Tuesday, 04 November 2008
-
Christians Opening Up About Their Faults
Guest post submitted by Ezekiel36_33to36
I often make mistakes that I wish I could go back and change (Oh boy, do I !). I pray that one day I am completely okay with admitting all my mistakes and not want to "shut the door on them", but to learn from them.
I also pray that more Christians would be open about their past and present faults (when and to whom it's appropriate), so that others can see we are real people, with real struggles - and also so we won't put them on some pedestal thinking they are so much of a better Christian or human. Also so we can see how God has helped them in their own struggles -and that change that we might see as completely impossible for us to do is possible with God's help.Is it encouraging to hear how other Christians have dealt with their struggles and how God helped them? Are you open to sharing your struggles with others?
-
recommend
- recs 0
-
share
-
email
- sent 0
Related Posts
Post a Comment
- Back to revelife's Revelife Site!
- Note: your comment will appear in revelife's local time zone: GMT -05:00 (Eastern Standard - US, Canada)
Comments (13)
I think one of the greatest problems in the church is that we all want to appear to be something we're not. Everybody wants to have it all together. We treat Christianity like a competition. In fact, Christ is the bottom line. When we deny that we have faults, then we are denying that we need him. I think we should all strive to be more transparent.
no but i guess i could share my feelings about god in the pantheist state of mind at a later date; about mans evil and how global warming is our punishment for being stupid assholes to-ward our own fu¢king planet.
@thegreatchristopher@xanga - sadly people dont see global warming as an act of god because they dont understand it fully or have a lack of education towards it. it should be seen as an act of God by Christians too; it really should be.
I seriously doubt many Christians will understand these posts i just did; sadly; most of them are closed minded and dont think about god outside of their fu¢king bibles.
you should not need to have personal single struggles to have God, you should be smart enough to look around and see that global warming is a world wide struggle we are all dealing with because we trash our own planet. "Earth Gluntney"
@thegreatchristopher@xanga - God made this planet; if we struggle with trashing it; wouldn't God get pissed at us for trashing one of his favorite creations?
I don't like to share my problems with others while I'm experiencing them, but I'm completely fine with reflecting on them and telling others how I got through them. The way I see it, telling others about your problems while you're experiencing them puts an unfair responsibility on them, whereas telling them after the fact is simply giving them advice and helping them get through their problems.
I love hearing about how others made it through their times of trouble and how religion helped them get through it. It really uplifts my faith to see how positively religion has impacted others' lives in such a great way.
yes, and yes, but only in the proper place and time. During a church service (unless the forum has been opened to that sort of thing; I've been part of services where it was) is not the place, and when one is around a new believer or non-believer, a lot of wisdom and the judicious use of tact.
I have to say that I guess I (and I assume this goes for a lot of people, aren't we all like this?) to some extent, want everyone to think I'm better than I am. I'm not the kind of person who really feels very open sharing about my personal struggles with other people. It depends who it is, though, I have some friends who I can talk to about these things and I think we all need that too. I'm not against Christians sharing their faults...we can't pretend that we're perfect! I know I'm not, and I don't pretend to be. But I guess to some extent I kind of have a masquerade...
@Power_Ranger_Freak@xanga - well said. THis is one of the reasons people leave the faith - because of an "unsaid" rule that all christians must totally have it together! And yet, the church is where you should and can find sinners struggling to live as Christ would have them live. Oh to have no more pretenses!
Depending on the embarrassment factor will I open up to others, and also depending on the depth of security I have with them. There are several guys that I will tell all to, and have. But it is unwise to reveal all to complete strangers, even those claiming to be Brothers and Sisters.
I feel like my struggles are my greatest asset in helping other people. If I've struggled through an issue, and God has given me some insight, I can share that with people, giving them the wisdom I've gleaned. Or, if God has miraculously set me free from something (which He has), it increases my faith, which enables me to encourage others.
I'll write my problems in a blog then keep it private or erase it over. I'm so bad at coming clean...especially regarding my Christianity. I'm so conflicted. I'm such a hypocrite. I'm reallly sensitive too so don't respond to me!
I have one or two long-time close friends I can trust with things, otherwise I tend to keep the issues to myself.
Yes it is encouraging. No i am not as open as I should be. I want to be though! I think there has only been one human that I have been completely honest with, and 3 that I am pretty honest with, and they are all my best friends. I am also utterly/bruttally honest and vulnerable on my blog and on any of my online posts and websites. In real life, I test the waters often and pray about it. I am working on it! It's difficult and terrifying. This world would be a whole lot better if we as christians were a whole lot more open.