I would love to hear if any of you are fellow Christians and would love to hear your story.
I am a 43 old happily married man with two beautiful children…working on a binge drinking and closet weed problem.
I was raised Catholic going to church every weekend with my Mom, brother and sister (step father didn’t go). I got away from the Church for long time due to mainly guilt and selfishness. Partying my ass off.
Then in my mid thirties after we had our daughter things changed. I felt that “pull” back to the Church.
I don’t really know how it happened, maybe through Bible study and regular mass attendance, but I don’t know how I ever got through life without Christ. This journey of sobriety would be impossible for me without him.
A relationship with Christ is the most intimate of all relationships. He knows everything…right down to our intentions. Being that vulnerable and exposed is scary and at the same time relieving. One thing He has shown me is that He loves me just the way I am…but so much more that He won’t allow me stay this way.
Christ didnt come to condem and judge…he came to love, support, and inspire. And I need that.
I think we all understand, or have a feeling, that there is something bigger than us. A Creator…a God. But what we lack, is the ability to know Him. We don’t have that capacity. He’s bigger than that.
I often prayed to God, but in reality it was God I had created in my head. A “convenient” god. A god that adapted to my rules and helped me to feel good about who I was and what I was doing. But I never felt fulfilled. It was like I was on a journey without a guide. Lost.
But my life changed (at age 37) when I finally answered the “Jesus Question.” And every human has to at some point to answer the “Jesus Question.” It’s the same question He asked St. Peter, “Who do say I am?”
There are three answers to this question but none of them are, “He’s just another nice guy.” That can’t be true. The only answers to the Jesus Question are:
HE’S A LIAR - He pulled off the biggest scam in history.
HES A LUNATIC - He actually believes he is the son of God. Or,
HE’S EXACTLY WHO HE SAYS HE IS.
When my complete faith was put in #3 my life changed. To know Christ is to know God. If we want to know the God we are praying too, then we need to read the Gospels. It’s there we get to know Christ. And where we get to know GOD.
I am a Christian. I grew up with Christian values and morals, but drifted away in high school. There was a lack of feeling of acceptance with the other kids my age. I started listening to Christian music early in 2014 and haven’t stopped. I undoubtedly believe with all my heart my God lead me back to him and partly how I got to where I am at today. 44 days sober.
Thanks for responding. I love seeing fellow Christians. And I agree, there is lack of acceptance with Christian teachings. And I don’t think it is because people feel our values our wrong, I think it’s because they feel they are unreasonable.
But we all have to know that Christ did not come to condemn, He came to heal. What He teaches isn’t to take away our fun, it’s to prevent us from damaging ourselves. He knows what is good for us.
See, we were designed for a specific purpose. He has a plan for all of us. And maybe it is through our suffering and our journey that our purpose is fulfilled. Maybe our sobriety isn’t for us. Maybe His plan is to use us to save others.
When I look at Christ on the cross I always think, “What am I willing to sacrifice for the betterment of others.” I know one thing, getting plastered every weekend isn’t good for anyone. I know He has a plan for me and I trust Him.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”. 2 Corinthians 12:9