Coming out as Christian to friends (Seeking advice)

[maxwel]

I heard this from other people too and some i figured out by myself. I guess there really isnt much bad that can come out from telling them.But maybe not yet, i should probably work on myself a bit before i do or let Christ work in me a bit longer.

If you've had a "conversion experience", where you've repented of your sins, and turned your life over to God, and accepted Christ as your savior... then the Bible says you are a Christian now.
If you are converted, then you have become something new.
You are a "new man", and you have God's spirit residing in you.

If you have NOT had a conversion experience, then you need to get that settled with God... and turn you life over to Him.
If you HAVE... then you're a Christian now, and you can start telling other people how to be saved from their sins.

You don't need to be "perfect" before telling people about Christ, or about your conversion.
But, you do need to have had a genuine conversion.

If you've had a conversion, then you can tell people about your conversion.
If you have not, or you're confused... then you need some counseling, and you need to get that settled.

.

 

[cv5]

I heard this from other people too and some i figured out by myself. I guess there really isnt much bad that can come out from telling them.But maybe not yet, i should probably work on myself a bit before i do or let Christ work in me a bit longer.

BTW....toddlers in Christ can broadcast seed. They may be sloppy, they may be insecure, and actually they may no be very good at it. But they can get it out there......

 

[ButterflyJones]

In need of some advice (dos and dont's) about coming out as Christian to my friends who are pretty much against any kind of Religion. It's not so much about them knowing as it as about me not having to hide it anymore. I'm afraid of how they might react, i have always been vocal about my opinions and beliefs but i can't understand why this is such a big issue now. All advice is welcome.

You'll find who your friends are not if they change their behavior toward you because God found you.



Don't grieve the loss. True friends hold fast.

Blessings.

 

[Denis1011]

If you've had a "conversion experience", where you've repented of your sins, and turned your life over to God, and accepted Christ as your savior... then the Bible says you are a Christian now.
If you are converted, then you have become something new.
You are a "new man", and you have God's spirit residing in you.

If you have NOT had a conversion experience, then you need to get that settled with God... and turn you life over to Him.
If you HAVE... then you're a Christian now, and you can start telling other people how to be saved from their sins.

You don't need to be "perfect" before telling people about Christ, or about your conversion.
But, you do need to have had a genuine conversion.

If you've had a conversion, then you can tell people about your conversion.
If you have not, or you're confused... then you need some counseling, and you need to get that settled.

.

I've had this and i feel that the holly spirit is working in me i have been changing slowly but surely i feel it. Now i even have a really weird (in a good way) feeling when i read the Bible and Jesus is mentioned its like a familiar person i know its not so unknown to me as it used to be.

 

[maxwel]

I've had this and i feel that the holly spirit is working in me i have been changing slowly but surely i feel it. Now i even have a really weird (in a good way) feeling when i read the Bible and Jesus is mentioned its like a familiar person i know its not so unknown to me as it used to be.

That's wonderful.


If you want to grow spiritually, and grow reliably, you need to attend to basic spiritual disciplines God has give us.


1.) Prayer:
Have some daily time for prayer. Keep a journal of requests, and answers, so you can have a record of God working in your daily life.

2.) Bible Reading:
Read your Bible as much as possible.
We are fallen creatures, and spending much time in scripture sort of reprograms our fallen minds... not just metaphorically or spiritually, but quite literally. Our synaptic pathways are quite malleable, and will actually change.
- I would make this a huge priority... do as much as you can.
- Some people studying for ministry have read their bibles 8-10 hours a day. I never did that much, but when I first converted I read my bible about 4-5 hours a day, for several years... and it really changed my life.
- So just make time to read as much as you can.
- I'd start by reading the New Testament several times.

3.) Fellowship/Assemble with other Believers:
This may be hard where you live... but do this in whatever way you can.

4.) Discipleship/Mentorship
Jesus personally mentored his disciples; that was his own method of making disciples.
If you can, try to find some older believers who can mentor you, and disciple you.
You need older Christians who can spend time with you, answer questions, teach basic doctrines, and show you how to use Bible principles in all the matters of daily life.

.

 

[Denis1011]

That's wonderful.


If you want to grow spiritually, and grow reliably, you need to attend to basic spiritual disciplines God has give us.


1.) Prayer:
Have some daily time for prayer. Keep a journal of requests, and answers, so you can have a record of God working in your daily life.

2.) Bible Reading:
Read your Bible as much as possible.
We are fallen creatures, and spending much time in scripture sort of reprograms our fallen minds... not just metaphorically or spiritually, but quite literally. Our synaptic pathways are quite malleable, and will actually change.
- I would make this a huge priority... do as much as you can.
- Some people studying for ministry have read their bibles 8-10 hours a day. I never did that much, but when I first converted I read my bible about 4-5 hours a day, for several years... and it really changed my life.
- So just make time to read as much as you can.
- I'd start by reading the New Testament several times.

3.) Fellowship/Assemble with other Believers:
This may be hard where you live... but do this in whatever way you can.

4.) Discipleship/Mentorship
Jesus personally mentored his disciples; that was his own method of making disciples.
If you can, try to find some older believers who can mentor you, and disciple you.
You need older Christians who can spend time with you, answer questions, teach basic doctrines, and show you how to use Bible principles in all the matters of daily life.

.

3 and 4 are a bit hard since me and my girlfriend moved to another city where i have no one, but prayer and Bible reading are daily also i have this forum where i ask most of my questions but a mentor would be really nice.

 

[maxwel]

3 and 4 are a bit hard since me and my girlfriend moved to another city where i have no one, but prayer and Bible reading are daily also i have this forum where i ask most of my questions but a mentor would be really nice.

Is your girlfriend a Christian?
.

 

[Denis1011]

Is your girlfriend a Christian?
.

No...

 

[maxwel]

No...

If you have become a Christian, and your girlfriend has not... this is a substantial issue.

Have you made her aware of your conversion?
Does she know or understand what you believe?
If she knows, how does she feel about it?

.

 

[cv5]

If you have become a Christian, and your girlfriend has not... this is a substantial issue.

Indeed. An abandonment of the trappings of Egypt and cutting the cords trammeling us to Egypt must needs happen.

 

[Denis1011]

If you have become a Christian, and your girlfriend has not... this is a substantial issue.

Have you made her aware of your conversion?
Does she know or understand what you believe?
If she knows, how does she feel about it?

.

Yes she is aware and she doesn't mind it but i guess she doesn't want to have anything to do with it. I show her some Christian movies and documentaries and she has shown some interest but that has stopped lately.

 

[Denis1011]

If you have become a Christian, and your girlfriend has not... this is a substantial issue.

Have you made her aware of your conversion?
Does she know or understand what you believe?
If she knows, how does she feel about it?

.

What kind of issue? I didn't understand.

 

[Denis1011]

Indeed. An abandonment of the trappings of Egypt and cutting the cords trammeling us to Egypt must needs happen.

I didn't understand

 

[cv5]

I didn't understand

Its an Old Testament phenomenon bro. Maybe this will help....

Act 7:39
To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,

1Co 10:5
But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Lev 18:3
After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

Num 11:5
We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

Num 11:18
And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.

Num 11:20
But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

Num 14:3
And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

Num 14:4
And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

Num 14:29
‘The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.

Num 14:32
‘But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness.

Num 14:33
‘And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness.

 

[cv5]

I didn't understand

"Its an Old Testament phenomenon bro. Maybe this will help...."

To be more precise and clear, it is a symbolic, idiomatic OT type that endures and must needs be rightly applied to we, the Church.
This because Paul interjects with it as an exhortation for our benefit, therefore the application to us is confirmed.

1 Cor 10:1-13

1Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

[maxwel]

What kind of issue? I didn't understand.

1.) As you read the bible more, and study Christianity more, your views on many things will continue to change.

2.) If she is not a Christian: your views on a great many things will begin to change... and hers will not.

3.) This will naturally, and inexorably, create conflict over time.... it's a very predictable issue.


So I'll restate my previous questions:
- Have you made her aware of your conversion?
- Does she know or understand what you believe?
- If she knows, how does she feel about it?

.

 

[Magenta]

What kind of issue? I didn't understand.

Your core values will be at odds with each other. As Maxwel has said, the chasm will widen over time.

This is why we are exhorted not to be unequally yoked.

Solomon was considered the wisest man in the world, but he allowed his
(many many many) wives to draw him away from God and worship false idols.

 

[justahumanbeing]

In need of some advice (dos and dont's) about coming out as Christian to my friends who are pretty much against any kind of Religion. It's not so much about them knowing as it as about me not having to hide it anymore. I'm afraid of how they might react, i have always been vocal about my opinions and beliefs but i can't understand why this is such a big issue now. All advice is welcome.

Our society is a judgemental one. All societies are judgemental for better or worse. Even religious ones. Especially religious ones with all their rules and what not. But if you continue to be the way you want to be, you will be accepted or rejected for who you are better or worse. In a secular society, you're free to tell who you are to someone. If people are open minded, they'll accept. If they don't, that's their problem. Not yours. Isn't it a badge of honour if you are rejected for Christ's sake?

 

[Salgado]

Don’t be ashamed of the gospel. Rejoice that you found Christ! Relationship with God is better than any human relationship. “If you reject me in front of men, then I will reject you in front of the father. If you glorify me before men, then I will glorify you in front of the father.” “Blessed are ye when men shall falsely accuse you and persecute you for my name’s sake..rejoice! For great is your reward in heaven!”

 

[Magenta]

Don’t be ashamed of the gospel. Rejoice that you found Christ! Relationship with God is better than any human relationship. “If you reject me in front of men, then I will reject you in front of the father. If you glorify me before men, then I will glorify you in front of the father.” “Blessed are ye when men shall falsely accuse you and persecute you for my name’s sake..rejoice! For great is your reward in heaven!”

Beatitudes