Sometimes I have trouble in believing in my faith. I feel myself doubting the authenticity of Christianity. On one side I understand why some people would believe in God. For instance, love and compassion seem deeper than something that can be explained by science et on the other hand I find controdictions and Hypocrosy in the Bible. In no way do I wish to offend anyone but why is there a hell when His love is unconditional? Why do I feel that sometimes the bible says that you should believe in christianity OR ELSE, just like so many other religions? I feel that i have a right to question my faith instead of believing in it blindly.
i don't want to believe in something just because my parents brought me up as a christian. I feel as if I had been raised jewish or muslim I would believe in that religion instead.
In no way is my opinion going to be swayed by random people i have never met before but what do you think?
2007-02-28 12:36:49 · 13 answers · asked by sunnysidedown 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am nearing 60 and have been of The True Christian Faith since May of 2000. I do not know it all but I do know, with absolute certainty, that God exists...if you have those unanswered questions then someone has failed you by not properly instructing you.... that said... no one is a Christian just because their parents "brought them up" as Christians... it don't work that way.... Only God decides who is a Christian.
you do not give your age... but it is normal for any one of The Faith to have questions... just as you do... you are not alone in your confusion...
I am not a pastor or evangelist or any thing other than an old guy who took a long time to finaly come to God...I know what I know about God... but I don't know it all... I am willing to try to answer some of your questions if you like... one honest question will receie one honest answer to the best of my ability... all I will need is a valid email address to reply to... feel free to email me if you like
2007-02-28 12:52:16 · answer #1 · answered by idahomike2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ah yes, I feel the same way you do.
I used to be a fundamentalist. It was nice to know who you are and what you believe. Now my faith has been shaken. In no way am I contemplating becoming an Atheist, that will never happen.
But I can no longer be called a fundamental Christian. For the first time I have seriously questioned my faith. It is a very scary thing because you don't know what you thought you knew.
It is important for you to believe in something that fully satisfies your emotional and lucid being. God created us with both, so the truth should satisfy both. Would you tell yourself "I need to concentrate only on my hands, my feet only get in the way"?
Hell is a problem I agree with ya. I don't know how to answer you tho. What I do firmly believe is that God is just and will punish evil. But will he do it for eternity?
I would like you to show me the inconsitencies in the Bible. Maybe I could answer some of them for you.
2007-02-28 20:46:13 · answer #2 · answered by Samuel J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You just need to follow your heart and your head. You can't necessarily control what you believe. If you have doubts, you have them and no amount of fighting them is going to change that. You just need to decide whether or not you're going to let them pass through you as some sort of "test", and continue to follow Christianity, or decide that the doubts outweigh everything else. What you're going through right now is pretty much what almost every atheist goes through. Most atheists started out belonging to some religion. I went through what you're going through. I was Christian, and for years I had doubts that just ate at me and ate at me. I fought it very hard. I was tormented by it for a long time. It's not easy to just give up on what you had grown up believing, and what you had been comfortable with for so long. It isn't easy to get over the ingrained fear that you are going to be damned. Eventually, I was able to accept that I just didn't believe. The more I thought about it from that point on, the more comfortable I became with it. I am just as happy and comfortable now as a full atheist as I ever was as a Christian with strong beliefs. You need to decide what is right for YOU. Take whatever time you think you need. Maybe your faith will return to you. Maybe it won't.
2007-02-28 20:48:28 · answer #3 · answered by Jess H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Faith does not question. Belief does not consider alternatives. Go ahead and seek your answers but you will trouble your mind and annoy those who choose to believe without question. However, since you seem determined to question your faith, read the article cited as a source below. You might also browse the Jimmy Carter book "Living Faith" for the story of his own struggle with doubt.
2007-02-28 20:50:17 · answer #4 · answered by sonOman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are struggling to find your own faith and that is good. But God has no spiritual grandchildren. The faith you have must be your own. Paul writing to Timothy, his son in the faith says, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure lives in you," (2 Timothy 1: 5). You were raised in a Christian home but you have to claim that Christian faith as your own by putting your trust in Jesus Christ.
I know you can't make your explanations too long in this forum but it would have helped for you to give us one or two of the contradictions as well as the hypocrisy that you say you found in the Bible because I am sure there are explanations for them - although there are some things that can't be explained and we will not understand until we see God.
Scripture calls us not to believe in Christianity but to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This we do when we confess that we are sinners, repent of our sin and trust in Christ because on the cross He paid the penalty for our sins.
Through the relationship with God through Jesus Christ we adhere to a particular belief system known as Christianity.
Jesus says He and He alone is the way to the Father. In that sense it is exclusive. However, Christianity is inclusive because God's free offer of salvation in Jesus Christ is open to all people.
The Bible teaches that hell was made for the devil and his angels. Human beings go to hell when by their own free choice they reject God's offer of salvation. God is Lord of all and God sets the standards and rules by which one enters into God's kingdom through a relationship with Christ. There is God's love but there is also God's holiness and justice. Both demand that there is a penalty for sin. God made the way for us to avoid hell and we are the ones who choose where we will end up - heaven or hell.
You have every right to question your faith so that in the end the faith you have will be your own and you will be able to stand firm in it.
A book that may help you is by Josh McDowell: Evidence that Demands a Verdict. Also Lee Strobel (an award winning journalist and former atheist) has written some good books that may also be of enormous help to you. I am away from home now and don't have access to my library but if you Google him or do a search at Amazon or Christian Book Distributors (cbd) I am sure you will find something.
May the Lord be with you as you continue in your search.
2007-02-28 21:04:16 · answer #5 · answered by javaqueen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gods love to you as a person is unconditional, but if you treat other people bad, if you die with peoples rights on your hands, youre gonna have to pay for it.
God can forgive anything between you and Him and I mean ANYTHING. But God will not interfere when you take the rights of another human being. Because as per Universal Fairness, you have to return what you took from rights.
What eats another living beings rights?
-hurting them in any way, with your tongue, hands or sexual organs
-speaking behind their backs and making them look bad
-slandering
-stealing
Etc. etc etc..
Animal rights are also very important, because you can ask for forgiveness from a human, but if you hurt an animal, youre left with its rights on your hand, you cant ask for forgiveness from the animal because animals dont talk. Consequently God will punish you in the hereafter, if you die without being forgiven by the people or beings uve hurt.
Now do you understand why hell exists?
2007-02-28 20:45:02 · answer #6 · answered by Antares 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I give you advice from Ex-Christian
start read other religion select religion which believe in science and spiritual then you can find the truth
sure I dont invite you to Islam but it is up to u
and If you like to learn about religion please email me am ready to help you..
2007-03-01 00:15:22 · answer #7 · answered by hado 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is not need of a religion, religions try to make their people believe that they need the religion, and thats not true, you can be a lot better human without religion.
2007-02-28 20:53:27 · answer #8 · answered by luiskarlos 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a muslim... we as a muslim won't force u to convert to Islam..
Its up to U... my advice is U learn the other religion and find which religion can get u in peace...
If U want to learn Islam.. try this website...
2007-03-01 03:39:10 · answer #9 · answered by seaaxl_gip 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pray and listen to the Holy Ghost talk to you. He will tell you. If you Believe, in your Heart then why question it.
I grew up going to Church all my life and I still believe in God and I believe in Jesus and the Holy Ghost.
2007-02-28 20:43:12 · answer #10 · answered by MartyS6964 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋