I need help. I'm very confused.?

Question

I don't know what I am. I'm not sure if I believe in God or not. I hate the Church and all their followers and fanatics and preachers. But I don't blame God for that. I'm beginning to see that God doesn't make miracles and chooses not to save people. But at the same time I question why. I'm just so confused on my belief on God but I know for sure that I don't believe in the Church. It was actually the church and their people that chased me away from God and now I feel like I did something bad and I'm so confused so someone, if someone can help me? WITHOUT PREACHING PLEASE
I saw a woman and a priest holding a sign near my town (in the metropolitan area) and it said ONLY ROMAN CATHOLICS GO TO HEAVEN. And it pissed me off. SO don't do that please :D

Answer 1

I face a similar dilemma. I have recently discovered that Catholics did not exist before Christ; it was a religion created by the successors of the 12 apostles.
So, Christianity and Catholicism are relatively new religions (along with their numerous sects), mixed with the older Pagan beliefs.
You don't have to go to church to believe in God, this I'm relatively sure of.
People say "put your worries with God". I've tried that, and I've found that the only way my problems go away or get fixed is when I make an effort to fix them myself.
Don't let the fanatics put you on a guilt trip. God loves everyone, I'm told, so we all have a chance to be in His Kingdom. I can't imagine that God prefers a child-molesting Roman Catholic or fornicating Baptist more than a questioning child. I don't beleive you hate them, they just get on your nerves with that "pray-for-a-miracle" attitude. It really gets on my nerves when they boast about how they are more holy than me, and how I have no right to question the church or it's teachings. So much B.S! We have the God-given right to inquire and decide - it says so in the Bible. If you were excommunicated by your church, don't worry, they are not your judge, you will not answer to them. They, however, will answer to God, just as you will - and at that time, you can explain to Him why you felt the way you did. This is what I'm planning to do, and if it works, great - if it doesn't, well at least I made an effort to find the answer. At least I will hold out and live my life out instead of committing suicide and sealing my fate to Hell.
You were made in His image, so go ahead and look for solutions - if you don't get an straight answer from God, or anyone else, don't worry. Just do the best you can. Nobody's perfect.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Just remember the people who have turned you off to the church are NOT God or religion. God is loving, and sometimes religious people are the farthest from that, unfortunately.

Definitely read as much as you can, on as many religions as you see fit. Pray for answers, and you will be lead to what's the right path for you.

God does perform miracles. But just because there is suffering in the world doesn't mean He's forgotten about us. I sometimes think it's God's way of seeing if people will stop being selfish and help out mankind once in awhile.

You didn't do anything bad. God loves you. And He wants to help you. So just now you're not alone in this journey. Good luck.

Answer 4

Dear John,

First i want to just encourage you on your honesty. I'm very sorry about your negative experience. i know it seems the farthest place you want to set foot is in a church right now- but i also want you to know that your faith should be based on what God says in the Bible- and the Bible is really clear that one of the things that really helps us grow in our relationship with God is meeting with other believers.

One suggestion i may have for you is to begin to find a small group of people you can study the Bible with- and learn what God wants for us. This is a vulnerable time for you where you can create your beliefs based on what you're feeling as opposed to what the Bible actually teaches. Your negative experiences i guarantee you should not be the normal experience (Most believers do not hate thier pastors and the church-- it's possible that you were just at the wrong church with the wrong priest/pastor).

I've always found Calvary Chapels to teach the word of God well and they have a lot of mid-week services where you can just attend- hear God's word (and judge for yourself the message they teach through God's word). i've found the people there to be very loving and accepting (so perhaps you can start by attending a mid-week and then start getting plugged in).

I'm a youth Pastor (and i actually i don't go to a Calvary Chapel) but i was trained at one. You can also feel free to email me at anytime and i can encourage you, pray for you, and tell you what the Bible has to say about any of your questions.

Hope your confusion clears soon and you'll be able to continue growing in God.

Bless You. Hope that helps. Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 5

I can understand your angst, but I feel it necessary to warn you that when you come before God and your life is taken to account, don't assume that the excuse, "churches and its congregations were hypocrites and bad witnesses" is going to carry any weight.

You are not alone in your disappointment with churches. Jesus had the same opinion--not too many people realize that. Which is why I put it in this study...
http://www.schneblin.com/studies/pdfs/seven_letters.pdf

If all you do is look at others to base your opinion of God and Christianity, you will be disappointed on every turn. Christianity is based on free will and freedom to obey or twist to suit an agenda. Unfortunately, we see quite a bit of the latter these days. But they are free to do it, and will pay the consequences later.

Rather, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Christianity is not about "which church". It is a personal relationship that starts with a penitent prayer to ask Him to be Lord of your life. That's it. The rest has just to do with growth in that relationship.

So my advise? Stop looking at churches and people as an excuse for unbelief. Turn to Jesus as Lord and Savior and let God take care of the poor witnesses on the street corners.

Answer 6

There is more in this world than the Catholic Church. It was the Catholics that began the bashing on heads of people who refused to submit, so Catholics grow up with an incredible guilt complex. I know, I was raised Catholic.

I'm now Pagan.

Read. Read everything. I recommend starting with www.sacred-texts.org. It doesn't matter what the religion is called, they all have the same message -love, tolerance, and peace. Anyone who tells you differently, hasn't understood their own texts.

Listen to your heart, not what someone is forcing down your throat.

Answer 7

Hi John -
I grew up in a non-Christian home. We did however attend church. Which to me is so weird. Why go to church and not believe in God? As an adult I realized that it was for family traditions that we went to church. Unfortunately, the church I attended was more of a social club than anything and I did not learn about God or Jesus or salvation there.

Much later in life (in my 30's) after living my own way and doing pretty much anything I could get away with, I started wondering about the Bible and about end time prophecy.

I wanted to read a book on prophecy. My wise hubby recommended reading through at least the New Testament first otherwise the prophecy book wouldn't make sense.

In reading the Bible, although it didn't all make sense at the time, I started realizing that I needed a savior.

I realized that there is a God who created us and who cared enough to send His Son Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin.

I never did get back to that book on prophecy because after I read the the Bible I started going to Bible study. Shortly after that I knew that I could no longer deny God's calling in my life.
I decided to follow Jesus. I've been studying the Bible ever since and the more I read and study the more I get to know how much God loves us and wants us to be reconciled to Him through His Son Jesus.

Here are a couple of verses and I'll stop going on and on:
"But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deut. 4:29

"The Lord is not slow about His promise,a s some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

Anyway I would encourage you to get to know God through His Word. If you want help with Bible study feel free to email me.

The best thing that I have learned, aside from the way of salvation, is that all Bible prophecy that has been fulfilled to date has been 100% accurate.
Hope this helps - Redeemed

Answer 8

I have been through that.
Yes. Same here. It's actually the church that's chasing me away from religion.
One time, I was being told like "only this people in this religion will go to heaven." I was born Catholic. Boy, I was pissed off to and I went for depression 'coz of that. It was like "was everything just a lie?". The confusion I had was inevitable.

But hey I saw miracles are present everyday! Just open your heart and you'll see miracles need not be really extraordinary. The fact that you are existing means God chose you. Each day is a miracle. The sun rises, the sun sets, the earth revolves around it with the correct gravity and distance. Isn't is a miracle to think how complicated it is?

I was like a pagan for a short period of time because of the whole confusion thing.
But my world crashed. I can't do it without Him. And He revealed Himself to me.
I chose to still believe in God. I know in my heart that He exists.
My solution? I am with no religion now .
But I am considering to join one if I find it good and rewarding.

I believe religion is different from faith.

And I believe it is in faith that we will be saved.

I dunno. Sometimes I would be confused and afraid for the stand I take.

I believe in God. I have asked Him to lead me. I know He will.

I'll pray for you.

Answer 9

If you believe in God then it's logical to be selective in anything, which is man-made[freedom of choice] because,no additional or supportive faith should be imposed on a CORE faith(God),which does not match with it.All religions are man made and so are churches,mosques,temples and other so called places of worship.Human spirit can not be bound and imprisoned in any man-made devices and to do so,would be against the direct link a spirit has with Him(God)..Be your own teacher and take your time to decide about your spiritual journey,which all of us to undertake all by ourselves.

Answer 10

Seems to me you are definitely confused. Now let me clear it up to you.
First thing, God's silence does not mean that He does not anymore care for us.
Second, there are a lot of miracles in the world but most of them are unrecognized by humans.
Third, no religion can save man, even if you are a Roman Catholic.
Lastly, it is obvious that you are a believer of God.
Now let me explain everything to you:
1.People today have been complaining about God's silence. They ask questions like, "Why is God letting His people die?" Do you think it is God's will for His people to die? Isn't it that people kill themselves in their own selfish ways? For instance, God said through the Bible that "ye should not defy thy body because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit". But what are people doing now? They are smoking, eating too much fats. drinking too much alcohol and caffeine, they take illegal drugs, etc. Another, God said "love thy enemies". But what are people doing now? They kill each other through war and the like.
2.If you are looking for a miracle, look around you. Can you see a spider at the corner? If not, then imagine. Now I will ask you, "Who taught that spider to spin beautiful strands of silk?" No one did, because it is a creation of God, and it is a miracle actually. Another is, how come Earth is the only living planet? How come oxygen and water is not present on other planets? It is because Earth is a place which the Lord had created for us to "live in and to cultivate", to take care.
3.It is very wrong to say that only ROMAN CATHOLICS go to heaven. According to the Bible, it is not the teachings of the religion which is important, but how you can serve the Lord in the best way you can. So even if you are a ROMAN CATHOLIC, if you are doing nasty things which are not good in the eyes of God, do you think you will go to heaven?
4.You are confused, but it is clear that you still have faith in the Lord, and you are still a believer. My advice to you is, ask God to help you clear out your mind so that you will not be confused anymore. What God wants us to do is to repent our sins and ask forgiveness through prayers and live as followers of Christ, regardless of our religion. Pray to God and He will help you...
God Bless...