Is it ok to be a frequent doubter of a faith?

Question

I'm one of those people who is pretty sure there is a God and Jesus is the savior but not completely sure.

I used to be an atheist but found that atheism is way more closeminded than its adherants profess it to be (no matter how fervently they say otherwise or how much they compliment themselves or how much they insult you to "prove it"...just like I used to be). I also found that fundamentalist theism is basically impossible for me because I have not been brainwashed into fear and ignorance (so far as I know). I also do not want to be angry and deluded like they are.

I am just barely a Christian because I am just barely there on my quest for truth. Does that count as being "saved" or not at all? If I have to believe scripture completely and unwaveringly then I'm not sure I can. All I have is a gut suspicion and the hard data about the universe tells me absolutely nothing about its validity. Anything can be explained away after all.

If I sound too harsh towards atheism that is because I do not like what I used to be like, not because I am insulting atheists. It's just not for me.

One reason I turned away from atheism is because an infinity cannot be tested scientifically. Why ignore something just because you can't test it? Should I avoid eating if I can't test it for bacteria contamination?

Answer 1

Doubts of faith toward our Lord are part of the Christians life. Especially when we want to do something we know is against the will of God.

You are saved when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. He can take your mistrust, but it is harder for you. Hang in there. Jesus talks to you through the Bible, and He never ever gives up on you. We fall short, that is why He offered His life so that we do not have to give up our life for our sins.

Answer 2

This is a very complicated question, in part because when you say "just barely a Christian" you have to realize that there are many, many definitions of "Christian" to begin with. Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant? Methodist, Baptist or Episcopalian? And even within each of those categories you will find still more definitions of what being a "Christian" means.

That being said, I would still say that all faith implies doubt. Doubt can be a source of humility--it is arrogant to think that any human being can know exactly who God is, what it takes to be "saved" or whether he or she or anyone else has reached that point.

Second, I would refer you to the story of Jacob, who would later be given the name "Israel." The word Israel, the name for the people of God from the Old Testament, means "one who wrestles with divine things." Jacob receives the name Israel after a knock-down, drag out all-night wrestling match with an angel sent by God. After they both collapse from exhaustion, Jacob gets his knew name. I think this name, Israel, "one who wrestles with the divine" is a good description of what anyone's faith is really about. It's not about blind acceptance or "total belief." Instead, faith is a journey where we have struggles, doubts, highs and lows, and it is that wrestling with these higher issues that is most important.

Answer 3

so, um, why specifically the christian god?

And why do you generalise all atheists into the 'close minded' group?

And either the bible is the literal word of god, so you have to swallow the whole thing (although you can wiggle a little with calling some things literal and some things allegory) or you can accept that it was written by humans over a period of 9 centuries in aramaic, hebrew and koine greek, edited, voted on, and whatnot. But whatever the case it is still a core part of the christian doctrine, so I can't say you can just ignore some bits.

Answer 4

It's ok to be frequently doubting the validity of the scriptures and doubting whether or not God exists. When I was young I used to go to church and accept what I was taught. After some careful thinking I had my doubts. After reading the scriptures carefully over a period of many years my doubts went away.

If you truly want to seek God start searching for Him in the scriptures. If you want to find Him I guarantee you will.

Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Answer 5

Yes, it is ok to be a doubter. That shows that you are still searching, still looking for Truth. A wise man once said that all our lives we are creating an ideal of our faith--and through the experience of living, we shatter that ideal, not once, but many many times, as we discover more of the Truth about the universe, God, and ourselves.

A poet once wrote, "Come, come, whoever you are, even though you've broken your vows a thousand times, come, come again." The idea behind this is that God does not expect perfection-God is always welcoming, always there with open arms, waiting for the seeker.

And finally, an old saying: When you take one step towards God, He runs ten steps toward you.

Bless you on your life's journey.

Answer 6

God loves your searching heart.

It's pretty simple really.

1. You have to face that you have willfully, at some point (or many) in your life have sinned. Broken a Commandment.
2. You deserve to die for doing that.
3. Jesus paid your penalty for you out of love and compassion.

After that, you grow in knowledge and faith as you read the Bible. Stuff gets revealed to you in only the way you can comprehend it.

Your gut is already a Christian....take your heart there.

Answer 7

Why isn't it for you? Maybe you're correct to doubt your faith. Atheism is not close-minded.. I'm open to any evidence for the existence of anything spiritual, as all atheists are. In face, if I was close-minded, I would not have turned away from being a Christianity in the first place, and started facing reality.

Answer 8

Hello, as A Seventh Day Adventist Christian let me welcome you to A life of A Christian, saved and salvation is a gift, it reads in John 14:15 it says "IF" you Love me keep my commandments, thats your part, Gods part is John 3:16 For God [The Father] "SO" Loved YOU that He gave [Jesus the second member of the Godhead gave Himself] that "IF" you will BE-LIVE in Him you will not perish but have everlasting life. Now belief is okay but its not enough, in James 2:19-20 we are told even the devil believes and trembles so one must do something about there faith if its real. Now in Acts 2 the last verse we are told Jesus added daily TO THE CHURCH "AS SUCH THAT SHOULD BE SAVED" so if Jesus decided to add to His church then it must be something you should do, in Hebrews 13:8 and the first few verses on John 1 we are told Jesus is not only fully man but fully God, hay learn more about salvation free bible lessons www.amazingfacts.org bible questions www.bibleinfo.com talk to me also [e-mail] God bless

Answer 9

Yes it's OK, I to have doubt, mainly because the old testament and new do not go together. One God said let us make man in our image, who was he talking to? Adam and Eve had Kane and Able where did their wives come from ? The Old Testament says the son"s of God came to Earth and took mortal women for wives, yet Jesus was the only son of God ? I would love to hear your thoughts on this, I thought I was the only one that had doubt.

Answer 10

Love can not be tested either. It would be stupid to go through your entire life not believing in love just because you can't come up with a scientific proof of it.

Its called faith.

God help my unbelief