Teenagers today....

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Relient_Hawk

Relient_Hawk

Banned
#1
May 14, 2009
115
2
0
#1
Tonight I was at a youth event with my church and we had to find a friend and talk about one thing that moved us during last week's Youth convention (it's a three day event where youth groups from all over the country come to worship listen to bands like Relient K perform live and hear speakers like Reggie Dabbs) anyways my friend brought up something interesting. There was 1600 people at YC during worship almost all had their arms in the air worshipping God, but there is one thing she kept thinking. "Where is this passion after YC" I agree with her at YC there was such passion such a love for God but I know in my school the same person who was crying at YC on Sunday was using God's name in vain and mocking him on Monday. Teens (me included) where is our passion? Why are we so afraid to share our faith stand up and say "Yes I love God I live for him Jesus is my saviour!" Our we so scared that we might be rejected? What's worse being rejected by our "friends" today, or being rejected by God on judgement day because we didn't want those around us to know that we believed this, so instead we abandon God and go with the crowd. I am not trying to bring anyone down here by the way I know I really need to work on this myself, and it doesn't mean shouting in the halls "I am a Christian" but it could mean that when your friends ask you to go drinking you say no, and if they ask why you tell them because it's not what God wants for you, or even being there for a friend who is in need, and needs God's love. Anyways the point of my rambling is to ask these questions

Why do you sometimes not share proudly that you are God's child?

Where has your passion gone?

I think it is only fair that I answer the questions I am asking.

So #1 I fear what my friends will say I know they would leave me (and the few that do know I am a Christian have left or only come by once in awhile to see if I have fallen so that they can use me). Also I fear that I would be a bad example because I often mess up and I don't want people to think Christianity is a joke because I keep messing up.

#2 My passion is still here but is sometimes muffled by my desire to impress and be loved by my friends.

Alright guys/gals teens/adults feel free to answer and please answer truthfully I did. It could even possibly help you.
 
L

Lillibeth

Guest
#2
#2
I totally agree with you, man. I seriously see that all the time. There are people at my school who say "I'm Christian." but act completely different.... I lose my faith, I guess, sometimes. It's more like an urge to impress people or live up to their standards.... but then I realize "What the heck am I doing?" and my faith returns. I... I guess it's peer pressure with us teenagers. But I get over it. Some people don't. That's my take, anyways.
 
Relient_Hawk

Relient_Hawk

Banned
#3
May 14, 2009
115
2
0
#3
Mmmm peer pressure gotta love it.... I think more people need to stop and think hey wait I believe in something better then being accepted by people.
 
L

Lillibeth

Guest
#4
#4
it's a lot easier said than done.... really. people get depressed when they hear what other people say about them or ask them to do... like me. Some girl in the halls called me a fat*** over and over and over.... i almost started bawling. Yeah, I'm insecure, but that just pierced me so bad....

anyways, I'm getting off topic.
 
Relient_Hawk

Relient_Hawk

Banned
#5
May 14, 2009
115
2
0
#5
I know we are so worried about what others say. My "friend" called me fat and useless, and well it cuts deep. And when I told him I was a Christian and didn't want to continue my old life and he said "You have said this before and after one fight just ONE!! you will come crawling back to us so your just wasting your time with this I believe in God sh*t" That cut me deep. I know it's easier said then done. I wish it wasn't. But with God anything is possible. It's actually sad to see my friends now. They are so lost, and I wish I could help them. My friend told me "My life sucks wow God hates me" And now I feel like crying because I can't get it through to them that God doesn't hate them God loves them, and wants to find them. Stupid peer pressure.
 
L

Lillibeth

Guest
#6
#6
GAAAAH! I hate people. >x<
 
Relient_Hawk

Relient_Hawk

Banned
#7
May 14, 2009
115
2
0
#7
Nah don't hate people (again easier said then done). I actually really like people, I have always wanted to help people but unfortunately my stutter, and other personal reasons have kept me from reaching out, and getting personal with people but it doesn't mean I hate them or give up on them. God loves everybody even the ones who say horrible things to us do horrible things to us, or even the people who hate themselves. So we have to love them too, and pray for them.
 
L

Lillibeth

Guest
#8
#8
mmmm... i know you're right. i'm just having a tough day. xD
 
Relient_Hawk

Relient_Hawk

Banned
#9
May 14, 2009
115
2
0
#9
Haha I know we all do. I'm actually a little bitter (not the right word but the only one I could think of) right now because if I was still worldly and didn't know God I would be at my friends party drinking until I threw up (I'm working on not making that sound fun any more forgive me I am working on this). I just have to have faith that God has a better plan for me. I know he does but it doesn't make things completely easy.

Wow we got off topic oh well maybe God meant for this to happen so that someone else may read this and think...
 
L

Lillibeth

Guest
#10
#10
xD yeah. that's funny. well, I'm lilly.... xD
 
Relient_Hawk

Relient_Hawk

Banned
#11
May 14, 2009
115
2
0
#11
I'm Cathryn (I know funky spelling as the spell check on everything always tells me :p) Nice to meet you Lilly
 
I

imTastik

Guest
#12
#12
I really want to shout at the top of my voice that I'm a Christian at times and I'd love to have the courage to invite them to services but I think my confidence has been knocked back a bit about asking stuff like that like I had a friend to stay last year and said 'oh I'm a Christian so I'll be going to Church on Sunday but if you want you can stay at home' and she just went 'oh....great'. I also brought up my faith in school at times and this one time my friends just took the mick out of me, they called me a Bible Basher, called me all sorts of names, i didn't know whether to scream or just hide and cry. i weren't ashamed though, I just didn't understand why they couldn't accept me for being a Christian. Everyone on my course at college knows i'm a Christian, some accept it but some just milk it, they don't go round calling me a Bible Basher but they'll often use it to defend me but not in a good way but i don't think they really understand that its not in a good way. Like some people from outside college that we're friends with will ask me if I'll go out clubbing with them and someone'll jump in and go 'She can't, she's a Christian' but I'm there going 'it's not like that at all. Its just I choose not to'

Its bad and I know that. I really like someone but as far as I know he's not a Christian....this is gonna sound so sad and like i've got no life at all...i have a life i promise :) but before i see him i think about the conversation i might have with him cos i'm really praying that i'll have the opportunity to get him to Church and give his life to Jesus if he hasn't already but then i just freeze when i want to bring it up when i'm talking to him because i think he might think i'm a freak if i bring it up. I know he's got other Christian friends though so that does give me some hope. But thats what its like, its not because i don't want to, its because my confidence has been knocked
 
Relient_Hawk

Relient_Hawk

Banned
#13
May 14, 2009
115
2
0
#13
imTastik said:
I really want to shout at the top of my voice that I'm a Christian at times and I'd love to have the courage to invite them to services but I think my confidence has been knocked back a bit about asking stuff like that like I had a friend to stay last year and said 'oh I'm a Christian so I'll be going to Church on Sunday but if you want you can stay at home' and she just went 'oh....great'. I also brought up my faith in school at times and this one time my friends just took the mick out of me, they called me a Bible Basher, called me all sorts of names, i didn't know whether to scream or just hide and cry. i weren't ashamed though, I just didn't understand why they couldn't accept me for being a Christian. Everyone on my course at college knows i'm a Christian, some accept it but some just milk it, they don't go round calling me a Bible Basher but they'll often use it to defend me but not in a good way but i don't think they really understand that its not in a good way. Like some people from outside college that we're friends with will ask me if I'll go out clubbing with them and someone'll jump in and go 'She can't, she's a Christian' but I'm there going 'it's not like that at all. Its just I choose not to'

Its bad and I know that. I really like someone but as far as I know he's not a Christian....this is gonna sound so sad and like i've got no life at all...i have a life i promise :) but before i see him i think about the conversation i might have with him cos i'm really praying that i'll have the opportunity to get him to Church and give his life to Jesus if he hasn't already but then i just freeze when i want to bring it up when i'm talking to him because i think he might think i'm a freak if i bring it up. I know he's got other Christian friends though so that does give me some hope. But thats what its like, its not because i don't want to, its because my confidence has been knocked
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Don't worry you have a life :p It's awesome that you want to help save the guy you like! I totally understand where your coming from with the confidence thing. It's part of the reason I don't share my faith as often as I should. When I told my friends that I was a Christian I got called "gay" (well thats the most polite way to put it), and was even told that if I didn't give it up in a week they were going to beat some sense into me (which they tried). Thanks for replying it gave me more of a sense on why I am afraid to share my faith, and well it's simply that I am afraid. I don't want the "sense" beaten into me again. But none of us are perfect, and I will work on it :) . Once again thanks for sharing
 
B

BeauBLESSED

Guest
#14
#14
I think you're so right! In today's society where there are many teenagers who are Atheists/Agnostics/nonbelievers, it is easy to get seperated from your hang/social group if you openly proclaim your Christianity, and it is certain that many of us do not want to be lonely so we keep our faith under our hats and even ridicule it, if it means keeping our friends.

But personally, many Atheists know of my faith but thankfully they do not harrass me about it, and some are even close friends of mine. Also, other Christian teens out there must realise that they should be openly proud to worship God, even publicly, and those who cannot accept/appreciate this quality about them aren't worth keeping, and they must hang on for those who will.
 
I

imTastik

Guest
#15
#15
Relient_Hawk said:
Don't worry you have a life :p It's awesome that you want to help save the guy you like! I totally understand where your coming from with the confidence thing. It's part of the reason I don't share my faith as often as I should. When I told my friends that I was a Christian I got called "gay" (well thats the most polite way to put it), and was even told that if I didn't give it up in a week they were going to beat some sense into me (which they tried). Thanks for replying it gave me more of a sense on why I am afraid to share my faith, and well it's simply that I am afraid. I don't want the "sense" beaten into me again. But none of us are perfect, and I will work on it :) . Once again thanks for sharing
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The thing is right, if an asian says they're a muslim everyone'll just automatically accept it but no matter who you are, what colour, where you're from, your age etc. if you tell someone you're a Christian most people'll just start to take the mick or take it out of proportion and make it even more complicating.

I went to a catholic school from year 9 til year 11 and even though it was a catholic school the majority of students were Christians or people who didn't have a faith. There were about 10 students from my Church during one year and one of the sixth formers who left our Church to go to another Church along with some other people from her Church started a Christian union. Every week I really wanted to go, I was so excited that there was going to be a group for Christians during a Thursday dinner time but all the Christian friends I asked were "too busy" so I started asking a few friends that weren't Christians if they wanted to come but we never got round to it. The only reason I didn't go was because up until 2008 - a year after I left school I was one of the shyest people around so I didn't really want to go on my own without friends there. I think the Christian girls I asked were in the same position as me now they just felt as though they'd get laughed at if they were going into C7 on a Thursday dinner time and we'd get called 'Oh it's the God Squad geeks' as we walked into the room or something because absolutely everyone in the school knew about it.
 
Relient_Hawk

Relient_Hawk

Banned
#16
May 14, 2009
115
2
0
#16
imTastik said:
The thing is right, if an asian says they're a muslim everyone'll just automatically accept it but no matter who you are, what colour, where you're from, your age etc. if you tell someone you're a Christian most people'll just start to take the mick or take it out of proportion and make it even more complicating.
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Thats because God is real and people are afraid of that. Seriously think about it when someone stubs their toe why don't they scream Allah or Budda. In some part of everybody they know God is the on true God
 
G

Grimaldus

Banned
#17
Mar 26, 2009
249
0
0
#17
Jesus christ flows better than buddha or allah. Just a technicality, but buddhism isn't a religion, it's a philosaphy.
 
Relient_Hawk

Relient_Hawk

Banned
#18
May 14, 2009
115
2
0
#18
Grimaldus said:
Jesus christ flows better than buddha or allah. Just a technicality, but buddhism isn't a religion, it's a philosaphy.
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I don't know people like things shorter like the f word for instance not too short not too long and allah is kinda like that
 
G

Grimaldus

Banned
#19
Mar 26, 2009
249
0
0
#19
It's not length, it's flow, man. Allah is an akward word to say anyways, but then to get it internalized into a habit would be hard. Jesus Christ flows off the tongue well, not to mention you can make people know just how PO'd you are by stressing certain words, "JESUS Christ" is less upset than "JESUS CHRIST", y'know
 
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