Please Help Me Be Saved...

[Charlotte Sometimes]

My name is Charlotte. I'm only 14 years old, so please don't be harsh towards me. I already consider myself to be a devout nondenominational Christian. I came across this forum by chance and I'm intrigued by what everyone's had to say on matters I've never thought about before. I'm pursuing truth, goodness, and beauty through Christ, and I want help in my journey to heaven. I'm currently taking a confirmation class with my local church.

I'm an active participant in the gothic subculture, but please wait before you label me a sinner and a satanist. I'm not a part of any cults or anything like that. I don't drape myself in black, and I don't wear layers and layers of lipstick and eyeliner. (In fact, I don't wear make-up at all besides the times it's required for performances in my school's drama club.) I'm a virgin and never plan to change that unless I find my one and only and marry. I'm not evil. I'm gothic because I like going on picnics in my local park donned in elaborate home-made victorian style outfits. I'm gothic because I love parasols, poetry, and impressionism and modernism art styles. I'm gothic because the community supports my slight eccentricity and promotes purity, discovering beauty in the mundane, charity, and chastity. In fact, my gothic friends and I volunteer at the local animal shelter often. I do go to church. I do try to follow God's teachings to the furthest reaches of my boundaries as a human being. So, again, don't consider me "trash" because of my involvement in a terribly misunderstood scene.

I do wish to learn more about this church's beliefs and be saved, though I don't always agree with them. God bless you all, and please go ahead and get your hate out at me if need be. What must one do to enter the kingdom of heaven?

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

I'm glad to hear you're not another teen whore. Or Teen Witch. Or both.

What must one do to enter the kingdom of heaven?

You tell us. What have you learned in your confirmation class?

And, out of curiosity, why aren't you Charlotte all the time?

[Charlotte Sometimes]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

In confirmation class I've been told that, to enter, one must confess that they will never be worthy of heaven by their own deeds and repent of their sins, trusting in Jesus. But people seem to be partly disagreeing here. It seems here also that one must fully follow all the teachings of God, which I thought was impossible. It's all very confusing to me right now. What do I believe and what don't I believe?

Charlotte Sometimes is a beautiful song, and it's also a reference to my temperament.

[Rev. M. Rodimer]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

In confirmation class I've been told that, to enter, one must confess that they will never be worthy of heaven by their own deeds and repent of their sins, trusting in Jesus. But people seem to be partly disagreeing here. It seems here also that one must fully follow all the teachings of God, which I thought was impossible. It's all very confusing to me right now. What do I believe and what don't I believe?

Do you know what it means to "repent", Charlotte?

It doesn't mean to say, "Gee, God, I'm sorry I did what you said not to do, and now I'm going to go do it again next week and apologize some more."

Is that what you're being told it means?

[Mary Etheldreda]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

But people seem to be partly disagreeing here. It seems here also that one must fully follow all the teachings of God, which I thought was impossible.

Hi Charlotte! Welcome to our friendly forums.

I know this can be a confusing concept for beginners. In fact, there is no disagreement between True Christians™ here simply because True Christians™ follow the Holy Bible to the letter. Therefore, if one were to disagree with a True Christian™, they would actually disagree with what the LORD Himself has said.

Although it is impossible for a person to follow all the teachings of God, a person who has been Born Again (John 3:7) is a New Creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and therefore is without sin. (1st John 3:9) This person does not sin, as he allows the Holy Spirit to work unrestricted through him.

I hope that helps.

[Charlotte Sometimes]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

So Christians do not sin? Of course they do... I'm confused...

No, what does it mean to repent then?


Isn't sayings like this similar to the stories of the pharisees? Didn't they believe that they were without sin and completely righteous in God's eyes? Weren't they the ones with all the crazily-interpreted rules that Jesus said were manmade and not of God? I am in no way trying to go against any of the teachings here in any regard, but it's hurting my head. I'm so confused. I've joined here because I know I fall short of the glory of god and I want the help of strong Christians to guide me on the right path. But I've already been labeled unsaved trash, demon-possessed, and "an underaged baby". I'm on the verge of tears because these teachings are different from everything about Christianity I've ever known; I'm already being excluded because I'm not a perfect Christian yet, and everything seems so hateful and judgemental to my sheltered eyes. I thought He was a God of love? I thought He wanted me to be a part of his kingdom and not thrown away like the "unsaved trash" I am... The more I read, the more my head hurts and the more alienated I feel...

[Mary Etheldreda]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

So Christians do not sin? Of course they do... I'm confused...

Of course you are. You've been misled your whole life.

No, what does it mean to repent then?

One only needs to repent of sin.

Isn't sayings like this similar to the stories of the pharisees?

No.

Didn't they believe that they were without sin and completely righteous in God's eyes?

Erroneously thinking one is without sin and being made a New Creature and thus incapable of sin are two different things, dear. I shared with you what the LORD says about sinning and being Born Again. Why do you not trust Him?

Weren't they the ones with all the crazily-interpreted rules that Jesus said were manmade and not of God? I am in no way trying to go against any of the teachings here in any regard, but it's hurting my head. I'm so confused. I've joined here because I know I fall short of the glory of god and I want the help of strong Christians to guide me on the right path. But I've already been labeled unsaved trash, demon-possessed, and "an underaged baby". I'm on the verge of tears because these teachings are different from everything about Christianity I've ever known; I'm already being excluded because I'm not a perfect Christian yet, and everything seems so hateful and judgemental to my sheltered eyes. I thought He was a God of love? I thought He wanted me to be a part of his kingdom and not thrown away like the "unsaved trash" I am... The more I read, the more my head hurts and the more alienated I feel...

Have you read the introduction threads for noobs? They explain why you've been described as "unsaved trash," as well as how to become Saved.

[Faith_Machine]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

Confirmation? Tell us, which saints do they teach you to worship in your confirmation class?


Anyway, it's always exciting to meet a young lady such as yourself who's hungry to know the Lord. Do you have a Web cam?

[Charlotte Sometimes]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

So are the True Christians here incapable of sin? What's the difference between being without and being incapable of? And how does one repent? I was under the impression that it meant renouncing them, but is it not?

I was never taught to worship any saints. Also, I do have a webcam, but it's strictly for talking to my father when he's away on business trips. I apologize.

[Faith_Machine]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

Speaking of your father, do you have his permission to be posting messages here? And who's in charge of you when he's away? Please don't say your mother. I've seen what happens when you put women in charge of women.

Utter chaos.

[Charlotte Sometimes]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

Speaking of your father, do you have his permission to be posting messages here? And who's in charge of you when he's away? Please don't say your mother. I've seen what happens when you put women in charge of women.

Utter chaos.

Yes, I have parental permission to post here.

And... excuse me? My mother has raised four kids and is perfectly capable of taking care of us..

[Pastor Ezekiel]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

Dear Morbidly Obese Heathen;

Have you ever even picked up a Bible? Or do you just make up Christianity as you go?

If you'd like to find out more about Landover Baptist Church, please read THIS thread created especially for new posters.

If you have a question, use the "search" function before posting it. Most likely it is being discussed somewhere on this Godly forum. Please don't waste God's precious bandwidth.

You will keep a respectful tongue in your head whenever addressing your betters, which includes all True Christians™. Failure to do so, or any attempt at inciting debate or mockery of God's Divine Plan, can and will result in the suspension of your posting privileges.

Your rights on this forum are listed HERE. If you feel that any of these rights have been violated, please don't hesitate to contact a Pastor at once.

YIC,

--Pastor Ezekiel

[Charlotte Sometimes]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

Dear Morbidly Obese Heathen;

Have you ever even picked up a Bible? Or do you just make up Christianity as you go?

If you'd like to find out more about Landover Baptist Church, please read THIS thread created especially for new posters.

If you have a question, use the "search" function before posting it. Most likely it is being discussed somewhere on this Godly forum. Please don't waste God's precious bandwidth.

You will keep a respectful tongue in your head whenever addressing your betters, which includes all True Christians™. Failure to do so, or any attempt at inciting debate or mockery of God's Divine Plan, can and will result in the suspension of your posting privileges.

Your rights on this forum are listed HERE. If you feel that any of these rights have been violated, please don't hesitate to contact a Pastor at once.

YIC,

--Pastor Ezekiel

...okay, I'm about to just be done. This is becoming... ugh. I only wanted to discover the love of Jesus, but all I'm getting is the hate of human hearts. I'm really, really trying my best. I honestly, with all my heart, want to understand. So why won't anyone help me without calling me ignorant filth? Maybe, just maybe, I'm not the ignorant one here. I'm trying to present what my current knowledge of Christianity is in a civilized way, and I want someone to explain to me without using it as an excuse to exalt themselves. I'm not unsaved. I don't know why I bothered to seek God here. I thought the people here would show me love and compassion, as did the good Samaritan. I was clearly mistaken. May I point out that your signature says that the unforgiving, the boasters, and the unmerciful will be damned? Well, nobody seems to have been very forgiving and merciful to me so far, and no offense, but I see quite a bit of self-righteousness bouncing around. There's multiple ways to interpret the Bible, and I wish people were more open minded to accept that, yeah, someone can have a belief that slightly differs from mine and still go to heaven.

Please. Just someone give me straight answers. Jesus said to love your neighbors, right? Why not lend me a hand?

[Faith_Machine]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

Charlotte, we have no greater wish than for you to be in Heaven with us. I'm very worried about this "confirmation" business, though. If you were a fourteen year old boy, I would already be assuming you'd been sodomized by your priest.

[Pastor Ezekiel]

Re: Please Help Me Be Saved...

Jesus said to love your neighbors, right? Why not lend me a hand?

You are clearly not one of my neighbors. Did you think that "neighbor" means everyone in the world?

Luke 10:29, 36-37 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

"Neighbor" means "fellow True Christian(tm)." We are very kind to OUR neighbors.