FAQ's About Christianity

(New posts will always go below this one.)

"I don't get the 'Christianity' thing, and I'm too embarrassed to ask anyone, because I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't know this stuff..."

If this is how you feel, you're not alone. I hope to answer some basic questions about Christianity, things I always wondered about before I began growing closer to God. If I forgot something you still wonder about, and I'm sure I probably did, please leave a comment below and I'll try to answer your question!

Click the question to go to that post:

1. "What makes Christianity different from ALL the other religions out there?"


2. "What is the 'old testament' and 'new testament'?"


3. "Sometimes I hear Christians refer to God as “Father”, other times they talk about God as Jesus, and then who or what is the Holy Spirit? And which one do you pray TO?"


4. "What does it mean that 'Jesus died for my sins'?"


5. "But I never said I wanted to live forever..."


6. "I’m not such a bad person, especially compared to most, only the really rotten people have to worry about where they’re going when they die, right?"


7. "What if I want to believe, but I just don't think I do?"


8. "I was raised in a Christian church and have always tried to live right, I go to church on Sundays, I’ve even tried to pick up my Bible before, but just don’t get it. I see other Christians who seem so “on fire” for their faith, and for me “it” is just not there, why don’t I feel anything?"


9. "Is there really a heaven?"


10. "How do we know what you’re saying is the REAL Truth?"


11. "But this is just YOUR truth, MY God wouldn't ...(fill in the blank)"


12. "God loves me just the way I am."


13. "I've tried the whole "church" thing before, it just doesn't work for me."


14. "But look at (fill in the blank), HE is supposed to be a Christian, and he goes to that (fill in the blank) church, there's no way I want to be like HIM, what a hypocrite!"


15. "If God is so good, why would He let such rotten things happen in the world?"

Have you always wondered these things but were afraid to ask whoever that Christian person is in your life that you know would know?

I'll bet I know why you don't bring it up with them:

• Is it because you’re afraid they’d get “pushy” about you going to church or about whatever it is you’re unsure of?


• Or were you afraid they’d judge you for not already knowing all the 'answers', or for past things you've done in your life?


• Or do you not want to “get them going”, afraid you won't be able to shut them up?

I’m sure those are some of the reasons certain family members or friends of mine don’t bring it up, even though they must wonder about certain things.

Well, here’s what I wish they knew…and what I’ll bet that Christian friend of yours wants you to know:

• I will NOT judge you – you have no idea what I have struggled with in my life or how I have sinned – you think you know me, but you just might not. And if I haven’t messed up in just the same ways you might have, I can guarantee you can’t shock me – I know a lot of people, and a LOT of them talk to me about things. I have very close friends who have had abortions, who struggle with sexual sins, who have committed adultery. I know people so close to the Lord, and some very far away. I love them all, and I know God loves them even so much more! I "get it" that we just never know in life where circumstances and temptation will take us, we are weak and life is sometimes very difficult. God wants to forgive us no matter what, we only have to ask with an open heart, and I would love to be the person to point you back to God or to help you find Him for the first time. I promise I'll be open and ready to listen and try to help you get over whatever obstacles are between you and Him. I remember what it's like for all this to seem very foreign!
• This goes without saying, but of course I promise not to share with others anything personal you have shared with me.


• I will try VERY hard to stop when I see your walls come up, when you’re ready to be done talking about it. I know that sometimes we need to chew on little bits of new information at a time before we are ready to hear more.


• I will not push you to go to church, when you are ready, you will know.


• The reason I will promise to do the above is because I just want you to feel comfortable coming to me and asking me anything! I know THAT is where the growing starts. If you want to ask me one question, then drop it for 6 months or even years, that's up to you. I only want you to eventually love Jesus too and realize that He is the best friend who will NEVER leave you, no matter what.

Spiritual Dry Spells

Recently I've been struggling with a spiritual dry spell.

What do I mean by that?

• It means that doing my morning readings has been a struggle for the past few months and I fail at least half the time (and then feel terrible about not putting God first in my day).
  
• It means that when I pray I feel like I'm talking to the air, and that He must be sick of me "asking for stuff" anyway. (I mean "stuff" like wisdom, healings, etc.)
  
• It means that Sunday mornings in church feel like an "empty" process of going through the motions.
• I'm curious what a dry spell means for you?
  

It's not the first time I've gone through this, and I'm sure it won't be the last

But it's the longest spell I've been through like this. And it's not like I've ever been one of those people who are especially blessed to have frequent close encounters with God anyway, but I've usually at least had many "small" reassurances of His presence. (Along with the many obvious daily signs of all His blessings, and even a few beautiful whoppers thrown in there, too...times when His power and love have been crystal clear.)

Not coincidentally, this dry spell is coming on the heels of the time in my life when I've never felt so busy and overwhelmed. While I still love blogging (thankfully), it is more demanding than anything I ever dreamed, and the never ending requirement for more posts, more social networking, more emails and comments to keep up on, etc., not only diminishes my hours of sleep in a day, but understandably also affects my spiritual life. (I knew it would be tricky until our youngest was in school, but I'm certainly not wishing this time with him away!)

To make matters worse, our teen is going through the same thing.

Thankfully, he's talking to me about it now and then, which I love. But when I, as someone who has been a Christian for years, goes through this, it's a very different struggle than when a teenager does.

As much as I don't like it, I still know a few things:

• This is normal and "OK", it doesn't mean God has left.
• That even great Saints went through this (a "dark night of the soul").
• That God is still there whether or not I feel him.
  

I told our teen all this, but yet someone immature in their faith (and still just plain immature), is naturally going to have a tough time sticking with it.

How do I help a teen through this?

I've called my pastor to meet and talk to him (and am looking forward to it), but it just occurred to me that I could be honest, and let him know I'm also struggling, and let him see my response:

• I won't stop "going through the motions", even when it's a dry experience.
• When I fail at doing my daily readings again, I'll get up the next day and will keep trying.
  
• I won't stop believing and knowing that He is there and that He loves me, whether or not I have the emotions to go along with it. I know that emotions and "feelings" actually only play a small part in our faith-life. Living it, even when it's not easy, is what it's all about in this earthly life. I know that God calls us to keep on keeping on. He is a much bigger God that my emotions and the limited range of "feelings" I have as a mere human.
• Continuing to help and serve others is what we're always supposed to do.
  

As usual, Jennifer at "Conversion Diary" has written a beautiful, perfect post about this very topic: "To Whom Shall We Go?" Finding it in my in-box this morning is what prompted all this rambling today...

Are you going through a dry spell right now, too? If so, comment below to tell me about it and we can pray for each other! I'll gladly take any advice you have!

photo: James Neeley

Are Purity & Abstinence Possible?

This is from my other blog on health & nutrition:

Are Purity & Abstinence Possible?