How do people become christians? I dont mean how does someone who agrees with christianity become one, I mean what mental process does a person go through to come to accept a christian worldveiw when previously they didn't?
To me the christian worldveiw is at best absurd and at worst frightening that anyone could beleive it - but people disagree with me - I can understand how someone who grew up with that worldveiw can continue with it - but I am really finding it hard to understand why an outsider would take it up and I wanted someone to explain - preferably from personal experience - but anything would be nice.
I looked into it a bit but only found shallow stories that seemed to me to be people who were christian in all but name (probably from their cultural background) becoming christian - nothing where someone seemed to go from feeling content with their understanding of the world but then realising christianity despite outwardly appearing absurd was in fact true.
2006-11-14 02:11:58 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A few reasons.
Christians claim to have all the answers. This is very tempting for someone who's feeling lost.
They also promise forgiveness and absolution of sin. Tempting for someone who has done something bad, who KNOWS they have done something bad, and for whatever reason cannot forgive themselves and cannot get forgiveness from whoever it is they wronged.
Christians also have a special little clique. When you belong, you feel as though you're part of something bigger, and something special. It's a good feeling.
This last bit sounds cruel, but it's true. They indoctrinate their children. They're taught from a very young age that Christianity is THE ONLY way, and everyone else goes to hell. They brainwash their children with fear and promise of reward. Sad, but true.
2006-11-14 02:21:27 · answer #1 · answered by E D 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Quite often they find something in the Bible is true even though it seemed silly before and then they have hope and believe that there is some thing to the Bible, and if the Bible is true then there is a God.
Some people discover that God is real is by some one they know who gets a healing. Some times the person them selves get prayed for because they have exhausted all medical options, so what have they to loose? only to discover that He is real and cares for them!
Some people have come to have faith in the Bible, because they have tryed to disprove what the Bible says and in their research they find that the Bible is true. Evolution says that man and dinosaurs are separated by millions of years, but there are rocks with human and dinosaur footprint in them. The Bible says that man and dinosaurs lived together (they are called dragon, Behemoth, Leviathan and unicorn).
For a personal experience try going to several Pentecostal and Apostolic churches in your area (I say these two denominations because they have a higher level of Spiritual activity than most denominations-plus each church is different) and have them pray for you that He may be real to you or for a healing.
On an intellectual level check out the web sites below, they will give you lost of info on how evolution is wrong (it is a theory not a scientific fact) and how things point to what the Bible says.
2006-11-14 02:52:55 · answer #2 · answered by tim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The convictions of sins. How, then, I realize that I'm not a good person.That I need The savior. Other religion don't promise a guaranty eternal life, it's always based on work and good deeds.
Christianity is so simple, all you have to do is repent all your sins and put your trust in Jesus.
How people can be frightened by Christianity ? For me hell is more frightening. I have a choice, and I choose life.
2006-11-14 05:12:23 · answer #3 · answered by It's not about me 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have no belief in God or are living a life that is much worse than a life a christian has, and you see nothing else, know nothing else, the likelihood of you converting would be very high.
But Christianity has been updated a long time ago. Just like Judaism was when Christianity came around.
The update was necessary, because people have comitted horrendous crimes against GOD and themselves by portraying a man, equivalent to God almighty.
Jesus wasnt there from the beginning of time...and Jesus did not save those who didnt hear of him.
Jesus doesnt save. His message, does. And he said one thing: Obey God and do not worship anything but Him.
Peace out
2006-11-14 02:19:02 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
by searching the heart of ones own self. For it is with the heart man believe unto righteousness according to Romans chapter 10 verse 10. It is telling us here in Romans that we can not call on him as Lord if we do not believe Romans:10:14. And how can they believe upon that they have not heard of, except there be a preacher.
So in short unless we go and hear the word and what it says, for ourselves, not what someone else said or thought, but hear it for ourselves we are with out the ability to receive and believe with the heart. Read Romans Chapter 10.
2006-11-14 02:28:33 · answer #5 · answered by Tim and Karen J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not everyone who calls themselves Christians really live a Christian lifestyle. I would recommend going to an Orthodox church. You can look them up on www.antiochian.org or www.oca.org. You can talk to a priest. You can attend their classes. They talk about faith, worship, how the church works and what they believe. The orthodox church is the first church established after Christ. Roman Catholics are a branch off from Orthodox. The services are the same now as they were when the church first started. It is common to see Greek Orthodox churches everywhere but there are ones that are all in english.
2006-11-14 02:16:46 · answer #6 · answered by travelguruette 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's not a mental process at all. It's not about a personal experience. It's a spiritual process - and - it's nothing we can do on our own merits. Faith and Grace are 100% gifts from God.
It is God that makes the Christian - in the new birth in the waters of the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.
Even the Faith you are given is not of your own making - the Faith itself is a gift of God.
"The Church is the Body of which Jesus Christ is the head, and all baptized persons are the members."
2006-11-14 02:18:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
sometimes folks will ask me, "are you a christian?" most usually my answer is, "I don't know if i am a christian or not, when i look back at the history of the early first century christians and what they had to go through, i just don't know if i am a christian or not; but, My Master is Jesus Christ."
In accepting Jesus as my master, i don't think that makes me a christian. I appreciate the sacrifice jesus made for my sins and the stripes he took on his back for my healing. and when i pray, i pray through jesus to the father.
does that make me a christian?
being christ like?
jesus is my master, to me that means that i listen closely to his words and pay close attention to his actions knowing that the consciousness that he possesses "messianic consciousness" is what awaits mankind
am i a christian? i don't know
so you want to be a christian? could you?
i mean, really and truly be a christian in word and deed...could you?
2006-11-14 02:22:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
first of all nobody has an understanding of the world, our minds aren't that powerful
if you really want to feel GODs presence and grace
fast for three days liquid only,don't talk to anyone at all But Jesus ask him to take up house in your heart,mind ,body and soul,take 30-60 minutes
look into the mirror and see yourself every inch of your body from head to toe ,you should see skin, hairpores, deep very deep in your eyes, never take your eyes off of you until you have looked at every part of you,do this before you fast and pray,while praying and after fasting and praying,wake up with prayer and go to bed with prayer and don't for get to repent ask for forgiveness for every sin you commited every time you think of some thing wrong you have done and in the end you will look, feel and act like a christian
2006-11-14 02:34:57 · answer #9 · answered by Me 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
- Have you ever wondered why spiritual things even enter your mind? It is because we consist of both flesh & spirit.
- Reading the Bible for myself, seeking to understand its teachings, & praying are essential for understanding.
- Praying is something that becomes more natural as you progress with your relationship with God.
- The only way for you to truly understand is to read the Bible, understand it, then apply the teachings in your life. This is how a person tests the Scriptures and the truth becomes revealed to them.
2006-11-14 02:20:41 · answer #10 · answered by righton 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋