Removed Thread.

[Bob Estey]

Interesting, why do you want a woman in your life?

Maybe I'm a little lonely, even after saying I'm not.

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Something bothering me... I think Christianity has become mechanical. Try this, this will work. No Try this, and this will work. Just resist harder. Just pray more. Just read the scriptures. NO read the scriptures correctly. If you just fall on your face, and ask him. If you just put your heart in the right place. The list just goes on and on, and on. It's all do do do do do. What happens when you've done it all, and still not enough? The Bible says you can't get to him by good works. He's not kidding!

I feel like I shouldn't have even opened this topic. This stuff isn't going to help me.

I see exactly where you are in Romans.
When you begin to see more clearly, you go through a period of great distress. That’s the part that says, oh, disgusting and weak and wicked man that I am, who will save me from this??! I’m just as bad as everyone else and we are all in this weak state, no power over our flesh, over our impatience’s, murderous resentments, selfishnesses, etc., etc., ad nauseum.
What you are doing right now is hungering for TRUE righteousness in your inner man. This is a thing I have gone through too. Seeing the truth distresses you at first. It’s hideous turmoil.

I can tell you by experience, He will eventually get you to calm down and accept that it’s the way it is and then He will wean you from your flesh and it won’t be able to toss you around so mercilessly. It will be under your feet. (Best I can describe it.) You will have peace from the enemy of your flesh. YOU can’t do it, but He will.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Sadly no, to all those questions. Because all the local 'Bible' believing churches rejected US, my parents and myself. I guess we just don't have the social status to be involved with them.

On what grounds are you being rejected ?

 

[Carl Emerson]

That's a good question! We aren't told that in a logical manner. It's how they treat us.

Well when looking for a church, a high priority should be finding somewhere where you feel loved...

 

[Carl Emerson]

That's what my parents and I were trying to do, but we ran out of places to try.

You might like to share where you are, as other members might be able to make a suggestion for fellowship.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Thank you for the suggestion. Most of you here wouldn't know this, but this is probably my 14th online Christian Community. That's right, I've tried around 14 different online Christian Communities. There have been other people who have tried to help me find a local Church. They couldn't help me! I've also had people try to help me find a meetup group, or even someone to date. They couldn't help me. You see the problem isn't just the local Churches. The problem is the whole community. I just happen to live in a very snobby community, where you are either IN or your OUT. I don't think this community got this way over night. When my Grandparents were young and still alive, they found groups of people they could fit in. When my parents were younger, they also found groups of people they could fit in with. But when I was going through Elementary, Middle School, and High School, things just kept getting worse and worse. Gradually we as an entire family became excluded, as my generation gained control of everything. My parents are old, and my grandparents are dead. These days my parents are only concerned about serving, and looking forward to going to heaven. They have given up on Church completely. As for me, you could say the same thing. There is really nothing you can do when your excluded by the community. It's really hard to explain it logically. But I guess the best way to explain it is like this. You know what it is like when you are around someone that you click with. And you know what it is like when you are around someone that you don't click with. Now just imagine if you couldn't click with anybody. That's how my life is.

I was out of church for about 7 years after being asked to bring a word to a Pastor that he didn't want to receive, yet proved accurate. His church shrunk from 150 to 15 as God moved to correct the issue.

Now I am back in church - not because there are no problems, but because He has a work for me to do.

I know we are different but if you work on your relationship with Him to the point that you have confidence to walk with integrity regardless of the way you are related to, then you are on a good path.

The way of righteousness can be lonely and we need to shun self pity and see it for the evil it is.

So work on your own devotional life - take time out to be with Him - consume the Scriptures - know who you are in Him.

Two scriptures come to mind - Jeremiah 15....

10 Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.

11 The Lord said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

12 Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?

13 Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.

14 And I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you.

15 O Lord, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

19 Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.

20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.

... and from Galatians 3.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

This passage is about identity - knowing who you are and the confidence that brings.

Actually I was wondering if you have been baptised ???

 

[Carl Emerson]

I don't like all the King James. I can't read it.

Summer of 1999 I was baptized in water. But I don't believe that you need to be baptized to be saved.

I will repeat references in a modern translation - no worries.

I wasn't implying salvation through baptism, just gathering a bigger picture...

Jeremiah 15
15 You know, Lord;
Remember me, take notice of me,
And take vengeance for me on my persecutors.
Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away;
Know that for Your sake I endure reproach.
16 Your words were found and I ate them,
And Your words became a joy to me and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Your name,
Lord God of armies.
17 I did not sit in a circle of revelers and celebrate.
Because of Your hand upon me I sat alone,
For You filled me with indignation.
18 Why has my pain been endless
And my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?
Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream
With water that is unreliable?
19 Therefore, this is what the Lord says:
“If you return, then I will restore you—
You will stand before Me;
And if you extract the precious from the worthless,
You will become My spokesman.
They, for their part, may turn to you,
But as for you, you are not to turn to them.
20 Then I will make you to this people
A fortified wall of bronze;
And though they fight against you,
They will not prevail over you;
For I am with you to save you
And rescue you,” declares the Lord.
21 “So I will rescue you from the hand of the wicked,
And I will redeem you from the grasp of the violent.”


Galatians 3
26 All of you are God's children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes. 28 Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman. 29 So if you belong to Christ, you are now part of Abraham's family, and you will be given what God has promised.