I hate being a Christian?

Question

I'm 16 years old. Raised in a christian home. and everybody thinks I'm perfect. Perfect grades, perfect family, whatever. I go to church because it's what my family does, every sunday and wednesday. we go to church. we've never questioned it or done anything different. besides i have friends there and we play football afterwards.i'm very involved in the youth group and i don't mind that.i just don't like having to read my Bible and pray and trying to figure out this whole "relationship with god' thing. the only thing tht's keeping me from turning my back on it all, is because i believe everything i've been taught, and i don't want to go to hell, so i have to at least try to make it, and because i like my friends. i don't do anything bad, nothing illegal, never even swore before. i see myself falling away from it totally in my college days. i have accepted christ as my Lord and that part is all dandy, but i guess i'm just confused. i want to be a christian, but then i don't. help!!!!!

we're not fundamentalists, we're pentecostals. and no we don't do that whole "can't wear make-up, can't wear pants, can't wear jewlrey, if you don't believe like us, you go to hell". we wear jeans, jewlery, and make-up. and we believe whoever asks the lord to forgive them goes to heaven. whether catholic, baptist, muslim, jew, etc.

i already go to an assemblies of god church.

Answer 1

Bless you in the Name of Jesus our Lord & Savior. Good question--especially for a young lady like yourself who does have a myriad of questions (and temptations). Christianity or being a Christian isn't a thing to do or a way to act--it's a way of life. In other words, it's the way you walk & talk--it should be a part of you. Being a Christian isn't perfection--it's striving for perfection (completion) in Him--Ph. 3:14. When you've accepted Jesus as Lord of your life--He's lord of your entire life. It's good to question so you can get an answer--also good that your don't want to go to hell; and more importantly, that you believe all you've been taught. I'm 55 years young and have believed and will continue to believe all that I've been taught--and what the Lord Himself has revealed to me in so many ways--He is definitely real and speaks to my heart each and every day. I want to encourage you to trust in the Lord--He will reveal Himself to you so your questions can be put to rest... and please, stay strong in the Lord and trust in the power of His might--especially when you go to college. Be the "inspirational leader" God has purposed you to be--don't follow, lead. You've got a great foundation to work with--and I applaud your family for their part in helping keep you rooted in the Lord--but the biggest applause goes to you--because your words reveal that you DO want a closer walk & relationship with the Lord.

Answer 2

It's normal to be confused at your age. I think you think you are a Christian and might not really be one. Being a Christian means you know Christ and have a personal relationship with Him. It just doesn't seem like you do.....but, of course, I could be wrong. We all come to a place in our lives when we wonder...."What's it all about?" "Why am I here?" "Is this all there is?" You sat you don't want to turn your back on it all, because you believe and don't want to go to hell.........that's a clue you're not really a Christian. It's not good works that keep you from hell. In fact, you can't be good enough to stay out of hell......you would actually really have to be perfect. Only One was perfect.....Jesus. That's why God accepted His death in our place on that cross. He didn't deserve to die because He had not one sin. He took our place in order to be our substitue and pay for our sins (not any He had). He was the perfect sinless blood sacrifice accepted by God in our place to pay our debt. So, then what keeps someone from going to heaven? Only one thing.......rejection of the Holy Spirit when He comes to us and asks us to receieve Jesus as our Savior. Receiving Christ is how you get into heaven.......there is no other way. If you have done this, you will go to heaven and should have no fear of hell.
I think you just need to go to one or both of your parents and tell them exactly what you said here. Believe me, they will be glad to sort through these feelings you are having .........they were your age once and it won't come as a surprise to them. I pray you will talk to some adult you trust if not them. Not saying anything will only be living a lie and will continue to make you feel bad........it's so much better to be open and honest in all your relationships.....especially those who love you the most. God bless you and help you open up.

Answer 3

The thing is, if you are asking this question that might mean that your parents didn't teach you why you, or they, are Christian.
It is hard to never swear, i swore plenty and it is just for the past few years that i feel very bad about it. And now that i have been water baptized (you probably know that that is a sign of promise to God that you will follow him.) and i feel that i have to be "perfect" just because i was brought up this way.

The point, after a little bit of history :) ...is:
if you really are a "Christian" you would feel bad about saying: "go to hell". Jesus came to defeat sin for us so that we may also have a chance to enter Paradise or Heaven.
In other words i don't see that you understand what you are talking about. And i do feel the same way plenty. but i pray and ask god for help, and i don't let letting go to be an option because we are supposed to believe that this is the only way to God. Plus, Jesus did say that ".. they left from us therefore they were never part of us.." means that if you leave, you were never a Christian.

THE ANSWER IS: PRAY.

Answer 4

Do what you want to do, if you don't want to go to church or read the Bible, then don't...either tell your parents about it, or just go and be bored or whatever...and if your parents make you do stuff you don't want to do...then you know that it's not right for you. I know how you feel, I was there, I'm an atheist now, maybe you'll become one, maybe not. But remember, there is a major difference between a fundie, and an actual Christian...hope this helps and best of luck!!! ^_^

-EDIT- Also...if you're afraid of going to Hell, then that's one thing I can see that you're "brainwashed." That your parents (pastor, etc.) has put the fear of Hell in you. Break out of that mold, out of that fear. Live your life how you want to, not as others want you to. Don't fear Hell when it is just a ploy to get you to believe what they want you to believe. Study any and all religion, if you find another that suits you better, then tell everyone! it shouldn't be suppressed. No matter what, don't let others daunt you from your true calling. That is all I have to say.

Answer 5

I am only guessing but it seems to me that you are an intelligent young person. This is most likely why you are losing interest in non-social aspects of religion. The intelligent part of you knows there is stuff that doesn't make sense.

You sound like a good person and you don't want to change that. I can tell you that it will not. One of the great misconceptions is that ethics or morality come from religion. You are in a position to examine yourself and see that this is just not true.

Yes, college IS probably where you will drift away from Bible reading and daily prayer. This is because you will finally not be surrounded by people that believe the same story. You will be exposed to different ideas and philosophies and faiths. And maybe even enough history to see religion in context and realize we don't need it anymore as a people and you won't need it anymore as a person.

You can still be a good person (Christian values if you will). Those things come from within.

I hope that helps.

Answer 6

I don't know that this is just a "teenager thing" - I'm having the same problem and I am 40 years old.

This what I am doing: It may not be the best solution for you, but for me it seems the most positive step.
- Read the Bible, come to your own decisions on the meaning of the scriptures.
- Look very hard at your beliefs, separate the church's word from God's word. (You don't have to belong to a church to be a Christian.)
- Pray and ask for guidance from God and Jesus, I don't imagine he will descend on a cloud and tell you what to do, but it helps to put your heart at peace when you have made the right choices for you.

Answer 7

Sounds as if you want to be Christian but , you don't want to be "Religious"
It is good that you are doing some questioning . It will not be the last time in your life that you do so .
What you believe and , how you perceive it , is a very personal thing .
It is normal to have ups and downs in your faith , I believe that is how we grow . We ask questions , seek advice and draw our own conclusions.
You are a good person ! Your Heavenly Father loves and accepts you right where you are in your Faith journey.
It is normal not to feel closeness all of the time, it is the same way in married life too .
It is just not possible to remain on the same 'plane' at all times.
You are OK ! I have the feeling that you are on the road to a much stronger faith than ever before ---take it one day at a tome !!! Blessings on you !!!

Answer 8

If you're pressured by all those around you who expect you to behave as a "true Christian," maybe it's time to try and find another place where you can do the activities you love that is not religiously affiliated, if that's possible.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to take a breather from organized religion, certainly, especially in your late teens. My advice is to try and distance yourself from church-related activities for a while, see how you feel about it once you've had time away. I doubt you're going to hell, should such a place exist, anytime in the future.

Best of luck reorganizing your thoughts and feelings on this matter.

Answer 9

When you are 16 your whole world is confusing. You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders and if you stick with things the way they are then you will stay heading in the right direction. If you love your God and you want to stay a Christian then I think you should ask your God to help guide you through these difficult times. Find someone in the church you can speak to, a mentor or even your youth pastor. I'm sure that they have questioned it themselves or at least dealt with others who have questioned their faith before.

Good luck=)

Answer 10

Dude, you should read my questions! ;-) I'm in the same boat and I'm 30 so you are getting a head start.

I think you are starting to realize there is more to the faith than all that 'church' junk. There's something pure about god and to get at it you have to go beyond all the traditions and useless rituals.

I started by dropping everything I been taught and starting from scratch with the mind set of asking critical questions.

Along the way I learned that the bible was written by humans for humans trying to grasp this idea of what God is and isn't.

It has opinions, flaws, but does have truth.

You'll discover a lot was left out for control purposes. You learn about the council nicea and its dreadful influence on today's christianity.

I talk a little bit about it on my 360 page. Anyhow, good luck but don't fear. I agree with Father K - there is a huge world to explore.

It's a fun ride to be sure!