Christians---am having a crisis of faith?

Question

It has been years since I red the OT. Am reading it now, just did the books of Moses and I feel like I cannot justify this stuff with the beliefs that I have been raised in. Am depressed and baffled. What's worse---I am sorta Jewish, and always thought Jews are smart---I am smart---but none of this stuff makes any sense to me anymore. It seems like gibberish.

yet

I do not wish to give up a belief system, and a morality, that I was raised with.

HELP

Answer 1

hiii..
I am sorry ..I know the Question is for Christians ...
I hope you forgive me for my participation coz I am a Muslim girl ..
I hope you see this ...may be it will help ..I REALLY hope ..

you will NOT lose anything if you visit those links ..

http://www.thenoblequran.com/sps/nbq/
select the Sura "chapter "....toolbar..

wanna be convinced that this is really the word of God ...see the scientific evidences in Quran ...
http://www.55a.net/firas/english/

I hope this will help
God bless you ..
wiam

Answer 2

The Law was given to Moses, for Israel - "until Messiah comes". It was a system for sustaining the people and keeping them from the wickedness of the Caananite paganism.

The deal is: Jeremiah 31:31 tells us that when Messiah comes, he will "change" the law and the covenant.

Well, he did that.

The point of the OT law in Exodus 20 was that it was to define perfection. No man can keep it, because we aren't perfect. The Levitical system was then a foreshadowing of the sacrifice to come, when Messiah was to establish a new covenant.

He did that. His covenant is established in his own blood. A sacrifice ONCE for ALL times.

If you don't recognize that Messiah came, fulfilled the Law, as the son of David, you will remain confused.

http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/lamb-of-god.htm is a really good site to go and read about it. Also check out Isaiah chapter 53.

Understand: Yeshua (who we call Jesus in English) came and fulfilled over 300 specific detailed prophesies. He fulfilled more than 30 on the day of his death.

No other person ever before or since can do that. When you see Yeshua in the New Testament, you will see what countless other Jews did in the first century: He IS the Messiah and he is the way.

Another place to get clarity is to read the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament. It makes it more clear from a Jewish perspective.

Answer 3

A "crisis of faith" doesn't have to be a crisis. Everyone has trouble with their beliefs at one time or another, even atheists. In my opinion, you can never know 100% that you believe the right thing, and that's what makes it a "belief". It's an integral part of the human condition, analyzing yourself and deciding just what you're going to risk betting your heart and life on. In my humble opinion, believing in something is a lot harder than having faith in nothing at all. So yes, it takes effort, so don't force yourself if your heart isn't in it. Search yourself, research, etc. This is something you can't let people rush you with--it's an important life choice.

At the same time, you must remember that the Old Testament was written a long time ago. The people who were writing it didn't know as much about the world as we do now, and therefore some things may sound ludicrous. There's nothing dumb about what was written, or who was writing it--in fact, it took a lot of effort to faithfully record centuries worth of history. However, it contains the interpretations of people from a different era, who hadn't yet discovered most of the things we know about our world now. That doesn't make the bulk of what was written any less important; the message itself is timeless. I don't see what arguments over the truth of miracles (which may have been miracles OR natural processes, either way recorded by those who would've had to speculate) has to do with the state of our souls.

Everyone needs to research every religion thoroughly if they want to argue against it. Even though I'm Christian, I'm currently researching the Quran and various other religious texts. Science is also important, obviously, and I have no problem reconciling it and faith--science cares for the body, faith concerns the soul.

There are some dumb people in the world, Christians and atheists alike. There are also smart people. And nothing about dumb or smart divides us into one religion (or lack thereof) or another.

So relax, and don't be pressured.

Answer 4

You have to realize that despite what literalists say, A LOT of the OT is embedded in deep symbolism and story-telling, which were both popular and effective methods in the Semitic culture of the time. You must look past the actual stories and delve into the religious and spiritual meanings to apply them to your life and to the NT.

For example: we don't know if Noah rode an arc with 2 of each animal, but what we do know is that God loves us and will never seek to destroy us through catastrophe.

Another is that we don't know exactly how God created the earth, but we do know it was his intention that earth and man would be created and there would be love between them and Him. This may allow people who are thinkers and don't want to deny scientific findings like evolution.

Answer 5

Jews are Gods chosen people.They made some bad choses but as humans we all have.Most people are raised with a set of beliefs.But each persons relationship with God is personel.Pray for his wisdom and understanding as you read his word.And always remember he loves you.Alot of people do not understand the old testimant,but it all had to happen for Gods greatest gift to us.His son Jesus,That we all including the gentiles may be restored into a relationship with him.That had been severed with the sin of adam and eve.once again god loves you and is not the author of confusion.Ask and he will give you the knowledge you seek.

Answer 6

First of all, it is important to realize what the Old Testament is and isn't.

The Old Testament is not Christianity's book of laws and procedures (other than the Ten Commandments, which New Testament figures such as Jesus quote.)

For a Christian, Old Testament is a prefiguration of the New Testament - its prophesies foretell the New Testament, its big events foreshadow the New Testament's big events, for instance:

- In the beginning (Genesis 1).... was the Word (John 1)
- The cleansing flood --> baptism
- Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac --> God's willingness to give up the life of his only son for us.
- The Exodus/passover --> our liberation from the bondage of sin and the Passover of the Lord (Last Supper)

The Old Testament in and of itself could be perceived as a harsh and cruel book without the context of the New Testament - no question. But that is the beauty of it - in our faith it DOES have the context of the New Testament,

"Behold, I make all things new", Christ says. And where the OT goes, this is as true as anything. We no longer have to look at it as a book of smiting, but as the birth pangs of a New Creation.

St. Augustine put it best:

"I now thought (belief in Christianity) might be maintained without shame; especially after I had heard one or two places of the Old Testament resolved, and often figuratively, which when I had understood it literally, I was slain spiritually."

My suggestion: find yourself a good Episcopal, Lutheran, or Catholic minister who has a bit of time to talk to you, and ask them your tough questions.

Answer 7

Help me. What stuff do you find in contention with the NT?

Being a brain does not make you Jewish. But even Solomon the wisest ever born of woman fell from grace. So it is better to be stupid and saved (not understanding it all) than to be a smart man steeped in sin.

Answer 8

Try not approaching it with the rational mind but with spiritual guidence and an understanding of the culture. If your trying to make the culture then the same as the culture now you will misunderstand much of it. There were many things the Hebrews had to learn to become the Jews of today, just as a child needs to learn many things before they become an adult. My suggestion is to start with the Psalms and Proverbs first and apply them to the other books.

Answer 9

Read the Arcana Coelestia by Emanuel Swedenborg at:

http://www.heavenlydoctrines.org

It is all about what the OT means verse by verse. The OT is really about the Lord and the church - not about stories that really apply to someone else (or some character in the Bible).

Answer 10

Whoa ... take a break there buddy. Remember what being a Christian is all about: a personal relationship with Christ. The Bible, while inspired by God, was written by man. That's why it sometimes doesn't make a whole lot of since in some areas. It's never a bad thing to question your belief system from time to time. When we change our beliefs, that is typically a growth spurt in our lives ... maturity. Bottom line is this: it's all about you and God ... that's all. Keep your faith dude ...

Answer 11

I understand your pain, but just because you were raised to believe something does not mean that it has value or is right for you. You could have been raised by KKK members or Nazi people, and I know you would think that THOSE belief systems are wrong. Perhaps you will find that Christianity is wrong, too, or at least wrong for you.

We all have to find our own way. It is better to follow something you believe than something you were raised to believe. Keep questioning and searching. It may be that you choose Christianity in the end, but it will be your choice, not something you feel obligated or "invested" in following.