Problem with religion?

Question

I am a christian.I uses to belive in god.He trully helped me in many occasions,but one summer my faith dissapared.He was my everything.But then i started questioning things about him and my religion like does god really exist things like that.I am worried about myself.I have not been going to church and i am distant from god.I have another problem i masturbate.Masturbation is wrong becauseit is a sin and is against the love of god.At this point sex is all of what i thinka bout and it is in my mind constantely.I just dont what to think about it because is wrong.Help please i whant to get my faith back and i what to quit masturbation.Any help?

Answer 1

Perhaps you need to find support in a community of people who are like you. There is a quiz called the Belief-O-Matic and it tells you which religious group aligns most with your personal beliefs. It is very thorough. Heres the link
http://beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

After youve finished it, it will give you a list of your top 25 matches with links for further research. Then you can find a local branch of that church on the site itself or the your local phonebook.

Then, go to a service and talk with the pastor there. If you feel comfortable to adress your problems right then, great. If not, give it time and bring it up with him later.

And always pray to God for strength to stand with what you believe

Answer 2

First of all I would like to ask you if you have been to your doctor or a psychiatrist to talk about your problem. You sound as if you have gone off your medicine, if you were on it in the first place. If you have not been to the doctor I would highly recommend that you go as soon as you can get an appointment.

Secondly, if you are a real born-again Christian, don't worry, God has not forgotton you. Remember, he notices when each and every sparrow fall to the ground and dies. You are worth far more to God than a sparrow is. Start going to church again but make sure it is a church that preaches and teaches what the Bible says. See if they have a pastor that deals with healing. I do know what you are talking about with all the crazy thoughts that go through your head.

I know about those crazy thoughts because I suffer from depression. It was three years ago that it hit me the first time and it was like a Mack truck hitting me at 100 miles an hour. When I start to sink into my depression my mind gets full of negative thoughts. Then I think that everyone is against me and that God does not love me. I get thoughts of sex outside of my marriage and the only way I can control this is to make sure I take my meds as ordered, read my Bible and think about what I've read. One of my very favorite passages is Psalm 23. It's only 6 verses long but it tells us so much about the incredible love and grace and mercy of our God.

I hope that this will help you and give you some peace, the real peace that comes only from the Lord.

Answer 3

Many people, if not to say most people, go through periods where they question their faith, or leave it temporarily. Some even never go back to it. That's something that is intensely personal for each individual and will have to sort of "evolve" for you in your own life. Follow a spiritual path, and see where it leads you. I would set religious worry and guilt aside for awhile and concentrate more on living.

As for the masturbation, it's a totally natural thing for humans (and animals) to do. So long as it's done within reason (that is, it's not being done "compulsively", like once or twice every day, and you CAN do it without, say, viewing pornography or something at the same time) then there is no problem with it at all. We do this. Period. Some people more rarely than others, but a heck of a lot of people do it more regularly as well. Its relation to religion is only in your own mind. You're carrying around guilt like a weight on your shoulders and you should just set the weight down. Keep your masturbation under control, of course, as I said, and avoid pornography (not that you even mentioned that , but, sometimes the two go together, and porn really is bad for people in the long run), but don't worry about your personal habits affecting your religious beliefs, or lack thereof, at all. It does not. You can still be a good Christian, if you decide you want to go back to it at some time, and masturbate from time to time as well. You're fine, trust me.... Don't let the Bible thumper types scare you .... They're just like the devout Muslims, or the Orthodox Jews, only a Christian version....

Answer 4

Questioning is good, it says so in the Bible. God loves you, it says so in the Bible. If you really want to know the truth about what is said in the Bible read it, don't take anybody's word for it. If you want to know where God is look in your heart. God speaks through your heart, so all your answers are there. How do you think the Bible got written to begin with? Also remember, it has been rewritten several time. Not just translated, rewritten.

God loves every part of you, no exceptions. God understands everthing, and loves you. So we could get into a big discussion about how masturbation is a sin against God but it isn't going to get us anywhere. I'm not buying that one. I don't believe God would put an urge in us so strong that it is unccomfortable to resist and then tell us it is a sin. Yes I am a Christian. Yes I have heard some un-Christian things come out of the mouths of Pastors and Priests. Sin? Let's not throw stones. It is said all sins are equil. Do the best you can and be happy with that. That's all you can do anyway. The story goes that God loves us so much that he let his only son die on a cross for us. So, I believe you are only going to find God in Love, never in condemnation of any kind. That's my take on it. You have to decide what your take on it is.

Answer 5

First of all, masturbation is not a "sin." It is a normal and healthy activity. So is thinking about sex, especially if you are a teenager and your hormones are a-flying!

It is also normal and healthy to question your faith. The questioning may pass with time, but it could also be a signal that the ideas and beliefs of the Christian church no longer serve you. To find out if that's the case, explore other religions and belief systems. Read books about them. Find whatever it is that truly uplifts and inspires you, and then live that.

Above all, remember: God does not punish. God loves. You can never be separate from God because you are a part of God. And God wishes for you what you wish for yourself. The Church will never tell you any of that, but I will. I don't believe anyone should live in fear of anything, much less what they imagine to be "the wrath of God."

Good luck.

Answer 6

Read "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill, and any book by Dr. Michael Samuels...
You are suffering because you are lacking a plan for your life...
Questioning everything is a part of fath, and it means you still have it.....
Sexual desire that you are having is normal probably becasue your age between 14 - 26 years old...
Your strength come within, that is the one thing God gave you, a free will....
good luck and god bless

Answer 7

Many people go through times of doubt with their religion, but once you belive in something that much, its hard to stray too far and many people end up coming back to the church. You have time to do what you need to do and then come back, just hope its not too late. good luck

Answer 8

Get the book "Questions Young People Ask, Answers that Work". It is great for the questions you are asking!!

Answer 9

Good points raised. Stick to the book. Only. Search. Use this.

http://www.eliyah.com/lexicon.html

Answer 10

There's nothing wrong with masturbating. God gave you your body and it's perfect, and your sexual urges are natural.