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Big Issues
Introduction
This page contains information on various difficult issues that you will hopefully find helpful. There are so many issues in life that you will probably find difficult because if you are a Christian, you have to approach issues from a Christian perpective. In other words, it's important to know what God thinks about certain things so that you are able to bring glory to His name by recognising what is right and wrong in His eyes.
God's views on things are usually different to the world's, so it is often difficult to do things according to God's way, but if you ask for his help, it is possible. The reason that people end up getting hurt is because people ignore God's view on things and decide to do things their own way. God's way is always the best. That's why it's important to hear what He thinks about things and to try to do things His way.
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FAMILY ISSUES: Divorce
Divorce is a difficult issue for many people because it is becoming increasingly commonplace. So many young people have experienced the pain caused when their families break up. It leaves deep wounds in the hearts of many and turns lives upside-down.
It was never part of God's plan for people to get divorced because he knew the agony that it would cause. God created man and woman to be united as one in marriage, and for them to be together for the rest of their lives. Husbands and wives should share their lives with each other - sticking together through the good times and the bad. When things go wrong, they should work together to put things right. However a lot of the time people do not listen to God and do things their own way. As a result, they cause themselves and others deep, agonising pain.
Most of the time it is just not possible to put things right again after marriages break up, which causes so much heartache. If you have experienced or are experiencing your parents splitting up or getting divorced, you are probably feeling a lot of things - pain, anger, guilt, loneliness, betrayal etc.
Firstly, I want to say that if you are feeling guilty - DON'T - YOUR PARENTS DIVORCE IS NOT YOUR FAULT! I know that you might be thinking "well maybe if I was a better son/daughter then this wouldn't be happening" but listen to me. No matter how good or bad a son/daughter you think you are, nothing that you have done was the cause of your parents problems. Their marriage was their commitment to each other - their problems were caused by them alone - not you!
Secondly, all of those things that you are feeling are probably very difficult to deal with and you might be thinking that they will never go away. However, let me tell you that your hurts can be healed. Yes, it will take time, but with God's help, the pain will fade and you will be healed.
If you are a Christian, God is your heavenly father and he will never ever leave you or let you down. He loves you more than any earthly mother or father could. Hold on to that! Talk to Him and tell him about your hurt. Ask Him to help you to forgive your parents for the hurt they have caused you. Tell Him that you want Him to take away the pain and to bring His healing into your life. Trust in Him and allow Him to work in you. Run into His arms and let Him comfort you.
"The Lord is good. When trouble comes, he is the place to go! And he knows everyone who trusts in him!" Nahum 1 v 7.
"God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble." Psalm 46 v 1
"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is true. He shields all who hide behind him."
2 Samuel 22 v 31
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FAMILY ISSUES |
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SEX & ABSTINANCE ISSUES: How far is too far?
Being in a relationship with someone can be one of the most wonderful feelings. It's a wonderful thing to be loved by someone special!
If you are a Christian in a relationship, there comes the issue of "how far is too far?". God created man and woman to be united in marriage and His plan is for sex to be kept within a marriage and in a marriage only. Sex is God's wedding present to a couple - you wouldn't open your wedding presents before your wedding would you?! It would defeat the point. God created sex to be enjoyed by a husband and his wife - it is a very good thing!
In 2 Thessalonians 4 v 3-8, Paul talks about how we are called to be pure and holy by staying away from sexual sins and by controlling our bodies. That can be very difficult! God created us to have a sex drive and to want to become physically close/intimate with someone - BUT it should be kept for marriage. It is normal to want to become physically intimate with the one you love, however God want us to be better than normal. He wants us to be pure and holy, and free from sexual sin.
So how do you stay pure and holy? How do you stay free from sexual sin?
Well, here are my suggestions. Firstly, if you are a Christian, avoid dating non-christians because it will make it much more difficult to do what God wants - your non-christian partner will not share your views and it will be easy for him/her to lead you astray.
Secondly, sit down and talk to your partner about it. Agree with each other about trying to stay pure and doing what God wants you to. Disscuss how far you should and shouldn't go physically and then set boundaries and stick to them. Ask God to help you to keep within your boundaries and to keep Him at the centre of your relationship. (I would say, go no further than kissing, avoid deep kissing, don't touch each other's private parts, make the more innocent things such as holding hands special, and avoid spending too much time alone).
Thirdly, try praying together - it will help you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and help you to grow in your faith together. Commit yourself to the Lord daily and ask him to help you to remain pure.
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SEX & ABSTINANCE ISSUES |
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FAITH ISSUES: Talking to God
How do you you build on your relationships? How do you get to know someone better? ... You talk to them! It's the same with your relationship with God. If you want to grow closer to Him and get to know Him better, you have to talk to Him.
Prayer should be a natural part of our relationship with God. We can pray anywhere, at any time and about anything! God, our loving heavenly father, loves to hear us talking to Him. The question is, how do you go about praying? What should prayer include?
Talking to God shouldn't just be giving Him our 'shopping list' of prayer requests! Here are some suggestions for talking to your heavenly father in a way that will help you to get to know Him better and build on your relationship with Him.
Firstly, tell God how great He is! When you look around you, you can see His beautiful creation. The earth displays His glory in all that He has created. Doesn't that just make you want to praise Him!
Secondly, confess your sins. He knows that your are only human and make mistakes. Talk to Him about your mistakes. Ask for His forgiveness and help not to repeat your sins. Isaiah 1 v 18 says this: '"Come, lets talk this over" says the Lord; "no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow."'. If you come to Him with a repentant heart and ask for His forgiveness, He will give it too you - Jesus paid the price so that you can be forgiven!
Thirdly, thank Him for all that He has given you and done for you. God is gracious - he gives us the opposite of what we deserve and in bounteous amounts! Don't forget to thank Him for that!
Fourthly, give Him your requests. God wants us to bring our needs, and those of others to Him. Don't forget who you're praying to - the all-wise, all-loving, all-powerful God. He knows what we need and will always provide for us. Pray for things in Jesus' name - pray for things that are according to his will.
Here are some more points to consider. In prayer we should commit ourselves anew to God. He has promised to help us in our praying (see Romans 8 v 26-27). Don't always expect God to answer you in the way that you want Him to and in your timing - remember He knows best and will answer you in the best way at the best time. Prayer is a two-way conversation - you need to take time to listen. God says "Be still and know that I am God." and it is when you are still and silent that God often speaks into the depths of your heart. Read your bible in your prayer time - God speaks very frequently through His word, the bible. Sometimes when I don't know what to pray or I just don't have the words to express how I am feeling, I turn to the Psalms - there are many prayers in them that often sum up exactly how I feel. Use the psalms that express your feelings best as a prayer - pray them!
Finally, just talk to Him about life - tell Him how you are feeling each day. Tell Him about the things that bother you and get you down. He loves to hear His children speak to Him! |
FAITH ISSUES |
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