Living as a Christian with Integrity...How?

Question

Nobody believes me when I tell them I'm now a Christian, well none of my old friends do. I used to do drugs, smoke, get drunk all the time, and sleep around. It was no secret that I was bisexual, because one time someone snuck a camera into the room. The video got sent to all my friends, and then to their friends, and so on. I still have strangers who recognize me from it.
It has been a year since I have had a cigarette, gotten drunk, or smoked a joint. I have scars from past suicide attempts. And now I'm a single Mum with a 7 month old baby.

How can I tell people about Jesus after what I did was so widely advertised?
How can I say I'm a Christian without feeling like a fraud?
I love the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart, and I want to raise my son to be a man of God. How can I do that, when the example I set was as bad as it was?

I am only interested in constructive answers that can help me out.

I'm no longer with the baby's father. I found out he had been into witchcraft. He took all the money I had and spent it on his cars. He doesn't pay child support. He has MPD.

Answer 1

Most of us struggle with our pasts at times.
It doesn't matter what others think. What matters is what God knows. That is, that you are sincere and believe and are committed to Him.
There's no need to feel like a fraud. If you were doing all those things of the past (drugs, sex, etc.) and claiming to be a good Christian, then, yes you would be hypocritial (another word for fraud).
To be a Christian is not to be perfect. It doesn't mean you never sin or have problems. It means you trust God to help you become better progressively over time, even if you fall into sin occasionally (though it's not recommended--I'm just trying to be realistic). It means you trust God to help you learn to love Him and others, even enemies and those who hurt you with their words.
And, a good attitude, I think, would be "That was then, this is now." The past is "covered by the blood"--it really is.
Read these verses slowly and think about them: Romans 8:31-39.
In the future you will stand (be victorious) not because you are perfect or better than others or don't have a past but because God causes you to stand. It all depends on Him. In other words, have faith in God (Mark 11:22). Also, a suggestion, read your Bible!
God bless you.

Answer 2

People can argue theology with you all day. But when you tell them how Christ changed your life that can not be disputed.
God Bless you and just keep doing what you're doing.
Matthew tells us. "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"
I am a recovering alcoholic among other things. We've all got a history. None of us is perfect, but we are forgiven.The past is the past, one day someone will come into your life with a similar story and because of your experience you will be able to help them and understand them like no one else can.
Satan is the one telling you, you cant raise your son to be a man of God. I will tell you, "YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE KING" and with Him and in His name there is nothing you can't do.
God Bless
Numbers 6:24-26
Tim

Answer 3

The 1st thing you have to understand is that its not what you did yesterday, its what you do with your life from this moment on. Don't be afraid of the past, let it go and with every good
deed and every good feeling it will simply go away, you learn from mistakes and then you let them go and no one can ever hold them against you. Now you learn to LIVE, for God, for your Child, for YOURSELF. Christ Died so that you could live, so your sins have been forgiven, now its just a matter of going to church and being strong in your Faith, in yourself and what you believe. Its not what you do, its how you do it and what you do it with, the Spirit you do it with.
So everyday is a bright new day to cherish and enjoy, God will always be with you and the Son of God will live through you. So just be a nice person and what God gives to you, You give. Don't remember God's Laws, write them in your
Heart. Never doubt yourself, never question yourself, Respect all things good and Bad and you will learn from them. Appreciate all things and you'll never take anything for granted. Love all things and Love will find you.....

God Bless you and your child
Merry Christmas

Answer 4

I can relate. I used to be a sever alcoholic. In fact, I was six months away from dieing until Jesus healed me! My advice to you is time. It takes time and patience. Let your life speak for itself. After a few years your friends will realize the change you've undergone. Your whole outlook and lifestyle will begin to mirror that of Jesus' as long as you stick with it. Don't be discouraged. I was there myself. It's been four and a half years since I've been delivered completely and I'm still on fire for the Lord despite loosing some friends. I'm happier then I've ever been.

TIME
PATIENTS
PRAYER

Answer 5

Praise God My Sister In Christ, Welcome To The Family!!!

Matthew 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

9:11 And when the Pharisees saw [it], they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

9:12 But when Jesus heard [that], he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

9:13 But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.


Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Have you ever read about Saul in the Bible? He was FAMOUS for slaying Christians, but one day, God almighty saved him, and set him free and he followed Jesus. Or how about the woman who had committed adultery? He who hath no sin, cast the first stone.
How can God use somebody for an example if they've never been through anything. How can you be a testimony or relate to anybody else if you've never "been there"? Our God is a FORGIVING God, and a loving God.
I don't know you, but I'm proud of you. I went through a similar situation. Contact me, I'll be your friend in Jesus.

God Bless

[e-mail]

Answer 6

Don't tell them, show them. Just live according to your faith. You don't have to go around preaching to everyone. Just do what you know is right, and you will develop a new history with people.

People will say " Wow, I remember her when she was a real trouble-maker. Look how she's turned her life around!" You could be an inspiration to future generations.

In one aspect, I call it a blessing, of sorts. You already know first hand about the bad things that your child will be exposed to. You know what to look for. Use what you have learned to protect ( or at least inform ) your child from these things.

Keep the faith, and keep trying. Things will get better. best wishes.

Answer 7

Saul was on his way to Damascus to kill Christians and raze the church when Christ met him on the road to Damascus. He used his personal testimony to testify to the grace of God. He became Paul the Apostle and his testimony of his former life and the grace God showed him became powerful testimony that helped the Christian church explode overnight.

If God can forgive a murderer, forgiving and accepting an addict is small potatoes to God.

As a new Christian, Paul continued on to Damascus and instead of killing the Christians and razing the church, he joined the church and was discipled in Syria and Arabia before receiving a call from God to establish the churches.

The key to living with integrity: Read the Bible, Pray, Fellowship. As a born-again Christian, you need to break away from your old life and seek the fellowship of your fellow Christians who need you very much. Get discipled and trained. Make a clean break with your former friends and ask God what He wants you to do.

"He has shown you, Oh Man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: To do Justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8). This is the framework for a righteous heart.

Break away from your old life and old friends. You need to seek new friends and a new environment where you can grow as a new Christian. Pray for your old friends, though, but do not go with them anymore. Raise your son so that he knows the church and is encouraged to read the Bible himself.

God has called you to a new life, and you have a powerful story you need to tell about the grace and forgiveness and merits of God.

Answer 8

The only way that anyone can tell another about Jesus Christ is by first admitting that without him they were of the world and did worldly things.

We have all been there, although some actions are remembered more clearly for longer periods than others.

My own family and my husbands famiy ignored our emerging Christianity. As we grew and changed things in our lives, they often just ignored it or waited for us to "get it out of our systems".

The only thing you can do, is exactly what you are doing. Living as a Christian will be the hardest thing you will ever do and people love to remind you of what you were, because they are still there. They will want you to remain exactly as they are, and will feel threatened that you are now different.

Keep on doing as you are. Keep learning and growing and teaching your young son by example and by Gods word. He is the one that matters most right now and seeing you live out Gods word is more important than what others are saying.

If someone feels a need to remind you of your past out of their own fear, you can tell them that yes that was you, but you have shed away the "old self" and now are a new child in God and they can become one also if they so wish.

As you grow in Gods word, you will find that you have one very powerful testimony and God may use you to reach others in this very same position that you used to be in. People tend to listen to someone who has been where they are, so you are in a perfect position to help them when this comes to pass.

SO, do not bury your past as if it didn't exist, but at the same time do not flaunt it when not needed. Live for God, grow closer to him through prayer and the reading of his word, and be prepared for the day and time that God will call you to give your testimony to another to help bring them to Christ.

I wish you Godspeed on your journey and welcome you as my new sister in Christ. You are welcome in my home anytime.

Answer 9

When I was 19 I was a drunk and smoked dope and even did lsd. I gave my life to Christ on January 6, 1998. I had drunk a six pack and dropped LSD. I was watching Ozzy Osbourne Live and Loud. The song was "Going off the rails on a crazy train." I realized in that moment that this was just a man singing about the life he knew. I did
not want to go off the rails on a crazy train, and I wanted to get off. I was feeling very bad and desperate because I knew that the devil was wanting to take my life and I was destroying myself. I went in my room and got my Bible out that had not been read ina very long time. I read Isaiah 53. I ask the Lord to forgive me and to save me and take my life and lead me. God came to me in such a real way and delivered me from the drugs. He spoke to me about love and forgiveness and then I understood the grace of God. God's grace frees us from the past. It frees us from our fleshly nature. God's Spirit lives in us to teach and guide us and to give us power to live a life of victory.

Jesus will use you to show the realty of God's power. You can say you are a Christian because Jesus saved you and made you a child of God. It's not about anything you have done - it's what God has done for you. People need to see God's grace. It's about who Jesus is and we can be washed clean by his shed blood.

Jesus will hold you up. Read the Bible everyday. God's saves us in a moment, but it takes time to grow as a Christian. And God's word will build your mind and cleanse your mind also. Fellowship with God's children. Witness - tell people about Jesus. Pray always. And Praise - don't forget what God has done for you.

I had to learn a lot about the power of the Holy Spirit and the weakness of my own flesh. But God has given me victory. This fight will never be all the way over until this body dies. Then God will give me a new body in the resurrection.

Well, today I am now married to a wonderful wife (I had some wrong relationships too then). God has blessed me. Jesus is faithful and true. I want to be a witness for him.

"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass." Proverbs 37:5

Answer 10

If you maintain your walk with the Lord, your continued witness will become your testimony. God took a man that persecuted Christians until death, Paul, a man who proclaimed himself to be the worst of sinners, and turned him into one of the most effective witnesses for the Christian church. His testimony still bears witness and so can yours. But like Paul, it will take time, devotion to study, and loving people inspite of their hatred. Remember, In Christ all things are possible. Good luck, my sister. PS I had a bad reputation too and it worked out when people saw that God had truly changed my heart and ways.