Are You really a Christian?

[Godsdrummer]

Originally Posted by jen4yeshua

My husband and I have left a major oneness denomination just over a year ago with our three children. I was talking to someone last week about how there seems to be a point where the teenagers in the "old" church either become really "religious" (and fit the OP image to a "T") or rebel and start going out nightclubbing and roll their eyes at stuff that goes on in church. I really found it difficult to deal with the fact that any time I didn't fit the "standard" in the previous church culture there was a distinct feeling of being disapproved of by most of those around me. I am so glad that my kids are in an environment where they can be themselves and figure out what God requires of them without having people breathing down their necks and judging them. I want my children to serve God from a pure heart, with the understanding that we can't earn His love, nor do we need to. And that we don't need to earn anyone else's "love" or approval either.

Two things I have come to realize over the last 10 years, many trinity churches do have the spirit of God and teach truth. That onesess churches don't have all they say they have, "the whole truth".

Over the last ten years my wife and I attended AOG church for 2 years, and visited several independent non denominational churches we found more of the spirit of God in these churches than the UPCI churches we were afiliated with before. I was raised Apostolic UPCI.

Keep on loving God and studing his word and you will be alright

[jen4yeshua]

Thanks for the advice
I'm thankful for the time I spent in the oneness churches (only about 7 years), the intensity of the good and the pain of the bad as well. Now we are all processing everything in a safe place, and I wouldn't trade those years for anything. I believe that the difficult things I went through in church have helped me to mature in my faith and draw nearer to God. The more time I spend in God's word, the more at peace I am with this stage of our journey.

[UnTraditional]

A true Christian is one who is trying to follow Christ, to keep the commandments of God, and who loves God, His people, and the Word. A true Christian is one who has died to all but Christ, hates sin, and desires only to bring glory to God. A true Christian wants his/her life to reflect Christ.

[Godsdrummer]

Originally Posted by UnTraditional

A true Christian is one who is trying to follow Christ, to keep the commandments of God, and who loves God, His people, and the Word. A true Christian is one who has died to all but Christ, hates sin, and desires only to bring glory to God. A true Christian wants his/her life to reflect Christ.

That is good, Untraditional, ever stop and look at the way you have just represented Christ? One who is trying to follow... and trying to keep the commandments of God.

You make it sound like it is a struggle to serve God. If one has to fight to serve God and love him if the only way to curb those human traits and and hungers is to battle with them, then we have lost the true concept of serving God.

We must serve God for LOVE, We love him because he first loved us. To quote Yoda on Star Wars there is not try there is only do. We must stop preaching a message of hell and damnation and preach that God loved us first.
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.