What is it like being a Christian where you live?

[Muffyn]

Haha. No worries.

There are no laws prohibiting evangelism per se, but it's frowned upon by most non-Christians here - as they see it as imposing personal beliefs on others (Isn't telling others not to share the gospel imposing a belief as well?)

Churches are allowed to invite non-Christians, and there are mass evangelistic rallies every now and then, so its not exactly illegal but more and more cases in the media have surfaced increasing anti-Christian values and sentiments among Singaporeans.

I find it strange how Buddhists (the prevalent religion here) are allowed to openly burn joss sticks and conduct ceremonies in the open, but whenever Christians try to conduct any outdoor events openly visible to non-christians, people start complaining.

Can't say I'm surprised, though. The bible does say that there will come a time when people will no longer put up with sound doctrine (2 Tim 4:3)

Good questions, though!

 

[woodl]

Church: The Church i attend in Michigan is wonderful. I have a group of Ladies i get together with often just to hang out and have fun together. I walk into my Church on Sunday and am greeted by happy faces and warm welcomes. (even hugs). There are some bickering and gossip that goes on there but that happens EVERYWHERE. My Church is not perfect, but it is where i can go if i need anything. I can go there to feel safe, confident, happy, and most importantly i can go there to be myself!! A CHRISTIAN!

Family: Some of my family claims to be Christian but i dont buy it. If they are, they sure as heck dont even TRY to live like a Christian should. They drink all the time, they swear all the time, and the words "Jesus Christ" are NOT used to pray. i grind my teeth a lot, im stressed a lot, and i stear clear of my family nowadays than i ever use to. It breaks my heart to think that my family will not be with me in Heaven! I hope they come around soon.

Friends: my friends from high school are no longer my close friends. They are more like aquaintences. I get made fun of by them for being a Christian. I get pressured into going to the bar by them. I hide myself in my apartment because i dont want to see anyone from my past life. My new friends are wonderful. They are Christians and they are very encouraging. MY CC FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE WONDERFUL AS WELL!!! I love you guys!!!

I know what you mean Riss, after I started back going to church I lost some friends too. They still respect me though. When I lose a friend or somebody has something to say the first thing that comes to mind is ( look what they did to Jesus. ) so Riss no matter what, you keep the faith. You are just getting ready to get started in life so keep Jesus in your heart and talk to him daily. May the Lord be with you always.

 

[Snackersmom]

^^^^Great advice, Woodl! We love you, Riss!

 

[Steve4U]

(While you're waiting for Muffyn, here downunder it's a case of 90/10: 90% of the population don't go to church and have no interest, with a small fringe sympathetic and a small fringe hostile. The 10% still in church have a living, active faith.

Australians and New Zealanders don't pretend anything. So those that have not felt like going are long gone, they don't go. There's no keeping up appearances.

But we are quite free to do as we please expressing our faith - street meetings, compassionate outreaches, fundraising, or whatever we like. The only real enemy is the ease of life and riches, which sucks all the power out of some Christians.)

 

[Snackersmom]

Thanks, Mr. Steve, it was interesting to hear from Down Under. Sounds like people in your part of the world don't do much sugarcoating, eh? I would love to visit that part of the globe someday....And, Muffyn, please accept my belated thanks for your answers to my questions, I must have blanked out when I responded yesterday. I appreciate your patience! -Nicole

 

[resurrection33]

I have little problem being a Christian in Reno, Nevada. People generally treat me quite well.

A problem I have at my workplace is that of homosexuality. I believe unchastity, including homosexuality, is a sin, but under the banner of “diversity,” if you speak against homosexuality, you can get in trouble.

 

[Vinifera]

It's so neat that cc brings together so many Christians from all around the world! I'm wondering what it's like to follow Christ in your part of the globe. Can you be open about your faith without fear of persecution? Does your church have to employ armed guards? Or, maybe you live in a heavily Christian area, where the Church's biggest problem is complacency (quite possibly more dangerous to our faith than persecution is). There are a lot of churches where I live (Southeastern U.S.), but, unfortunately, not a whole lot of people who seem to take their faith seriously . Back-biting and infighting within churches seems to turning a lot of people into agnostics, and church attendance is dropping. (I'm not complaining, only sayin') But enough about my area. What's it like where you live?

Besides depending on God's mercy and protection, my church is also protected by the police. We have to go through metal detectors that have been set up at the entrances. Well, it doesn't mean that we don't believe in God's perfect protection. The police are also used by God to protect us His people. A lot of churches have been bombed in Indonesia. I think about 10 years ago many churches in several cities and towns in Indonesia were bombed at almost the same time during the services on Christmas Eve. Just google it if you want more information. Security guards have also been employed to protect some malls and office buildings here since the 1997 riots and the occurrences of suicide bombings in the last 10 years.

By the way, A church in Solo (a calm town famous for their well-mannered people), Central Java, Indonesia, was bombed at about 10h55 this morning, 25th Sept 2011. The bomb exploded before the suicide bomber entered the church building. One person died (the suicide bomber himself) and several people were injured. Again, just google it if you want to get more information.

I don't want to blame any group of people or religion for we aren't fighting against our fellow human beings but "against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Additional information concerning the district in Jakarta where I live:

There are about 50 churches and hundreds of cell groups here. There are several ethnic groups and quite a lot of foreigners live here. Prayers for my country and churches here are highly valued and appreciated. Thanking you in advance.

 

[Vinifera]

I'd also like to add that in the area where I live the small churches have about 100 to 300 congregations and the large ones have thousands.

In Indonesia, there are a lot of people from other religions, including those who used to persecute God's people and burned churches, who have received Lord Jesus as their personal Savior. The number of believers has been increasing despite the persecutions.

 

[Muffyn]

.And, Muffyn, please accept my belated thanks for your answers to my questions, I must have blanked out when I responded yesterday. I appreciate your patience! -Nicole

You're most welcome.

 

[Snackersmom]

I have little problem being a Christian in Reno, Nevada. People generally treat me quite well.

A problem I have at my workplace is that of homosexuality. I believe unchastity, including homosexuality, is a sin, but under the banner of “diversity,” if you speak against homosexuality, you can get in trouble.

It is frustrating when a co-worker flaunts their sexual life in the workplace, regardless of their orientation. But God showed me something about the subject, and I hope you won't mind if I share it with all of you. It is better to be known by what we are FOR (Jesus) than what we are AGAINST (sin). If a non-Christian we know is living in sin, but doesn't feel as if we are judging them for it, then they are much more likely to listen to what we have to say when the time comes to share Jesus with them. Anyway, your answer reminded me of that, and I thought I'd share it. God is so cool, isn't He?

 

[Snackersmom]

I'd also like to add that in the area where I live the small churches have about 100 to 300 congregations and the large ones have thousands.

In Indonesia, there are a lot of people from other religions, including those who used to persecute God's people and burned churches, who have received Lord Jesus as their personal Savior. The number of believers has been increasing despite the persecutions.

Thank you for your insightful posts, Vinifera. I especially like the second one, where you mention the conversions, despite the persecution. It makes me wonder: does an active, gospel-sharing faith promote persecution, or does persecution promote an active, gospel-sharing faith? Maybe it is some of both. Of everyone who posted in this thread (Thanks, to all of you ), it sounds like your area experiences the most persecution. And yet, you are the only one who really emphasized that many people are still coming to Christ. Is a good dose of persecution perhaps the cure for complacency in the church? I think if we were really sharing the gospel like we should be, then we would experience more persecution, and much less complacency. Thoughts, anyone?

 

[BlueAngel]

We can be pretty open about our beliefs where I live.
To be an athiest where I live is just about unheard of. Not that people reject athiests, it's just that their rare.
I live on the outskirts of a town that's pretty much got Christians running it.
There are quite a few different denominations here, but everyone says their Christian, because they believe in Christ.
I'm very blessed to live in a place that everyone is accepted.

 

[Steve4U]

No persecution because we are not sharing like we should?

Yes, it seems that way, Miss S.

One thing my wife taught me was to be more open about my faith: when we eat at a restaurant we pray (aloud), she sings Christian songs aloud as she wishes and we know the neighbours hear because they tell us they like it, and she talks openly of the things of God to non-Christians. These may be normal in the USA, but they are not down here. These are not the things we do to share the gospel, which we do through love and taking the opportunites to tell of the love of God, but they are a more open, bolder way of life. I think we need to live like that, not be shy and sorry about the gospel, when no one is even asking us to be. After all, we have everything, don't we, and non-believers really have nothing.

Best wishes to you, and all, in the love of God.

 

[von1]

I am in the USA where we are blessed. We have many freedoms here in the USA. We have the freedom to woriship. We can serve God without being persecuted for be. Many people don't realize how good we have it in the USA.

 

[Snackersmom]

BlueAngel: Your town almost sounds like a Halmark Movie- It must be neat to grow up that way.

Mr. Steve: I love your post, especially the last two sentences . I think our reluctance to witness (at least in the U.S.) is due mostly to our reluctance to sound like a weirdo (understandable, from a fleshly standpoint), rather than any real opposition from non-believers. Sure, opposition is there, but so is a lot of openness, and pain....... I really like the verse that goes something like "Be ready in an instant to give reason for this hope which is within you" (don't remember where to find it....sorry ). Witnessing isn't ALWAYS about taking someone down the Roman Road, seed-planting does more good than we realize.......Anyway, thanks to everyone who has contributed! I would love to hear more, if anyone else wants to post .

Von: Right you are, Sir!