Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Adventures of a Young Christian, Part 4: Questions

If you want to start at the beginning of this series:
Adventures Part 1

What’s one thing that children do constantly? They ask questions. Questions, questions and more questions. It’s a wonderful stage of life, even though it sometimes proves wearying for the parents.

Similarly, as a “newborn” Christian, I had questions, so many questions. Here’s a sampling of some questions and concerns that I wrote down to ask my friend Jodie about when I was less than two months into this adventure:

What does “God’s love is perfected in us” mean?

Why do I have a difficult time with Pastor Erickson’s statement “we are here solely to glorify God? What exactly does he mean? What are ways I glorify God?

Does God intend for us to feel so guilty for all our daily imperfections? What part do guilt feelings play in the life of a Christian?

Is my holding back and hesitancy a normal thing to be experiencing still? I find myself with doubts and worrying what others (non-Christians) will think of my behavior. If I have doubts, I cannot be sincere. I don’t want to indulge in trite Christian phrases as of yet that don’t carry full meaning for me.

I am afraid to be sure. Being sure means pressure to me, pressure to be the perfect Christian, to save everyone I meet. Being sure means being unable to be sensitive to the unsureness of non-Christians. Yet, if I am unsure, what am I communicating to non-Christians about Christianity? I guess I am still afraid to be a fanatic. I am afraid that I am drawn more to the “romantic” ideal of true and fervent dedication to something (anything!) than I am drawn to glorify God.

I am expecting myself to teach a new language to other people when I am still learning the alphabet.

I don’t really understand the Holy Spirit at all.

Does praying in front of people ever get easier? Can you learn how to do this better? I lose my concentration on God and begin to concentrate on sounding good in front of the person I am with.

Do we pray to Christ ever? What exactly is our relationship to Christ, to God the Father, to the Holy Spirit? Do other people have these relationships straight in their minds or are we all confused?

I have a hard time being humble about any gifts I have. Yet wouldn’t God want me to feel good about the gifts he’s given me? How do you reconcile basking in praise of your gifts with trying to be an example of humility and giving God all the credit? I like to feel good about the things I do well – is this feeling wrong?

What does the Bible say about pre-marital sex?

What about discrepancies between Old and New Testament?

What about people for whom the Bible is just “propaganda”?

What about casual dating (dating without intent to commit)?

I was definitely giving Jodie a run for her money. I don’t remember all the answers to these questions, but I do remember her patience and her continual reliance on the Scriptures to seek out the answers. She encouraged me to start memorizing Bible verses and I was off and running. She prayed with me and for me. I can’t imagine what my early life as a Christian would have been like without having someone right there to go to for questions and encouragement, a true God-send.

Jodie and I are still friends, although we don’t see each other very much now. She just turned 60, so I’m offering up a slightly belated “Happy Birthday, dear friend and mentor. I thank God for you!”

Will I delete this in the morning? So many questions!

Next up:
Adventures Part 5