Converting

[MichVando]

Hi,

I'm 19 and live in Belgium, I'm a catholic christian since I was born, but for the last half year I've kinda lost the trust in the catholic church and did a lot of research about protestants and the more I learn and read about it, the more I really feel that protestanisme is really the true believe I have been searching, everything fits with me, the way I live, what I believe,

Does anyone have some tips or somethings a need to know?
Can someone give me his opinion, and please, be absolutely honest,

Feel free to reply!

 

[jonnyp]

Hi MichVando! I am Scottish protestant in London. Protestantism is much more simple than Catholicism. We have very few or no stain glass windows, no highly decorative ornaments, we don't have a hierarchical system of priests and Arch-bishops. God loves us all not matter what denomination we are. Just go for the one that you feel most comfortable with and one which you have the most faith in God.

 

[MichVando]

Hi Jonnyp,
thanks for replying,

Well, It's just, protestanism is like 1% procent of the people here in belgium, and also my dad doesn't support my believe, he's fully atheist...
I just don't know what to do

 

[Jess22]

Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship. You were created to have a relationship with God, to worship God.The glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. "Religion emphasizes precepts, propositions, performance, production, programs, promotion, percentages, etc. Christianity emphasizes the Person of Jesus Christ..." John 3:[SUP]16 [/SUP]For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 1:[SUP]9 [/SUP]The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. [SUP]10 [/SUP]He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. [SUP]11 [/SUP]He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. [SUP]12 [/SUP]Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— [SUP]13 [/SUP]children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Galatians 2:[SUP]19 [/SUP]“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. [SUP]20 [/SUP]I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [SUP]21 [/SUP]I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” You have to give your life to Jesus, to ask Him to be your saviour and Lord and then you have to ask Jesus which church He would like you to join to worship together. On 1990, I joined a baptist church after Jesus saved me in a youth camp.

 

[MichVando]

Hi Jess22

Thanks, your reply really did give me some good perspective...
I'll just pray and a good decision will follow

 

[Jess22]

Your welcome. Ask Jesus to show you the path.
[h=3]Isaiah 41:9-11 (NIV)[/h]
[SUP]9 [/SUP]I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
[SUP]10 [/SUP]So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.


[SUP]11 [/SUP]“All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish.

 

[Ritter]

People convert and switch denominations for two chief reasons:

1. They think the religion in question fits them more.

Or

2. They feel a system of belief is truly God's body of teaching and action on this earth and seek to be a part of it. To join God in his drive to save souls. To be transformed from the old, sinful man to a new sort of being.

The real question always has to do with what Jesus asked of Peter in Mark 8:29 "Who do you say I am?"

The problem with the Catholic Church is that they never give us the answer that God gives us in the Bible or in Nature. They exchanged one pantheon of Gods and form of political dominance for another. Reformed teachers in the 16th and 17th centuries saw this problem and sought to redress it, to reduce Christianity back to its essence.

The sad part is, many Protestant churches today do not do this. They have let a myriad of pagan,modern, and post-modern assumptions creep in.

Be careful and go where the Lord and Scripture points.

 

[MichVando]

Thanks Ritter,

I must say this is really heplfull, and is really making me more sure about this,

Thank you!

 

[Ritter]

Glad to hear it, sir!

Don't be afraid to send me a message if you have other questions/concerns.

 

[Jullianna]

MichVando, it's awesome that you are seeking the Lord so devoutly. If you give your life to Jesus, confess Him as Lord, spend time in the Bible and in prayer, I'm confident that God will lead you in the right direction. I will pray for His leading for you and that He will use you mightily in leading your family to Christ as well.

 

[MichVando]

Thanks for replying Julianna

It's just, I don't even know how to convert, what things there are to be done,

 

[Jullianna]

To be honest, MichVando, we don't do the changing (converting if you will). God does it. Our part in the process is to humbly pray, believe and confess that Christ Jesus paid the full price for our sin, accept this precious gift, and ask Him to make us more like Him. Spend time with Him in prayer. Find a Bible that you understand (NIV, ESV are pretty clear) and ask the Lord to show you what He would have you learn.

There is no formal process to go through. He knows what you have need of and He will meet you right where you are and lead you. If you truly seek Him with your whole heart, He will be right there.

Eventually, you will want to pray that He leads you to a good church, but it may be difficult to determine that until you have learned enough to know one that teaches the scriptures and one that does not.

Trust and surrender to the Lord, MichVando. Please know that many people who frequent this forum would be happy to pray with you and answer any questions you may have. We are here for you.

 

[Jullianna]

These are the basic things we do in the beginning:

I acknowledge I am a sinner in need of a Savior - this is to repent or turn away from sin

I believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead - this is to trust that Jesus paid the full penalty for my sins

I confess Jesus as my Lord and my God - this is to surrender control of my life to Jesus

I receive Jesus as my Savior forever - this is to accept that God has done for me and in me what He promised

 

[MichVando]

Okay,

Thank you so much Jullianna,
This all has been really helpfull, really

 

[Tommy4Christ]

Hi,

I'm 19 and live in Belgium, I'm a catholic christian since I was born, but for the last half year I've kinda lost the trust in the catholic church and did a lot of research about protestants and the more I learn and read about it, the more I really feel that protestanisme is really the true believe I have been searching, everything fits with me, the way I live, what I believe,

Does anyone have some tips or somethings a need to know?
Can someone give me his opinion, and please, be absolutely honest,

Feel free to reply!

You dont want the opinions of men, but the word of God, flee from organized church, and get back to the basics of the Bible, which is repentance and faith proven by deeds, which leads to a saving faith!

The Lord is near!

Psa 145:18 The Lord is near all those who call on Him, all those who call on Him in truth.
Psa 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Psa 145:20 The Lord watches over all those who love Him; but all the wicked He will destroy.
Yes the Lord is near; He is near to those who call on Him in truth, which means out of a pure heart, an obedient faith, along with a humble spirit that has been absolutely broken in repentance!
To fear God is to know Him, to respect His awesome power over sin and temptation, and also to obey and keep His commands as He wills His true followers to do!
And when the broken, repentant soul cries out as the whole city of Nineveh did, He will save them as they cried out for mercy and forgiveness because they were cut to the heart as to their great sin and disobedience to almighty God!
And now the best of the best of God! He watches over and protects His true saints, which are those who love and fear Him supremely, and have come to Him on His terms as commanded, which simply is repentance unto Him, followed by faith (obedience) unto His son Jesus Christ!
Act 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
But there is a catch here, since many who profess Christ as their savior have failed to understand. Those who have failed to come to God on His terms, through the repentance process, and are still in great bondage to the world and sin, God will destroy, which doesn’t mean a slap on the wrist, to all who think you can be IN sin, and IN Christ at the same time!
The wicked are simply the ones who have the pride and arrogance to call themselves followers of Christ, but openly admit they are addicted to many vile sins, or admit they struggle constantly by falling into willful disobedience to God, trampling on the precious blood of Christ over and over again!
God is no respecter of any person, but gives His grace and mercy to the humble, who are not perfect, BUT perfectly obey His commands, keeping themselves unspotted from the world, and any willful sin and disobedience!
Psa 117:1 O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
Psa 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD!
Tommy