Anyone else "always believed" ? (Full Version)

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RefinersMetal -> Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 12:53:17 AM)

Can never remember not believing in Him. Learned about Jesus and had faith at a very young age.

Billy Graham said his wife Ruth never knew a time she did not believe in Christ as her savior.
I would like to have had a dramatic testimony of a changed life, but don't.

Any similar backgrounds? Thanks

note: do not mean born saved, though that could be possible. Talking after conception.



Covaan_Meshuga -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 1:19:46 AM)

My life-memories go way back, and I have always believed in G-d, but it took me a long, long time to just like Him. I have definitely not "always" been born again. I envy those without the gory testimonies of drugs, sex, and rock and roll.



LCannon -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 1:23:20 AM)

I 'accepted' in VBS at about 10 but looking back I had my 'reasonable response' in Faith much earlier. I was blessed with parents that made faith, not just 'church' or the appearance of faith, a priority in the scheme of my family life experience. I suppose I grew up in 'the faith.' Mom can't point to a moment in time that she didn't 'believe'.



RefinersMetal -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 1:39:09 AM)

Cannon similar here, thanks for a response.



Szaftoo -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 9:34:18 AM)

This has always been an interesting subject to me. I grew up in the church and remember having guest speakers who were saved from horrible lives of drugs, sex, whatever and I thought it would be cool to have that kind of testimony. As I got older and matured in the Lord, I realized my testimony was no less powerful.



benelchi -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 9:59:17 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RefinersMetal

Can never remember not believing in Him. Learned about Jesus and had faith at a very young age.

Billy Graham said his wife Ruth never knew a time she did not believe in Christ as her savior.
I would like to have had a dramatic testimony of a changed life, but don't.

Any similar backgrounds? Thanks

note: do not mean born saved, though that could be possible. Talking after conception.



I would kind of fall into that "always believed" category; however, my testimony is probably a little different than most who do fall into that category with me. I was not raised in a Christian home, and I had a step father who was somewhat hostile towards Christianity; however, because my parents viewed the church as "free babysitting" (there were 5 kinds in my family) we were strongly encouraged to attend Sunday school every week when we were very young. Through that experience I was introduced to Christ and accepted him as my savior (2nd Grade), and my church kind of became a second family to me. When I entered my teen years my step father actually tried to encourage me to drink and have sex, but thankfully my relationship with Christ and the influence of those in my church gave me enough wisdom to immediately recognize how bankrupt the advise of my step father really was. As I look back I am not only thankful for the rather tame testimony I have (I have never even had the experience of being drunk), but fully recognize the miracle God did for me in giving me the testimony that I do have.



Ignited-Faith -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 10:07:34 AM)

I once had a Pastor who said that he always believed, and that he accepted Christ at age 7. I remember thinking that was so amazing!
What a treasure to live a life that pleases God at such a tender young age! (I wish that could have been my Testimony.)



HisCovenant -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 10:10:08 AM)

I'm similar. I recall being born again when I was either 5 or 6yo. I remember snippets of time before that, but not much. I grew up in a Christian family that disciplined me consistently, so those first years before I was saved don't give a dramitic testimony.

The testimony that I share with others is not how God saved me, but how He continues to save me and deliver me. I believe once saved always saved, but He is constantly maturing me and changing me into His image. I really feel called to minister to the church and not so much to unbelievers. Not that I don't minister to unbelievers and share my life with them, but that's not my main calling. Anyhow, the testimony of how God has brought me through as a Christian is needed for the spiritual gift I have. I don't really "miss" having a dramatic testimony. The truth of God's work in my life is sufficient for Him. And if you think about it, it's still dramatic... just not melodramatic.



JimboFletch -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 10:24:41 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Szaftoo

This has always been an interesting subject to me. I grew up in the church and remember having guest speakers who were saved from horrible lives of drugs, sex, whatever and I thought it would be cool to have that kind of testimony. As I got older and matured in the Lord, I realized my testimony was no less powerful.

I've heard it said that Jesus saves from the "gutter-most to the utter-most." It is superb and inspiring to hear how God redeemed someone involved in crime and despicable lifestyles but the majority of society do not live that kind of life and can't really relate to them. The good news is that Jesus saves Kings to Paupers and anyone in between. There are people each of us can especially reach because they can relate to our story but not necessarily the rich playboy or the gang member.



iamjc-s -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 10:29:34 AM)

-
My parents came to know Jesus as their savior 2-3 years prior my birth.
I was a truely TERRIBLE 2, then at age 3 God saved me & I have never been the same since. PRAISE GOD!
-



1love1God1way -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 2:15:17 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: RefinersMetal

Can never remember not believing in Him. Learned about Jesus and had faith at a very young age.

Billy Graham said his wife Ruth never knew a time she did not believe in Christ as her savior.
I would like to have had a dramatic testimony of a changed life, but don't.

Any similar backgrounds? Thanks

note: do not mean born saved, though that could be possible. Talking after conception.


I have always believed too.

Do not think of it as not having a dramatic testimony. . . you have lived a life of faithfulness! What a great testimony that is!



PromiseLander -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 3:43:56 PM)

God called me into His family when I was 6 years old. I was really young and many at that time wondered what it was that a 6 year old had done that needed repenting of! I knew even at that age that I was not a sinner because I had sinned, but that I sinned because I was a sinner. It was my nature that needed cleansing, and the thought of going one day further still in my sin, without God, was terrifying.

There are a lot of people that have tremendous testimonies that God called them out of a life that was most vile, and those testimonies are all inspiring but not many can relate to them. I think that it is WONDERFUL that there are many people who simply grew up in a Christian home and God called them at such an early age. Many people think THAT kind of testimony is boring, and comparatively it may be, but indeed we have all come short of the glory of God... (There's SO much theology in just that one statement!!!) And no one is a greater sinner than anyone else. Without God we are ALL just as evil as Hitler was. So in that sense, no matter how old we are, and no matter what we have done, God has saved us from tragedy!



BrowneyedAL -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/2/2008 9:04:57 PM)

I have always believed...I was raised very active in my home church and with parents who both had a strong faith and cultivated it in me. There was never really a time when I didn't believe that God was God and that Christ died to save me...that was pretty much instilled in me my entire childhood...but I haven't always been as excited to believe as I am today. I haven't always devoted myself to trying to be in God's will to the extent that I do now...and I've certainly done my share of things that weren't in line with His plans for me...but the believing part itself has always been there...even in my most rebellious of times. (which still weren't like the dramatic testamonies some of you mentioned or anything but still...I wouldn't say that just because I've always believed that I lived a life that was pleasing to God, if that makes sense)

I guess it's kind of like the teenager who deep down loves his parents...and would like for them to be proud of him...but he keeps doing the things his friends are doing and disappoints them. It isn't that he doesn't care about their feelings...he just has the priorities wrong to accomplish his goal of making his parent's proud. I was like that with God for a number of years...it isn't that I didn't believe, even then, but my priorities didn't always reflect that belief. But today, I don't just believe...but love the fact that I believe...and enjoy my relationship with my Lord.



DustyLady -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/3/2008 12:40:27 PM)

I honestly don't remember a time when I didn't feel wrapped up and secure in the love and knowledge of God as my Savior. I don't know how NOT to believe; it's something that has been a part of me for so long that I don't know how to do anything else. I can't even imagine what it would feel like, and I hope I never learn.

My parents are both life-long believers and I was immersed in an environment of total acceptance of, and belief in, the presence of God in our lives from a time before I could even understand the meaning of the words that were said by both minister and congregation. I think of it as something very akin to the sensation that I had, even while in the womb, of being wrapped up and secure in my parents' love, and knowing intrinsically that they would always be there to fulfill my every need.

I know that there are those who have not had the same kind of up-bringing, and who come to their faith in God later in life. And I give thanks for whatever brought them to the family of believers. But I can't really relate to how they feel.

Dusty



makarizo -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/3/2008 2:55:23 PM)

I have always believed. and the love of God saved me as a young abused child.
is believing, and being saved the same thing?
by definition they are, but by observation, I have to wonder sometimes if the children born into the lifestyle - who walk the walk, and talk the talk, dress the dress, have the certain verses memorized, know the 'supposed to and ought nots - ever realize, or experience "being saved" by Jesus.

I wouldn't wish my abusive upbringing on anyone, but looking back I see that I clung to Jesus with all my might... he gave that little boy an identity... something more than a child called "it". He didn't reject me, and it was very real.



delete123 -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/3/2008 3:35:10 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: doer

I wouldn't wish my abusive upbringing on anyone, but looking back I see that I clung to Jesus with all my might... he gave that little boy an identity... something more than a child called "it". He didn't reject me, and it was very real.


Yes the story of David Peltzer, He was getting saved during the time I was being abused.
Yup I believed in God, but did not grow up in a sound home. I know Jesus showed me somethings during that tender age, but as life would have it. My testimony is not as pure as yours
God bless you
CRH



HisCovenant -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/3/2008 6:03:27 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: doer
but by observation, I have to wonder sometimes if the children born into the lifestyle - who walk the walk, and talk the talk, dress the dress, have the certain verses memorized, know the 'supposed to and ought nots - ever realize, or experience "being saved" by Jesus.

I am sure that some are who have "always believed" are not saved and that they are just playing in the externals of Christianity. You can tell the difference by the consistant glimpses you see of the heart. You have to be in relationship with someone who shows himself repeatedly to you to tell between one who just hasn't been discipled and grown in maturity and one who is showing fruit in keeping with repentence.



Covaan_Meshuga -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/3/2008 6:28:27 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: PromiseLander
God called me into His family when I was 6 years old. I was really young and many at that time wondered what it was that a 6 year old had done that needed repenting of! I knew even at that age that I was not a sinner because I had sinned, but that I sinned because I was a sinner.

I think that too many adults do not give the L-rd credit for His voice and work in the child's life, nor to they give children enough credit for the intelligence and understanding they possess.

I remember clearly my first sin that I knew was sin. I know what I was doing, what I was wearing, what toy I was pulling across the floor, who was in the room, and what room we were in. I was not more than barely three, and I am not sure but what I was in the latter months of being two. I also know when the L-rd called me for the first time, and I firmly, with fervor, rejected the call. I was between 3.5 and 4.5.

Further, I know that my daughter was not yet three and a half when she sat in the back seat of my car and asked the L-rd to be her savior -- of only the L-rd's and her volition, while I just sat in the front seat in shock.

When I wrote above that I have always believed in G-d, I believed as the evil ones believe and tremble. It was not until I was 14 that I believed unto salvation. I agree that there is a huge difference between believing and believing unto salvation.



DustyLady -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/4/2008 8:12:57 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisCovenant
I am sure that some are who have "always believed" are not saved and that they are just playing in the externals of Christianity. You can tell the difference by the consistant glimpses you see of the heart. You have to be in relationship with someone who shows himself repeatedly to you to tell between one who just hasn't been discipled and grown in maturity and one who is showing fruit in keeping with repentence.


I deeply resent the implication that my relationship with God is somehow inferior, just because I have been in that relationship since I was an infant. Yes, there is a reason that the Lord gave us the parable of the sower, but not everyone born into faith is lacking. Have you worshipped beside me, or seen the work of God in my daily life? This is only my second post on this forum. Can you tell already what's in my heart?

Dusty



McGuinessMagee -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/4/2008 8:56:26 AM)

From a different perspective, I want to thank every single one of you who has walked in faith since you were children.

You give hope to both my husband and myself, who did not have such blessed upbringings, that we may, with much help from God, bring our children up to always know and follow him.

Every single one of you is a blessing and an example to my dh and I and, we hope, powerful examples to our children when we don't have the answers because we didn't walk that road.

Kylie[sm=silly.gif]



zoebob -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/4/2008 9:06:26 AM)

I am another one who has always believed. I am hard pressed to remember a time when I asked Christ as my savior. My mother remembers a time when I was about 4 yrs old.

I attend a reformed church. When we baptize babies (not for salvation but as a sign of being a disciple of Christ) our pastor says "May this child never know a time when he doesn't know the love of Christ" We believe that children raised in a Christian home with faithiful parents are disciples from their birth and that they some day come to a time where they accept it as their own but we are disciples none the less.



small_creation -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/4/2008 9:08:18 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Covaan_Meshuga

quote:

ORIGINAL: PromiseLander
God called me into His family when I was 6 years old. I was really young and many at that time wondered what it was that a 6 year old had done that needed repenting of! I knew even at that age that I was not a sinner because I had sinned, but that I sinned because I was a sinner.

I think that too many adults do not give the L-rd credit for His voice and work in the child's life, nor to they give children enough credit for the intelligence and understanding they possess.

I remember clearly my first sin that I knew was sin. I know what I was doing, what I was wearing, what toy I was pulling across the floor, who was in the room, and what room we were in. I was not more than barely three, and I am not sure but what I was in the latter months of being two. I also know when the L-rd called me for the first time, and I firmly, with fervor, rejected the call. I was between 3.5 and 4.5.

Further, I know that my daughter was not yet three and a half when she sat in the back seat of my car and asked the L-rd to be her savior -- of only the L-rd's and her volition, while I just sat in the front seat in shock.

When I wrote above that I have always believed in G-d, I believed as the evil ones believe and tremble. It was not until I was 14 that I believed unto salvation. I agree that there is a huge difference between believing and believing unto salvation.



Hey CM, are your "o"s broken? I don't get it.

j



zoebob -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/4/2008 12:53:16 PM)

Some people believe it is a matter of respect not to include the vowels for names of God.



HisCovenant -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/4/2008 2:51:15 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: DustyLady

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisCovenant
I am sure that some are who have "always believed" are not saved and that they are just playing in the externals of Christianity. You can tell the difference by the consistant glimpses you see of the heart. You have to be in relationship with someone who shows himself repeatedly to you to tell between one who just hasn't been discipled and grown in maturity and one who is showing fruit in keeping with repentence.


I deeply resent the implication that my relationship with God is somehow inferior, just because I have been in that relationship since I was an infant. Yes, there is a reason that the Lord gave us the parable of the sower, but not everyone born into faith is lacking. Have you worshipped beside me, or seen the work of God in my daily life? This is only my second post on this forum. Can you tell already what's in my heart?

Dusty


You misunderstand me. My comment was not directed at you or about you. You will note that I say there are some who are unsaved who pretend to be, believing about God, but not trusting in God. There is a huge difference in the belief and in who this statement aplies to. This idea is Biblical and I have heard others give this testimony about their own experience being similar, some pretending since childhood. There are many saved during childhood to whom this statement does not apply. I was saved around the age of 6, as I posted earlier, so I can identify with a testimony like yours.



makarizo -> RE: Anyone else "always believed" ? (5/4/2008 3:22:25 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisCovenant
who are unsaved who pretend to be, believing about God, but not trusting in God. There is a huge difference in the belief and in who this statement aplies to. This idea is Biblical and I have heard others give this testimony about their own experience being similar, some pretending since childhood. There are many saved during childhood to whom this statement does not apply. I was saved around the age of 6, as I posted earlier, so I can identify with a testimony like yours.

me too!!
and that was a very haunting experience I discovered at my last church. One year I was teaching 7&8 grade, there were 16 kids in my class, and one ADEC adult, and by the end of the year there were an additional 20 adults, some were parents, the adec bus driver, and others who had just heard about this particular class.
there were adult members at this church who were born into a mennonite family, went to church there whole life, sat thru hundreds of sermons who still did not know exactly what "it" was all about.
11 adults got baptised (does that make them ana/anabaptists?) and it was great because the kids played a big part in all of it.
haunting because I know about the "lifestyle" and how it can appear to be something it isn't - a well kept secret.



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