Questioning my faith.....need some guidance please?

Question

Ive come to a place in my life where I'm questioning my faith, my beliefs, everything! I am christian....but have many opinions and views that are not "popular" among others of the christian faith. I don't attend church regularly. In fact, that's one of my issues: I have ALOT of problems with organized religion. I have so many questions, and so many of my own beliefs.....I feel really confused! Is it wrong of me to "question God"? I feel like its just human nature to question things....but yet, I feel guilty! Any help or guidance you could give me is much appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

No...before some fanatic tells you that its wrong...it is NOT wrong to question God. Even Biblical personalities questioned God.

I also have problems with organized religion and do not attend church regularly. I had feelings of guilt for a long time until finally a pastor friend told me that he had doubts and questions all the time and that at times, being involved in an organized religion can get in the way of your own belief.

I maintain a "home" church where my parents have attended for many years and I was baptized but I do not officially belong to any organized group. The doctrine of my home church allows me the freedom to believe as I choose and yet not be left out should I choose to go to church at some point.

Hang on to the good you believe in, do not be afraid to question and do not be afraid to hear the answers, because you will in time.

The Skeptical Christian, JPO
Grace and Peace
PEG

Answer 2

You are not alone in this at all. It is not unusual to find ourselves at that place where we are full of questions. Questions are a good thing. It is never healthy to simply accept things blindly. And many people have issues with organized religion. Most religious organizations have produced bad fruitage. But the fact that a group is organized is not bad. True, many promote forms of worship that are based on false teachings. Many are mostly ritualistic. Still others have been misused to control people and lots of them are overly concerned with money. And of course many are filled with people who are hypocritical. These types of things in organized religion would obviously raise questions in the heart of a reasoning person. Still, to meet the requirements in the Bible, worship must be organized. And true worship is different from the descriptions above.

If you have questions, you should ask them. Find a forum in which you can comfortably do so. Perhaps here with the comfort of anonymity. Or perhaps you can e-mail some of the posters here. But there is nothing wrong with having questions. God welcomes them. Perhaps you can make a list with the first ones being those which concern you the most. Then ask away.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

It is normal to have doubts and question God. He does not expect us to follow Him blindly. You don't need to feel guilty. I believe the most important thing you have to settle in your mind is 'what do you believe about Jesus?' You don't say what your issues are; if they're about church traditions or if they're about scriptural teachings? Do you have beliefs that go against the Bible? Whatever the problem, ask God for understanding of His word. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth and give you the discernment you need as you study the Bible. Talk to a trusted Christian friend. And keep talking to God,He wants to help you know and understand His will.

Answer 4

I went through a period in life where I questioned the church I was raised in. I don't think I ever questioned my faith or my beliefs, but I did study what the Methodist church believes and realized that's not what I believed. So I searched for a church that believes what I believe. In the process I came across many things to think about, some I believed others I didn't. I soon found the church I was looking for. It is not a very "popular" church to other Christians, but my beliefs are not founded on what others think, only on what God thinks of me. Email me at tonyamail2002atyahoodotcom. I won't push my religion on you, but will offer you any help or guidance I can.

Answer 5

Don't feel guilty. I think everyone goes through this at one point in there life. I fell away too. I was in my teens and I wanted to learn about other things. My main interest was religions and not just Christan ones. Many religions are not like organized churches. It teaches the founding principles and you go from there. The best thing to do is develop your relationship personally with God. But even reading the bible brings more questions, that's why atheist bring up valid view points. I hate to admit that. I treat the bible as a great history book with excellent guidelines to live by. But there is more to life then what's in the Bible. There mysteries all around us.You need to find your self. If you want you can go in my profile and e-mail me.

Answer 6

Fear, Shame, and Guilt could never be the response of a loving divine and caring creator. Your issues with religion are not a reflection of your issues with God, they are a reflection of your being intelligent enough to realize that something is wrong with the religiosity of this world.Most of these life perceptions are illusions which in the world of spirit, the world from which all life originates, have no real meaning. For example, beyond the socio-political sphere, beyond the economic sphere, nationality, religion, and even sexual preference is an illusion. If it were not for the inherent prejudicial paradigms maintained in the institutions in which we work, do business, and are entertained, what difference would it really make? Do the things of nature (water, air, vegetation, and animal life) treat us differently based on nationality, religion, or sexual preference? They don’t and as representations of our source they never will. Yet we omit the messages of nature for a far less accessible diagnosis of ourselves from man-made institutions. These messages are human contrived labels designed to support a world of illusion and falsehood. If we continue to move through the life perceptions we have accepted, it becomes more and more obvious that much of our reasoning is due to forces outside the natural flow of life. Though metaphysics would assert that all matter is energy (spirit) with variations of vibratory speed, we continue to exist in a world built solely upon the illusions of the tangible. The idea of flesh and blood, of building and structure, the idea of the tangible are nothing more than attempts to validate a reality that is beneath the highest level of human consciousness. Everyday there are new systems created to maintain our belief in the imprisoning world of the tangible rather than freeing us into the world of spirit or energy.

In today’s world we have come to a time when we should be evolving beyond and above religion. This is a time in which humanity should become aware of its innate relationship with Source (Universal Consciousness, God, Jah) and all that this Consciousness creates. If you would like to know more about the Fellowship of Seeker Community Church please email me at [e-mail]
Peace and Blessings

Answer 7

Stop it then. Stop doubting!

Jesus never said, go to chuirch and you will be saved. He never said, organized religion is the only way to me. Trust God.

I think that you are a lot like me. God gave you that ability. He doesn't always treat all people the same! When has He done that?

I think that what you are doing is feeling the pull of tradition, your conscience suffers. But what NOT to do is doubt God in all this.

Espoecially if you've had personal contact that you tend not to share. God has dealt with me on such a personal level that I know that He is doing something that He wants to accomplish. I still don't understand it.

IMPORTANT! Stay in the word. Don't leave you house without a Bible, at least a pocket New Testament.

Let me give you some sites that have good preaching, because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God:
http://twft.com/?page=C2000
http://www.drgenescott.org/live_internet_feed.htm

Listen. Spend time on these and other preachers that you can listen to. You have to keep the word flowing in your heart. Don't doubt God in all this. You are being shaped, let the Potter do what He wants with you.

If you have any other problems, e-mail me. God in moving in ways we don't understand. Let Him move in you.

Answer 8

Everbody goes through this, so don't be ashamed. The best thing to do is go back to the Bible and read it as if you've never seen it before. don't read it with the opinions you were taught to have, read it like a letter from an old friend. the Holy Spirit will show you the answers to your questions, I promise. It's also not terrible to attend a church that you've never gonr to before to hash out thise issues. Do you dislike organized religion, or do you dislike the churches you've attended in the past? The bible says, " Seek and ye shall find", Happy Seeking!

Answer 9

It is not 'wrong' to question. You are normal...if there is such a thing. :)

I do not attend an organized 501(C)3 government organization that most folks call 'church'. There are many ppl who don't, but church attendance is not what makes one a Christian.

The best answer I have for you is to study the word of God, seek the answers in His written word and do not look to those that have studied under others to teach you truth.

If you so desire, join me at [e-mail] or [e-mail]

Answer 10

I too have been through a time of questioning. Many parts of the bible are a cause of distress for me. However, I really love my church. It is not a highly structured, rigid place like many are. Since coming to this site I have seen first hand the reasons why so many dislike "religion" and why Christians in general are looked at in a bad light by non-Christians.

We both need to find a balance between our minds and our hearts. One that we can live with comfortably for as long as we believe exists. I will send you an email with some info that I have been given, do with it as you will. If you want to talk about it you can email me back.