So you used to be a Christian?

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   fit2dayposted 10 years ago

   So you used to be a Christian?
   
   Many people claiming atheism, deism, etc. claim they used to be Christians. I could walk down the street and call myself the mayor, but I'm not. On what basis were you a Christian to begin with?

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   Wesman Todd Shawposted 10 years ago

   There is no such thing as an atheist.  There are persons who believe they are atheists, but there is no such thing as an atheist.

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      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Wrong, how can you claim that? You don't know what others believe or what is in their hearts/minds.

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      Robert the Bruceposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      From the Christian perspective, there's no such thing as an atheist. For those "outside of the box," It's clear to see why some people don't believe in God...because there isn't sufficient evidence to accept it as fact. What Wesman said is a cliche.

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      cjhunsingerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Wesman--Perhaps you would like to tell me why I am not an Atheist, as I have been one longer then you have been alive. and, in turn, I will tell you that you are not a theist and why. I look forward to your response.

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   ChristinSposted 10 years ago

   I was born and raised in a strict religious household, sent to private religious schools. Was in church nearly every day, Bible study the whole nine yards.
   
   As I grew up, I realized what I was taught made no logical sense.  I was tired of feeling conflicted and like I was a "bad" person for questioning. I realized I was a happier, more well rounded person when I chose to pursue the truth for myself, rather than trust what religious leaders told me was true without question.  Blind faith in anything is a bad idea, but so many feel threatened to question religion. That fear of punishment and eternal damnation does a lot to limit the mind.   
   
   Believe it or not, a great many of us who do not believe in a diety are sometimes spiritual and very philosophical in nature.  We just don't happen to believe in a God. I was born and baptized into a church and not given much choice in the matter.  When I was older, I chose differently. That's really all there is to it.  I came to my own conclusions which happened to differ from others.

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   junksellerposted 10 years ago

   If you chose to believe in an imaginary town, your COULD be mayor. Heck, you could be king. King of Imaginariville. That is the beauty (and the horror) of imaginary things. Not provable. Not disprovable. Watch how it works:
   
   Yesterday I woke up a Christian. If you don't believe me, you are welcome to prove otherwise (good luck), otherwise you just have to take me at my word. I need no basis, nor can you be the one who decides what basis would even be acceptable or not. You are stuck by your own belief in that for which there is no evidence.
   
   Later while eating lunch I thought about it and decided it just wasn't for me. Poof! I was no longer a Christian. And again, you are welcome to say something such as I obviously wasn't a real Christian, but then I can say the same of you just as easily, couldn't I? There's no way to win this silly game.

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      Robert the Bruceposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      As usual, you solidly prove your point with humor. 

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      fit2dayposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry, but nobody wakes up in the morning as a Christian. The Bible defines what it means to be a Christian.

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   Link10103posted 10 years ago

   I was baptized when I was young and have a certificate that says so. On paper, I am a Christian. I certainly do not practice Christianity, but I can still technically call myself a christian.
   
   Unless you have a certificate claiming you were once a mayor, you picked a very poor example to base this on. There are people who grew up in christian households, followed the religion their parents set out for them, to only later denounce it because they actually thought for half a second or read the bible objectively. Anyone who spent a good chunk of their life following whatever religion has the right to say they used to be affiliated with said religion. Its hard to imagine the arrogance of others to say people like that were not true members of that religion simply because they no longer follow it, but I see it almost daily on this site.

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   lone77starposted 10 years ago

   Going through the motions doesn't make one a member. Being born into a group doesn't necessarily make one a member, either.
   
   But many groups that claim to be members are not, because they do not follow the rules or laws of the membership.
   
   The first commandment is Love, but few who I've ever met are entirely loving -- non-self-concerned, unconditionally generous, responsible, humble and fearlessly confident.
   
   I've met very few people I'd call a true Christian. Even I am not yet a true Christian.
   
   I was born into a "christian" family (Southern Baptist). I left at age 9, in search of Truth. I studied Eastern mysticism, Scientology, Buddhism, Taoism, Kabbalah, Judaism and finally Christianity. Every group I studied with had something valuable to offer. I've learned from every one of them and now I understand Christianity far better than I ever did while listening to my grandfather preach.
   
   I long to be a True Christian. I have tasted the bliss of being close to God and loving all his children -- even my enemies. I'm getting closer. I hope everyone eventually makes it, including me. But the paradox of self-concern makes my own attainment problematic. So, I wish for all of us to attain it -- to know the Bliss that the Heavenly Father wants for all of us.

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      fit2dayposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      You can't trust yourself for salvation.
      Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

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   cjhunsingerposted 10 years ago

   fit
   There are a few people who claim they used to be an Atheist, but on what basis were they an Atheist to begin with?
   You seem to think that all is my your definition. You can also believe that gods exist and that, certainly, does not make it so.

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   getitriteposted 10 years ago

   Just because a person releases himself from the bondage of his indoctrination, does not mean that he was not, at one time, a Christian.  You seem to think that the definition of a Christian is a person who is thoroughly and rigidly indoctrinated....to the point that no facts can deter his/her programming.  That's not the definition of a "true" Christian.  That's  a lack of confidence in ones own will, and intellect.  Nothing to be proud of.

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      fit2dayposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Release yourself from what indoctrination and what supposed facts have entered your mind other than the fact that you love sin and hate God?

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      getitriteposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      No.You should release yourself from the bondage of someone elses imagination, and have some confidence in your own thoughts. So far you have only promoted the blind sheep mentality.
      p.s. I don't love sin, or hate imaginary God, but u DO hate logic

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      fit2dayposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      What logic? and if you're so free, why are you arguing, go enjoy your freedom before you die and cease to exist. By your supposed logic, humans are no more special than roaches.

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      ChristinSposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I have to agree here for the most part.  If "God" gave us a brain and mind - why then would he punish the vast majority of humans for using said mind? I never minded the stories of Jesus, but I find rigid "followers" are nothing like the example set.

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      fit2dayposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      God punishes for the fact that the mind and body He gave us is used to go against Him. To follow Jesus costs a repentant heart toward God and is worth it all, to reject Christ costs an eternity separated from Him in hell, don't suppress the truth.

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   fit2dayposted 9 years ago

   I forgot about this. I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to clarify that you were never truly Christians. As some of you claim, I called myself a Christian for years because I had gone to church, prayed a prayer, been baptized, the whole 9 yards so to speak and was not a Christian until I surrendered my life to Christ, after the conviction of the Holy Spirit made it clear to me that I was completely lost.
   Jesus said in
   Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
   
   There are many false religions that call themselves Christian (mormonism, Roman catholicism, jehovah's witnesses, christian science, etc.) In addition to that most people who attend Christian churches aren't Christian, though they believe all the facts of the Bible. Then you have the churches that teach unbiblical doctrines.
   1 Timothy
   4 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.
   He made it clear that many people would go down this broad road and He wasn't simply talking atheists and people of other belief systems, He was talking about people who would claim Christianity and believe themselves to be Christians.
   
   Of course many of you say that you're free, in the fact that you were never free in Christ, because you were never in Christ. I've seen people renounce their superficial faith in drones, even some who I've known personally that were on Christian leadership in college.
   
   1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

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      ChristinSposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      be glad you are such a special snowflake that you are right and everyone else is wrong; hope that makes you feel better.

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      fit2dayposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Actually Christin, I was on the broad road too. Jesus said "Many" will be on the broad road and "Few" will follow the narrow road. It's not that my way is the right way, it's that I'm saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not of my own doing.

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      ChristinSposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      yes, yes - you and everyone else who says they are "saved" were obviously chosen and the rest of heathens are doomed including Catholics, Mormons and every other major group on Earth.  Sure. Glad you are so elite.

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      fit2dayposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Being chosen by God doesn't make me elite. I couldn't save myself and I attribute the search I had to God seeking to save me. You run away and deny the God who seeks the lost. Perhaps Christin, you're that special snowflake.

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      ChristinSposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Nope, I don't need to be "chosen' or "saved" by something and I love and accept others as just as much part of the whole of existence as I am.  Am I special? Sure so is every living, breathing human being because they are expressions of life.

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      getitriteposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      So what you are saying is: No matter what WE say...YOU are special and we are not. Does that make u feel better? What a disturbing outlook. BTW, none of these answers supports your conclusion, but I'm sure you don't care.

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      fit2dayposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Expressions of life created in the image of God, but flawed because of the fall of man. We've all inherited the same sin nature, we've all violated God's law and all need the same grace. There's 2 roads. Follow God or Satan, no in-between.

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      ChristinSposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      But God is allegedly perfect, so why make imperfect fallen men? Then claim to be "loving" while condemning numerous people to hell and killing your own son to prove a point? God sounds abusive and narcissistic at best.

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      getitriteposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Lets see:
      A. God
      B. Satan
      C. Sanity

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    Ta-Isetposted 9 years ago

    I was a Christian, I did everything you're doing now to be a Christian. I accepted Jesus into my heart, and everything.
    
    One day I woke up after years of wasting my life on "God" and found myself in Paganism. I believe in Isis and Osiris, My God and Goddess. They have given me everything I have ever wanted, and I love my life. The only thing wrong with my life is that there are people of your faith that think that my faith is wrong, so they continue to try and get my children taken away from me. Why? Because they think that Paganism is evil and not appropriate for children.
    
    They try and get me thrown in jail for felonies that I never committed. Why? Because apparently a Pagan cannot be married to a Christian without all the Christian girls getting jealous and calling the government to report me for false allegations.
    
    So why am I not a Christian anymore? Because there is no point in following a book that has been proven to be fairytales versus my history of actual living Gods, and Goddesses. "Emerald tablets" "Pyramids at Giza" And many other examples, including an actual tomb of Osiris. We can't even find the tomb where Jesus rose from the dead. Ha!

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       fit2dayposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Interestingly, I met 6 people at a gay pride event that claimed they accepted Jesus into their heart because they prayed a prayer and are shut off to the truth, because they've placed faith in a God that suits them.
       
       You were never a Christian.

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    Norine Williamsposted 8 years ago

    MOST "Christians" think because they believe there is a God, they are Christian!  However, if one does not "Study" (II Timothy 2:15) to believe ALL of HIS WORD, how can they be?  How can they be "Christ-like" or "Christians" if they don't know what Christ is like?  How can they believe if they don't know what to believe in?  How can they have "faith" if they don't know what to have "faith" in?  That is why I quote Scripture for those that seldom (if ever) read the Word of God!!!
    
    Again, this is a "Spiritual" journey in which one MUST "Worship in Spirit and in Truth" (John 4:23-24)!  Romans 8:9 says "But ye ("Christians") are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."  You see, "Christians," if you have not the Spirit of Christ, you are not "Christians!" 
    
    Before JESUS ascended into heaven (on the Day of Pentecost), the "last commandment" HE gave the disciples was to "WAIT" (Acts 1:4) for the "Promise" (Holy Spirit) of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me."  Did we not hear from Him in John 14:26 and 16:13?  Quoting only John 16:13 which says "Howbeit when "he," the Spirit of truth is come, "he will guide you into ALL truth:" for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."  However, did you "Christians" WAIT for "guidance into ALL truth?"  Can't you see that is why one becomes "disgruntled," backslide and "...used to be a Christian?"  Well, who wouldn't when they don't possess the POWER (Holy Spirit) of God (Acts 1:8) to produce action!!!
    
    I find MOST on HP did not "WAIT!"  What's more, they think the Holy Spirit is something "weird" or not "religiously correct!"  One Hubber even referred to belief as "voodoo" which is similar to "Christians'" belief that the Holy Spirit (JESUS) is "weird" or not "religiously correct!"   How can one call themselves a "Christian," yet do not obey the "last commandment" JESUS gave the disciples before ascension? 
    
    Therefore, I ask as well, "On what basis were you a "Christian" to begin with?"

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