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ISTJs and Christianity

[ISTJ] 
19K views 77 replies 39 participants last post by  GladiumSpiritus 
#1 ·
Just curious,

who in this forum is a christian convert?
why did you do it?

Personally I feel that I could use a purpose driven by faith but the realist side of me tells me that there are no miracles, only luck and hardwork.
 
#4 ·
I am Christian and I've grown up with it, so not exactly a convert.

As most other people, I got tested a whole lot in my later teens - so don't say I'm not critical - I feel like I'm through right now, though.

The strongest foundation to my belief is the complexity of the world we live in - I think it's too amazing to be a mere coincidence. As well as this isn't scientific evidence of any kind, it's a principle that cannot be shaken by any evidence this world can offer.
 
#19 ·
Totally and wholley agree with everything. Many things can be explained through reason which God gave us but there are just to many coincidences for there not to be a God. I will contiune to worship the God of my parents and their parents and their parents and their parents and their parents and their parents etc.
 
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#6 ·
I am a Christian of unshakable faith. Not because I am an ISTJ--that has actually been a hindrance to my faith, since I want proof and facts. It is because of what I've been through and what I've seen, and how I've come to an understanding of science and the Bible.

Miracles? I am one. The doctor sent me home to die. It was faith and a miracle of healing that caused me to recover. The most surprised? Without a doubt, the doctor and nurses that treated me to the best of their ability and then finally gave up. When I walked in six months later, they could not believe it and immediately hospitalized me for a week to re-examine everything, finally coming to the conclusion that a miracle of healing was the only explanation. Doc said I wouldn't live past 29, and it would be much shorter if I were active. I paid no heed, but participated in cross country, cycling, and boxing, and at 47--I think that one is safely behind me.

And then there was the salvation thing. I was praying and was caught away in the spirit several times. Yes, it sounds crazy and I would probably shake my head just like you are now, if I were reading this. But the difference is that it happened to me. For real. Repeatedly. In the presence of others. It's really a strange feeling to re-enter this...world as we know it when that has happened to you.

Had it not been for these experiences, I firmly believe that I would have discounted religion as some gobbledy-**** that only the weak-minded seek out. The opium of the masses, if you will. But because of these occurrences, I could never discount God or religion. And that forced me to dig really deep to get a better understanding of what this is all about. And it has taken me a life time of study to get to this point.

I've had to come to grips with science, the Bible, theology, religion, and a bazillion other things floating around in my head. But, yeah--this religion thing--this relationship with Jesus Christ that we call Christianity. It's for real. And it is the reason that niss is the way he is. Srsly.
 
#7 ·
I believe in Christianity. I'm not going to get into why i believe in christianity, except I do believe there is much evidence in the favor of Christianity. The world seems too perfect to have come together on its own, but really that would only support the idea that there is a god who created it (and we would still be miles from saying that that god is the Christian God). But, there is a lot of hisotircal evidence to make the case for Christianity, although I will never have enough time to read through it all. I believe it can be done, but that would take more time away from other more important things.

I feel like I am very lukewarm with my faith though, and I stil committ many sins though. Does this mean I'm apathetic towards religion? I do wish there were more emotional appeal to it.
 
#8 ·
I'm a Lutheran. I wouldn't necessarily call me a convert since I was baptized in a Lutheran church. But after my family moved following my parents' divorce, we never really went to worship very often. We did join a LCMS congregation in the late 90's and I was confirmed hastily in a four hour catechism class at 15 but never went regularly after that or even understood much outside the basics until I started attending church regularly at 24. So I'm kind of a late bloomer.

To me, being a Christian is important because I am a poor miserable sinner who was separated from God the moment I was conceived and deserve eternal punishment. However, by the grace of God, he sent His one and only son to die for everybody, including you and me. We receive faith and salvation through the means of Grace, which are the Word and Sacraments (Baptism and the Sacrament of the Altar).

Why am I a Lutheran? I think Orthodox Lutheranism is stays truest to the ancient church and its focus on the Gospel.

If you want some more information on Christianity in general, at least from a Lutheran perspective, there is a great book that just came out called Lutheranism 101. It's a bare bones, "Lutheranism for Dummies" guide and you might be interested in checking it out. You can find it through Google (there is a 10 post minimum to include URL's so I can't post the direct site).
 
#9 ·
I agree with all the others here.


WAYYY too many coincidences in my life for this to all have been by pure accident. Talk about getting into a ranked law school populated with geniuses without being an underrepresented minority or having high grades/test scores!


Even recently, I've been getting these not-so-subtle hints from the Big Man that it's not in my destiny to remain with a certain circle of friends I'd been hanging out with for a while. Too many writings on the wall along with scripture telling me that some things just have to change.

At first glance, it kind of sucks. But in the end, I view myself as a traveler in a wide desert. When the volcano starts blowing ash into the air, that's my sign that it's time to move on.
 
#10 ·
I also am a Christian. Why? It is simple. I have experienced the power and grace of God throughout my life. Nothing but Christ has afforded me greater peace and sense of purpose. I grew up in a Christian home, however most of my life, outside of home, I've been surrounded by people who are almost exclusively not Christian. The more I have read the Scriptures, the more convinced I am of its truths. This year I've been reading a lot of theological books, which have enhanced my understanding of things spiritual considerably, as well as listening to Ravi Zacharias (as previously mentioned in another topic elsewhere). To me, being a Christian affords one the greatest perspective with the least number of blinds spots, whereas the idea of scientifically-based evidence, while superficially sounding reasonable does not in my opinion afford one an enhanced view of the truth, in all its facets.
 
#11 ·
I'm a believer as well but I'd rather not be associated and be a part of an organization where there's also a lot of people. :confused: I have my own beliefs behind it, that's the main reason. There's always that possibility and it's a nice thought having to contemplate on what could be, which could also be quite rewarding as well. I'm a believer and a skeptic with what stands firm behind why they believe in it than searching for an answer as to why I should believe, there's a difference.
 
#12 ·
I am an Atheist. Why am I? Well, it comes down to skepticism. I have absolutely no reason to believe in a god as defined by the bible. As far as I have seen, there is little to no evidence to support such a theory, aside from personal experience. Personal experience is necessarily first person. You can't use that experience to, in any way, try and convince another that you are correct. That being said, if ever there comes a day that a god comes and speaks to me, I may become a believer. Until then, I will not be without any evidence to support it. The relationship with a god as defined in this way is necessarily 1 on 1. As far as I am concerned, a 'personal' relationship with this entity called Jesus could be justified. It's the organized religions-- the ones that promote themselves-- are the ones that bother me. How can you possibly try to convince someone of something when you have no repeatable facts, data, or evidence? It just doesn't work. Each person must wait for their sign from said creator, if one does exist.
 
#16 ·
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enasbus said:
I was raised Catholic and went through the Sunday school routine, but now have no particular interest in devoting faith to a religion. I understand the rituals, the traditions, and the peace that comes from being provided with explanations, but I am too much of a skeptic and realist to ever be a member. I think I prefer to constantly search for answers than to have them provided for me.

(I realize the irony of saying that on a forum where discussion is meant to provide answers about one's personality).
 
#17 ·
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MonieJ said:
I was born and raised Christian, went to church every Wednesday and Sunday, but as I got older I did question it. Was I christian because I wanted to be or because everyone else wanted me to be christian? I did rebel for a bit but I have seen too many miracles in my life and in other's lives not to believe in God. While I don't go to church on a regular basis I have church at home on Sunday by myself, I am Christian and proud of it :happy: o and while I rebelled, for like a month ,I was a Buddhist:tongue: haha so I guess I could say I was converted bk maybe?
 
#20 ·
Thank you for seeing proof that we can all exist in harmony. Doesn't matter status, race, or who we are, or where we came from.
Right. What does matter, however, is what type you are, since obviously ENxP's and ISxJ's cannot exist in harmony. :tongue:

Of course, neither can ISFJ's and INFJ's. :tongue::tongue::tongue:
 
#21 ·
sorry to sound like an idiot here but what does the x stand for in a the four letter thing for example IxTJ or ExFJ
 
#22 ·
I actually may be using it incorrectly. I've never asked someone formally, but I've always viewed it as one of two things.

1. An ISxJ would be someone who doesn't know whether they're a T or an F, but they're sure about the other three.

2. ISxJ refers to both ISTJ's and ISFJ's. It's interchangeable with saying ISJ.


I was using the second one here. It may be that I was supposed to use ISJ instead. I don't know, I've never asked someone for sure.

I'm sure niss can clear this up...he knows everything. :tongue:


Basically, it was just me being lazy and not typing out "ISFJ's and ISTJ's".
 
#29 ·
Heh, I converted away from Christianity.

Christianity molded an image of what is "right" or you are more likely to burn for all of eternity in hell, and caused me to become rigid in my ways. Telling the truth regardless of consequences, shedding feelings because they would make me less likely to follow Christian rules spoken to me regularly through my conscience. At one point I honestly had trouble distinguishing my own voice from that of my conscience as I firmly scolded people and scolded myself for imperfections from my ideal.

As I tried to enlighten myself I realized the standards were weighing me down, causing stress and resentment. Also I have never had an encounter with god and the logic I had taken in didn't match with Christianity. I soon came to the conclusion that I enjoy that thought of people having principles, and them coming from a central location, but didn't feel they were lenient enough for me.

They say we are all sinners, but how many times is it acceptable to repent to god for committing the same sin? Shouldn't we learn after a bit and become ideal soon enough? Who is perfect? Answer to yourself, and judge your own sins on a case by case basis. Set your own rules, principles, standards, as you shed your rigidity.
 
#32 ·
I am a Christian, but right now it's just the absolute bare bones. I believe in God, the virgin birth, that Jesus died and rose again. That's it.

I exited from a cult last year and the fallout hasn't been pretty. I'm surprised sometimes that I still believe in God at all.
 
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#33 ·
I have to say that I left Christianity, first off, each one goes and claims they follow the Bible, but not one of them truly does. I have no issues with matters of faith, but when you choose the Christian Bible, you should follow it as best you can, which isn't that hard by the way if you give it a good and proper read from the start to the finish, and not dancing around in it. My favorite one is how some religions use their interpretations to make some of the most absurd claims I've ever seen, like not watching TV or playing Video Games. One instance I really liked, was when dealing with two different pastors of the same sect. One said "You will rue the day you introduce your children to television." This person, I wouldn't follow, as he also says "The knowledge of man is folly." Yet here he is using a freaking iPad to read from the Bible.

The second pastor, the one I would rather follow said this instead: "You should be aware of TV and movies and video games. But this also applies to books you read. If you watch a movie, or read a book, or play a video game, if you are enjoying the act of things like murder, then in a way, you are participating in it, and promoting it."

These are not entirely exact quotes, but they are roughly the same as what I heard from each of them. either way, you have one side that would bar everything, that one should live minimalist to be closer to God, while the other was more about simply being aware of what you feel when you are watching a movie, or reading a book.

See, God gave us life to live it, albeit in a decent and respectful manner, but to live it. If you have nothing to enjoy your time while living, wouldn't that go against God's whole intended purpose for creating us in the first place?

I could, of course, go on for quite some time, but I think people get the general idea. I believe in God, that God created Evolution and the ability to create Science. That God gave us some basic laws to live by, that Jesus teaches us tolerance within those laws. That if and when the end does come, I want to tell my maker that I lived the life he gave me in the way I more or less wanted. That the Bible is an evolving history, after all, it went from stoning transgressors of the law to death, to forgiving people eventually for lesser transgressions, and to remember that if God has a problem with something Mankind is doing, the Bible says he always puts his foot down, not the Church, not any Priest, God himself takes his foot, stomps and goes "Hey! Get your act together!" The Bible says this if you read it enough.
 
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#34 ·
Is there someone or something in your life that has kind of 'forced' an idea of Christianity upon you? In a way that makes you feel trapped and uncomfortable?

Do you feel like God has wrapped himself around you, - you might cry out to him sometimes in desperation, or just to see, if he's there? Do you feel like he's protected you, kept you safe throughout your life? But you think you can see the world more clearly without God..almost like you don't know how to access him, and it's frustrating for you, because somewhere deep down you know he's there.

I don't know if any of this makes sense to you, but if you ask him, if you just say God if you're real, show me, he will. In ways you least expect it.
 
#41 ·
Interesting thread, I was bored and came across it. This topic does speak to me.

I am surprised that I am not an atheist because of certain elements of my personality-- desiring objectivity, evidence, and logic. However I have learned that through Christianity, I have found order and God has created order.

I am actually a convert from a non-Abrahamic faith. Early in my conversion, I read a lot of philosophical writings and studied theology and it made sense.
 
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