Hi, I'm Jax. I was brought up in the faith in my childhood but lost it during my teen years for personal reasons. I was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) last year just after I turned 17. I've been trying to rekindle my faith and have really been struggling as I don't know where to start. I'm scared to go into a church as it's unknown now to me (a part of the ASD) and I may overstimulate inside (again, a part of the ASD). I was curious to know if you had any advice on what I should do?
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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Wanting To Rekindle Faith
- Thread starter Jaxxyy
- Start date
- Sep 10, 2021
- 4,701
- 4,162
Welcome to Christian forums, Jaxxy.
Not sure if we have anyone here who could give advice on that specific condition or not, but you are welcome to fellowship with us if you have any questions about the Christian faith, and how to walk in it.
God bless, and welcome once again.
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Tenchi
Member
- Oct 10, 2022
- 3,434
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Hey, Jax. Welcome to CF.net.
So, Christianity is, at its core, not a set of religious ideas, but a Person: Jesus Christ (aka - God). Many times, when people say they were "brought up in the faith" they mean they went to church on Sundays, maybe gave thanks for meals, perhaps even read the Bible, now and then. Particularly, they had parents who involved them in religious activities. What they don't mean is that they had a real, concrete, daily, life-changing experience of God. As a result, it's no difficult thing to "lose the faith" at some point (often, as in your case, in the teenage years). What's the point in the religious stuff, after all? It really interferes with enjoying the exciting "sound and fury" of the world and the pleasures of the flesh. The Christian religion is a serious kill-joy. But this is the thinking of those who've yet to actually meet Jesus, who've yet to experience the Spirit of Christ coming to live within them and convicting them of righteousness, truth and judgment, illuminating their minds to divine truth, strengthening them in times of trial and temptation, comforting them in seasons of difficulty and sorrow, and transforming them so that the Person of Jesus Christ is revealed in them more and more.
John 14:16-17
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
1 John 4:13
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
Romans 8:9-11
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
When somebody is adopted by God and truly becomes a "temple of the Holy Spirit," God (the Spirit) goes to work on what they want, changing what they think, and how they behave, drawing them deeper and deeper into a life that is fulfilled and focused upon Himself. From this sort of life a person is extremely unlikely to drift. God, you see, is the Reason for your existence and mine and when we know, love and enjoy Him as He made us to do, we find a meaning and fulfillment in living that cannot be found anywhere, or in anything, else and is so rich and wonderful we will do anything we must to preserve it.
So, are you a temple of the Holy Spirit? Does Jesus live in you in the Person of the Spirit? This is where we all must start in walking with God.
John 3:36
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Romans 10:9-13
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
1 John 5:11-13
11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
- Apr 22, 2011
- 30,671
- 16,333
Hi Jaxxyy and welcome to CF 
Knowing that you want to build up your faith is honorable at your age. You say you were brought up on faith, but were you brought up learning about having a personal relationship with Christ or being Spiritually born again indwelled with the Holy Spirit. If not then these are the things you need to learn for basic salvation through Christ.
When I was seventeen, many many years ago, LOL, I attended a church with a friend and thought all I needed was to repeat what is called the sinners prayer and that was all I needed to keep me from going to hell. I didn't know that much about Jesus other then what I learned in Sunday School as a kid and then quit going to church when I was 14.
I do know somewhat of ASD as my nephew has this disorder and know what he goes through. If going to church is to much stimulation then I would suggest trying to find a Preacher on TV or the internet that you feel comfortable with. Personally my pick would be Andrew Womack as I do like how he teaches the word of God. Everyone has a favorite, but pray and ask the Holy Spirit lead you to where you need to be for your learning. Also many of us will also help you in your journey of building up your faith. Please feel free to use the Q&A forum to ask any questions. You will get various answers, but take the scriptures many of us will give you and study them for yourself, again praying and asking the Holy Spirit to teach you as the Spirit of God works directly and also through those who are anointed by God in order to teach us all truths as the Holy Spirit uses others to help us learn.
I will keep you in my prayers and God bless you.
Knowing that you want to build up your faith is honorable at your age. You say you were brought up on faith, but were you brought up learning about having a personal relationship with Christ or being Spiritually born again indwelled with the Holy Spirit. If not then these are the things you need to learn for basic salvation through Christ.
When I was seventeen, many many years ago, LOL, I attended a church with a friend and thought all I needed was to repeat what is called the sinners prayer and that was all I needed to keep me from going to hell. I didn't know that much about Jesus other then what I learned in Sunday School as a kid and then quit going to church when I was 14.
I do know somewhat of ASD as my nephew has this disorder and know what he goes through. If going to church is to much stimulation then I would suggest trying to find a Preacher on TV or the internet that you feel comfortable with. Personally my pick would be Andrew Womack as I do like how he teaches the word of God. Everyone has a favorite, but pray and ask the Holy Spirit lead you to where you need to be for your learning. Also many of us will also help you in your journey of building up your faith. Please feel free to use the Q&A forum to ask any questions. You will get various answers, but take the scriptures many of us will give you and study them for yourself, again praying and asking the Holy Spirit to teach you as the Spirit of God works directly and also through those who are anointed by God in order to teach us all truths as the Holy Spirit uses others to help us learn.
I will keep you in my prayers and God bless you.
Hello Jax. I have asperger's syndrome and cognitive impairment
Diagnosis is 2014. Jesus still expects Christian people to study the bible and plant seeds for God. Matthew chapter 25, Jesus gave parable of the talents.
Jesus gives people different gifts and abilities.
I'm Teacher of Gods word. Some Christian people are evangelists or pastors or good at making money and helping the poor. Or singing in choir .
I recommend shepherds chapel, pastor dennis murray. It's on YouTube. You can study with him if you care to. Pastor murray teaches sound doctrine, chapter by chapter. It's your decision.
Diagnosis is 2014. Jesus still expects Christian people to study the bible and plant seeds for God. Matthew chapter 25, Jesus gave parable of the talents.
Jesus gives people different gifts and abilities.
I'm Teacher of Gods word. Some Christian people are evangelists or pastors or good at making money and helping the poor. Or singing in choir .
I recommend shepherds chapel, pastor dennis murray. It's on YouTube. You can study with him if you care to. Pastor murray teaches sound doctrine, chapter by chapter. It's your decision.
Is there anyone from your childhood who attends church in your area that you could make contact with or could your patents or social worker help you make contact with a Christian worker from a church in your area.
The organisation Christia its Explored runs courses in people homes that, while still scary would not be as scary as walking into a church alone.
You could also arrange to meet the leader so you know him a little.
Hi Jax,
Please consider this: Call the church you plan to attend and explain your situation. They may be able to help you. Also, some churches have overflow areas. Try sitting there and maybe you can gauge how much it affects your anxiety. My main point is that you make an effort to try and attend. God will honor the effort.May God bless,
Taz
Please consider this: Call the church you plan to attend and explain your situation. They may be able to help you. Also, some churches have overflow areas. Try sitting there and maybe you can gauge how much it affects your anxiety. My main point is that you make an effort to try and attend. God will honor the effort.May God bless,
Taz
- Aug 22, 2018
- 491
- 125
Church is used to strange characters—I’m an asperger! Ideally we should attend a church, being a member of that community, but life can be lived below the ideal, and I could easily live as a hermit. Your inner Christianity, is basic. Besides Bible reading/meditating in a good version (or more), how about good Christian books (devotional, fantasy, doctrinal)? Some are mega cringe, some passable, and some downright insightful and highly enjoyable. And solo prayer, which includes yet exceeds requests? Moving upwards, you could fish around for good churches that do streaming—they range like books! Perhaps try local streams, which if you gravitate to them, might allow you to introduce yourself and your fears. That might make physical entrance easier. I wish you well.