Pray For Me

[CAAOutkast]

I've been a little uptight lately and I've Just recently abandoned the Christian faith. I'm also fed up with American culture. I need some prayer and guidence. I'm an Ex-Christian,but if my prayers are answered,I might return to Christ.

So Please pray for me.

[Tsukuyomi]

Not sure what one thing has to do with the other, but I'll pray ^__^

Any details to this all? If not, it's alright ^__^ I'm just not sure what could turn someone away so easily O__O

[CAAOutkast]

Not sure what one thing has to do with the other, but I'll pray ^__^

Any details to this all? If not, it's alright ^__^ I'm just not sure what could turn someone away so easily O__O

The Christian community let me down and God let me down even more.

[Danderson]

The Christian community let me down and God let me down even more.

I don't know what's going on in ur life, but know this: Christians don't make God who He is...God is what He says He is, which is so much more than any of us can ever speak of or imagine...We may not be perfect, but He is always perfect, and there is a reason that whatever is happening in ur life right now is happening the way it is...Please, don't shut ur ears or ur heart to whatever God may be trying to tell u...Even though you have left Him, He hasn't left you.........remember that.....

U have my prayers....

[Sanderson]

There are two things, the moon, and a man pointing at the moon telling you a story about how it got there and giving you directions how to fly there, directions you HAVE to EXACTLY follow without one single little mistake. You can either follow the man and believe every single thing he says, or you can just look at the moon, not try to think about how it got there, just know it's there, etc.

Instead of following and believing in Christianity, just follow and believe in God. I'm not part of an organized religion / denomination myself. I'm not saying this about all Christians, but there are ones out there that dress up their words as God's, use religion to make a profit out of, etc. I can understand how people like that in the Christian community can make you distant from God (once again, I'm not saying all Christians are like that, just the ones that are).

[chibiphonebooth]

there's a wonderful line by mewithoutyou that says 'the truth belongs to god, the mistakes were mine.'

i think a lot of the times we forget that. we are merely human- and christians mess up. unfortunately some christians are only christian by name. just remember that the christians around you might not reflect christ, but christ is there and he is real and he is true. just hold tight to what he says and what he says only.

don't give up, and keep pushing through.

[Prince Asbel]

I've been a little uptight lately and I've Just recently abandoned the Christian faith. I'm also fed up with American culture. I need some prayer and guidence. I'm an Ex-Christian,but if my prayers are answered,I might return to Christ.

So Please pray for me.

If you could elaborate, I think it would be better. I mean, we could pray generally, asking God to improve you spiritually, but if you detail your circumstances a bit more, it would make us feel more purposeful about it.

Oh, and what let you down? American culture, or the Christian community?

[CAAOutkast]

If you could elaborate, I think it would be better. I mean, we could pray generally, asking God to improve you spiritually, but if you detail your circumstances a bit more, it would make us feel more purposeful about it.

Oh, and what let you down? American culture, or the Christian community?

Both. I was sick of the direction that American culture was going in. So last year,I prayed to God for change,to make things better. Well,I waited and waited and my prayers weren't answered. Things remained the same. Angered,I turned to the Christian communities and gave them my Prayer request...some said that they would pray,while others rejected it,calling my request judgemental.

Anyway,I waited for my prayer request and it still wasn't answered. I didn't give up though,as I prayed and prayed again. Nothing happened. But praying for the "salvation" of American Culture wasn't the only prayer that never got answered.

When my Uncle was sick and in the hospital,I prayed for his recovery....Guess what? He died! The same thing with my mother,who died last year. That devastated me.

But when the Christian Communities(i'm not naming names) decided that the ways of the World were better than the ways of God,I've decided to abandon Christianity.

My hatered for Worldliness is so strong,that when ever it prevails,I get angry and uptight. And I let it cloud my judgement.

[Gabriel 9.0]

Both. I was sick of the direction that American culture was going in. So last year,I prayed to God for change,to make things better. Well,I waited and waited and my prayers weren't answered. Things remained the same. Angered,I turned to the Christian communities and gave them my Prayer request...some said that they would pray,while others rejected it,calling my request judgemental.

Anyway,I waited for my prayer request and it still wasn't answered. I didn't give up though,as I prayed and prayed again. Nothing happened. But praying for the "salvation" of American Culture wasn't the only prayer that never got answered.

When my Uncle was sick and in the hospital,I prayed for his recovery....Guess what? He died! The same thing with my mother,who died last year. That devastated me.

But when the Christian Communities(i'm not naming names) decided that the ways of the World were better than the ways of God,I've decided to abandon Christianity.

My hatered for Worldliness is so strong,that when ever it prevails,I get angry and uptight. And I let it cloud my judgement.

I'm very sorry to hear that your uncle and mother passed away. You have my deepest sympathy. I myself have lost my grandmother on my mother's side, while my father is suffering from HIV due to his poor choices in life. Know that God has not abandoned you though, even though you have have made this choice. I'm sorry to also hear you've ran into false Christians, but there are those that really and truly serve the Lord. Do not despair God will make a way for you as well . And you have my prayers. God Bless and may peace be with you.

[Peanut]

What I am about to say may make me sound like a harsh jerk, however I don't really care. I'd rather be known as a jerk then with hold the truth. From reading your posts both past and present I think you need a little bit of a reality check and if it costs me my image in your eyes or anyone elses then so be it. There is a time to be built up and a time to be destroyed and right now I think you need somethings destroyed in your life before you can be built back up again. So I will play the part of a wrecking ball...

Both. I was sick of the direction that American culture was going in. So last year,I prayed to God for change,to make things better. Well,I waited and waited and my prayers weren't answered. Things remained the same. Angered,I turned to the Christian communities and gave them my Prayer request...some said that they would pray,while others rejected it,calling my request judgemental.

Anyway,I waited for my prayer request and it still wasn't answered. I didn't give up though,as I prayed and prayed again. Nothing happened.

From the sounds of this you believe (or at least act like) God is basically a genie in the sky who has to answer all of your prayer requests according to your own time table not his. This is both foolish and wrong. God is creator, he is sovereign he isn't our servant but we are his. Instead of asking what God can do for you you should ask what you can do for God and have faith that his plan involves the redemption of mankind (after all that is how Revelation ends...). If you don't like America's culture then don't just pray but work to change it. You don't have to do major specatacular things, just loving people or feeding the homeless would be enough. Encourage people to quit being so self centered and start caring for those around them. But don't be upset with God for not miraculously fixing our problems within your time frame.

But praying for the "salvation" of American Culture wasn't the only prayer that never got answered.

When my Uncle was sick and in the hospital,I prayed for his recovery....Guess what? He died! The same thing with my mother,who died last year. That devastated me.

Last year my grandfather died. I prayed for him, he seemed to get better, then when I went back to college he was dead. So I do understand that pain. However I think you are overlooking the fact that everyone, even those Jesus healed, dies. Does it suck, yes. However it's the state of the world we live in. You shouldn't be upset with God for taking your loved ones away, if they were christians then after you mourn their passing you should rejoice for they are no longer suffering, if they weren't Christians then you should ask yourself what you can do to be a better witness so none of your other loved ones will go to the grave without at least hearing about the love Jesus has for them. But none of this is God's fault. He did answer your prayers, it just happened to be a no. Why? Only he knows, it is a part of his plan and I will not pretend to try and understand or discern it.

But when the Christian Communities(i'm not naming names) decided that the ways of the World were better than the ways of God,I've decided to abandon Christianity.

My hatered for Worldliness is so strong,that when ever it prevails,I get angry and uptight. And I let it cloud my judgement.

Then what now? If you hate worldliness but have rejected Christianity then what are you going to do? Outside of God there is nothing but worldliness and if you still claim to follow Christ, even if you aren't a part of a church, you still are a Christian. You expect more from the church, welcome to my world. I can't tell you how often a church or a Christian has done something that has made me want to smack them. In my eyes, the bride of Christ is more of a harlot then anything else. However, that's the beauty of it. Though we are no where near perfect and our tendacy to sin when we know better God still loves us. Though we are no better then the world except that we realize it God still loves us. And though I may hate what the Church is and what I am, because God still loves us I do not give up on it. Instead I strive to try and make it better.

If you do not like that worldliness has entered the Church then don't go screaming away from it. Humble yourself and see that you too are worldly and work to change those around you along with yourself. But never forget that God loves us, worldly or not.

I pray that God will work in your life no matter what.

Peanut

[chibiphonebooth]

What I am about to say may make me sound like a harsh jerk, however I don't really care. I'd rather be known as a jerk then with hold the truth. From reading your posts both past and present I think you need a little bit of a reality check and if it costs me my image in your eyes or anyone elses then so be it. There is a time to be built up and a time to be destroyed and right now I think you need somethings destroyed in your life before you can be built back up again. So I will play the part of a wrecking ball...



From the sounds of this you believe (or at least act like) God is basically a genie in the sky who has to answer all of your prayer requests according to your own time table not his. This is both foolish and wrong. God is creator, he is sovereign he isn't our servant but we are his. Instead of asking what God can do for you you should ask what you can do for God and have faith that his plan involves the redemption of mankind (after all that is how Revelation ends...). If you don't like America's culture then don't just pray but work to change it. You don't have to do major specatacular things, just loving people or feeding the homeless would be enough. Encourage people to quit being so self centered and start caring for those around them. But don't be upset with God for not miraculously fixing our problems within your time frame.



Last year my grandfather died. I prayed for him, he seemed to get better, then when I went back to college he was dead. So I do understand that pain. However I think you are overlooking the fact that everyone, even those Jesus healed, dies. Does it suck, yes. However it's the state of the world we live in. You shouldn't be upset with God for taking your loved ones away, if they were christians then after you mourn their passing you should rejoice for they are no longer suffering, if they weren't Christians then you should ask yourself what you can do to be a better witness so none of your other loved ones will go to the grave without at least hearing about the love Jesus has for them. But none of this is God's fault. He did answer your prayers, it just happened to be a no. Why? Only he knows, it is a part of his plan and I will not pretend to try and understand or discern it.



Then what now? If you hate worldliness but have rejected Christianity then what are you going to do? Outside of God there is nothing but worldliness and if you still claim to follow Christ, even if you aren't a part of a church, you still are a Christian. You expect more from the church, welcome to my world. I can't tell you how often a church or a Christian has done something that has made me want to smack them. In my eyes, the bride of Christ is more of a harlot then anything else. However, that's the beauty of it. Though we are no where near perfect and our tendacy to sin when we know better God still loves us. Though we are no better then the world except that we realize it God still loves us. And though I may hate what the Church is and what I am, because God still loves us I do not give up on it. Instead I strive to try and make it better.

If you do not like that worldliness has entered the Church then don't go screaming away from it. Humble yourself and see that you too are worldly and work to change those around you along with yourself. But never forget that God loves us, worldly or not.

I pray that God will work in your life no matter what.

Peanut

i agree with everything said here.

i suggest you read "the irresistible revolution: living as an ordinary radical" if you want to help do something to change the world.
its a very interesting read. i highly suggest it.

[goldenspines]

I too, agree with everything Peanut said.



You sound like you're threatening God. If He doesn't answers your prayers then you don't believe He's real and that He loves you more than any love you could ever imagine(which He does, whether you believe it or not)?
God is not a vending machine, my friend. You don't stick a prayer in the coin slot, then out pops your can of happiness and sunshine. Nevertheless, He longs to give you the desires of your heart, but He wants you to trust in Him and love Him back.
God knows our hearts, down to the deepest core because He created us. Therefore, He knows what's best for us, more than we know ourselves. And because of this, He doesn't give us our hearts desires right when and where we ask for it. Why? Because He has a bigger and better plan in store, building up in momentum. Yet, we have to wait because it's not ready yet. Think of it like a cake. I mean, sure, you can eat all the cake batter before it's cooked, but that will make you sick most likely(because of the raw eggs and whatnot), but if you give the cake batter time to cook, it will turn into a fully baked, moist and yummy cake. That is loads better than just the batter alone.

I'll be praying for you.

[Maledicte]

Do. Do do do do do.

God gave you a functional body, yes? A mind, a heart, a spirit. God did not give you these with the intent of you sitting on your hands and expecting Him to do all the work. If you are truly wanting change, God has given you the tools to bring about that change. Will it be national? Global? Maybe not. But then God has always had the individual in mind - if even only one were saved, He would still make the same sacrifice.

And that's what he's called us to do.

Even if all our talents, works, prayers, lives only make a tiny dent in the surface of the history of this world...that dent is worth it. If you can make someone smile, if you can show them love, if you can stand for what is right and what is just...you've only just seen the beginning of what God can do. You may not see all of it, but then, human sight is limited anyway.

Do you realize what you are asking for? What exactly is the "salvation of the American culture"? Do you want suddenly everyone in the United States of America to simultaneously get down on their knees and stop sinning for the rest of their lives? That won't happen. Why? Because God gives free will. Forcing everyone to stop sinning would violate that. And because God moves in mysterious ways.

Like through flawed, broken, sinful, messed-up people.

People like you and me.

God knows what He's doing. He's given you life for a reason. That reason is to share His love with those who don't know it.

Faith without works is dead. So get out and start working.

God bless you.

[GeneD]

I will be praying for you, but I also want to encourage you to think carefully about what some of the people above me have posted. They have raised a number of very valid points; in fact I think everyone should read this and reflect on our own lives a bit. (Thanks for posting guys, you've given me something to think about to. )

Anyway, good luck on your journey and I hope you find what you're looking for.

PS.

God is not a vending machine, my friend. You don't stick a prayer in the coin slot, then out pops your can of happiness and sunshine.

This.

Funny and very true. XD

[Prince Asbel]

I think now's the time to make a bit more of a specific point of what you're feeling now, Christisright. I agree with Peanut on just about everything he said.

I think you have a huge misconception of God. From the way some of your 'Christian' acquaintances sound, they also have a huge misconception, and theirs might have brought about yours. And for a lot of people who think that way you think, none of them have an Old Testament in their Bible. God is not only a loving, sweet, never-hurt-a-fly God. He lets bad things happen on a daily basis. He is under no obligation to keep them from happening. I suppose if that's what you thought before, Christisright, then I suppose you would lose faith in him, because bad things happen. I would lose belief in him too, but that's because it's not biblical. It's not God.

I think once you correct your understanding of God, you will feel less failure on his part, and you will feel more content. And God uses bad things for a good end, even if we can't see them in this life.

Look at Joseph's slavery. God let it happen to save people's lives. Look at the destruction of the Amalekites and Canaanites. God used warfare via the Israelites to bring about justice. Look at Pharaoh. God used him to make his power and glory known to the whole earth!

Look at the crucifixion! People around Calvary were probably looking up at Jesus's shredded body and wondering how God could let such a horrific thing happen. And yet, if it hadn't happened, none of the people there, and you or me or any other CAA member would ever have been saved.

Think about that. As a closing note, I'd also like to quote a post of mine I made in another thread.

[quote="Prince Asbel (post: 1264693)"]The way to show how God can allow these things to happen is to focus on the depravity of man. Man, by default, deserves nothing good, and everything bad- I.E. Hell. Hell is the ultimate suffering. Any moment outside hell is mercy from God's perspective. So since God allows people to spend any time at all outside hell is mercy. He's under no obligation to save a person dying of starvation when that person deserves much worse]

God bless.

[LadyRushia]

I agree with everyone here.

You can't just expect American culture to change in an instant. That's not how God works. He changes people slowly because if He changed us too quickly, we'd likely fall apart in the process. Instead of asking God to change American culture, perhaps it would be better to ask how He can use you to change American culture.

Like Goldie said, God isn't a slot machine. He doesn't act like one, so He shouldn't be treated like one.

[K. Ayato]

You're only focusing on one aspect of Christianity, which in the end disappointed you. You're not looking at the entire picture (at least what our finite minds can comprehend) and seeing how everything plays out.

I shall conjure up the words of Bruce Lee. I think he said it best.

"Don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss all the heavenly glory." --said to a student who was too busy focusing on Lee's finger used in an object lesson during martial arts training.

[LadyRushia]

"Don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss all the heavenly glory." --said to a student who was too busy focusing on Lee's finger used in an object lesson during martial arts training.

My Western Civ. professor told us the exact same thing when we were studying Plato. It's an important concept to grasp and it applies to Christianity as well. You can't concretize God or the way He'll act or do things, or else you'll miss what He has to say entirely.

[Aletheia]

I agree with everything that's been said here, and I would also recommend that you read C.S. Lewis' The Problem of Pain. It's very interesting, and it takes a while to really get what it says, but it deals with a lot of the questions you seem to be having.

That said, I'm praying for you.

[12praiseGOD]

As far as hatting worldliness, by separating yourself from God, you are sumurging yourself further into worldliness, for there is God from heaven and soveriegn over all, and then there is Satan, prince of the world.

My prayer goes that your path will be cleared and your understanding and love towards Christ renewed. I say this with much Christ-love to you, and wish the best that you will rejoin our family of believers.

Those who you have met that have chosen to separate themselves from God and follow the world, were probably not rock-core Christians.
Do not be dismayed by the errors of humans, for we are sinful, everyone makes mistakes, and that is why even if you have decided to separate yourself from God, God is there with you and is anticipating your return because He loves you more than anyone ever will or ever could...HE DIED FOR YOU!

[Kunoichi]

I will pray for you bro.

I know what it means to seem not to have your answers answered. At least not in the way you expect them. We are told that we will not understand God's ways nor His thoughts. It doesn't mean it isn't frustrating at times but then we are mortal beings.

Brother, I was abused, molested, raped, emotionally and verbally beaten etc. for five long years. I had my choices and at the same time I didn't. I can only share my experience and this is what i have learned:

Bad things exist, whether that be sickness, abuse etc. and its unfortunate and it sucks but its not what God wanted for us. We choose it. I heard it once said that Christians have the choice to bring heaven or hell to earth. We are called to do things, not just wait. If we wait, then we will fail to see differences.

You have my prayers and ear if you ever choose to speak into it. May the Lord bless you and guide you.