I feel as though I am wrong for this but when I go to church to get a better understanding of him, I feel like a fraud. What do you make of this?
2006-10-04 07:52:08 · 27 answers · asked by *Chelley* 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In Luke 8 is the story Jesus told about a man planting seed. The seed was the same, the ground was different. Look at what verse 15 says, "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."
Decades ago a Chinese Christian named Watchman Nee began using this passage for the Chinese people he spoke to about Jesus. Jesus, while a man, was also God and called the Son of God. People could grasp the part about God but sometimes had their doubts and fears. Watchman simply refered to the part of the requirement, "an honest and good heart". You can be honest with God, God wants you to be honest with Him. When you pray, yes, please pray, tell Him about your concerns and your reservations. He knows, but He also likes to listen to you.
Next, trust God, which is what we call faith. The passage in Hebrews 11:6 teaches us, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." You believe in God, you even said you do, then trust Him and continue to "seek him".
Finally, Jesus was talking to His disciples and you can read part of the discussion in John 14. One of his followers, Phillip, said 'Show us the Father (God) and that will be enough.' Jesus said, "have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (v. 9). Even Jesus' own followers, spending something like about 2 or 3 years with Jesus, they still did not have it straight. If you see Jesus, you see God, "the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works" (v. 10).
Finally, Jesus began the whole discussion by saying, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." You are already one step of the way, you believe in God. Of that God, Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions [or rooms]: if it were not so, I would have told you" and added "I go to prepare a place for you." Jesus is making place in heaven to be with God, and it is a place for those (look at the first passage again) with "an honest and good heart" who have faith in God and "patience".
None of us have all the answers for every question. Not you. Not me. But with faith and patience and honest dealing with God, He will understand. You are not wrong for going to church. You are not a fraud. You've told us all honestly. That is what God wants, someone who believes in Him honestly.
2006-10-04 08:15:03 · answer #1 · answered by Rabbit 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's great that you believe in God, but you have to look at it like it is in scripture. If you really want to know Him (Jesus), He will reveal himself to you so that you know without a doubt that He is real and you will believe. It is the work of the devil to make you feel "like a fraud", he is supposed to make you feel anything but acceptance to Jesus. His job is to cause confusion so that you don't fulfill your purpose that God has planned. Start by reading the book of St. John. This gives you a clear picture of God and Jesus and why He needed to come and save us. Pray first to God for an understanding and take some time to yourself and really start to read the scriptures to get an understanding. I believe in Jesus and He is not going to force or make you or anyone else believe in Him. You believe in God so you must have some faith, take it to the next level and ask God to help you. You will see!! Thank You Jesus!!
2006-10-04 08:07:40 · answer #2 · answered by alawgirl2003 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as you're being honest like this, God can work with that.
How can you be expected to know and trust someone you've never met? You can only make a rational decision about having a relationship with a person you've met, right? You meet the person, and you decide from there where you want to take the relationship.
What would you like to know that you don't know about Jesus? Ask Him about it. Then go to the place where He's already spoken; this would be the 4 Gospel books in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This will give you some idea of what He's about.
2006-10-04 08:06:10 · answer #3 · answered by Carol L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So, are you saying you only believe the OT and not the NT? Most Christians I know disregard a great deal of the OT in favor of Christ's teachings, including myself. I'm not sure what you mean by not kowing Jesus. I have a feeling others will respond the same way, but if you want to know him, read the NT. Some will say that if you believe in God, then you already "know" Jesus, because they are part of the same whole. And don't go to church to understand, just pick up the Bible. Churches (not all, but some) tend to skew Jesus' teachings to serve their own purposes.
2006-10-04 07:59:02 · answer #4 · answered by ReeRee 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't feel like a fraud ! Doubt is natural. In fact, John Wesley who founded the Methodist church went through a very difficult period in his early ministry where he found himself plagued with doubt and, like yourself, felt like a "fraud". A mentor of his told him to "fake it 'til you make it" (ok, they didn't talk like that back then, but that was the jist of it :) He persevered, continued preaching through his doubt, and eventually found the peace and the belief he was longing for. He went on to bring Jesus to the working people and the farmers (i.e. the poor) who, at that time, had been told that they were not worthy of God's love because of their low place in society. In short, he was one of the heroes of the Christian faith. And he once felt like you do now ! So keep seeking, and eventually the peace and the "knowing" Jesus will come to you. In the meantime, just enjoy the fellowship, or the music, or whatever you enjoy about going to church at the moment !
2006-10-04 08:21:52 · answer #5 · answered by Schleppy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well. Think where does this universe came from?? If There was no god then what is our life all about?? Well we live our live because of god. Well The god is only one but the god has many forms so we all worship god in different way. Scientists say there is no god. But I say these is. In some way science is wrong. Science says that there are spaces, darkness, coldness but actually they do not exist. spaces is just absence of an object. darkness is jus absence Of light and coldness is just absence of heat. Science hasn't proved anything yet. So be live in god. Gos is always there for you and will be forever. No matter in what way you worship god your not a fraud. Its good that you go to churches. never get scared that gos gets angry upon you. As god never gets angry upon anyone. We all dont know what god looks like or feels like but we all believe that he is there for us. We imagine his looks and we worship him. Dont ever change yourself just for others thin kings upon you. As you know what you are and you believe in yourself.
2006-10-04 08:06:26 · answer #6 · answered by Unspoken Truth 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You believe that God exists, it's a start, but:
Do you still think it's enough just to believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror!
James 2:19
Jesus talked about Father God:
"My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
Matthew 11:27
And what God wants is for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
Hebrews 10:10
Salvation that comes from trusting Christ--which is the message we preach--is already within easy reach. In fact, the Scriptures say, "The message is close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:8,9
Feelings come after faith.
2006-10-04 08:02:40 · answer #7 · answered by Jay Z 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
How can you believe in GOD and not Jesus? It makes no sense. You can't get to GOD without Jesus. You need to read the bible and come up with a better conclusion. If you truely believe and are worthy, then GOD will let you know.
2006-10-04 09:31:02 · answer #8 · answered by cookie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I can relate, I have been a Christian for 6 years and what I have learned is yes going to Church is apart of living life as a Christian but you get to know God/Jesus while your on your needs in prayer, your reading the Bible and putting it into practice.
2006-10-04 08:01:42 · answer #9 · answered by kalik 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's okay, I understand. When I went to church as a child, I believed in Jesus, I mean, I knew He died on a cross, but that is all I knew of Him. I believed in God too and had a relationship with God. It was much later, in my adult years, when someone brought me to a good bible teaching church and I began studying the bible, that I came to know Jesus Christ. You are on the right track. Find a good bible study, get into it. It is so wonderful, you will discover wonderful things and come to know Jesus.
Bless you!
2006-10-04 07:59:01 · answer #10 · answered by christian_lady_2001 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋