I address this question to Christians because that is my own background; I am now an Atheist. My particular situation makes me curious about those whose experience may be similar to mine: raised in the faith and then fell away from it. What was it that drew you back? What convinced you that God was calling you, and calling you to be a Christian? How did you reconcile the return to faith, having at one point in life rejected it?
Your courteous answer are appreciated.
2007-10-12 15:16:47 · 19 answers · asked by Jack B, goodbye, Yahoo! 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That's a nice question mate. I don't think I could reconcile returning to maintream Christian faith. I adore the premise that it is born from love.. but religion seems to take the love out of faith and it makes faith more canonical than I can imagine Jesus would have ever wanted it to be.
In my bible the words marked in red are meant to be those of Jesus. They're kewl words.
If there is a god, it's an apathetic one so far as I'm concerned.
2007-10-12 17:42:35 · answer #1 · answered by Icy Gazpacho 6 · 7⤊ 1⤋
Ok I have told this many times, and as one of my special buds, I am sure you have read it before. but for you I will tell it again.
I was raised in church,
but we left the church when i was 9, when I was 17 my brother got me to go to a different church, and I was there for 3 years before they changed pastors and I left again, I had met my wife there, but her father wouldn't let her date me, he called me a hoodlum, but I left because the pastor and his wife we hypocrites. and between the 2 churches I had, had my fill of Christian hypocrites.
15 years later my 4 year old daughter said "i don't want my daddy to go to hell" so I went back to church just for her, figuring that if I went to Church a few time she would get off my back.
I sat in the back pew, slumped down and found fault with every thing that the preacher said.
but when the altar call came, I felt the presence of God on me,
I don't know how to describe it, but I can remember that feeling to this day, 38 years later.
it was like that was a presence surrounding me, about a foot all around me, it was a stillness, full of peace and love, I looked around to see if anyone else was noticing it, and then to see if anyone was watching me, but all of a sudden I didn't care, and I was half way to the altar before I realized what I was doing.
was I being overly emotional? maybe.
but I was not a very emotional person at that time.
I was to be truthful a hard nose, hard drinking, SOB.
a womanizer, that would fight at the drop of a hat, an i would drop the hat.
it has taken some time for me to change, it was not an overnight change, except for the drinking, I have never wanted a drink since.
but i will have a beer occasionally with my friends. every couples of months or so, but I don't need it like i used to.
the people that know me now would have never believed what I used to be.
this exceptionally long answer has be brought to you courtesy of Jack, who ask the question.
2007-10-12 17:14:46 · answer #2 · answered by Hannah's Grandpa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was born and raised so I didn't have an experience that you're describing. But I have seen examples, for one I have seen Atheist such as your self turn to Christ, people that I never thought would turn to Christ just turned... One example was a neighbor of mine who was an Atheist, he constantly challenged me and God. One day however, His wife was killed in a DUI accident. The following day he was on my porch sobbing, wondering why this had happened to him. This was the Climax the turning point, he realized he couldn't do it by himself anymore, he realized how week he had been before and so Naive. God had talked to him, sent a message that couldn't be ignored, and now he is fully committed to switching around Atheist and non believers. He once was a terrible man, but now he is the strongest Christian I know. How he did It... or how it happened, I will never know for sure. But to find your own example I recommend going to a good Christian church in your area, go ask a Pastor or a prayer counciller about their own storys and experiances.
2007-10-12 15:31:37 · answer #3 · answered by zachmebay 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It would be easy to say that I was 'saved' at the age of 6, but the story doesn't end there.
We stopped attending Church when I was about 12. I didn't return until I was 22.
Let me make this clear, I never rejected my faith...I just didn't live it!
When I was young, that seed was planted in me. I stood on the Word of God. No matter what I did, that seed was still in me. Drugs, Alcohol, Sex out of marriage....etc. I was still His child, misbehavin', but still His child.
I guess it was because all those years as a child, I had a true relationship with God, not just a religious experience, but a relationship. I'm glad that He never turned away from me, but kept calling my name. At times it was faint...but His voice was always in my spirit, for my spirit was in Him.
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2007-10-12 16:53:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Here's what I have experienced and continue to experience. I have read and prayed, went to church and so on....still do. It has helped my maturity, depression, financial situation, anxiety, and made me very happy and at peace. When I get angry, I just read or pray. I was drawn back into christianity because I had fell on hard times, money and patience were short, I felt unclean from sin. One day, I broke down and cried horribly. I prayed my heart out, said and admitted to everything. I read my Bible for a while, and went back downstairs to be with my wife and child. I started to find that peace I was talking about. And I find the sermons I listen to helpful towards living a life as a better person.
2007-10-12 15:22:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
God simply would not leave me alone. Always sending someone in my path, or a song on the radio. Every day for 12 years know matter how drunk or high I got, I was always mindful of my disobedience.
I now am so grateful. I started fresh by putting everything that I had learned before on the shelf and read the Bible for myself, putting away the doctrines I once trusted in that obviously couldn't keep me holding on in the first place.
This caused me to seek God sincerely without preconceived ideas.
I know He was calling, no doubts! I am gratefully and wonderfully amazed He never left me alone.
2007-10-12 16:15:44 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I was a born-again Christian that hadn't really embraced the faith. My family was non-commital either way. When I was 23, my big brother drowned. He was my best friend and only sibling. The thought of spending the rest of my life without him drove me to near suicide. Then I found a baptismal certificate with his name on it. Without anyone's knowledge, my big brother had gotten baptized and I knew then I would see him again! Now I am in Bible College with a secure future. PTL.
2007-10-12 15:43:18 · answer #7 · answered by Thomas E 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I was raised in a Christian church. My mother was the organist. So I didnt have much disipline in church and my father was agnostic. I had basic principles but no relationship with Jesus. I knew about him, but that was about it. I did what i wanted. I tried to continue my church life when i went to college but not for long. Church was doing nothing for me. I was Christian in name only.
When I was 27, single and 2 kids later, my life was going no where, i was invited by a friend to go to her church and they were having a special dinner. I'll never forget....Cant remember what the pastor preached on...but God got a hold of my heart. All i remember is crying....and raising my hand when he asked if there was anyone who needed Jesus. That was 17yrs ago. I've walked away after a few years because I was trying to do everything in my flesh...my way...what i thought was the way to live a Christian life. I got married to a man who didnt practice a Christian life and my life was miserable. I was doing things I knew in my heart was wrong. Following my husband rather than God. Some 10yrs later....I asked him to leave because of all his ungodly issues that was destroying my family....I have since ran to the alter, Jesus washed me clean by his blood, and i live for him today. I will never go back. I learned my lesson. ...Peace to you brother....God is faithful...if we just let him have his way in our life. I read the word all the time and fill my life with things of him....and he gives me HIS PEACE...And He's changed me for his glory.
2007-10-12 15:32:51 · answer #8 · answered by bandaidgirl 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The night I was going to kill myself in my despair and depression, GOD spoke to my heart. Since I thought I was going crazy "hearing voices" - GOD said "If you don't believe me, go look it up for yourself!" and there it was - that dusty old Bible on the shelf - and I walked over, and picked it up - scared now but excited too, not really knowing what to expect - and I opened that book and there I was "totally at random" reading from ISAIAH 41:10
"Do not be afraid for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Everything the voice had been telling me - was right there in that one single verse - it could not have been coincidence; it was GOD. I know it as sure as I've ever known anything.
Christianity came much later, but that was the beginning of my journey of faith.
2007-10-12 15:36:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are so meny things that docs and science can't explain. Like my life, after everything that I have been through, I shouldn't be here at all much less where I am. I creidt everything to God. All you have to do is look around. See the world and miracles around you instead of taking the beautiful things for granted that we do every day. Every time I am down and am feeling lost that's what I do. Look around for Him. All you have to do is look with your heart and you will see them. :) All the best to you
2007-10-12 15:29:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋