is it wrong for a christian who's accepted Christ as Saviour to still be?

Question

''Materialistic'' in wanting things like the latest mobile phones,& collecting cd's and dvd's,and going out on regular spending sprees when on benefits and in multiple debt to 40 creditors due to a spending addiction.I often impulse buy as well.I come from an abusive background,but am divorced now after suffering 25years with an abusive husband in a loveless marriage.I'm on a Debt Management programme now this last ten years,& unless God makes it possible in some way to get out of debt,perhaps by an unexpected windfall,then this debt will be with me for life & will go to the grave with me,as i'm already 57 years of age.I have doubts about my Salvation,because surely if i was truly a christian i wouldnt still be wanting to do the things i know i shouldnt be doing.I know i need to repent of the above things and stop doing them,but thats easier said than done,& i feel theres no point saying sorry to God,asking his forgiveness if i'm still going to be spending money on ''Material Things''.I've got no intentions of packing in spending on cd's until i've collected every one i want which could take months,or even years because of my been on Income Support,which should by rights be All for paying my household bills each week and putting food on the table,my tithe at church,and a bit by for clothing,and birthday & christmas presants.I havent been able to buy the family christmas or birthday presants now for years cause of my obsessional spending.I keep falling behind too with my weekly payments on gas,electric,water,tv licence,mobile phone,and virginmedia.I dont think i'm a christian at all as i havent changed my ways,& when i get stressed out & under pressure which is 24/7 i cuss & swear a lot,& my friend from church says as i havent Repented in the Biblical way yet i am not ''Saved'' therfore Jesus wouldnt have come into my life,& i havent got the Holy Spirit within me so thats why i'm unable to live the christian life.Are there any mature ''Born Again'' christians out there who can give me some much needed advice please,and No Time Wasters please,'cause i need some advice

Answer 1

There are others like you and I have found a website offering advice for Christians enduring your struggle. http://www.christianpf.com/category/debt-help/



You don't say how long you've been a Christian. Have you made a commitment to the Lord, or are you just muddling along? It's important to sort this out. Can your minister help? It's also important to realise that when you become a Christian, although it's like stepping into a new dimension, the old problems don't necessarily vanish and you are a prime target for the Enemy, who will do everything possible to drag you away from the Lord, including putting doubts into your head about your salvation. Your friend is right in saying that we must repent in order to be saved (and I've noticed that not enough preachers nowadays are highlighting this fact), but you are still struggling with what amounts to an addiction and this can take time. It doesn't mean that you are not a believer. A Christian friend of mine struggled with her smoking for many years before eventually the need to smoke left her, after years of prayer.



Perhaps a group at church could join you in praying specifically for you to get over this problem. If you know that you have spiritual support, it should help prevent you from rushing out to acquire all these things which you know you don't need. If your fellow church members recognise your problem as spiritual warfare, they should be ready to help you in your battle. Meanwhile, you might wish to approach these people to see whether any counselling is available for you. http://www.mind.org.uk/

Answer 2

I don't think the bible says anything about getting the newest mobile phones and DVDs.



However, you are obviously feeling guilty about what you are doing. The only way out of your guilt is to change your ways, however hard it seems.

You could maybe join a support group or get a counsellor, who can help you find ways of stopping.

Maybe you could draw the strength to stop from reading the bible or talking to someone you trust.



By the way, I'm an atheist but I recognise that the bible can often help people to improve their lives and the lives of others.

Good luck, just take the first step because I believe that you're just too scared to change your life. Just think how happy you will be if you manage to change your life.

Answer 3

Honestly, it sounds like you have a legitimate problem that you should seek professional help for. Compulsive spending is not an easy thing to overcome and some folks need some help doing so. But, this does NOT mean you are not saved!! It means you're human, and like the rest of us, you have areas in your life that are not perfect. If I were you, I'd tell your friend that if she were saved she wouldn't be telling you that you're not.



Seek some help, yes? And don't give up :)

Answer 4

Just do the Best you can Hazel. As a recently born again person you will begin going through change. It will challenge your old ways and of course your old ways will rebel. You are in for a fight but stay close to Jesus, in constant prayer if need be. Read your Bible Hazel and go to church as much as possible, every service. Pray for Gods strength to assist you. God is in your heart now. It will all be worth it by and by. Just keep your head up and fight the old Hazel. She needs to die now. You will live through Jesus. You are a baby in Christ and God will help you.

Answer 5

I asked myself the same question before I became a christian. I believed there was a God, and could not see why that was not enough. When I realized that my sin separated me from God, and only through the death of Jesus was there a way for God to accept me, I asked for forgiveness and asked Jesus to be my Lord and Saviour. It was when I did that, I became a christian.

Answer 6

The lust of the flesh is a worldly thing .I have a mobile, a computer, a laptop, a car, my own home but they are not the latest gadgets and are well used.

Answer 7

Yes. Not only is it a sin, but it's addicting and very unhealthy. Consumerism is probably the biggest gateway drug that exists.

Answer 8

You have procured many things upon your self. You lived your life like Frank Sinatra (he did it his way)

You lived a life that went astray from the Bishop and Shepherd of your soul.



The bible says that whatsoever is not of faith is sin, and also says that faith comes from hearing the Word of God. This is so that we would see the source of faith: for the faith of the Word is according to the way and thought and will of God. If we confess Jesus the Lord of our lives, Just as we are admonished to; if you have risen with Christ seek those things above where Christ is seated. It is clear and evident, then we are going to let go of our way and thought and will for His way thought and will because that is where faith comes from, and these are vested in His Word: For God has made Christ to be unto us wisdom, righteousness sanctification and redemption. The righteousness of faith speaks on this wise, Romans 10: 6-10 say not in your heart who will ascend into heaven, that would not be answering the witness of God, because that would be to bring Christ down again,; or say not who will descend into the deep, because that would be bringing Christ up from the dead again. If every time someone wanted proof, and does not rely on the witness of God as though He is as a man who can lie, or the son of man that must repent, well you are off line, totally off line, the severing of sin, the sin of unbelief, who says there is no God, even when hearing the voice of God. But what says faith? If you shall believe from your heart (the witness of God) that God raised him from the dead, you have believed unto righteousness.

Now all your debt and all your stuff is yours, and God forgives you, just as God forgives the daughter who gets pregnant, and who is filled with godly sorrow, and turns her heart over to God, who abundantly pardons, and forgives her, but she will be a mother to her child, God doesn't take the baby and let it go down the drain with the bath water. But now He says is His, that is under His blessing and Providence.



There are many businesses who do not function according to God moral and civil laws, and while they don't, the child of God can appeal to the higher Authority (which is God) for there is no power by that of God's power, Romans 13.

You are under a great challenge, and it isn't as a fiery furnace and to say it is going to keep you from living a christian life, you are without faith and are trying to dump on God or the world as Adam blamed Eve.

How many men being evil will give their son who ask them for an egg, would he give him a scorpion; or a serpent for a fish? Now therefore, will not your heavenly Father which is in heaven give them who ask Him for good things? Ask God in Jesus name to give to you the baptism of the Spirit with a believing heart. Call yourself to a solemn time of seeking God about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, shut out the world with all its troubles and cares, be determined in heart and ask, then after you ask don't require feelings, but rather on the bases of God's Word for He watches over His Word to perform it, ask and then say this; Greater is he that is in me, then he who is in the world and thank God for giving you His Precious Holy Spirit. Tell God you want to live to the praise of the glory of God's grace, and need and want the Holy Spirit to understand the bible. Everything I have said is faith , faith from His word and if you will ask with these words of faith God will hear you, 1 John 5: 14-15, Galatians 3: 5, Hebrews 9: 16-17, 1 Corinthians 11: 24-26

Answer 9

Don't get involved in religions in the first place,and then you wouldn't have to worry about it!

Answer 10

You are only human. No-ones perfect.