Scared to bring up you’re a Christian

[Sarah_jane]

Hi I’m new to this forum.
I’m from Melbourne Australia, 22 yo and work in the corporate world.
I feel I’ve been sheltered my whole life growing up in a Christian family and Christian school.
Although I get along well perfectly fine with non-believers, I can feel myself socialising in their topics as if I’m not believer.
Does anyone here feel like others people’s feelings towards you will change once you bring up religious values eg. abstinence, clubbing, etc...

 

[Demi777]

Of course. Jesus told us we are persecuted and hated for his name sake.
Dont hide your faith. We are pf a royal priesthood, set apart.
Some.may hate you, others will want to know.moreI and maybe get to know Christ too

 

[LightBright]

Yea well being a Christian means absolutely nothing in 2018 so the name is harmless, the hard part is just doing what Christ told you to and sharing about Him that's usually when the persecution comes, for me it hasn't been too bad. I've shared the Gospel with a couple coworkers and everyone knows I'm a Christian but apart from some demeaning jokes i don't notice much difference. Small things like that will have to be ignored though soon it could get much worse if we can't run with footmen how are we gonna keep up with horses?

 

[Kaps89]

H

Hi I’m new to this forum.
I’m from Melbourne Australia, 22 yo and work in the corporate world.
I feel I’ve been sheltered my whole life growing up in a Christian family and Christian school.
Although I get along well perfectly fine with non-believers, I can feel myself socialising in their topics as if I’m not believer.
Does anyone here feel like others people’s feelings towards you will change once you bring up religious values eg. abstinence, clubbing, etc...

Hello Sarah Jane,

I've recently become a Christian after 29 years of not being one. People's attitudes towards me have changed dramatically and substantially. I mean admittedly I have a pretty interesting backstory but even so. One of my colleagues recently came out with 'You go to church!!!' in a shocked tone. My parents didn't come to my baptism but accept my faith. Other people have said various things, mostly critical.

So in answer to your question. Yes, I do feel that people change when I bring up my faith. But that's on them. We've got Jesus

T

 

[TabinRivCA]

Hi I’m new to this forum.
I’m from Melbourne Australia, 22 yo and work in the corporate world.
I feel I’ve been sheltered my whole life growing up in a Christian family and Christian school.
Although I get along well perfectly fine with non-believers, I can feel myself socialising in their topics as if I’m not believer.
Does anyone here feel like others people’s feelings towards you will change once you bring up religious values eg. abstinence, clubbing, etc...

Once others know you are a believer, they may watch you to see if there is a difference in that. I've been around others who are non-believers and have seen some come around after seeing a steadfast Faith. We have a right to be a follower of Jesus just as someone else has the right to be what they choose.

 

[tourist]

H
So in answer to your question. Yes, I do feel that people change when I bring up my faith. But that's on them. We've got Jesus

T

I absolutely agree with this. The Word of God is never returned void.

 

[Xethea]

Hi I’m new to this forum.
I’m from Melbourne Australia, 22 yo and work in the corporate world.
I feel I’ve been sheltered my whole life growing up in a Christian family and Christian school.
Although I get along well perfectly fine with non-believers, I can feel myself socialising in their topics as if I’m not believer.
Does anyone here feel like others people’s feelings towards you will change once you bring up religious values eg. abstinence, clubbing, etc...

Of course you'll feel different about you, if you're like most Christian people though who are real Christians than they can usually tell you are Christian. At the same time it's very interesting that people can't usually tell on a Christian until they see me do certain things. some people get the ideas by my actions that I am serving God in Jesus Christ. I've been working at this job for months, and people wouldn't know right off the bat that I'm a Christian because of my tattoos and that I just been very weird and not like most people wearing suits and ties and talking all special and being so jolly and stuff like that. It's not like I go around wearing a cross necklace and all that stuff. My physical appearance doesn't always show that I am a Christian. People all the time are talking about sexual stuff at work and violent stuff video games movies gossiping about other people and how much they hate other workers and making perverted jokes. by my kindness and that I simply listen to them, they feel comfortable telling me their secrets and about their personal lives because I seem to be someone that's willing to listen to them and give them attention and not shove all this negative stuff in their face after they tell me things. after they have described to me that they had hurt people, but they have stolen things, after they have been standing in front of me at work doing things they shouldn't do I have allowed them to do it, they tell me they watch p***, and the list goes on, after all of that and then I find a good opportunity to say that I am a Christian, they suddenly become too little surprised or shocked that I haven't already started rebuking them in cursing at them and telling them how evil and stupid they are and that they're going to hell. usually they would start to ask me questions. They would start asking things like why have I not judge them yet. shouldn't I be telling them that they are wrong for stealing watching sexual things and being a homosexual? I tell them the truth what scripture says what God Says to do, but I don't have to be mean and hateful. Some people just off the bat will just focus on hating you for loving God, some will start to question again if Jesus is the way now that they have seen a different example of a true Christian, you may get lucky and find someone who hasn't really heard about the Lord and they may be very interested to everything you say being new to it. That happens now with foreigners here in America.

You being in Australia, I don't know how people are there, but anywhere you constantly claim the name of Jesus and him being crucified for our sins, many people will become your enemies, few will believe and be saved, and extremely rarely you'll make true friends. But it's better than having a bunch of fake friends who treat you nice if you do what's wrong and then betray you if you follow the way, the truth and the life. Jesus has more who hate him than love him, but that's the way it is in this world.

Id be grateful to be sentenced to death to simply give a testimony of the Lord. So I don't fear anything to bring up Jesus. But I wait for the right time once people get comfortable with me as a person, or I approach them in seeing them in a time of need and show them I help them because that's what Christ does through me.

 

[ArtsieSteph]

I kind of have a weird way of going about it. I will for sure tell them what I believe if they ask...but almost always those conversations never come up.

I know if I ever openly expressed my beliefs on homosexuality unprompted then I would be black balled from several friend groups and also probably certain art groups...and basically all of social media

 

[ArtsieSteph]

And I apologize I didn’t read the title correctly. I am never ashamed to say I’m Christian...but like no one asks.

 

[Miri]

I’m past the point of it bothering me anymore.

At work during general chit chat when people ask about plans for the weekend,
I tell them I’m going to church.

I also use to play saxophone in the worship team and
everyone at work got use to me taking my saxophone to work on Thursdays. I use to
go straight from work to rehearsals on Thursdays.

 

[ArtsieSteph]

I’m past the point of it bothering me anymore.

At work during general chit chat when people ask about plans for the weekend,
I tell them I’m going to church.

I also use to play saxophone in the worship team and
everyone at work got use to me taking my saxophone to work on Thursdays. I use to
go straight from work to rehearsals on Thursdays.

Yeah see I'd do the same. If they ask what I'm doing on the weekend, church (and probably see a movie knowing me and mom XD) Also yo you play saxophone!? My respect level just jumped like 1000%

 

[Miri]

Yeah see I'd do the same. If they ask what I'm doing on the weekend, church (and probably see a movie knowing me and mom XD) Also yo you play saxophone!? My respect level just jumped like 1000%

It’s hard to disrespect someone who plays the saxophone, wears doc martins
and has purple hair, even if they are a Christian! 😉

 

[David-J]

I wouldn't say I live in a rough area, but it's not a nice area either, neither is my college that I study at. Though everyone at my work, on my street, in my college and even at the apiary (Bee farm) knows I'm a believer. I only got saved last year, but living a changed life sticks out to people, and living a life following Christ sticks out in a world dead to sin. I have no shame in my faith, so when I'm asked, I simply tell them I follow Jesus. There isn't much else to it unless I am given an opportunity to continue the conversation with said person about Jesus which God has blessed me with opportunities to do so.

My advice is this, just be you. Live your life the way Christ wants you to and people will see that! When they ask, just tell them who your Master is. Don't stress and overthink it, just live, because in a world of the dead, that is that attracts people. When someone asks where you go on a Sunday or what you're doing at the weekend, don't be ashamed to simply say Church. Don't get into a mindset of everyone interrogating you, as much as the world hates us, most people are more happy to just leave it at finding out you're a believer than going into a theological conversation about faith aha.

Hope all that makes sense, honestly my head is a bit gone after working in this heat!!!

 

[Bkauffman]

Hi I’m new to this forum.
I’m from Melbourne Australia, 22 yo and work in the corporate world.
I feel I’ve been sheltered my whole life growing up in a Christian family and Christian school.
Although I get along well perfectly fine with non-believers, I can feel myself socialising in their topics as if I’m not believer.
Does anyone here feel like others people’s feelings towards you will change once you bring up religious values eg. abstinence, clubbing, etc...

I feel this, and can relate. I am 20 and am trying to find a girlfriend but it is so rare to find a Christian girl. Then I end up feeling discouraged because everyone I know is dating and just making more progress than me when it comes to building a relationship.

I always thought that it made sense to find a Christian girl to marry but it’s so few and far between anymore.

 

[Victor1999]

I feel this, and can relate. I am 20 and am trying to find a girlfriend but it is so rare to find a Christian girl. Then I end up feeling discouraged because everyone I know is dating and just making more progress than me when it comes to building a relationship.

I always thought that it made sense to find a Christian girl to marry but it’s so few and far between anymore.

I'm in the same boat. Just remember that for them it's all that matters right now, but we have greater plans than these. They look for a relationship for life, but a Christian relationship lasts for all eternity! Therefore it's still worth seeking a Christian partner even if you'll only find her when you're in your 40s or 50s. Do not be discouraged, and stay strong with Christ.

 

[SoulWeaver]

Stay strong. You will definitely be/feel singled out, because you're not of the world, and the world knows it. It's funny they deny all the spiritual existence yet they operate by it to the T. It's normal.
I usually do not bring up God to people unless asked, because I don't want to be pushy, if you push something upon people they'll hate it, but I do not hide my faith. They usually ask themselves. It's very important to be ready to confess Jesus before others.

 

[blueluna5]

The older I get the more I gravitate towards other Christians and away from non believers just in general.

None of my non believer friendships lasted. It does make me sad but I also understand why it ended as well. I also see it as they were pulled away from me by a greater force (God) as they will pull you down. But they know I'm Christian and I paid the price for it with them at times.

It's very easy to tell a person's position nowadays. So...I think it's scary bringing it up and I definitely wish I did more. I like what my co worker said about his life purpose. His purpose is to show the love of Jesus, even when they don't realize it.

 

[Mii]

I am never ashamed to say I’m Christian...but like no one asks.

I can't explain why that causes sadness personally. They don't want it...I finally left that job for that reason (and a few more). Was even discouraged by someone I agree with on so many issues (a radio pastor who does speak truth boldly) but he was like. Well you aren't paid to witness, so you are stealing company time by doing so. Have heard two pastors use the slaves obey your masters as reasons to be a corporate slave and that's honor the Lord. It was almost like he was saying that if you want to do that all day everyday be in ministry otherwise it's unwelcome and not being a good follower of Christ.

That hurt and I am incredibly confused about it. Compartmentalized fortunately but I did get a bit emotional about it just now.



Anyway, yes. It's hard. Even bringing up church was hard for me. The manager was like. "You go to church?" emphasis on the "you". As if that was uncharacteristic. I'm like how? That was a bit discouraging. I also heard some pretty vile spiritual things about Jesus that I was just shocked at one point. My response was not nice, and no I don't think it was unchristlike. He was taken aback...

There's this younger person that just constantly spouted out swear words as loud as he could (I presume experimenting) and eventually I was just like. Could you not? Taken aback...he did dial it down. Eventually I sort of gave up. Although I did make one connection that I'm hoping might yield, and on my last day this girl dropped the pizzas (was going to offer to help, but she seemed marginally interested in me and I didn't want to lead her on) so yeah she dropped them.

I encouraged her to check and they were alright and she said "thank you lord". It didn't seem sarcastic...just sincere. So I am curious now but that was at least one bright spot.

I like to talk to people in such a fashion to engage the things that they are doing and start with harm reduction, strike up conversation when I can. I learned I have enemies. I got somewhere but I do think there is a time to move toward better soil.

 

[Becca325]

Hello everyone, I'm new here, but I saw this post and it resonates so heavily with me and is basically the reason I went looking for a forum like this.
I'm a paleontology graduate student who's always been relatively religious, but in a field that's so dominated with athiests I am often terrified to bring up my faith. But not being one to hide who I am I'm just honest with everyone and honestly I've found they're much more supportive with it than you'd think. Even my boyfriend of three years isn't religious at all and yet he's incredibly supportive of my faith. I guess what I'm getting at is it's not worth hiding who you are, especially such an important part of yourself. If people aren't supportive then maybe those people aren't worth having in your life.

 

[Demi777]

Hello everyone, I'm new here, but I saw this post and it resonates so heavily with me and is basically the reason I went looking for a forum like this.
I'm a paleontology graduate student who's always been relatively religious, but in a field that's so dominated with athiests I am often terrified to bring up my faith. But not being one to hide who I am I'm just honest with everyone and honestly I've found they're much more supportive with it than you'd think. Even my boyfriend of three years isn't religious at all and yet he's incredibly supportive of my faith. I guess what I'm getting at is it's not worth hiding who you are, especially such an important part of yourself. If people aren't supportive then maybe those people aren't worth having in your life.

I remember when i was studying to be foreign language correspondent...we had 2 LGBTQ activists and multiple supporters in my class. My best friemd and I were the only born again Christians there. She just stayed out of the hard conversations and discussions the ppl kept bringing up.
I was always on defense and in the end once the study was over we went our own way and one of the activists became a friend and the other one hates me and of course she tried bringing ppl against me but it didnt help her. I went to study for my certificate and to learn. Not to please ppl. or compromise my faith. When I was asked I answered and when challenged I put things straight and when someone needed help, they got it and when I needed it I received it