Born Again Christians

[Total Refected Power]

I have read several times here about the difficulty of having a relationship with a Born Again Christian, when you do not share their feelings. What do they do that makes it so difficult?

I am not interested in starting a Holy War. Just a question about RELATIONSHIPS!!!!

Thanks.

 

[ICyourNipple]

they constantly shove their views onto you and will NEVER take a hint. from my experience they also seem to think they have all the answers and are somehow better than everyone else.

 

[Noriaki]

Religious people usually have very very strong beliefs in something or another, and tend to think everyone else should share their "englighted" views.

My dad and step mom went to church for a long time, and I've had the opportunity to meet some nice Christians, they have their beliefs and shared them with me, but when I said that I didn't believe the same as them, that was fine with them. They were genuinely nice people and tended to be pretty straight forward with their thoughts (if they are somewhat old fashioned in my opinion, I still respect people that say what they think).

I think these "Born Agains" feel they have something to prove that they can be just as good christians as any other....but that's just *my* theory...I've met many christians that have been good friends...I think they always wished I would convert, but they never tried to force their beliefs on me....

But in regards to relationships, it's difficult to have a religious belief and be in a serious relationship with someone that doens't share your belief.

 

[toph99]

the one's at my school annoy me to no ends. i could never be in a relationship with one, it just wouldn't work. you have your own views, fine with me, but don't try to change me

 

[BoberFett]

Since getting married my wife has become a Christian. It's just one cause of a lot of tension between us. Born again Christians tend to feel that the answer to any of life's problems is to read the bible and pray. They also very closely follow biblical values, often without thought. They simply do what they're told.

 

For marital relationships, the Bible says 'Do not be unequally yoked to unbelievers.' But it's common sense just the same, why would you marry someone who hates what you have based your life upon?

In any old friendship, it's a different thing. God has called us to live out the Great Commission, to tell people about this gift that He's given us all. Relationships are a good way to get this message out... It's the most effective ministy technique, meet people, show them the life of a Christian. If a person is totally turned off by this, there's probably someone else out there who is seeking and could use more attention. On a related note, Christians are set apart from this world, so we try not be of the world, seeking it's pleasures and whatnot. Pretty much every non-Christian has an opposite meaning of life (as demonstrated by the meaning of life thread), so it's an obvious area of conflict when you just don't understand why I'm not going out drinking and partying with you. Hey, I'll be your friend, I'll show you love, but I'm not going to engage in activity that's going to bring me down.

I don't know if that helps you understand, but it's what I got at the moment

 

[Isla]

I became a Born Again when I first became involved with Mr Isla.

I had always been a Christian, but apparently, growing up Catholic was not quite good enough. I soon found out that my family and people in general were looked down upon. As an ex-Catholic, that made me VERY low on on the social ladder....

I had to burn all my secular music, including my Yes albums, Simon and Garfunkel, and Alan Parsons Project. Anything from my secular, sinful past needed to be released. No Santa at Christmas, either... ever notice how Santa and Satan have the same letters? Hmmmmmm?

In defense of Born Agains in general, not all of them are this way. True to form, I found myself in an extreme situation. The WORST part of it was I actually believed for a while that I wasn't worthy, or good enough.... that I would have to be even MORE Christ like than anyone else to be redeemed. The salvation prayer is one thing, but the SOCIAL STRUCTURE of the church and the family is a different story. There is a lingo.... I was a 'baby Christian', even though I was 24 years old and had always considered myself a Christian. Apparently, Catholics don't count. One of my sister in laws actually made the comment that I was DIRT until I met them. This is not true! It wasn't until a special person came into my life and reminded me that I WAS GOOD and worthy that I was able to crawl out of the pit I was in.

This has been the hardest part of my marriage.

There are INTERNAL controls and EXTERNAL controls. I am good because it feels good to me... goodness is its own reward. I am not good because I am worried about my salvation. That would be an external control, and when people think no one else is looking, they have a tendency to ditch external controls the first chance they get.

True Christians get simple, humble pleasure from being Christlike, not a sense of power, pride, or importance.

Hmmm. Did I ramble too much?

 

[Noriaki]

<< and are somehow better than everyone else. >>




<< On a related note, Christians are set apart from this world, so we try not be of the world >>




All I can say is that I hope that second quote was sarcasm.

 

[Capn]

Isla, what you went through angers me to no end. Might I guess you were down south, perhaps the Southern baptists? I really hope you do understand that many more contemporary churches find such practices revolting. I'm from New England and most churches I've been to are very contemporary and very non-orthodox my church even has a female pastor.

 

[aUt0eXebat]

they dont work cus #1, your not suspose to be with an unsaved person.
and #2, the unsaved is going to drag the saved down, their views are different on things, just about everything. And whoever the person said that we fix our problems by reading the Bible and praying, that is true. and it works. you may htink its dumnb and dosnt work, its becuase you need a thing called FAITH.

 

[toph99]

oh, and just a word of advice. incase any of you here are &quot;bible pushers&quot; (and no, i'm not trying to provoke anyone, or be mean or anything) just take into consideration that 99% of the people you try pushing a religion onto are not interested at all. might as well save your breath and self esteem, because some people aren't too friendly when they are pestered

just some friendly advice

 

[Isla]

Yup, down South, Capn. Don't worry... I haven't lost my faith. However, I am very unlikely to join any churches down here, what with my olive skin and all...

It's been really hard on Mr Isla, to realize the prejudice and hypocrisy. I feel worse for him than for me.

Onward and Upward!

 

Set apart, different, not the same... You're putting the word &quot;better&quot; in my mouth. I never said &quot;better.&quot; I'm no better than the next guy. Different because my sins are paid for, and yours can be, too.

 

[ICyourNipple]

i am very strongly against religion and everytime one of these threads starts it takes a ton of will power for me not to instantly start disproving and making a mockery of religious beliefs. just have to remember its not even worth my time.

 

[Total Refected Power]

Had a Jewish acquaintance and said if he was going to be a Christian, he would want to be an original: Catholic.
(just some levity here, those are not fighting words, peace).

 

The original Christian church is documented in the book of Acts. If you would read it (even just Ch. 2) you would see many differences between it and many churches of today... Find a church like that.

 

[Noriaki]

<< Different because my sins are paid for, and yours can be, too >>


Aren't all our sins paid for? It's been almost 10 years since bible school on sundays, but isn't that what Jesus died for according to you people?


I feel your pain ICyourNipple....I think I'm just going to leave this thread alone from here out....

 

[Capn]

(sarcasm) I'm sure the items of wisdom you may have will surely disprove my personal convictions. But thanks for restraining yourself. (/sarcasm)

hehe

 

Yep, Jesus died for all sins. All you have to do is accept the gift. Believe. That's all. If God isn't worth your time........ He still loves you.

 

[BoberFett]

<< its becuase you need a thing called FAITH. >>

Understood, and agreed. But I'm a bit lowon faith right now. I was raised Christian, but have since seen, heard, learned and discussed things that have put me off of religion for at least as far into the future as I can currently see.

 

[Napalm381]

I'm in the same boat as BoberFett. Raised a christian, but have since rejected pretty much everything the church taught me.

 

[Russ]

I see we have yet another thread filled with ignorance and assumption about Christians. I will point out one thing; even though I'm sure that it will not make the bigots any more likely to grasp the concept. There is a HUGE difference between a faith in Christ (Born Again), and organized religion.

Here's a clue for you: You are surrounded by us. Everywhere you turn, we are there. Yet, most of us have never tried to tell you ANYTHING about how you should run your life.

Russ, NCNE

 

[lowtech1]

I second what IcyourNipple said.

I too was born under the Roman Catholic Church that my mother imposed upon me, but I have strike out on my own since I was 16 years old.

The Christian Churches share a common fundamental believe that the father of America, and every other honest religious sect, or organize group founders shares. But, I question the current religious factions, because it seem as if what they preach &amp; what they do is a contradiction of terms...It seem to me that religions/Gods create everyone equally, but a lot of the religious people have a notion that they are better than the godless heathen.

A quote I got from my heathen great uncle, ?does the Buddhists go to hell after death, because they don?t believe in Christ??.

 

[Noriaki]

Bobtist, Isla, Capn and anyone else that may have these beliefs.
I'd like to apologize, you are all entitled to whatever you choose to belive in, your beliefs have no affect on my life, and there's no reason I should not respect what you believe in. I'm sorry for calling down what you believe in. And I'll do my best not to do it again.

 

[Napalm381]

<< Yet, most of us have never tried to tell you ANYTHING about how you should run your life. >>

And I appreciate those of you that respect my decision not to believe what you do. However, the few that DO try to push their beliefs on me are so vocal about it are extremely aggravating.