acting like a Christian.. not just calling yourself one

ok so I live in a smaller town and in this town everyone around my age parties.. like half of the high school has gotten in legal trouble.. drinking and drugs here is what everyone does.. but me and my sister who is older than me have never done any of this.. we have both gone to many churches in our town and towns near by.,.. and everyone of them is the same, people say they are Christians but after youth group go and party.. I am not trying to sound judgmental at all but it is just hard to find people in my town who have morals.. thankfully about two years ago I found a church group that I share the same morals with but it is a very small group.. but we are all close.. but I am just wondering if anyone else goes though this.. I was always labeled as the goody-goody at church because I don't dress revealing, I don't swear, smoke, drink, do drugs, and I am picky about the music and movies I watch/see. I think it wrong to feel like u r being judged for this at church.. so is there anyone else out there who is trying to do what is right because sometimes I just feel like it is just me and my sister who have morals in my town.. and it is hard! and again I am not saying I have anything against people who do this or who have because I know everyone is doing the best they can.. it would just be nice to meet people who she the same morals as me.. but I feel like today that is very hard to find. so yeah if u have any thoughts on this please share! :) thanks
Krysta

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Permalink Reply by shaNNonmzs on July 17, 2010 at 10:25am: Hi Krysta, actually, what u are going through is very common nowadays. You should be thankful that you're not doing any of those things that displeases God. Ask for guidance from God in everything that you do. I know you have a hard time with your surrounding. Keep on reading God's Word and pray, which will give you and your sister the direction and enlightenment. God's Word says that pray for those who persecute you. And remember that we are the salt of the earth. Let your light shine before men and eventually you'll be amazed at how God can work with others people's lives through you and your sister..Just keep on going with God coz He will never leave you nor forsake you. And put in your mind that what you're doing is to glorify God. God keeps yah!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by masreshaw (mike) sissay on July 18, 2010 at 3:08am: amen; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Krysta on July 27, 2010 at 10:17pm: hey! sorry for taking so long to respond! thanks for much for the encouragement! it means a lot! I know what I am doing is pleasing God but sometimes it just gets hard ya know? but thanks sooooo much for what u said!! it really means a lot!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert on July 17, 2010 at 11:39am: Umm this is the kind of internal dialogue I have all the time. Difference is I fell for the lie that is worldly pleasures for several years and it wasn't until I fell to my knees and cried out. I read Romans and I see what Paul says to be true of all humans. Without living for the lord we live for carnal pleasures. We are called to love and forgive our non Christian brothers (even in the church) but it's sad to see lives squandered. We can only continue to be light in the world and show christs love through our actions (resisting to be hypocrites) and pray for everyone.

I do believe though that with the advent of the Internet and Hollywood these typical "romanesque" behaviors are enabled. In our parents and grandparents day most weren't like this. When a movie like old school is released, though, do you think kids are more or less lokely to find such behaviors acceptable? I for one blame my tainted youth on the American pie movies!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Krysta on July 27, 2010 at 10:24pm: I'm glad I'm not the only one! I am sorry u struggled for a few years but I am glad u r doing good now! it's not that I have an attitude towards people like this, it is just hard when eVERYONE in my town is like this! it is really hard when u have seen these people grow up being really cool people then just turning into a person who is always high or drunk.. I agree that the internet and hollywood is part of this! but also I think parents r too like a lot of my friends parents have just checked out and don't care what thier kids do and that's not right.. there is a lot of wrong in this world! I honestly don't know what movie old school is it sounds familiar.. but yeah movies like that r the movies my old youth pastor would see like 40 year old virgin.. which I know I haven't seen but from what I heard isn't a umm nice movie to say the least!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Hannah Mattson on July 18, 2010 at 12:28am: Heh, I think I'm actually one of the kinds of people you might have a problem with. I spent most of my high school life hanging with people who didn't even PRETEND to be Christian, in fact, some of them were self-proclaimed Wiccans. I only walked away from them when they seriously insulted God. I actually pretended that I wasn't a virgin and that I'd partied, when I hadn't.I rejected the company of fellow Christians because I didn't want to be a "goody-two-shoes" because I've seen the way the world tends to walk all over "nice" people. I'm beginning to realize my mistake. Being a good person doesn't make you weak, it makes you incredibly strong. Congratulations on managing to have and keep principles.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Krysta on July 27, 2010 at 10:29pm: hey
please don't think I have a problem or an attitude towards people who party, or that I think I am holyer than thou.. because I don't it is just hard when I choice not to do that and everyone I am around choices to..and it is hard when I see with people I have grown up with. I am sorry u went though that and I hope things have gotten easier for u! yeah I understand what u mean by people walking over goody goodies I have that happen because I thought being a christian meant always being nice.. which is doesn't.. I had many friends treat me very badly and it finally got to the point where I had to be upfront and "rude" for me! but in the end they learned they can't treat people like that and now they r no longer in my life. but thank soo much for the encouragement! it really means a lot!! :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Hannah Mattson on August 21, 2010 at 1:01am: No indeed it doesn't... Jesus had a tongue sharper than a knife and he lost his temper on several occasions! You're welcome.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by masreshaw (mike) sissay on July 18, 2010 at 3:08am: dont feel weird i went through the same thing with my old church, i felt people weren't the same out side of the church. I myself don't drink, smoke or party, but remember Jesus said he who follows me will have the whole world against them, you have to know that Jesus excepts you and thats all that matters. so you set your own example and act like a real Christian for Christ sake. good luck just know their is someone in your shoes who feels the same way; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Krysta on July 27, 2010 at 10:30pm: thanks so much! yeah I ended up not going to two churches I went to anymore because it seemed very fake.. I have a found a church right now I love so it has helped a little! but thanks so much for what u said it is nice to know I am not the only one! thanks!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alison Maxwell on July 18, 2010 at 8:59am: Hey Krysta,

Keep your head up. You and your sister need to be there for each other. There is much temptation in this world and unfortunately we all have to suffer, to gain perseverance and therefore build character. Hope these bible verses help:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." – Revelation 21:3-4

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. – John 16:7

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." – John 14:1-4

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. – Psalm 42:5-6a

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. - 1 Peter 1:3

God bless,
Alison xo; ▶ Reply to This