuts both ways and the equations works the same when...

m=E/c²

Right?

The question I heard (almost audibly) was... "There's the mass; but where did the ENERGY come from?"

[Elsie]

At the time; I had no answer...

[Elsie]

Have I lived a Godly life, no, I am a sinner and always will be, I am only saved.

Me, too.

[Elsie]

I think we all come to Christ with some baggage.

We'd BETTER!

Jesus, the Spiritual redcap said, "Come unto me; all ye who are burdened..."

[Elsie]

Christ's main message was that we love God with all our might, love Him as we love ourselves.

---

 

John 6:28-29

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

---

[Elsie]

That was SARCASM???

---

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, "Stop! Don't do it!"

"Why shouldn't I?" he said.

 

I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"

He said, "Like what?"

 

I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?"

He said, "Religious."

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?"

He said, "Christian."

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

He said, "Protestant."

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"

He said, "Baptist!"

 

I said,"Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of GOD or Baptist Church of the Lord?"

He said, "Baptist Church of GOD!"

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of GOD, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of GOD?"

He said,"Reformed Baptist Church of GOD!"

 

I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of GOD, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of GOD, reformation of 1915?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of GOD, reformation of 1915!"

 

I said, "Die, heretic scum", and pushed him off.

-- Emo Phillips

[Elsie]

...because I was taught that I would never be able to understand it.

---

NIV 2 Corinthians 1:13-14
13. For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that,
14. as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.

[knarf]

"At the time; I had no answer..."

Well .. having been born into a nominally Catholic home (the only kind I knew ) I "knew" Heaven, Hell and Purgatory ... which meant my father had a 33.33% chance of being in Heaven but a 66.66% chance he wasn't ... which didn't seem like very loving odds to me.

(leaving a lot out at this point ..)

A conversation with a contemporary Jesuit priest ended with him sayig (about my father's place of residence) .. "I don't know and no one CAN know 'cuz no one's come back from the dead to tell us

.. which I bought for a while

Fast forward a few months and a Messianic Jew told me about Jesus and His redemptive work and that Jesus desire for me was to make a better man out of me and take me to Heaven when I died.

Click.

Born again at 7:30 PM, Aug.15, 1981 up Fallen Timber Rd, off the beaten path a few miles at Eddy Klein's kitchen table

Thank you, Jesus.