This is just a post to see who the Christians are. Just post your testimony if you want or just say hi.

My testimony: I always believed in Jesus, but I didn't always follow him. I had, for some dumb reason, determined that I wouldn't get baptized until I was 18; in which I considered myself responsible for my sins. Yeah, whatever gave me that idea? Religiously, I was foolish until I turned 20. I had experienced my first real relationship and my first real break up, and for some reason, I determined to give my life to God. I got baptized and started studying hardcore. I learned so much about the faith that I couldn't help but write down my ideas and develop new ones. The more I read, the more I understood the Gospel, thus the more I was filled with joy and renewal of life. My convictions grew stronger as well. At many times in my life, I questioned my faith; wondering what was right? I found out and will never question my faith again. I must say, learning more of the Bible has strengthened my faith, for God gave me certainty in my faith. Thank you Jesus.

I am an Arian Unitarian Christian. (As in non-Universalist)

I consider the bible falible and that all those who believe in what Jesus believed in as the sum total of the law of the prophets are spiritual Christians and belong to God, since to truly believe in someone means to believe in the same things they believe in, and not who they are.

I can believe George Bush is the president of the United States who has legal authority over my life, but that does not mean that I believe in the same things that he believes in in my heart.

okay, thanks for responding. I had a question though, when someone questions your faith, how would you go about explaining it in a way they could understand. And how would they go about learning more on the faith?

Shouldn't this be in the off topic section?????Blue you are advocating division not diversity......

I was brought up a Catholic, but never became a Christian untill the age of 20. I seen that Jesus had died for my sins and accepted him as my saviour. I have no regrets, but much to learn.

I think this is in the wrong section for a start there is a topic the same as it here on the beliefs section blue..

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum...showtopic=61276

this board is for skeptics too

I believe in God and Jesus. I'm not sure if I believe the bible is 100% accurate. I do however all of the stories are true, exept either exagerated by man(through editing) or symbolic.

To be honest, I could care and try harder to follow God's law but I don't as much as I should. I'll admit that. I guess I'm a bad boy.

Howdy, my name is Paranoid Android, aka PA, and most people would probably describe me as a non-denominational Christian, though I attend an Anglican church - yeah, slightly contradictory at face value...... what I mean is that while I have chosen to meet up with Christians at this specific building, I see Christianity as separate from any organization. The Bible is my guide! God is my saviour, my confidante and my friend, and that, when you pull everything else away, is what Christianity is - a relationship with God.

My Christian testimony (some of you may have read something similar to this in another testimony thread - I'm updating my testimony) is as follows:

I grew up in a home that only partially followed the Bible. It's difficult to describe their beliefs! They closely relate to Old Testament. My knowledge growing up was primarily concerned with the OT. Their beliefs focused on a works-based doctrine, looking forward to the future Kingdom of God. They kept all the Old Testament festivals - atonement, tabernacles, booths, unleavened bread etc, and many of the Laws (clean and unclean foods for example). Jesus had very little mention, and I didn't really hear about him at all until I was 13.

At the time, I didn't care about God. I believed in a higher power (God, if you will). I called myself Agnostic, but was probably closer to an unknowing Deist. I felt, similar to the skeptics here now, that no book or organization can fully contain this higher being, so there was no point in committing to one religion.

From about 16 or 17 onwards, I started alcohol and pot on a regular basis, getting stoned almost every day, if not every day (a friend had a step-dad who was a pot dealer, and he just took a virtually unlimited supply from him). I'd rampage through my hometown at three in the morning, destroying bowling green's, houses, shops, schools and more. It got worse when, at 18, my girlfriend drowned before my eyes, along with another one of my friends, when a rip formed at a beach.

I dropped out of uni midway through 1st year, started going to clubs. Though I stopped drinking and stopped the pot (whatever anyone else says, from experience I can tell you marijuana is THE worst of all the "party drugs" people use - though this is just my opinion), I moved into other drugs such as speed (base and Ice) and LSD.

I was caring only for one person - me - and living for the next party, the next club. Other people didn't matter to me, except in the most trivial way.

In the aftermath of that drowning tragedy, I saw what it meant to be "Christian". Two Christian's I knew (vaguely at the time, though I am very good friends with them now) helped me through that time. They didn't tell me to come to church, or tell me to read the Bible, or tell me about God in any way at all. What they did do was just be there for me, to talk, chat, see how I'm going, if I needed anything. They truly cared about me, a stranger (I was not the only person they helped from this incident).

By contrast, I heard nothing from my parent's church, not a call from anyone except their closest friends, not a visit from their minister to see how they were, nothing but silence...... just 2 strangers willing to put my needs before theirs (they were at the beach as well, and lost a friend of theirs).

Their example took me to thinking - what made them different? One of them, I'd met seven years earlier at a CHristian camp run by a retired preacher, he was a gang member, cared also for no one except himself. But here he was, a changed man. What made these people different from everyone else? I came to understand that they were imitating their saviour, being humble, thinking of others, Loving others, caring first for other's before themselves.

I looked at my own life - the drugs, the parties, the "fun" that I so craved - and decided that I didn't want to live the life of selfishness, of personal satisfaction. I looked further into Jesus and his teachings. Adding to my prior knowledge of the Old Testament, and everything that Jesus said concerning himself, just clicked. I realised that God has communicated to humanity through the Bible.

The rest, as they say, is history. My life turned around. I started to look out for other people's welfare, and found that caring for other's was far more fulfilling than anything I ever did for myself. I still do not believe God is able to be contained within an organization, or even completely through any book. However, I came to believe God communicated with his creation through the Bible. I gave glory and honour, not to myself, but to the great God who created us, who Loved us enough to die for us.

Would I have pulled myself from drugs and parties on my own, without God? I don't know. It's a what-if that I will probably never know. I guess eventually I might have, but not before wrecking my life even further - who knows, harder drugs? Heroin? I don't know. What I do know, is that God took my broken life, and changed me, gave me a new life.

Sorry for the length of this testimony. My journey to Christianty took a few twisting turns on the way. Sometimes I wish it were as simple as some other people, who can boil their Faith down to a few sentences. But then, if I could do that, I would not be the person I am today.

Thank you for listening (sorry, reading )

Regards, PA

Thanks for that post. Your testimony is inspiring. It reminds me of how when my wife met me, she was on a bad road and so was I. But I wasn't too blind to see God's hand in all this and thus I thanked him. Since then, both our lives have changed and we selflessly give our lives to helping our friends. Its true what is written though, the world persecuted Jesus, so they'll persecute us." Once our friend's old friend came into her life again, my friend stopped talking to us and avoided us. I don't know why, but her friend only wanted to live in excess and it that was what hurt my friend in the first place. It was then that I realized for sure that opposite forces were at work. All it takes is one wicked person to bring down all the works of righteousness.

Anyway. I know this wasn't a debate forum, however, I wanted to know who was Christian in this forum. I was hoping for them to step out and approach the forum more actively. I also wanted to know who my brothers were in this forum. I don't expect NB's to understand, but I'm hoping they will.

If they ask, I generally refer them to reading up on Arius.
Then for those parts they still do not understand about us and ask to know, I refer them to the book " Moses and the Original Torah" by Abba Silver.

Anouther non-denominational Christian.
I am not a religious person. Remember that it was religious men (the Sanhedrin) that were the accusers; of my Lord Jesus Christ it was these same religious men who demanded His execution from the Roman Empire.
Actually I was a devout atheist into my mid twenties. It was my personal goal to destroy others faith with sound reasoning and logic. I arrived at a point in my battles with the faithful where I was unable to counter with a good argument and decided to say a personal prayer to this supposed deity at that time and asked God to prove Himself to me. And well, He met that personal challenge of mine with love and logic, and from that point on I am eternally grateful.
Irish

Well, you just do that here, and them raid the skeptics board as a team.

I'm a christian, except I don't believe in hell, heaven, sin, the trinity, the Bible, demons, Satan, the ressurection, and almost all of the apostles. j/k

I'm a Christian, I don't go to church very often (only a few times in my life, usually just to see the Christmas play, I am supposed to be going this Sunday though), the church I go to is baptist, but I don't consider myself as any christian sect....just Christian, I read the Bible and try to follow it.

My Testimony: When I was younger I didn't really have a religion (being a kid I didn't think about it that much, all I knew was church ment nap time the few times I went). Later I kind of became an evolutionist type person as a younger kid (middle schooler) and on through high school. The only thing I knew about God and the Bible was what I saw on tv and what the teachers taught me in history about all the religious wars and stuff.

But around the time I was getting ready to graduate I suddenly became interested in God, I don't really know why I just did. So I started reading the Bible a little bit, I read a few chps. in Genesis and then a few chps. in the Gospel of St. Mattew..........at first I didn't really understand what was being said and I had a hard time buying it......but the more and more I read the more I began to see the truth of the Lord. At that point I got really excited about my religion, I went out and bought the book of Enoch because I heard it delt alot with fallen angels, the holy angels, and demons (which were all things that I was convinced of being real, even before I really became religious). I read Genesis, I read the first two or three Gospels, and then I read the book of Enoch. After that I went out and bought the Bible on dvd as well as a mysteries of the bible dvd set which went over a bunch of Bible stories and showed the real evidence of them.

After going through and reading and listening to this much scripture, and starting to listen to preachers on tv I finally accepted Jesus Christ of Nazareth as my Lord and Saviour. And ever since then my eyes have been continually opening to the glory of God. I even dug out my small pocket bibles people had given me back in elementary school.... This is when my faith was tested. I started reading a sumerian work called the lost book of enki (if you haven't heard of it, take it from me it is the real life words of a fallen angel sent to confuse people) and trouble and confuse me it did; I had heard what it was about, and even though I was Christian and believed the Bible I was curious to read it, so I bought it and began reading it. The book talks about aliens who came down and genetically made man and mined the earth for gold, so on and so on, the thing in it that trys to confuse people is how it talks about biblical things like the flood, adam and eve, eden, noah, and stuff like that........the only thing is, the book twists the stuff around combining tiny truths will gigantic lies. I didn't believe it, but when you read it and it fits together so nicely with the way the world is a tiny part of you wonders, and in faith you can't have any doubt.

I asked God to show me a sign, so I would know without doubt that the Bible was the truth. A while later, I left my room to take a shower, I made sure to leave my ceiling fan on because I like it cold..... I took my shower and when I went back into my room I noticed my ceiling fan was off, I thought it was strange and I asked my mother if she'd turned it off and she said she hadn't (I know my mom wouldn't lie, and since no one else lives with us no one else could have turned it off).....at that point while turning the fan back on and walking into my room I caught sight of my old pocket bible on my dresser, I felt the urge to pick it up, I did, (I had placed a book mark I wasn't using in the bible for safe keeping) I turned to where the book mark was and it was in part of Romans, I began reading (chps. 4, 5, and the begining of 6) and at that moment the biggest peace I have ever felt came over me, I can't even describe it, it was complete and ultimate peace, I knew right then that God had shown me the sign I had asked for. I went into the living room and sat down basking in the peace and harmony I felt, it was amazing.

Since then I've read all of the N.T. and the first 7 books of the O.T., along with Enoch, the first 30 psalms, the book of esther, a bunch of stuff in the dead sea scrolls, a few gnostic works, and a few of the minor O.T. prophets; along with another book (not scripture) called the big book of angels which tells all about angels and gives the accounts of people who have had real angel encounters. I've never felt better, I love God, I love my Saviour, I pray and meditate, and am continually trying to learn more about God and read all of his word.

Jesus is the way, he is the truth, and there's nothing better then learning about the Lord other than learning MORE about the Lord.

[b]We may walk our own paths, but we are not alone.

Whether we are pagan, christian, muslim, jew, buddist or hindu, I feel we all love our creator and that we are all the same......... we should learn to see each other as brothers & sisters and let the lines of religions fade away...[/b]

Should all of the non-Christians have asterisks next to their user-names so you won't have to ask "Who is on your team?"--you'll be able to tell without asking if all of the Others simply Marked themselves for you.

Jesus certainly would not approve of what you are doing.

- Michael

non-denominational Christian.

Is 616 too long for a marking?


I do not see anything wrong with anyone wanting to know who the Christians are. Some people have never met any other kind of Christian than those they grew up knowing, and there are many different kinds.

For some before they can learn to be truly tolerant and accepting of their being other types of faiths they first have to learn to be tolerant and accepting of their being other types of Christians first. Except the Catholic church under Pope John Paul, I have not really seen any kind of real church leadership attempting to do this.

Sherri Berri & Becky's Mom,
The Spirituality, Religion and Beliefs board is for "Friendly discussion on religion and spirituality" Please leave the moderating to the moderators. Your antics are becoming tiresome. There is certainly no need for the two of you to continuously tag team any thread in which someone declares themselves to be *gasp* Christian.

FYI...I have nothing against christians my daughter is one so is my mother...saying it should be placed into the right secion is not against any rules...everyone does it from time to time...funny how you just picked up on this one??? And it was moved by another mod who must have thought it belonged here...so it was moved here.as it was on the skeptic board to begin with thats when we made those posts..on the skeptic board ..if you have issues with this..I suggest you take it up with the mod that moved it here...or is there something else really bothering you enough to totally dig up old posts that meant no harm?? If so pm me and tell me what the real issue is

I see this as harassment wires crossed...big time here..maybe you should ask which mod moved it here?? and again where was the harm on me showing blue a similar topic on this board?

I am a Christian... I was raised Baptist... and stick to many Baptist beliefs... but see myself as more non-denominational now.

I believe that you have to be saved to go to heaven, and that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose again and I will be called up to be with him during the rapture.






Thank you DOT...

Hi everyone....

Interesting topic... The responses were just as interesting! I am Christian, though I do not particularly believe in organized religion. It has been two years since I have actually been to church (bad experiences, long story). I guess right now you could say I am living, learning and finding my own spiritual path. (sounds corny, doesn't it?).

Amy

Makes sense to me. So many say all people need to form their own personal relationship with God, but how is anyone ever to do that unless it is on their own time?
I mean, if it is done through a church then that is a group relationship, which is ok, but that is not an individual relationship as well. It cannot be both at the same time.

Actually there are wires crossed...see this topic was not posted her to begin with...it was on the skeptic boards and another mod moved it here..so why would we ask it to be moved to where it already is???? When we made the suggestion in the 1st place it wasnt here...but later was moved...therefore the mod that moved it..must have felt it belonged here and so it does

Why was I quoted?

oh.. nevermind... I don't want to know...

I dunno why

This topic was originally on the skeptics and spritual side, until it got moved over to this side by a Mod. .....On occasson i've even posted on the wrong side......It had nothing to do with being christain it has to do with including all of us on the skeptics side there are Athiest Agnostics NB"S Pagans etc,.we are asking to be treated fairly also......

I do not remember it being moved. I do remember being confused when I read Sheri's post and was trying to figure out if it meant creating division among the different types of believers on the SRB board, since she suggested it belonged in the off topic section. That opinion could have applied to some Believer perspectives I suppose.

Perhaps this is all just a misunderstanding and all the mods wish for is that if someone thinks a post should be moved from one thread to another they should get the message through a report to them, and not have any us use up space in the thread requesting it to be moved. I see that happen in a lot of threads.

I do not recall seeing this in the main page rules of conduct, but it might be a good thing to add in. There is no sense in everyone getting angry over some unintentional mistakes, which from some statements appear to be all that it was.

Bella it was originally on the skeptics side it got moved to here my post comes very early in the thread .....We agree its obviously a misunderstanding on the mods part that is a good rule. sometimes we post in the wrong place, WE were only thinking of the problems down the road nothing agaisnt blue either he didn't know.....

I know Sheri..after all why would you or I have tried to direct Blue to this board instead and mention it was on skeptics ...I recall it moved and i'd darev say it was moved with in the hour it was posted less even but ya know what Sheri...its over with now...wires where crossed we may as well just leave it..I had forgotten all about it till I saw dot drag it up...hey its happens

If in doubt one can always ask for the name of the mod who moved it, or ask the very first person to respond to the post what they remember. Using report to suggest moving a topic seems good to me. Rules are good to eliminate confusion and disputes.

Beckys_Mom and Sheri berri:

The point is not when it was moved, but rather that it is completely pointless and unnecessary to both feel the need to point out that the member may have posted his or her thread in the wrong section.

If you strongly feel that a thread should be moved to another section, please feel free to use the report button at the bottom of every post. After that it will be up to a mod to decide whether it should be moved.

If you have any other questions, please PM Dot or myself so that we can go back to the original conversation of the thread.

I think some Christians stick to the golden rule like glue, and I think anyone can admire them for that and say they are true Christians, while in other ways they are unconfirmed monotheisists that include everything from Deists to those who believe in a universal consciousness.
They might not fit into the molds of mainstream Christianity but in how they intereact with God and treat their fellow humans they are Christians in every way.

Sherri Berri & Becky's Mom

I was unaware that this topic had been moved as Sherri's comments suggested it should be in General Off Topic. However Disinterested is correct. It is completely pointless and unnecessary for both to feel need to point out that the member may have posted his or her thread in the wrong section.

This is nothing personal against either of you and it is most definitely not harassment. I did not dig up old posts in fact this topic was started Mar 28 2006, 12:54 PM EST

I personally do not care what a persons beliefs are or are not so long as they are respectful of the forum rules and are respectful of other members on the board regardless of their beliefs.

If you have further questions please feel free to PM me.

Dot

I did

I used to be a Christian. I accepted Jesus many years ago at a Billy Graham Crusade. I vistied many churches even went to synagogue as my mother was Jewish. i was baptized in my early twenties and for many years was a Southern Baptist.

As the years went on I began to realize my own truths in this life. For as much as I had loved Jesus and God and tried to live accordingly I was unaware. I eventually left the religion but from that point I found my path, my purpose, my meaning. Religion is secondary to love, compassion, kindness in my heart. However I think faith can be a wonderful thing if it helps you on your path and journey. As long as being a christian helps you walk in the light of love than all my blessings to you dear.

My mom was baptized when she was 40 ish in a near by lake..thats when she became a born again christian

Being a born again Christian is being saved.. and you don't have to get baptized to be saved or a born again Christian.

Born again/being saved

Saved/born again

Saved and Born again

I didn't say you had to lol the emmanuel christian fellowship advised her do go through with his...they believe is the propper way to be baptized as thats how Jesus was baptized...as for me I dont care what is the right way.....if you are happy with what you believe in...be proud and I know you are

TY for the links but if I tried to tell my mom she was doing anything wrong in her faith as a christian..I would never hear the end of it...some moms can go on and on...but thanks again

In a lake hah? Well that sure is a great way. I talked to a 90 year old woman who told me that was how they used to baptize all the people in her town in those days. That is interesting with your mom. Thanks for sharing that.

On a side note, water is very purifying. I used to cliff jump when I was a teenager. We spent weekends at this one place just jumping time and time again into the waterway. I felt a feeling of being born again in exhilaration. We even jumped off a famous bridge in South Carolina. Kids right? I think in our way we were trying to be free and feel something beyond normality.

I'm Roman Catholic, but not a practicing one at the moment. I've strayed from the church, didn't agree with some of the teachings and rules. I still hold onto my faith as a Catholic, but in my own way.

Whatever works best for you NC I too left the Catholic faith cuz I didnt agree with the rules but I still totally respect the catholic faith

So Jesus doesn't want us to gather together and witness and strengthen each other? I'm quite sure he does. I see nothing wrong with finding out who your brothers are.

I do recall compliments from one berri to another berri. If one would read the post or atleast ask me to explain myself, I would have expressed the motives that I forgot to mention in the first post. I think a manner of investigation should be made before determining the placement of a particular post. For those of us don't post in any other forum than spirituality vs. skepticism, it may appear appopriate to find out who is on your side. I think us Christians and believers of all religions are asking to be treated fairly also, by finding out who is with who. I wouldn't expect a berri to be against another berri would I?

Isnt becoming a Christian more than just "accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior" ?? dont you have to FOLLOW HIM, DO what HE SAID to DO, and become WORTHY OF HEAVEN ?.

just some food for ...