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do people really change?

Christ_empowered

Christ_empowered

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I mean, outside of Christ? I was thinking about this today. My neighbor, her grand-daughter is a little older than me. We knew each other during childhood and adolescence. So, the neighbor says "They're always the same as they were at 16," which may be true of her grand-daughter (sadly, I agree there), but...is it true of others?
 
Outside of Christ? Yes, it happened to me. In my case a karate sensei made a huge impact in my life, changing me from an arrogant person who only thought of winning, to someone who eventually thought more of others than themself.

Does this kind of change happen very often? My personal opinion is no, it does not happen very often. In general, people are unbelieveably stubborn. I have a friend from high school who still pretty much acts like he is around 16- listens to Led Zeppelin, drives sports cars, loves expensive high-fidelity components, spends most of his free time watching secular movies- and he can't understand why I no longer value any of those things. I mean he actually gets a blank look on his face when I tell him my values have changed, and he believes I am just lying.

Forgot to mention, we're both in our late 50s.
 
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Life changes, people change too. Often there are characteristics that stay the same, but I don't think it can be helped to change throughout your life.
 
I'm still thinking on this one. I think that, without Christ, most people adapt to the world. My friends from back in the day, late teens and early 20s...they're well-educated now and have jobs and such, so they're not drinking and smoking reefer all the time, and they're thoroughly middle/upper middle class in outlook. So, yeah...they changed, or at least their behaviors did.

Its good that people grow and change. I think the big difference is between being conformed unto the ways of this world vs transformed by the renewal of your mind. I'm wondering if maybe a lot of "maturity" for those in and of the world is just being somewhat hardened by sin.

Also, economic status changes us, marital status changes us, education changes us, kids change people...on and on it goes.

I tried to think of people from HS while reflecting on this one. I found one former friend...its crazy...her Facebook...she's listening to the same music, reading mostly the same books. Its weird because I think she has a masters now, but...wow. I don't think she's changed a whole lot, obviously.
 
Yes yes yes

Most do

But some never mature. Some just behave momentarily like they were 16.

When I was 16 I knew everything.
When I was 20 I was sure of it.
When I turned 35 I figured it was about time to learn and when I was 40 I worked towards that end like the devil was chasing me.
 
Christ_empowered said:
I mean, outside of Christ? I was thinking about this today. My neighbor, her grand-daughter is a little older than me. We knew each other during childhood and adolescence. So, the neighbor says "They're always the same as they were at 16," which may be true of her grand-daughter (sadly, I agree there), but...is it true of others?
Click to expand...

Change happens when you learn from your mistakes and dont repeat them.
If you are still digging the same hole in life at 40 that you were when you were 20, then you are still making the same mistakes and have not changed, have not learned from your mistakes.
Typically,.... maturity follows rebellion, as rebellion burns bridges and creates a really difficult life.
Most people, when this happens, they realize and tire of the process of years of rebuilding all they burned down during their rebellious stage in life, and so, this is change.
Others, tho, just keep on digging that hole deeper, eventually hitting rock bottom, and at that point they ither end up dead, born again, or they just live in the pit they dug while blaming everyone else as the reason they ended up in the ditch of life till the end.
 
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I certainly won't make the same decisions as I did when I was in my twenties!
I'm trying to focus on who I am now, but after many years of rebellion it kinda makes me a bit depressed.
I'm trying to pray pray pray in thanks and worship. For everything.
 
Do people really change? For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 NLT

16 But when someone changes and follows the Lord, that covering is taken away. 17 The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And our faces are not covered. We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings more and more glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 ERV

The Blood of Jesus has power to transform anyone. Because there is power in the cross.
 
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