Hi Guys

Hi,

I'm not sure if I belong here or not, my relationship with the Christian religion is unlike that of most people. Raised Catholic, hopped off the wagon in my early teens. I was an atheist through my twenties. Around my mid twenties, I read the Gospels, and was inspired. Very, very inspired. But I was still an atheist.

At one point, I began discussing what I was getting from the Gospels with a Christian friend. I don't want to get into too many details, but life threw a curve ball at us. We were both witness to a very serious and horrible crime. And he accepted a very large bribe to keep quiet about it. As off-putting as it was that he did this, what was worse was that he was convinced that "God gave him the money." It sickens me to this day. If anyone is wondering, I reported the crime, but not him. Perhaps unfairly, I held his transgression against the Christian religion.

Now, in my thirties, I'm taking another look at Christianity. I am still inspired to an incredible degree when I read the Gospels. I hear a profound and liberating moral message in them. Matthew is my absolute favorite. I like John too. Luke and Mark are good, but I kind of feel like Matthew has what they have and more. I've read Matthew like ten times, maybe even twenty. As for the rest of the Bible, I've read some of it. I like James and Ecclesiastes. I've read Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Job in the OT. And some of Paul's epistles in the NT. (Maybe a fourth of it at most, IDK.) But I've read the Gospels multiple times, and I like them the most. I'm not so sure that everything in the Bible is true. I doubt this A LOT.

Okay, sorry for the life story. But what compels me to become a Christian is because I want to be "a Christian when it counts." Not just when it suits me. That is SO important to me. I've tried a handful of denominations and had a go at the Catholic church again. Nope! Sometimes I believe that God is there. Sometimes I doubt he exists. Anyway, I've been going to Quaker meetings the past few months, and I really like it. They don't judge me for doubting God, they just tell me to follow the Inward Light. And they agree with the whole "being Christian when it counts" thing more than any other church to which I've been.

Anyway, I came to discuss the Gospels and maybe make a friend or two. Hopefully, I belong.

welcome to CC I hope you make lots of friends here .God bless you and you are in the right path

Welcome Oatsman - You definitely belong to the Family of God, because God has invited you Himself, not a denomination or a collection of any peoples. The Church is founded on the head who runs it - According to Scripture that is Jesus Himself. In our lives as Christians it is not what we get out of the deal as much as who we are afforded to become. And there is no other way to gain life than to understand Galatians 2:20; that the "I's" are gone for we died on the Cross with Jesus, and as we believe Him and receive Him we pass over from death unto life based on Jesus' work on the Cross. In other words it is a free gift that costs us our old life - completely. For that old Man is dead forever. We now live spiritually. Since you like Matthew and have read it numerous times, let's look into that Book for a second:

(Matthew 16:17): "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed (it) unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

“Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee”: Christ’s messianic claims had always been subtle allusions to Old Testament prophecies, combined with miraculous works that substantiated those claims. Never before had He explicitly taught Peter and the apostles the fullness of His identity.

God the Father had opened Peter’s eyes to the full significance of those claims, and revealed to him who Jesus really was. In other words, God had opened Peter’s heart to this deeper knowledge of Christ by faith. Peter was not merely expressing an academic opinion about the identity of Christ; this was a confession of Peter’s personal faith, made possible by a divinely-regenerated heart.

You see, fleshly man does not have any idea who Jesus is. The blessed of God (true believers) are the only ones who understand who Jesus really is. Unless God reveals to us in our spirit, we will never truly understand who Jesus really is. This is why it is so important today to understand the person of Jesus.

Most false doctrines are very close to the truth. They are misled about the person of Jesus. False doctrines teach that He became God when He rose again; some even teach that He suffered in hell for us. None of these are true. We must carefully weigh teachings with the Word of God. It must line up with Scripture to be true. Beware of teachings that elevate man and self. Self-awareness in Christ will vanish..are you prepared for that?

I pray you get to know Jesus Christ better as you do relationally, you will come to let Him take all of the details of your life, for they are not yours any longer to keep. He loves you and is calling you to be a part of His Family for Eternity, and we will be rewarded as His Children this is His promise, but here on earth we are to let His will be done as it will also be done in heaven. This is the Lord's will. In it comes peace, confidence, and power. Based on the Cross He has made us pure and wholeness and purpose, will be wrought out thru righteousness in living in Christ in our New Creation as He finishes His workmanship in us.

I hope to see you in the hallways, I would love to Scripture chat anytime....my door is always open. My name is Dan - Welcome to the party. Smile. May God richly bless you here my friend.

also read: (1 Cor. 2:14). Would you like to spend time talking about Matthew Chapter 5 sometime? I would enjoy that in getting to know you better. Any time ....

Well I don't know much about the Quakers, but I do know a lot about
the baptism of the Holy Spirit and having a real true experience with
God that will blow your socks off.

God the Father and Jesus both coming within you and transforming your
life and faith by their power through the Holy Spirit.
Miracles and healings along with many blessings are on offer as a reward
for embracing the full gospel of salvation.

Read the book of Acts and be excited.

This is a link to my Pentecostal Bible obedient Fellowship
here in the U.S.A. - read the testimonies as to what Jesus and the gospel
has done for so many.

Home - THE REVIVAL FELLOWSHIP, FRESNO

Welcome to CC! I hope you do meet some new friends here to encourage, help and support you during this important time. I do believe you were meant to be here - God has called you and is leading you for His chosen purposes. Enjoy...

John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."

Rom 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Hey! Good morning ' glad to have you here Welcome! Welcome!




Happy weekend




God bless you ❤

A few devout Catholics here, many raised Catholic but no longer in the church. The important thing is that you're a Christian regardless of the church or denomination that you're affiliated with.

The best place to discuss the Gospels is the Bible Discussion Forum. There are many ongoing threads of various topics but feel free to create your own thread in any forum you chose. Just be aware that there are a few members there that are somewhat opinionated.

A lot of people, at times, doubt God, even those who are long-time Christians. In the book of Isaiah God says, "Come now, and let us reason together...line upon line, precept upon precept. A little here, a little there." Seems to me that you're on the right spiritual track but possibly just need a little guidance and encouragement.

Glad to have you join our family. Welcome to CC.

Welcome here you can discuss with bible smart people and possibly make new friends,hope you like it here!
Go ahead and start discussing the bible with people here!

Hello and welcome to Christian Chat. You will find many interesting friends here. We look forward to your posts.

Yep, we love posts here on Christian Chat

Welcome to CC Oatsman, I am glad you joined us here. I will look forward to posting with you.

Thank you for the warm welcome guys. And sorry for the verbose intro. I'll see you in the threads. And (in the interests of honesty, because I didn't make it clear before) I still consider myself an atheist. I just didn't want to start with that because I didn't really come here to debate my worldview. But everything else was spot on from the Gospels to the Quakers.

I actually have read Acts once, a couple years ago. Fascinating book, but I gotta say I like the Gospels a little more.

I like going to the Quaker's meetings a lot--though it's probably what you'd describe as the opposite of having your socks knocked off. They have fairly simple meetings, but they are sincere people, and they offer something real. Anyone who is interested should look them up online and see what they're all about. Their history is especially interesting.