A Christian conundrum - believers, answer me this....?

Question

Ok. God (and Jesus) loves me, right? And the only way I can get into heaven is to believe in him, right? And because he loves me, he wants me to get into heaven - ok so far?

Good. In that case, if that's what he wants, why doesn't he just pop out and say hello. I'd believe in him then, and I'd go to heaven, and we would both be happy.

Or is it because he is a narcissist who loves adoration more than he loves his children?

I don't understand how people can believe in a deity who demands believe and obedience above all things and then fail to provide proof of existance (the bible doesn't count - much of it is paraphrased from the original texts anyway - the 'Virgin' Mary is a prime example).

If God wants my obedience and my love, he can have it, just as soon as he shows up and asks for it. Until then, why should I believe he is anything other than either non existant, or just doing it as a power trip.

I am happy to be convinced I am wrong!

Answer 1

I too felt at one time as you do. However, In my life I came to a place where I might have needed Him due to addictions on top of other things therefore, I sought first, then he revealed Himself to me. It never works the other way around. If there wasn't a part of you that knows this to be true, you might never have asked the question. So, I will give you (2) things to think about. Just the fact that we are here is such a saphisticated miricle that to believe there is not intellegence behind our existence is even harder to believe. (For me.) The second thing is that I would like to testify that God reaveals Himself in a much greater way than a superficial relationship that takes place only in the imagination for those who obey the gospel. It took me 6 years from the time where I began to seek Him until I finally obeyed the Gospel, repented (turned away) from my sins (which caused the seperation to begin with, was baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins ("there is no other name inder heaven whereby we must be saved") and God filled me with the Holy Ghost. When He filled me with His Spirit, I found myself speaking in a language I never knew. But better than that, super natural manifistations have played a prominant part in my life ever since. The kind of things others only here about. My wife recieved the baptism of the Holy Ghost a week later and she spoke in other tongues. Neither of us ever dreamed that God could be so real. There is much confusion in the world today with reguards to "Christianity" and many believe they have a walk with God yet will argue the very thing I am telling you saying that it is not for everyone or all you have to do is Believe and thats it. I have found this type of faith however to fall far short of what God had in mind. The Bible says "seek and ye shall find, knock and it will be opened unto you." If any man or church attempts to teach you that all you need to do to be saved is just believe then you will unfortunately share the same type of experience as they. A religion that consists in nothing more than a mere teaching with no evedence that it is real. If however you seek out a teacher who has truly been anointed by God and reveals your necessity to obey the Gospel acording to the terms I have just shared, then you too will experience God in a way that you are currently doubting exists. Acts 2:38

Answer 2

Yes Jesus loves you. But I wonder what your intentions really are. You say that if you saw Him in person you would believe in Him. Would you or would you call that person a liar? If you saw Him why should He let you go to Heaven? Are you better than anyone else? Why doesn't the Bible count? It has been translated many times so if you really want to know what it says then learn the original language it was written in and then you don't have to worry about it being paraphrased for everyone else. Your whole question and explanation is weak and shows that you need to look in the mirror and see who thinks he is better than anyone else and that God is lower than you. He doesn't have to prove anything to you because you wouldn't listen even if some miracle was shown to you. You sound like a Pharisee trying to lead God into a trap. God will let you go because you won't believe because you have no faith in God. Could I be a lowly messenger trying to tell you something and maybe turn your way of thinking and your life around? Would you let me? Please read the Bible and pray. Matthew 6:5-16

Answer 3

There are tens of thousands of believers that can share their stories with you about how God did show up in their lives. When you choose to ignore Him, you'll have a harder time seeing Him working in your life. You call these situations coincidence most likely. Try reading one of the gospels or try praying. See if it makes a difference. Do some research before you dismiss what so many others have found. I was once an atheist. I was also empty and depressed - full of rage. Now I have everything I've ever wanted in life. I have a wife, a child, a house, many friends. Bad things still happen. Today sucked. But, I have hope and love - no more emptiness or depression.

Answer 4

This is a Good question there are a couple answers.

The the answer I think makes the most sense is, if you believe in the bible God did appear and do all sorts of miraculous things in the past and it never really helped much.

the people who would have believed any way believed but there were many who saw God speak and people work miracles in in his name and they still came up with excuses.

Why would it be any different now. Especially because I believed every thing God does there is a scientific explanation for so if he did something like that scientists would study it and explain it away.


I do thing us taking a leap Faith to not only believe in him but change our lives for him does give him more glory.

Last, I think it's possible if he took great enough measures it might cause your intellect to over ride our free will and in sense force us to believe which would negate our purpose.

Answer 5

Well, so you started out okay, asking a respectful question, but it had to fall into insults.

And if you want to get into hate-speak about the Bible, please have the original texts on hand. You guys don't like us quoting the bible but we kind of have to here:

From the original Greek text. Luke 1:27"... and the name of the virgin was Mary." Obviously there is more but I knew you wouldn't want to read it.

This not paraphrased, it is in the Greek original text -in Greek with the English words places above it - not changed as originally written.

Do you believe in Gravity? can't see it

What about high pressure zones that change weather? Can't see them.

What about the immeasurable love we feel for a gf or spouse? Can't see it, but man it's there.

You have to believe in something and if it isn't this, move on.

Answer 6

Your ability to be convinced you're wrong is largely a relationship about what you expect and want to happen. Logically speaking, it can be proven that god isn't all loving, all powerful, and all knowing.

But it's simple enough to drop any of those three, and then things make sense. If god isn't all powerful, maybe he can't materialize in the mortal plane; he can only send an avatar, and then his avatar is limited. A lot of the omnipotence factor is there because Christians want to believe that there's nothing that could even theoretically be greater than god. But that's not necessary for a divine entity.

Personally my sugguestion is to become agnostic: understand you don't know, and that perhaps you CANNOT know.

Answer 7

Jesus does love his followers, and he soes command for love and obedience, but he gives us a choice to love him. He did say after he rose on the third day blessed are those who beleive in me without seeing me.

I can not prove his existance but I believe he exist based on many facts thaat were proven in the bible. The one I hold most is the prophecy of Jerusalem during 70 ce, when he predicts the the romans war with the city 40 years beforeit occurs(one generation)

I know it is hard to believe in times like these

Answer 8

well the thing is that all through the bible jesus and god were present but people still did bad things. but without the bible think of it this way. i made all humans, i wanted them to live forever and to live in peace. now look at society, and love everyone unconditionally and cry when they do something wrong. and then have a growing part of the population get angry when people belive in you. easy way pop out and rain down fire and brimestone and say alright here i am, now what you little dirt clods. but if you hold back who ever believes in you actually believes and wouldnt that seem better. im just talking out of my butt here but thats kinda how i look at it sorta

Answer 9

You of little faith.... Jesus Christ told Thomas that he was blessed although he had seen, but that those who have not seen, yet still believe shall be even more blessed.

Read the latter parts of the Gospels after the crucifixion and Jesus has risen and talks again to the Apostles.... where Thomas must see and touch Jesus' wounds or he will not believe.

Oh, one last point of interest. Doubting Thomas, who had to place his finger into the wound in Jesus' side in order to believe, died years later a martyrs death by being stabbed in the side with a spear. Food for thought there.

Answer 10

He has given us other proofs of His existence. You just have to open your eyes and look around. The fact that you are alive is one.

Also, you need to be able to have faith. He gave all the proof that was needed. He's not gonna come to you w/ something He already showed to people generations before, He did it already, He shouldn't have to do it again. He says in His Word, if you have faith in Him you will know Him. (or something like that). Faith is believing w/out seeing. Thats what He wants of you. Just read His Word w/ a seeking heart. B/c thats what you're doing....you're seeking the truth....If you seek, you will find. Just put your heart into it, and don't think anything negative.