Religious topic...but it's nothing controversial
Moms View Message Board: The Kitchen Table (Debating Board): Religious topic...but it's nothing controversial
This isn’t meant to be a controversial topic.
I became a Christian and was Baptized when I was a teenager, which was around 14 years ago. But I don’t feel right about things, I don’t feel like I have like I have ever led a Christian life. I actually quit going to church not long after becoming a Christian because of some problems within that church and I never bothered finding another church to attend. I have never really gotten into reading to bible or thought much about religious stuff until I started back going to church this past year. We have a wonderful preacher at my church that has been there since January. I have felt many times like I should (NEED TO) go up to the alter when we have alter calling, but something keeps me from going up there. We are having revival this week and I almost went up to the alter last night, but ended up not going. I want to talk to my preacher about how I feel, but I’m at a lost of words on what to say to him. I also don’t know if I should speak to my preacher before revival begins tonight or if I should wait and go up to the alter when they have alter calling at the end of the revival tonight. I’ve had strange feelings deep down inside all day long thinking about this. I don’t really feel like I’m saved. What do you all think? How should I explain how I feel to my preacher?
Anon, with respect, while you don't think this is a controversial topic, I am going to move it to the Kitchen Table, as we call our "debate" board. In general, we prefer that serious discussions of religion and religious questions be in that section.
I would ask that all members who respond to this post treat it as a serious question seeking serious guidance. I don't think I have any answer, other than to say that I have always trusted in the loving kindness of the Lord, and while I do not think in terms of "saved", I do think that anyone who is seriously seeking God's love is a child of God.
I have gone down many paths in my own religious journey and, yes, had many serious problems with the Christian faith in general and with the church in which I was baptised and confirmed specifically. In the end, I found that I do define myself as a Christian and found a faith community where I feel supported and feel that I "belong".
If your preacher is preaching about the love of God, and how to find your own path to that love, then I would indeed suggest you talk to your preacher, but privately, not when others are also waiting to speak with him. While the excitement and general emotion of a revival can indeed bring many to the alter at the call, I wonder how many strive to live a Christian life after answering the call. To me, your kind of self-doubt and desire to be sure of yourself in yourself sounds more like you do truly wish to change your life, and that decision can be made at any time - and might well be made in a clearer and more committed fashion if it is made after serious thought and consideration, rather than in the excitement of the moment.
Bumping up......
Well you use a lot of terms in your post that led me to think you are probably in a Baptist church, at the very least an evangelical church. I am Baptist, but have visited several churches.
So that being stated. Are you saved? If you truely believe in your heart, and except Christ as your Savior, yes you are saved. Should you be rebaptised. It isn't necessary, but it is certainly okay to have it done again. Typically this is called "recommiting your life". I personally believe that you should follow your heart, if you feel like you need to go to the front, then go. Tell your preacher, that you were Baptised years ago, but haven't really been following the right path and that you want to make a public confession of your faith. If you say to your preacher (and I believe this of any faith) that I just felt I needed to be here, and I need to pray and talk with someone, they will help you get where you need to be.
As far as when to go...really whenever is fine also. But if you go during revival, make sure you tell your pastor you would like to talk at a later time. There really isn't time for him to get to know you. You can always contact his office and make an appointment. So going at revival is good, but don't make it your only time with the pastor.
I'm the original poster... I didn't get to speak to the preacher tonight. There were already several people at church when we got there and there were several people that went up for alter call tonight. I don't know how things are done at other churches but at my church alter call is where people gathering around at the alter saying their own private prayers. The preacher is also up there praying over the ones at the alter while the rest of the congregation sing. I'm having a problem with this because I'm shy therefore, I would feel more comfortable doing it more privately. I also want some guidance from my preacher with this because I don't really know how to do it myself. When I became a Christian as a teenager, a preacher was there with me and guided me. If the feeling is present tomorrow night, then I'm going to rededicate my life to the Lord.
Yes, I am a Baptist but I'm not sure if I want to be rebaptized. My family wasn't present the first time I was baptized because it was done at a church camp. So I think I would like to be rebaptized someday and have my family present for it.
I would schedule an appointment to talk to your pastor privately and with no time pressure. As for what to tell him...just what you've posted here.
A few things to keep in mind. Salvation is not a feeling, so you may not always "feel" saved. It is about a moment in time when you made a decision to make Jesus the Lord of your life. In doing so, you acknowledged that you (as everyone else is) are a sinner and that He paid the price for that sin. If you have done that and meant it then you are a believer even if you don't always feel like one. And as Baptists we believe in the security of the believer, i.e., "once saved always saved."
It sounds like if indeed, you did become a Christian, then you were never properly discipled. I would definitely suggest you talk over your salvation decision/experience with the pastor and then life since then. Hopefully you can find a small group or a woman to teach you how to study the Bible and live a life for Christ.
I am a Christian and a Baptist (also married to a minister FWIW) and would glad to continue the discussion via email if you would like. pamela dot terrell at gmail.com
I think a one on one with the Pastor is a good idea. Sounds like you have a bit of confusion. Which in my opinion is a good thing, it means you are thinking it all over and that you are serious enough about it to care. I agree that you need to just talk to him and tell him what you had to say here..
Thanks for coming out of Anonymous. I see you don't list your "real" name, but wonder if your name is Brook? My beautiful granddaughter is named Brooke. I also think you are a new member, and I want to welcome you to Momsview.
Finally, I think Pam said it best: It is about a moment in time when you made a decision to make Jesus the Lord of your life. In doing so, you acknowledged that you (as everyone else is) are a sinner and that He paid the price for that sin. If you have done that and meant it then you are a believer even if you don't always feel like one.
Being human, we are prone to slip away from what we know is the right way to live, to slide into "easier" ways. A loving God is also a forgiving God when we ask for forgiveness - but we have to ask for forgiveness, which means admitting and acknowledging the sin and trying to do better.
One of my favorite books that touches on faith and believing is Cold Sassy Tree, by Olive Ann Burns. In the section that I like best, the grandfather is talking about prayer. He says, in essence, that he doesn't think it is right to pray to God asking for something, or making a bargain with God - if God does X, I will do Y. Nor does he think one should pray to ask God to take away a tribulation or sorrow. The best prayer, grandfather says, and the one that is always answered, is "God, give me strength." I think what the grandfather is saying that by asking God for strength for whatever one is facing or living, one is acknowledging the higher power and believing in the higher power, and in the request for strength one takes in the blessings of that belief, which gives strength.
Ginny, thank you for the welcome. I found this site a while back and have been reading through many of the topics on here. I think this place has a wonderful group of ladies on here. That's why I have felt comfortable coming to you all with this. Oh, and Brook is my wonderful niece's name. That's where I came up with my username. Thank you for that book suggestion, I'll check it out when I get the chance.
I have felt for some time now that I don't believe I was genuine in becoming a Christian as a teenager. I feel that I was led into it by others and didn't have the feeling (the presence of the Lord) that brought me to that decision. The feeling that I was referring to in my earlier post was the feeling of the presence of the Lord, not the feeling of whether I feel saved or not.
I have a lot of things to figure out and work through. My pastor doesn't live in my area, he actually lives an hour away. So I don't know about making an appointment to speak with him. But I do know that he'll make those arrangements if he knows that I need to speak to him. And the only way for him to know that is if I tell him.
I'm going to get to revival as early as I can this evening in hopes that my pastor will already be there and I hope to speak to him a little at that time. Then hopefully we'll figure sometime out where I can speak to him more in depth later on.
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best.
The thing I have always believed is that, regardless of how you are led to Christ or how many people are present when you dedicate your life to Him, your decision is strictly between YOU and THE LORD. No one else. The apprehensions you feel are normal. I am not so sure that I would feel comfortable standing up in front of dozens of people that I didn't know well and announcing such a personal decision.
I had been going to church for a while before I was baptized (I was 31, at a Church of Christ.) I was counseled in private by the minister and an elder. We studied the Bible together for a few months, and after I had been baptized, I continued. I still don't feel (6 years later) that I know enough about the Bible and what God wants me to do. I certainly don't know as much as the elders and ladies who have been teaching me. But, this is a walk that I am taking with The Lord, and I know that He knows my heart, and I know that He loves me. That's really what matters.
I have no advice to give. I'm Anglican and more then a little unfamiliar with what you're talking about but I was wondering what an altar calling is.
In a Baptist church, the last song is called the dedication song. You literally walk up to the front of the church to join, to make a profession of faith, to pray. So you are "called to the alter". The pastor always says something like, come join me or if you feel the Lord calling, we would like to pray with you, etc. In bigger churches often they don't do an alter call though. But when Billy Graham does his thing in stadiums they still do alter calls and it is amazing to see the thousands of people walk to the front to be pray with and for.
Thanks Kaye!
Just to update everyone... I arrived at church early last night and was able to speak to the preacher for a while before revival began. We're also going to make arrangements to meet so we can discuss some things more in depth. I did decide to rededicate my life to the Lord last night. It is such an amazing blessing to have found my way back to the Lord.
Pam, I will e-mail you within the next couple of days because there are some things that I need to talk about.
Thanks for the update. I cannot think of many people better than Pam to turn to for advice in this area.
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