r/Christian

Let’s talk about Song of Songs (AKA Song of Solomon.)

Please vote in the poll to let us know how you would describe the book.

If your view is a Combination of other answers, or something else entirely, please use the comment section to explain.

As a bonus, here are two more question for discussion:

Does SOS include explicit and lustful sexual desire openly expressed between people who are not yet married?

Does SOS inform your view of God-honoring sexual ethics and/or is your interpretation of SOS informed by your view of Christian sexual ethics?

View Poll

So, I was baptized as a baby. Then, when I was around 9 or 10, some kids in my church wanted to be baptized. Then the question came up, and all the kids were asked if they wanted to be baptized. I didn't want to be seen as a fake Christian by saying no, so I got baptized again. My sister did as well. A man in the congregation who frequently saw things said he saw doves fly into me and my sister after this happened. I'm not sure if they actually saw it fly into me because they only mentioned it happening to my sister until I asked and they it was seen for me too. Anyway, I digress, I was thinking about it, and I'm starting to think that because I got baptized out of the fear of not wanting to seem like a fake Christian, it wasn't valid. I started contemplating getting baptized again, but again, it's out of fear. I don't know. Any thoughts? ​​​

So as the title says i am starting to have lustful dreams and they are like really vivid and lifelike.

I have gone a week now without masturbation and i feel good in that sense but my dreams are just being filled with sex, masturbation, nakedness and well just lust. Is it a sin? I wake upp in a panic thinking i have done something to myself and i feel Shane for having such dreams so i pray for forgivness for the dream i had but is it technically a sin since i do not controll my own dreams?

I kind of recently gave my heart to Christ so im a bit new to this.

He talked about getting baptized for almost 2 years. Always said “I’m not ready yet”.

On February 28, he finally did it and I didn’t expect it to affect me the way it did. Seeing someone choose faith like that, not out of pressure but out of understanding, made me reflect on my own relationship with it now I want to get him something to remember that moment.

Not something basic or symbolic just for the sake of it, but something that actually carries meaning but something he can wear or keep daily.

So im very new to Christianity, i did not grow up in a religious household, i found it on my own, im still reading the bible for the first time although its been a minute since i opened it and i need to get back into it, ive live a life about as full of sin as you could possibly do in your lifetime, im ashamed and trying to do better daily though i keep failing and feel like a lost cause personally. Ive never attended church, im not entirely sure what denomination i am, my now wife and i had our daughter out of wedlock, got married about two weeks after my daughter was born, my wife while not religious and hesitant is accepting of my new faith, supportive and willing to try church with me. I brought up baptizing our daughter and she agreed as long as we dont try to force religion on her when shes older, shed like it to be her choice as she gets older, our daughter is now a little over a month and my question is how do i go about this? Do i need to join a church before they will baptize our daughter? Is it possible to get her baptized without “belonging “ to a church? What is the process? And i guess on a more personal note how do i go about figuring out what denomination i myself would belong to?

I live in a secular area. Do you keep your beliefs private?

God has told me that I’m lukewarm(I believe). How do I get out of that lukewarm state? I’m exhausted daily and I feel like Gods constantly demanding me to do stuff and it’s getting on my nerves. I’m working 7 days a week 66hours and serving at the church 2 times a week. I’m surviving off of energy drinks and hopefully Gods grace if that’s still in my life. I can’t discern conviction at times. Some days I’ll feel conviction and other days I won’t feel any.

I don’t know what I’m doing and social media isn’t helping it’s making it worse.

I wanted to start rereading the Bible it’s been abt 7-8 months since I read the Bible. I don’t know where to start again I read Matthew Luke and John do I start over with those again? I also feel so disgusted by because I’ve been struggling with porn and lust so maybe I should read something to help me with that. I’m not sure just need some guidance and advice would be nice.

I’m not gluttonous or at least I don’t think i am and I eat healthy but I’m always 10 pounds overweight. I’m worried people think I’m gluttonous and have no self control. I just can’t lose the weight

I'm going through an extremely difficult time. Actually, I always have been. I've been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and ADHD since I was little, and I feel like I've spent my whole life just suffering.

I recently went through a breakup with someone I loved very much, but he abandoned me at the most difficult moment of my life, lied to me, and in less than a month he's already dating someone else. I pray to God all the time to help me; I believe He can do anything, but it seems like He just doesn't want to help me, and all I've been asking for is to stop suffering.

I don't ask for anything anymore, I don't ask for anything to happen, just to stop suffering so much, to get that person out of my head, but nothing happens. I've already tried the worst and I don't know how much longer I can take it. Why doesn't God help me?

Remember that law in the Old Testament regarding blasphemy?

>Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death.

In that case, some of His disciples (most likely Peter) tried to kill someone for insulting God and they brought up Leviticus, how He respond?

This is a sincere question. I am NOT asking how those myths strengthen or weaken your faith. Nor am I looking for arguments for or against them. Only are you even aware of them and to what extent?

I ask because I have some friends who grew up in such a church vacuum that they had no idea at all.

I need Jesus so bad . And I was very stagnant in my recovery. I really want to grow and be better honestly. There’s a lot of things im uncertain about! Most things in fact. But I only want to grow and do better. I’m struggling in my relationship w Christ. I feel like a fake. I know He loves me but my battle is just not knowing what to believe out of the Bible. I want to believe it’s all true and cut and dry, but part of me feels like there’s more to it than that. And I don’t feel comfortable accepting whatever im told to, I believe in Gods love. I believe in Christ crucified to save us from our sins. I believe He is risen from the dead. I know there’s more to it than that. I want to be a good person. I want to believe that God is good all the time, but I can’t say this will total certainty unless I’m lying… the thing is while I do believe that He is good.. I also don’t think I know Him well enough to speak on who He is. It’s all just what I’ve heard about Him… but I don’t KNOW…

❤️

Title: Belief That Surrenders

Question: Have you truly placed your life in Jesus’ hands?

Reflection: It is not enough to just believe that Jesus is the Christ; we must also believe in Him and place our lives in His hands. Rivers of living water flow out of those who have surrendered their lives to the Lord. Our surrender leads to the release of His living waters that bring life wherever He sends us.

Prayer Focus:

1. Have I truly surrendered my life to Jesus, or do I still hold control?
2. Is His living water flowing out of my life as evidence of surrender?
3. What areas of my life have I not yet placed fully into His hands?

I’m lost in my walk with God. I can focus on him so much but then I’ll run into a wall or regress and I don’t know how to get past it. I feel like he’s not listening to me or answering my prayers, but I know it’s not all about that and I don’t want to be transactional with him. Not sure if anyone had any advice on how to navigate this or if anyone wants to reach out and chat!

If ones life is hell and God is a no show how does one keep faith or why keep faith. Ive never heard, felt, or been aided by God no matter my level of faith. My faith even cost me many friends, family, and social ties. At this time I regret it as all I have to show for it are ashes and a mute uncaring God. Im not Job and will not be getting back what was taken and im no saint hearing the very words of angels for guidance. I would like to note even at this late date If I was given back what was taken Id still want my original. For example I dont want a new family I want the one He let all die. All minus one left.

What's the point. A whole life of faith has turned only in to anger towards Him. I see no love, mercy, or care only silence. ALWAYS an excuse for His inaction or how there's no true Scotsman holy enough to get a response. I do not see a good shepherd looking for me or standing in the fire with me. If all interactions are untangle and undetectable its no difference than nothing at all is it not? If my earthly father treated me the way my Heavenly father seems to be you'd call him a terrible person. Ive spoken to pastors, priests, nuns, monks, etc and I get no answers that explain God being absent and uncaring. Always an excuse for his absence "everything is a test" or some other nonsense.

Loves you so much to die for you but not give you a single word? How or why keep my faith? I see nothing and feel nothing.

I find it really hard to quiet my mind during prayer without the right music in the background.

So I've been making Christian jazz mixes — slow tempo, gentle gospel vocals, scripture-based themes. This one is called "Never Let Me Go" and it's about trusting that His grip on us never loosens.

▶️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE3fn_2_XVU

About 57 minutes, no ads interrupting. Just peaceful music for His presence.

Hope it helps someone 🙏

like everything we don't need?

is there anything about the bible that doesn’t sound appealing?