[helpme07]

HI,
I'm new here and I am facing some issues I am very ashamed of. I am a christian and feel so very guilty that I claim to be a christian and do what I do. I feel very alone in this and am seeking some help and advice from other christians...not judgement. Thanks.

[altonwoodsdrphil]

first of all, welcome to pc! I can strongly relate to what you're feeling! and the fact that it bothers you so much is probably the best sign. what now? it's real simple, when Christ died for us he became sin, and took on all of the sin of the world. when we accept him as OUR savior we are washed in his attoning blood and we have but to remind satan of this fact and he must flee from us. Claim the blood over anything thats trying to bully you around or that you feel powerless about. one of my all time favorite verses is from Romans where Paul proclaims "yet in all these things we are MORE than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,nor things present nor things to come,nor height nor depth,nor any other created thing, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God which is in christ Jesus our Lord" the victory is truly yours! claim it if you wish to be free.

[(JD)]

However, when you speak of being a Christian, to me that means you have at some time accepted Christ as your personal Savior and His payment on the cross made for your sin. (Some use the term for when they go to a "christian" church or read the Bible, as opposed to being say, Muslim or of the jewish faith.)

Welcome to PC, btw. I hope you find what you need in the way of information and support!

Pc is a great place for support helpme, you will not be judged by most here, for who are we to judge another human being? Please stay safe and feel free to pm me if you wish.

Thinking of you, Jinnyann xx

[Rapunzel]

This is not spoken as judgement, however, if you are feeling guilty for something that you are doing, there is a reason for that. You could try to ignore the feeling until it drives you nuts, but the problem will just get bigger if you do that. They only way out is to take a good look at what you are doing that conflicts with your values or beliefs. It seems easier to change the thinking to match what you are doing sometimes, but that never really works. You will need to change your actions and make them consistent with your values. When you do that, you develop integrity and congruence.

If your actions have hurt someone, then you will need to find a way, as close as you can, to make amends and repair any harm that you have caused.

I don't know what it is that you are feeling guilty about. Some people do have inappropriate guilt, so you can also look at what your guilt is about and ask yourself if it really is legitimate guilt that is there for a reason and you need to change, or if you are the kind of person who beats yourself into the ground with guilt that isn't deserved. In the second case, you may need to talk to a therapist or a religious leader about it and find out why you do that.

I wish you well, and hope that you find the answers that will help you.

TC,
Rap

[bebop]

why are you ashamed of being a christian? can you explain it further?

[helpme07]

I am not ashamed of being a christian...I am ashamed of some of the choices I have been making....then claim to be a christian when I know better.

[(JD)]

[bebop]

thank you for the explaination. sometimes I don't comprehend things the way I should. hon we all do things at times we are not proud of. no one is perfect and God knows this about us. all you have to do is ask Him for forgiveness.

[(JD)]

Did you know that Paul, the apostle of Christ also had similar struggles?

He wrote: For we all know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not, but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me: but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me, for I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

(Romans 7:14-25)