Faith
My Journey to Faith: From Moral Upbringing to Authentic Christianity
Growing up in what I thought was a Christian household in Michigan, I soon realized that the labels we give to our beliefs might not always accurately reflect our true convictions. Looking back, I see that my parents’ approach to spirituality was more about morality than Christianity. We didn’t attend church regularly, nor did I witness my parents reading the Bible. While we prayed before meals and attended occasional weddings or events at a church, my upbringing was centered around a sense of right and wrong.
Reflecting on my childhood, I now understand that my parents’ intention was to allow my siblings and me to choose our own path when it came to faith. My mother’s Baptist upbringing and my father’s Catholic background led them to encourage us to find our own way. Despite this, my early years were marked by a fundamental belief in God. It wasn’t a conscious decision; I just knew in my heart that there was a higher power. However, my understanding of what it truly meant to be a Christian remained incomplete. My upbringing lacked the guidance and discipleship that often accompanies a deep Christian faith. I realized later that I had been living a moral life, but I hadn’t fully embraced the teachings of Jesus Christ.
My journey took a significant turn in 2008 when my father passed away. It was during this period of loss and introspection that I truly began to delve into my faith.
My relationship with God deepened, and I discovered a new sense of purpose and understanding. This marked the true beginning of my Christian journey, despite my lifelong belief in God.
I started a blog titled “Prodigal Daughter: Finding Authentic Christianity” to share my experience and insights. This platform became a way for me to reach out to others who might be navigating a similar path. I believe that many individuals, both men and women, might find themselves in a similar situation—believing in God but not fully comprehending what it means to be a follower of Christ.
As a 53-year-old woman, I’ve come to terms with the realization that my upbringing, though rooted in a sense of morality, didn’t fully align with the teachings of Christianity. This awareness has been both humbling and liberating. Through my blog, I hope to connect with others who are on a similar journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth. Just as the prodigal son in the Bible found his way back home; I believe that this also applies to daughters; I’m discovering the richness of an authentic Christian relationship—one that goes beyond labels and touches the heart.
In sharing my story, I aim to inspire and uplift those who are seeking a deeper connection with God. No matter our age or background, the journey of faith is a personal one, and it’s never too late to embark on the path of authentic Christianity.
Becoming an Authentic Woman of God
Hello there sunshine! So nice of you to stop by. I’d love for you to come on in, pull up a chair, and we can chat for a while. Maybe get to know one another.
You know? I’m realizing that it is a little bit lonely nowadays for us prodigals. Especially if you’re like me, and didn’t grow up in the church, and don’t have any real close Christian women to talk to? I mean, can I be totally honest, I have been to a few churches, and with the exception of one church, I’ve always felt rather awkward and out of place.
I mean, it’s not like the people were rude or anything like that. They’ve always seemed to be very, very friendly. But a lot of the churches that I’ve been to, they’re small town churches. (spoiler alert, I’m a big time country girl!) They all seem to be very close knit communities, which I love…
However, how do you just insert yourself into an established church community? How do you go about creating those close mentorships with church people, especially if you didn’t grow up in that community, or you’re new to this particular church? Again, total honesty here, I am not what you would call an outgoing person. I tend to be a kind of…hang back in the shadows type. Ok well at least with new people. So how do you go about creating a lasting friendship?
Am I alone in this? Do you struggle with creating a lasting friendship? Do you struggle with finding your place in a new church, or in a new church community? Or even just a new community in general? I know what you’re thinking, Whoa, whoa, whoa, there, sister, dear. I just met you… I don’t know anything about you. And here you are asking me all of these questions that, frankly, I’m not even 100% sure I know how to answer. So let me stop and back up a little bit. And do this the right way.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Sharon, and I am a prodigal daughter. I have always bible camp, learning my first Bible verse.
John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
I thought, Wow, what an awesome thing…everlasting life! I wanted to know more. But unfortunately, my family, while they were Christians we did not attend church. Mom was Baptist. Dad was Catholic. I guess those two don’t tend to see eye to eye when it comes to biblical theology. Still not sure exactly why, but we can tackle that another day. So any who, they decided that they wouldn’t take us to either church, and that us kids would be able to make our own decisions. Genius, right! Well, I kind of thought so. But that left us kids kind of just swinging in the breeze if you know what I mean.
Out of seven kids, I think the only one that really kind of understood what it really meant to be a Christian was my oldest sister. I remember watching her many times, reading her Bible, and just praying. But I was five. I wasn’t like, looking for a major lecture or discipline in Christianity at that point. So I just kind of did my thing. I thought, well, as long as I’m a good kid, and I don’t get into trouble. I’m a Christian, right? Well, not necessarily.
Fast forward, oh, about 30 years,. Thirty years that I spent just kind of wandering to and fro. Doing this, doing that. Getting into a little bit of trouble now and again, I just didn’t know what it meant. I didn’t know how to be an Authentic Christian. In my mind, reading the Bible, and Bible study, they were all one in the same. And praying was, you know what you did at dinner time, before you ate, or at bedtime,. You know…the old bedtime prayer;
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord, my soul to keep.
If I die, before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Actually, nowadays, that kind of freaks me out. But then, when I was younger, that’s all I knew. I was never taught anything different. Can you relate to any of this? Well, if you can, I would love to invite you to come along with me on my journey to becoming an Authentic Woman of God. We can carve out some time, just you and I. Sit down, pull out a Bible study, and work through it together. We can learn from each other, and with each other, and create our own community of prodigal daughters. We can all become Authentic Women of God together!
Are All Christians Supposed to Disciple Others
While I have always thought of myself as a Christian, I did not really act like what the Bible describes as a Christian. I never really talked much about my faith. I certainly did not go out and try to lead other people to Jesus. I just always thought that was what the pastor of the church was for. Right!
You know, one of the biggest things that I’ve learned in my recent attempts at becoming an authentic Christian is that God didn’t just call the pastors and the ministers wives and the Billy Graham’s of this world, to be disciples, and to spread his good news. He even called us wallflowers, the ones that just kind of hang along the edges, thinking that they’re doing what God wants them to do. But in reality, we are all to be spreading his good news. This is what is referred to as the Great Commission.
Matthew, 28:18-20 show us this:
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Did you catch that? Jesus told his disciples to make disciples of all the earth! What he did not say was to make disciples only of the pastors, priests, ministers etc., but all the earth. That includes you and me!
Now wait, don’t go running out the door just yet. I’m thinking the same thing. You know, I don’t feel in any way shape, or form qualified to be a bible teacher. I mean, I’m just learning this stuff myself. So how am I supposed to go out and make disciples of other people?
Thankfully it’s been said that God doesn’t call the equipped, that He equips those He calls. Well, honestly, I have been feeling really called lately. I feel like God is just tugging at me, telling me that He’ll be with me. And that I can do it. And that my message really does need to be spoken. So that’s what brought me here. I’m just trying to follow God’s great commission. And I invite you to come along with me, and learn as I learn. And hopefully… maybe, if we work together, we just might be able to reach someone who is desperately searching for that reason to hang on in this life or for the meaning of their life, and we can lead them to Jesus. What a joy that would be!
Stay tuned, in my next post I’ll be diving into how I have come up with what I believe to be a biblically based meaning of an authentic Christian woman.
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