Say that you believe in God, but you aren't sure that you believe in the bible or that Jesus was "the man". So then you say a prayer and ask Jesus to reveal himself, but nothing happens. What do you do then? Keep on praying? How long do you repeat this? What if he never does reveal himself? Do you go to hell even though you tried? Please don't quote bible stuff to me by cutting and pasting...I can read. I don't believe in all that so when you quote it I don't even read it.
2006-12-01 14:32:45 · 44 answers · asked by eddysmomma 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, someone told me if I don't believe in Jesus than I should just say a prayer and ask him to reveal himself. Before I do all that work, I wanted to know the back up plan. Thanks in advance.
Why are christians so mean. A lot of the answers are so mean. I'm confused!
2006-12-01 14:46:25 · update #1
Thank you don.
2006-12-01 14:47:17 · update #2
Thank you Jane.
2006-12-01 14:48:05 · update #3
Thanks Simon. I like fables!
2006-12-01 14:52:59 · update #4
Yes I am serious with this question. I would agree that I am on a spiritual quest. You can blame my bio 102 teacher for making me write a paper on evolution.
2006-12-01 14:53:52 · update #5
Kent...I said I didn't want quotes because I can just as easily as you go look up stuff. I didn't say I wasn't willing to read it. Apparently you can't read.
2006-12-01 15:12:50 · update #6
don't give up so easily. It may happen tomorrow.
Several years ago I had an unusual experience concerning an uncle, a distant relative who lived over a thousand miles away.
While driving my car I suddenly felt the unmistakable presence of this relative that I hardly even knew. He was more like someone I had heard about than someone I knew. It was very strange; it felt as though I was momentarily lifted right out of my physical body. I seemed to be suspended somehow beyond space and time, bathed in a love so intense It felt like I could have just disappear into it at any moment if It would have let me. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it seemed to last forever at the same time. I realize how crazy this must sound. The experience was so strong that at first I was afraid I was loosing my grip on reality. I finally managed to chalk it up to an over active imagination.
Three days later I got a call from my aunt telling me that this uncle we are talking about had gone into a coma and died the day I had the experience. It felt like ice water had been poured down my back when she told me this. I had lost any real ideas of God or faith and had become somewhat of an atheist. Needless to say this experience caused me to rethink some of the conclusions I had come to.
I feel blessed to now understand that even in our darkest confusion something loves us so much that it went out of its way to assist me and bring me back to a state of absolute certainty about Gods love for us.
During the experience it seemed like there was a vast amount of information that I was somehow allowed access to. One thing that I came away from this experience understanding beyond any shadow of a doubt was that any Idea that God is unhappy with us or would judge or allow us to be punished for any reason is simply impossible.
I can’t explain the love I felt with words. They simply don’t make words big enough or complete enough to do this. The only way I can begin to convey this love to you is to say that there was simply nothing else there. Nothing but love. No hint of judgment, no displeasure of any sort. It is as though God sees us as being as perfect as we were the day we were created. It is only in our confused idea of ourselves that we seem to have changed.
I hope this is of some help to you. Good luck. Love and blessings.
Your brother don
2006-12-01 14:35:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure what you mean by "reveal" himself.
I went from agnostic to believer by reading the Bible from cover to cover in order to check its validity. The New Testament was particularly incredible to me. Jesus's parables were incredibly enlightening to me. I was also amazed that the issues the Bible addresses are the exact same issues that people struggle with today. Humanity has not changed much in the last 2,000 - 3,500 years.
The NT is even more incredible when you understand how tightly it is tied to the Old Testament. See Isaiah 53. I couldn't believe it when I first read it. There's a guy talking about Jesus 700 years before he was even born. Daniel 7:13-14 talks about Jesus 500 years before he was born.
I personally first found the Bible to be amazing. When I first asked Jesus into my heart, he did not make a personal appearance to me. But as my faith has grown, God has started communicating with me. I don't hear his voice but he definitely uses people and circumstances to communicate with me. Chance can't account for it. But not too much happened to me when I made that first prayer for forgiveness either. You need to get into the regular disciplines of prayer and Bible reading.
2006-12-01 14:44:29 · answer #2 · answered by ANDYMAN 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you go to hell because with all of that you still did not do what he asked you to do. If this is a serious post, get a Bible and read the New Testament. As a matter of fact the whole thing is great. It's a wonderful story about Salvation history. You'll read all about how time and time again we kept blowing it, it's almost like God is saying when will you guys wise up and realize you are nothing without me? It's wonderful.
2006-12-01 14:43:26 · answer #3 · answered by Midge 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that you should keep on praying. Don't give up because you didn't "feel" anything. God is not a feeling and he doesn't reveal himself to people that way. Also, read the Bible. if you don't have one, you can find one online. I'm not going to paste anything in here, but like you said, you can read, so go ahead. And, when you read, ask God to show you what you ought to read. If you have any other people that you know are Christians, ask them to pray for you also. I will be.
2006-12-01 14:40:42 · answer #4 · answered by Amy_S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How can you believe in God but not His word? ok, right now i'm not even talking about Jesus. i'm talking about the Bible. The Bible is His words on paper. His letter to us on how we should live and the guidebook for everything in life. now as for Jesus. If you believe the Bible is true, you will find that Jesus is who He is, our Savior. He will reveal himself to you, just keep praying. He won't let you go to hell without some sort of revelation of Himself. He reveals Himself in the Bible, so you are actually without excuse, but He will reveal Himself. God is just and won't send you to hell without having provided a way to escape hell.
2006-12-01 14:40:00 · answer #5 · answered by Deborah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is very important to get your answers directly from God about questions pertaining to your salvation.
As far as "no answer"...and should you keep on praying...Personally I think you should keep on praying every day even after God reveals the answer to this question to you...
How does a person develop a relationship with someone else? by communication...And so by the same token - How does someone develop a relationship with God? By praying every day.
God's time frame is different than our time frame...I inquired about a thing one time and I didn't receive an answer until 10 years later...but when I did receive - I knew with surety it was from God. When God reveals something to you ...you will KNOW...God knows how to confirm truth to us...and He has plenty of power to do so also.
What should you do in the meantime? Live up to the light and knowledge that you have, do what you know is right. God is a God of justice and mercy...If you have sincerely asked to know the answer and God has given the promise "ask and you shall receive" then according to justice you will receive (there is no way you could be under condemnation...because you did what you were supposed to do...you kept up your end...and rest assured that God will keep up His end!) and also according to mercy God will reveal the answer to you...He loves you and wants the best for you and for all of us!
Also look for the answers that God is sending you in your life...
I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He was crucified for the sins of the world!
May God bless you with the knowledge you seek in this thing!
2006-12-01 14:59:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
How's lil Eddy doing, momma?
Awww, momma, you've had a lot of Bible thumpers give you a lot of quotes, eh?
Now, lemme try to make it easy for you, OK?
Do you remember He said "There be none so blind as will not see"?
Pity is that most of us are like that for most of our lives.
A prayer said just mouthing it, when you don't mean a word of it, will not get you anything more than what you asked for ... nothing.
Lemme illustrate with this lil story.
There was this "devout" man who wanted to "see" God and he got caught in a flash flood where he climbed up a tree. A little while later, a boat heaved top and they asked him to get in and be rescued along with the others; but he refused saying that he was waiting for God to rescue him. Naturally they went away to save those who wanted to be rescued rather than waste their time with this deluded guy.
A helicopter came by and the same thing happened again.
And, finally, the waters rose and he drowned.
When he got to go before God, he asked Him "Why didn't you rescue me?"
And God replied "You refused the boat and helicopter that I sent you; what else do you expect Me to do?"
You see, the Truth may just not be the thing you think it is.
So, do it right and this time around, you'll probably get what you asked for.
Merry Christmas!
God Bless America!
2006-12-01 14:48:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mostly God speaks through His Written Word. Jesus is revealed by the testimonies of witnesses as they recorded them in the New Testament.
You reject "bible stuff" even though you admit that you "can read".
You say you don't believe in the Bible and won't even read passages quoted from it.
You say you aren't sure that you believe in the Bible ... or that Jesus is the God/Man ... and you refuse to read the Book.
God speaks through His Written Word. Jesus is revealed by the testimonies of witnesses as they recorded them in the New Testament. You ask Him to reveal Himself and then you refuse to read.
2006-12-01 14:43:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God/Jesus is the Bible..or the Bible is about him, his life & stuff. God can't show himself bc he only does it to ppl that are close to him, this means u would really have to suffer (like he did) to be close to him. Why dont u read that book about St. Faustina. "Faustina Apostle of Divine Mercy" by Catherine M. Odell (OSV). It shows u, she was really close to him. She offered to suffer for ppl that needed prayer etc.....& she did suffer bc she was sick all the time & God used her offering to save ppl that sin. its a really good book & i don't even like to read much. IDK u must understand it to know whats it talkin'bout. I think u would. U don't go to hell unless ur bad to ppl& stuff. If ur really try & do good things ...u wont go to hell. Plus if u understand whatever u did wrong & are truly sry God will 4give u but it depends also on how serious ur sin was. This isnt easy bc the world is complicated & every1 is different. Like i dun have all the answers bc im not God I just believe & know hes real. If u want proof of knowin hes real just take a look at the things hes given u. These are the things u luv that make u happy. Like if u have any kids etc.. its not easy to understand but if u wana believe u will search
2006-12-03 10:13:47 · answer #9 · answered by Cr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What? Ask Jesus to reveal himself? Pray to God.
2006-12-01 14:34:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋