Confessions of a Raised Christian

[AaceN]

1. Believing in God does not mean God is real. I won't share unless asked to share.

My life was surrounded by a Christian environment everywhere I went: a Christian home, a Christian church, a Christian school, a Christian camp, and even a Christian work environment. It was natural for me to stumble upon a person that told me that was God was real. My parents always raised the point that as Christians we should plant seeds in hopes a person will come to know God. If it could be proven that God is real, then this makes absolute sense. Why wouldn't you want to share the good news if people really were going to heaven or hell? However, I branched away from sharing the message with everyone because of one reason: religion is not objective. Just because I believe in God does not mean that God exists. Just because I can not disprove God does not mean that he exists. Believing in God is not enough for me to try to convert others. I want people to have what I have if and only if I could prove God exists. I refuse to lead someone down the wrong path just because I believe God is real.

2. Being around other Christians does not help me.

The next step to being a Christian is surrounding yourselves with Christians. It was the secret law in my household that was never said, but definitely known. In high school, my school finally was a public school that had no religious enforcement. Every time I made a new friend or dated a different boy, the soon-to-be question was "So what does [person's name] believe?". With some of my friends being complete atheists or agnostics, Mormons (Mormons are not viewed as proper Christians according to my raising) , and a Christian that didn't really believe in the Bible, my answers were always unsatisfying to my parents. However, my parents failed to realize that I was much more fascinated in what non-Christians had to say then what Christians had to say. Another Christian who said everything I had already heard never challenged my thoughts or stimulated my curiosity. It was my atheist and agnostic friends that helped me understand what I believed (even if it did not correlate to what they believed or didn't believe in). I need challenges to stimulate my emotional growth, not a person telling me what I have been told my entire life.

3. Labeling me as Christian makes me not want to be Christian.

Dear Mother and Father, I love you, and I do not resent your teachings. I know that everything you thought you did for me was from the good intentions of your heart. However, any time you pressed Christianity, I never wanted to be Christian. At one point, I was angry with you because religion is a personal decision, and it didn't seem like my decision. Whenever someone was baptized at Church, you would ask me when I was going to be baptized. Whenever I questioned Christian teachings, you became defensive and asked if this was me straying into wrong beliefs. Whenever someone you talked with mentioned your children, you always mentioned I was Christian. When I went into college, you made sure I had a church. Know this: children are not coloring books. Children are given coloring books and crayons and from there, they choose how to color the page.

4. I'll never know if I would truly make the decision to believe in God myself.

Personally, I believe that I can only come so far to making the decision to believe in God myself. No matter what the reasoning is, I will always have been introduced to God because of my parents. It will never be that I wanted to believe in God without family influence. It was always be that I was raised to believe in God, questioned God, and decided it was safe to believe in God. Part of me wishes that I wasn't raised Christian. I know that if I am to believe in God, a small percentage will always be because I was raised to believe it.

5. Because of me, I know my parents feel like a failure.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 directly states the parent's purpose of a Christian perspective: "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.". My parents may say they love me, but I know that from the bottom of their hearts, they are praying for me to change. They are praying that God will touch my heart. I know that they believe they have failed to stay in the Christian direction.

[Anonymous]

I was raised as a Christian myself and here are my thoughts on my confessions as a "raised Christian"
1. I believe in God because I believe that someone must have created everything, and that someone knows everything.
2. Being around other Christians do not help me to grow wiser, it is through self help books and also a strong desire to want God's love and feel loved by God. But being around other Christians do help me feel like I belong and I am worshiping and serving God together with other Christians.
3. I don't mind being labeled as a Christian. It makes me feel like I am apart of a group and instantly feel like, I know myself a little more when I label myself as that. I am a Christian because I believe in Jesus and his love for me.
4. I believe in Christ/God not because anyone forced me to, or that my parents raised me to do it... it's not because I'm doing it to make my parents happy. I believe in God because I believe that God LOVES me, loved me enough to send Jesus down on earth to DIE for my sins... to be hated and humiliated and shamed for me, so that I can have my sins washed away and then be white as snow and included in God's family because now I have forgiveness and grace given to me, freely out of God's love for me that he did that! That's why I love God. Because he loved me first.
5. I don't live to please my parents anymore. My parents consider me as a failure not because I am a Christian or not, but because of the lifestyle I live. I chose to be a stay at home mom and they find that repulsive. I should be in a career and making 6 figures, and I should send them 10,000 a year, that's what makes my parents happy. They just want to judge me and control me... but I have to realize that they are not God. Who cares if your parents are super sad because of something you did... all that matters when you DIE is that you made GOD super happy. Did Jesus go "I'm sorry, I will go home to my mom" when his mom and brothers call him crazy? No... he said "whoever loves God is my mother and brother and sisters". My parents are earthly, but those who love God are my family.

[Markasaurous]

Why don't you think God is real? I am Christian and it is a faith for a reason, we cannot see God, for we surely would be dead if we could, and it faith we have in Him. The Bible is the account of those in the past, it is historical accounts of the past.

i encourage you to read the Bible as well, also, I would love to talk to you about Christianity and your experiences.

[AaceN]

I do believe that God is real, but I don't agree with the Christian philosophy of making disciples. Even if I have faith in something, that that does not justify me trying to convert others to believe something that may not be real in the first place.

[Markasaurous]

So you are wondering why try and convert others?

Well, in the end because it might just save their soul, and as believers of Christ we believe He is the only way. Now, should you shove your faith down their throat? Of course not, there is a time and a place for that kind of talk, and there is a proper way to go about talking about God because if you were to shove it onto others that might turn them away.

if God is real, that is a faith worth taking every single time. If He wasn't, that still would be a faith worth taking. All other religions are about man getting to God, Christianity is about God coming down to man and rescuing all of us from ourselves and sin.

Read the Bible, I have to do my part and read it as well, but God's word has the answers also prayer. I try to live my life the way God says to, and give all thanks and glory to God. I think there is more ways to be expressive of your faith than just speaking.

[Sabretooth]

we are encouraged yo do so so that they might be spared during the great day of judgment

[slatyb]

Why don't I think that God is real? Why should I? I've read all the arguments, none are convincing. I am sure of two things -- prayer doesn't work any better than not praying. Religious practice does not make one's life more comfortable, but excessive donations to a church can make it much less comfortable. Religious people are generally worse off than the non-religious.

[Markasaurous]

@slatyb

Well that is the point of faith, if you saw God then Christianity wouldn't be called a faith, we believe God is true and real, that He died for all of us and the Bible is our proof of His existence so if you want proof it is in the Bible. Also if you saw God, you would die on the spot. It comes down to, do you want to believe God is real, because if you did believe that might mean you have to change things in your life you may not want to give up. If you seek God truly and genuinely in your heart, you will find Him more or less He will find you. You have nothing to lose believing in God, Jesus. Eternal life? Forgiveness? Validation? Love? How can this be? God died for you, me, and everyone? Wow, maybe God does love me and you know what He says He does in the Bible countless numbers of times.

Christianity is a relationship with God, a perfect God! Jesus is perfect in all He did, no other person was, Jesus is worth believing in.

[slatyb]

It's not a question of wanting to. It's a question of can't. I can't believe in the tenets of Christianity any more than I can believe in Santa Claus or that Hogwarts is a real place. I've heard everything anyone has to say on the subject and none of it makes sense to me.

[jennifer_bloom]

I read 2-3 sentences but didn't read the whole thing because I don't believe this was written by a real Christian

[BaileyisDarcy]

What exactly is a REAL christian?

[AJayZa]

@BaileyisDarcy A person who obeys God and, keeps his commandments. A person who lives their life the way that God says they should according to his word. A person who doesn't give up on God or themselves and prays and repents but, still tries their best to stay away from sin. A person who recites a sinners prayer once and, lives the rest of their life living in sin is not a true follower of Christ.

[BaileyisDarcy]

@AJayZa
Guess you're not a true follower either then

[AJayZa]

@BaileyisDarcy What makes you say that?

[BaileyisDarcy]

@AJayZa do you follow the old or new testament?

Actually, nevermind, doesn't matter.

Mathew 7.2
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:
and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

You judged the op, therefore you yourself have sinned, and you yourself are not a true christian.

[AJayZa]

@BaileyisDarcy So... All Christians are perfect people who never sin? No. Christians do sin. Every single one of us. I never said in my original response that Christians never sin, what I said was "repents but, still tries their best to stay away from sin." I never said that Christians don't sin. Christians do sin, all of the time but, when they... like I said they REPENT! by the way, if I may ask, how did I judge the OP? I never even mentioned the OP until now, in this sentence.

[BaileyisDarcy]

@AJayZa
Ah, you're not jennifer bloom, nevermind.

Whyd you answer for her? She probably has a different answer

[AJayZa]

@BaileyisDarcy Oh, sorry. I meant no harm, I was just trying to give you an answer. My mistake.

[MarkRet]

My parents were Christian, but they followed it more because that's what you're 'supposed' to do, rather than having it radiate from their hearts. They pushed me into Christianity when I was little, because that's what you're 'supposed' to do, and I tried to play along. I went to Sunday school, Church, got confirmation and all that, but it never really resonated with me. I was very withdrawn, and used to get bullied around, even in Sunday school itself. I asked God, "This is taking place right here in your own house! Are you even there? Where are you, anyway?"

When I was about 13, I stopped going to Church, and became kind of an agnostic. I was kind of like, "Okay God, you just go your own way, and I'll just go my own way." I did a lot of growing up after high school, got a new job, moved away from my parents, and left my sad old world behind. I experienced things in this world, but the world by itself is really all fucked up. I felt that there must be something more than just this world, but what? I was fascinated with Wicca for a while, but that didn't seem quite right either.

Eventually, I met the woman who would become my wife, and she was still into the whole thing about Church being important, and all that. She got me to go back into a Church, and the first time, there was something inside me (it didn't seem like an actual part of me) that was pulling very hard for me to not go in there. I felt really uncomfortable the whole time.

One night, I asked God to forgive me and guide me, and I repeated that request for several days, and the weird thing was, whatever that resistance was that didn't seem like it was part of me, actually left one night. I know, it sounds really strange, but it actually happened.

I was a follower of God from that point on, but I didn't want to go with the Church my wife was into (Lutheran), and kind of shopped around for a Church that seemed more right to me. The Catholics were too caught up in protocol and ritual, the Lutherans were kind of Catholic-lite, the Baptists were a little focused on water, but the Presbyterians and Methodists were more to my liking, and I became Methodist.

The interesting thing is, while I've become closer to God, my wife is the one drifting away from God. It's a matter of self-discovery. You can lead someone, but you can't really force anyone.

[MadManInBlueBox]

I grew up similarly with my Aunt. She was Seventh Day Adventist, which is another one of those denominations that are rebuked by "normal" Christians. Before them, though, I grew up around various Christian exposures, to inlude a summer camp run by the Salvation Army. I did it every year from 8 years old until I was 16, at which point that was my first job. I worked their twice. Those people, every one of them, for the most part, were wonderful people in my life.

I have completely lost faith where I'm an atheist-leaning agnostic (one who doesn't belive in God, but I admit that I cannot claim there is none). I actually lost mine when I was serving the US military in Afganistan. I remember talking to a muslim, and I had asked him a question on whether or not he thought his country would improve one day. He was straightforward: No. he said because the people of his country were more concerned with the next life, or the afterlife than they were with things in this life. That truly struck a nerve with me. To me, that was exactly what most Christians here are worried about. Saving their souls, or brining in new souls so that they can share an everlasting eternity. Which, if there was a decent amount of evidence to back this idea up, is a noble and reasonable thing.

However, most of Christianity is a "feeling." People tend to "know" Jesus is real because they have "felt" him in their lives. Try and put that in front of a judge or jury in a courtroom. "Your honor, despite a lack of witnesses, evidence, or any confession, I feel that this person is guilty of murder." No, that would never fly.

[shephardjhon]

"he said because the people of his country were more concerned with the next life, or the afterlife than they were with things in this life"
Not sure about Christianity, especially as Catholics even forbid marriage to their priests but in Islam, you are supposed to be concerned for both. Problem is, Afghanistan and Pakistan have absolute morons and assholes as Imams who constantly demand more from their congregation and constantly insult the very people showing up for prayers every Friday and every day in Ramadan and these old assholes are relentless with their insults towards younger Muslims. Meanwhile there is a Hadith I don't remember it exactly but the gist was, a man was constantly in the mosque, The Prophet (SallahhoAlaihWasalm) asked who feeds him, he was told his brother does, he said the brother is a better person. For sickness, Islam recommends medicine and prayers. Yet a lot of illiterate and a few educated Muslims in that region shun medicine, especially psychology.

[MadManInBlueBox]

@shephardjhon To be clear, the opinion of being only focused on the after life was that of only one person, he could have been the only one there with that personal opinion, but I didn't really have any reason to doubt it; except for the fact that I'm not actually in every Muslim's home inquiring aobu their faith and political stances.

Honestly, from your description, Islam and Christianity do not sound too different. In ideology, they differ, but as large organized entities, they wield the same end game: fill as many of our temples with people as possible to get more money and influence.

We have Christians that completely shun the medical community (anti-vax). I don't think there is anything in the Bible about seeing a doctor, but most Christians I know realize the value of modern medicine. Still, there are plenty who would rather their baby die than go to a doctor. Jesus says to be forgiving, but the death penalty is sanctioned by the same believers.

Organized religion=business.

[shephardjhon]

@MadManInBlueBox I actually agree they are too focused on the afterlife and not at all on this one, I am just saying that this attitude isn't Islamic.

The fault isn't organized religion, it is horrible opportunists that turn a mix of religion, desperation and ignorance into a business/political tool. Pakistani Taliban used to be simple bandits but after 9/11, they took the opportunity to grow beards and hid behind the ignorance that uneducated people had about their own religion.

On the opposite end, I recently saw a Netflix documentary about Bobby Kennedy. The good things he did seem to be due to his Catholic religion.

[Armyof1]

Its important you understand this is a true story ! I was in prison there was a young. Boy who by nature was very kind had nothing bad to say about anything far as I could tell. He was searching for the answer and reading a book labeled the bang theory which Turks me to say the least so since I didn't have a eminent answer I ask him to reserve 20 min for me when I had prepared what I wanted to say on the subject that I wanted to come correct and ready.. silently feeling sorry that I had called myself a Christian and yet had no tangible object to put on a plate to hand him so how could I feel like a child of God and have nothing to share so to make a long story short god told me if if I cared so much about that boys would to get on the ground right now and pray for him and like a coward I ran to the bathroom and poured out tears and prayertelling god that boy was so much better then me and yet he had never been. Touched by him meaning the boy never felt the holy spirit or a blessing well after cleaning my face and returning to the line fixing breakfast trays that boy said to me you know when you went to the bathroom something came over me and said maybe there was something to what you been saying about god... I hadn't said anything except reserve 20 min for me... so of coarse I broke into tears again and told him what had happen in the bathroom... the part some may miss here is we as humans are not capable of handling god to another person and by chance I done the best thing I could have done... I prayed for him and it was and is god who can reveal himself to them we have not the knowledge nor the authority to hand god over to anyone but through prayer all things can be done

[Hidden_P]

Both my parents are atheists but raised Christians. I went to a Quaker school. But I do not believe in God. I believe in aspects and don’t label myself as religious.

My brother passed away just before his 5th birthday. My mother was pregnant with me at the time. He died from ecoli passed on from his teacher.

I cannot believe in a “God” that takes young lives, inflicts horrific diseases to the poor, allows the sort of problems that exists today. If “God” existed, why has he “created” brushed his hands off and gone “ahh job done, time for a cuppa while I watch everyone die”

Evolution has its proof aside from a magical bastard in the sky. I’m sorry, I cannot believe in something so all knowing, all caring, that allows such horrific things to happen all over the world. Even some animals are just awful, I don’t believe someone created it with a pure mind.

[Phoenix98]

Faith and belief isn't something that can or should be forced upon you, you have to forge that relationship with him yourself. You may not feel like you believe in him now but there may come a time where you may feel differently.

Read your bible and learn from it, the answers you seek are there. There's plenty of surviving history and archaeological evidence that actually can prove a lot of what the bible says if that's what you require.

There was a time when I once thought as you did but things changed.

[bibibibibibi]

You belong to the group and clique now. Congratulations on your pact with Satan. Nobody lately seems to be able to resist him and he offers only lust and after that, he comes and steals your property. Good luck in your life cause you need it more then everybody even nobody warn you for that since you going to meet a lot of friends and they all wish you to go to hell as all their other friends and laugh behind your back as they laugh after each other backs and they have occult knowledge and think they are smart.

[milettescheepers]

I was also raised strict rill i decided to leave church cause my priestctold me i hav3 an agro problem for giving my child a hiding outside cause shedidnt listen and was throwing a tantrum. Its my child i can give her a smack on the bum if i want its not as if i beat her to death. But i believevin God helping me and blessing me and i still pray. Im just done with church

[Catholicgirl22]

Wow I'm sorry you felt that way. My experience was the opposite. Though you rejected the religion of your parents I hope they have you plenty to be greatful to.

[CheckPlease]

True though in my experience I found my reasons and the facts and came back to my faith.
Sadly the chruch only made it all worse though it was a good church it just had no idea or ways to deal with young adults or doubting and angry teens.
As for my being around nonChristains I often prefer it to being around bible thumping Christain freinds. Whose answer is always GOD. Who stays out of so much of people's lives, yet they want him to run it all.

I wish you a good life man.

[Anonymous]

Glory to my Lord Jesus Christ above the dome
for you are all without excuse

look hun GOD spread out the sky like glass
he placed the waters above it

(Glory to My Lord Jesus Christ above the Waters) youtube

the reflection of the sun and moon show his power

(Two Moons in the sky) youtube

let the bodies of the giants be a reminder of GODS judgement and love
for my GOD flooded the earth and no one could stop it

(THE ROCKS WERE ALIVE! 15 MINUTES)

Genesis 6
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the angels came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them

[DaddyRollingStone]

All of this defeatist nonsense. If you're bitter about being raised by both of your parents then you could always just stop being a Christian, although in reality it sounds like you never actually were since being a person of faith is a conscious effort in itself, and you could also try having a backbone and telling your parents you see things a different way now.

[AaceN]

I never claimed to be Christian. I just claimed to be raised in that way. Also. I have told my parents.

[BillyB4]

This stuff resonates with me because I went to a Christian high school. No. 3 really sticks out to me, because I remember that all the kids with super religious parents ended up getting into the most trouble because they felt oppressed and stifled. People need freedom to choose their own beliefs.

[John_Doesnt]

Being raised a Christian messed me up pretty bad. I still have nightmares sometimes about their stupid stories of eternal hell, the torture from the bible stories and all the rape & genocide from the Old Testament.

[AtomicMuseliBar]

I basically had the same thing. I eventually realised how bullshit it all was and became atheist. My parents still think I'm christian, of course and I still have to go to church because I haven't moved out yet. (I hate it.)

[OldSchool_Metalhead]

great take. you really dug deep into how Christianity's been like for you

[Anonymous]

Confessions of someone who resisted being raised Christian and never was a Christian. But don't let it bother , you to much , Satan did the same thing. You should ask him how he got to where he is now...

[shephardjhon]

As a Muslim, according to us, it was arrogance/anger. Iblis was commanded to bow before Prophet Adam and refused, saying he was made of fire while Prophet Adam was made of clay. Atheists display the same arrogance as do more extreme religious preachers (do they really think they are above the Anti-Christ/Dajjal's temptations, I don't and I want off this world before he ever shows up).
I never preach my religion but I love that there are Churches, Synagogues and Temples aside from Mosques in Michigan so people seem much less arrogant than Miami or New York.

[Opinion Owner]

@shephardjhon. What's your point?

[slatyb]

Satan isn't real, and a lack of religious faith isn't really a choice. It's a conclusion, the same as the conclusion that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny and Fairies and Leprechauns and witchcraft and fortune telling and ESP aren't real. Having reached that conclusion, there's no going back.

[Opinion Owner]

@slatyb. Fuck you... get my point.

[slatyb]

I'm not angry at a God I don't believe in, and I am not angry with the people who do. It seems that you are the angry one. Many highly intelligent and successful people are not religious, yet they bear you no ill will. I did nothing more than explain my own feelings about God -- I did not choose to be an atheist, but I am unable to believe. Why does this make you so angry?

[Opinion Owner]

@slatyb. Not angry , just straight to the point.

[shephardjhon]

you asked how Satan got here and I replied how and how both extremist religious people and extremist atheists are similar to Satan in terms of how he got where he is.

[Opinion Owner]

@shephardjhon. I never asked anything...

[monkeynutts]

It's just probably does not resonate with you, but life is about community so you can look for this in other places.

[ovoxo_]

One day you will burning in hell and ask me for water and instead of water I will spit on you.

[Cryostatic]

Because... you'll also be there?

[ovoxo_]

No. Once I become an angel I will visit hell so I can say "I told you so" to all the atheists I argue with. And then once I see her there I will spit on her.

[BaileyisDarcy]

You make a terrible christian

[Cryostatic]

So, like I said, you’ll also be there.

[ovoxo_]

Nope. I will be one amazing angel.

[broskerposker]

very interesting viewpoint