In 2009 (the year I graduated high school) I became a devout Christian. I left all sin in my life as best I could and accepted Jesus Christ as my one and only savior. I ended up becoming a youth leader for this very large church connected to a Christian Academy (middle school & high school). Attending youth rallys with all the kids and growing great relationships with them and Christ alike. I even attended NECEP and had taken a shot at preaching a single sermon which went amazing. However it's now 2012 and I find myself failing and falling worse than ever before.

I work at Abercrombie & Fitch and have been for about 2 years now. Working in a store that glorifies sexual advertising with topless men & women; I've grown used to sin, again. I accept it instead of trying to find the wisdom in why I hate it.. like I used to. For example, sex has always come very easy to me. I'm not trying to brag, I'm just a good looking guy and though I've denied more sexual temptation from women than I've given in to.. it's becoming harder to resist and the ratio is starting to reverse itself.

I don't know how to connect back with God. When I prayed, I knew that the Lord and I had a connection because it would feel like I was floating. Every single time. I'd be surrounded by nobody but overwhelmed with the love of Christ. It was all white with an endless sky of brightness. I haven't felt this feeling in years now. My church where I was a youth leader, well I stepped down off that position because I couldn't very well hypocritically preach celibacy to my young friends while giving into sex myself. I mean, sure I can continue to tell them to resist but that would be like smoking a cigarette in front of child, telling them not to smoke and then proceeding to blow a puff in their face.

I don't know.. I just don't know where to pick up. I'm 21 and now that social interaction with girls comes much easier (coupled with their now willing attention towards me), how is it possible to truly & spiritually desire a sin free life when I physically & mentally can't resist the temptation of the flesh?

cut it off, you know what im sayin--

IMO it's not unholy to have physical attraction - it shouldn't be considered unholy to have sexual relations before marriage. It's purely natural to have sex, with more than one partner, and with partners who are not your soul mate.

Personally - I doubt that God would boot you out of heaven for simply being a normal human being with normal human urges.

This is false. What you're saying is essentially what the gnostics said with antinomianism, and it is heretical.

1 John 1:8-2:1 shows that it is not possible to be in Christ and live a life of sin at the same time --


1 John 3:4-10 continues in this regard --


haeload:
Even Jesus went off to be alone to praise/pray to God. The more we cloud our lives with the things of this world, the more we push God out. It is then no surprise that one can easily drift away, and start falling easier and easier into the temptations of sin. You were with God prior because you devoted more of your life to doing so, but as time went on, that changed. If you want a closer relationship with Him again, you'll have to reverse the course that you've been taking.

@bob: I also have slight doubt about what you're saying as njaguar said. However, if it's for the sake of feeling better about myself and justifying my actions, that would be the best thing to believe. I don't know at this point.

@njaguar: But how am I supposed to reverse my current lifestyle choices on a dime? Understandably that's exactly what I need to do, but how?

@Eldest: Lot of references to money and income and not once did I mention work except for that where I work doesn't help me escape the sin I'm trying to. Money is not the issue. If I get what you're trying to imply then if you can easily find me a job in this economy that has been supplying the amount of hours this one does, then I'll take it. I don't consider myself lazy; you should watch that you don't pass Judgement on me (such as calling me Paul). There's plenty of good verses in the entire bible regarding judging someone else.

Living according to Christ is not easy, no one said it would be. In fact, it's mentioned quite often in the Bible that it is the difficult and narrow path. The best way to get back on track is to of course start going to Church again, and try and resume some of the pastoral stuff you did in the past.

I believe that you being able to recognize this is already a sign that God is helping you.
Many people can not see that they have been living life in sin.

What I would do is to go back to Church, and cut your self off from all the sexual energy, and
in stead of going to places where people indulge them self in sin, go to more conservative places such as religious gatherings, library, coffee shop, etc,
you can still meet great people there, and maybe even ones who are more likely to respect your religion.

Question.. Seeing as times have changed, And one does find it difficult to follow in the path of god, would he take that into consideration? or is it like this?... IF you do not obtain gods favor and follow your bibble accordingly you will be banished to hell. no excuses. ??

Not sure if im making sense with my question, its been a hard day today lol

No. The bible is a constant, and does not change. This world we live in is a very tempting world and that is what makes following Christ so challenging. However, it should also be rewarding. As njaguar stated, the path is narrow and very difficult to stay on.