4 Things That Were Keeping Me From Becoming a Christian

While looking back at some of the things that were keeping me from becoming a Christian, I felt that others  possibly shared some of my misconceptions I had about the Lord and the Christian faith.  Let’s take a moment and look at some reasons why we might ‘block’ the truth from entering our lives…and find the ways to correct them.  Also see If You Were God for 1 day

1) I wanted to ‘Prove’ that I was right. 

There is nothing wrong with being passionate about what you believe.  When our passion however overrides our sincere quest for the truth…then passion becomes the blinding ingredient that blocks the truth from becoming part of our lives.

I was guilty of doing what we all of have done certain times in our lives, create a system of beliefs and concepts that will bring a sense of security to the way we live.   We believe ‘this way’ because life makes sense ‘this way’ and thus I feel secure living ‘this way’.    When Christians or others teachings contradicted the way I believed, this shook my core beliefs-the way my world made sense to me.   To be honest, for most people, changing this ‘world view’ can be frightening-to say the least.   It can shake the foundation of how we manage our lives, because we are asked to consider changing the most valuable beliefs in our lives.

That is why in most instances, discovering truth does not start with logic, but a brokenness of heart..a true desire for it  over any falsehood-even our own false thinking.   Truth is totally logical and logic will fall into place later, but the first step is a desire to know the truth.   If we are wrong about our beliefs-as I was, then stubbornly defending  a ‘broken system’  at all cost is to continually  deny  the truth.    This  can block  what  the Lord is trying to teach us through His Word and Holy Spirit.   See Discovering Truth

 John 14:26  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.    

John 16:8   When He comes, He (the Holy Spirit) will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.

Let’s look at this through Gods perspective, One who is trying to reach His creation with the truth.

First, a quick illustration.   If you are parent, guardian or supervisor at work,  you probably have noticed when someone is inexperienced they are prone to do  things incorrectly.   Usually, all goes well if the person is willing to receive your instruction or direction.  Most of us however have worked with individuals that were not open to your greater understanding.   Your instruction would not get through until that person ‘stopped and listened’ and was willing to receive a ‘different system’.  Once this happened,  your wisdom flowed into them.

Like a loving Father, the Lord does not ‘force’ His truths on those who are closed to them.   He cannot operated outside His divine nature

2 Timothy 2:13 : He cannot deny himself.

Yes, there is a time when He will come and demonstrate to the world who the One True God really is- and the Lord will indeed reign forever (Ex. 15:18).  His is now however calling those to Him…those who want to know the truth.  See God is Calling

Jeremiah 29:13   And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

We have to respond however with a willingness to be open to the truth.   Defending ‘our believes’ to a Holy Spirit who is trying to convict us of the truth is like a toddler telling a doctor they know better-yes multiplied by infinity.

Where I went wrong

When I argued  with Christians, I was trying to ‘protect my building’-my system of beliefs, I was not really seeking the truth.   To me, it seemed  a very difficult process-to be able to change what I thought made the whole world work for me.

In fact, if Jesus was not real and the True God, this would have been impossible…I would have gone from ‘one opinion’ to just ‘another opinion’.  When we follow the Lord however, He shows us personally that He is real, the creator of the universe and allows us to grow in truth as we  continue to know Him.   When we grow in a ‘relationship’ with God, , our knowledge of truth naturally grows with Him because He is all knowing (omniscient) and abides in absolute truth.     We leave behind a system of opinions based on man trying to piece together obscure thoughts…guessing and hoping that each piece will correctly connect with the other.   Without a divine Personal Mentor and a divine instruction manual (the Bible) we are left with just ‘opinions’ about life (and the afterlife).   The very words you are now reading would be no different than any other religious belief if it were not for the Holy Spirit knocking on the door to our hearts saying these scriptures are true, reach out and receive them.

When I first became a Christian, this is one of the first things I noticed, other religions follow a set of rules and beliefs-and are united by  religious instructions.   Christians who are truly walking, the bond was knowing ‘Someone’ who is God, who is alive in their lives.   It did not matter what their nationality, skin color or age, they shared the joy of knowing someone by having  a relationship with the True God.

2)  I thought Christian beliefs were one sided, biased and too exclusive.  

When I ‘discussed’ beliefs with Christians I  basically would say, what right do you have to think you can tell others you are right…and they are wrong.   What gives you the right to say…they are living the wrong way.

Where I was wrong

If one was totally objective…like a computer giving out data…it is completely logical  that the true God would be exclusive.   It is totally illogical that two or more opposite-conflicting viewpoints to be correct.

It is possible that many men could ‘claim’ they are a biological father to a child…but only one would be true.   Hundreds of religions could argue the fact that they could be the truth from God, but only one version can be accurate, point to the correct God.   Man, with limited understanding cannot be responsible to perceive which religion is accurate, that is why we have hundreds (and more) religions claiming their version is the truth.   It is Gods responsibility to set up a system that demonstrates clearly who He is, for He is the only one who can truly identify Himself.  Saying ‘all’ or multiple religions are the truth, is totally illogical because religious teachings contradict each other-thus truth is literally thrown out the window.  As the prior example demonstrates, different men can claim  they are the biological father of a child, but ‘claims’ can never change the truth that there can be only one true biological father.  Jesus claims that His truth in exclusive, either this is the true or a lie, there can be no other option.   Please see important link, Understanding God.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

A true sovereign God cannot give conflicting accounts for

-what is righteous (good) or sin (evil)

-how man creates and maintains a relationship with God

-how the universe came about

-the purpose of man and his destiny

All logic points to God being exclusive and supreme, or else He would not be God.

The question then becomes-out of all the religions that claim to be exclusive, which one is the ‘true God’ of the universe.  See Does God Really Reveal Himself to Man? 

Thus, the true God would teach

-He would be exclusive and claim to be so

Exodus 20:3  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

-would claim His teachings were the truth and above all other teachings

2 Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is God-breathed (absolute truth) and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Psalm 138:2   praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all…

-would claim His  sovereignty  over the universe

2 Chronicles 20:6  And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?

-would have the ability to lead us to this truth, again, among the many options.

John 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

If Jesus was not the Lord, alive by the Fathers side (Heb. 1:13), then Gods Spirit would not be able to draw you to Him.   But if He is God of God and Lord of Lords (Deut. 10:17)…then the Holy Spirit is more than capable of being able to reveal to you who the true God of the universe really is.     

-He would make it incredibly clear how man can make the ‘initial contact’ with God.     To be able to find Him-know Him…to have an eternal relationship with Him (Explained in detail below)

John 1:12  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

3) Frankly, I thought becoming a Christian was cutting out all the fun in my life.

Yes, I thought this…maybe…some of you may be thinking this too.   The Christians I knew were thrown into the ‘geek’ category, in my day…the not cool folks.   I thought my life would be boring and would lack the fun things I desired to do.

Where I was wrong

Seeing, experiencing the Glory of the Lord is the most awesome experience in this universe…infinite Love combined with unlimited Holy Righteousness.  This combination that allows us to ‘touch God’  is the most sought after encounter  in this life.   His ‘glory’-or being in the Lords presence is the most exciting event  we could ever have, beyond anything we could experience in this world.

There are a lot of things in this world we can enjoy doing-but to be honest with you-nothing will ever surpass those times in prayer or worship that bring from heaven His Holy Love and Presence.   This is truly  life changing, a taste of the heavenly future.   I’m for Christians playing sports and winning a super bowl can be fantastic….but I would not trade one hour with the Lord manifesting Himself  in group prayer or worship service.   This would surpass any accomplishment on earth.   Just want to let you know, becoming a Christian is more glorious than anything down here…yes….we may have trials…but they can never take away from the hope is our calling, going home to be with Him. (Rm 8:18) 

Note:  Lucifer (now named Satan) knew this to be true before he sinned and fell.   He was the head of worship, where the Lords love was manifested in the most powerful way Ps. 22:3.   In fact, this is the core to the evil global corruption today.   Satan desires to pervert this holy worship with a universal  ‘forced worship’ to him-in an attempt to replace the most Sovereign holy  experience given to man…intimacy with a  Loving God.  See Tree of Evil,  Global Corruption.

Ephesians 3:14-21

14-15) When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God…16) that out of His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit.  17) And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love;

18-19) and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep and how high His love really is, and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it.  And so at last you will be filled up with God Himself.

20) Now glory be to God who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of-infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.  21) May He be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of His master plan of salvation for the Church through Jesus Christ.

 

 4)  If I were to truly surrender my life to the True God,  ‘if’  He rejected me, than that would be life’s ultimate rejection.  To be honest,  I wasn’t sure I could deal with the possibility of  the ‘ultimate rejection’.  

Yes, saved the most personal answer till last.   Like many, I grew up with acceptance issues…maybe this was a blessing in disguise.  While it kept me from easily trusting others…including going to the Lord..it also made me realize there had to be ‘more’ to this life…like finding God.

When I talk to people about the Lord, there are some who are more open than others.   Those hurting and needing His love are usually more open to finding Him…or looking for the truth.   At times, it seems the ones that are least interested are  those who are willing to live-life as usual-not wanting to change or seek for the truth.

If God could be contacted… if He wanted to be contacted…it would stand to reason  that His ‘system’ would be one of having a personal relationship with Him verses following an abundance of  rules ‘about Him’.   Yes, He would have a rule book to guide and protect us from harmful behavior, the focus would always be getting ‘to know’ the  true God.

Matt. 11:28-30   Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Yes, finding the One True God is realizing He is ‘exclusive’, but He is not ‘reclusive’, He desires all come to the knowledge of His truth

2 Peter 3:9    He (the Lord)  is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.      

John 6:37  All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

Isn’t it always about just getting honest?   I have sinned, until I reach heaven I will be down here on earth working against  my sin nature….and using the Lords Spirit to help me overcome it.   Getting to know the Lord, our true God was not as difficult as I thought it might be.   It’s simply about getting  real and confessing the truth.

Lord, I have sinned and I want my sin to be covered by the sacrifice You made for me on the cross.  I come to You, willing to receive You in my heart, asking You in my life right now.   Just say this and be real, sincere as a child before Him.   It’s not complicated, but you have to be genuinely sincere when you pray this.

After you come to Him and get honest with Him, the next step is true repentance, Lord, I will follow You and Your truth, I will make Your way my way Lord..

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Praise God!   If you truly asked Him into your life, and you follow His ways, seeking Him as the Lord of your life, welcome to the Kingdom of God.   The Bible also says

Romans 10:9-10  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Our confession can include Praising Him name for receiving you as one of His children-what an amazing event Jn. 1:12-13 🙂  .    For more information about receiving Him See Salvation.    The next step in finding a good Spirit Filled church that will help you grow with other believers, your brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Feel free to contact me on this web site and we will talk about finding a fellowship that you can grow in, with other believers.  Contact Page 

The Lord will eternally bless you for having the courage to seek the truth, to receive Him as your Lord and Savior.   So excited you have entered into the Kingdom of God that will last forever!!