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For starters I’m not a christian. I’m an agnostic ex muslim and was fully set in leaving religion as a whole behind. But I made a new friend that is christian and hearing him speak so passionately about god and his love made me feel a joy I never found in my past religion. I decided to try out praying, which I’m not sure even counts because I’m not really even a christian. As I was praying for guidance I felt a tingling sensation in my chest and head and a sense of joy when praying. I’m not sure if that even correlates with praying in general but I wanted to know if some christians feel the same way when praying to god?
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There are some differences between Christians and Muslims, but when you come to understand the prayers of most Christians, you will be surprised at how often they are filled with forcefulness, falsehood, hypocrisy, and extreme emotionalism. There are far too many people who pray in such a way. Furthermore, many Christians live lives that do not align with their prayers—their outward appearance does not match their inner selves, and their words contradict their actions. This is a common issue among all religious people. Christians who do not live according to the life of a true follower of Christ are no different from those in other religions. Their faith, centered on worldly happiness, success, love, and self-satisfaction, is not significantly different from any other religion. In the end, whether one follows Christianity or another belief system, if their faith is driven by personal desires and ambitions to achieve their own happiness, success, and satisfaction, then all religions ultimately become the same.
To simply claim that one has prayed just because they felt a fleeting emotion during prayer is something quite shameful. True prayer requires giving one’s whole heart, sincerity, and soul. Moreover, only those who seek to follow God’s will, aiming for the love of the cross as their ultimate hope, can truly experience deep, beautiful love and the grace of unity with God. Christian prayers are often deeply emotional. However, there is a significant difference between praying with tears driven by emotions and praying with tears led by one’s conscience.
Emotions arise from desires—when one’s personal plans, ideals, and dreams are not fulfilled, or conversely, when the desires of the flesh are satisfied. When a person prays with a heart seeking their own desires, regardless of the religion they follow, that prayer becomes nothing more than an emotional prayer influenced by Satan and evil spirits. Depending on what and how one asks in prayer, either the grace of God will work, or Satan and evil spirits will be at work. For those who seek worldly and fleshly desires and ambitions, it is not God who responds but rather Satan, demons, and evil spirits disguising themselves as divine. This is true for other religions as well.
Only Christians who genuinely dedicate their lives to pursuing the love of the cross and strive to live the life of Christ will experience the true work of God. Most Christians today are no different from the people of the world who live according to their fleshly desires. That is why deep, warm, and gentle prayers of true beauty are found in those who are truly Christlike. Being a Christian does not necessarily mean being a follower of Christ. The more you come to know Christians, the more you will realize that many are incredibly biased, selfish, hypocritical, and double-minded—saying one thing but acting in another way. Their values are centered on self-interest rather than on Christ. Most Christians live in contradiction between their words and actions. The temporary satisfaction gained from an outwardly religious life will soon turn into disappointment. Do not just be a Christian—be a follower of Christ.
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