I forget the poster's handle, but a while back, a YA regular emailed me saying that she would pray that I would "find god", after I mentioned that I was totally open to the idea, and would accept even the smallest signal that god was real, and was "reaching out" to me.
That signal never came. You don't have to believe this, but I was, in fact, totally open to the idea. My heart was not hardened. I was, once again, as I have done in the past, actively seeking "god".
Nothing happened, just as nothing happened back when I "lost my faith" 20 years ago.
My question to Christians is, if you truly believe that I am being honest here... how do you figure, even with other Christians praying for it... that "god" didn't find his way to me?
I already know the answer. But I'm curious as to what sort of theories you Christian folks might have...
2007-08-31 23:07:26 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Aaron B... I know exactly what you mean. I've often thought of making an alter ego on here just to make arguments for the Christians that are actually worthwhile... :)
2007-08-31 23:23:24 · update #1
birdsflies... if you are right, then let me say this... if a god is going to turn me around eventually... I will be the second coming of "Saul". I'm just about as likely to turn religious as Richard Dawkins is... and if that happens to either of us... that will in fact, be a miracle.
2007-08-31 23:27:05 · update #2
You don't need anyone to find your way. Seek the truth yourself. That way you will find the answer that is ment for you! Maybe you didn't lose faith in God but in the church.
2007-08-31 23:22:27 · answer #1 · answered by DrMichael 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Any Christian who knows their theology already knows that your claim to have sought God means exactly nothing. The bible says that there are none who seek God. Romans 3:10-18(which is a restating of psalm 14&53). Faith cannot be "lost" as it is a gift from God, and he is the one who keeps his own John 6:35-40. I am aware that the bible says that "he is a rewarder of those who dilligently seek him" Heb 11:6, but it is clear in the context that the writer is speaking of those who are already his, and not a non-believer seeking God. Sorry to disappoint you, but I have no personal theory, only biblical teaching. You never lost your faith because you never had faith.
2007-09-01 15:56:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let me be another example of someone who has done the same thing. I have prayed to God so many times and asked that I be led to Jesus.
The fact that more than 30 years of doing this as sincerely as I could is part of what led me to become an atheist last year.
It's a little funny... I did not believe in God/Jesus before I started praying like this, so of course I never became a believer (I mostly remained agnostic). But I think of the recently published letters of Mother Teresa; who after her initial belief in God, was later never able to feel anything from Him. She remained hopeful that their was a God (though it depressed her greatly that she could not feel him). For me however, I can see it as both logical and I have come to peace with the idea that their is no God.
Sorry for the rambling, I just thought of how our initial outlooks may greatly affect what we do with the silence we receive from God.
2007-09-01 01:40:23 · answer #3 · answered by skeptic 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I like you Captain Atheist and I don't mean this in a personal sort of way, but more in a general, philosophical way. Isn't it kind of arrogant and the ultimate in human hubris to say, "if God exists, God must take the initiative?" I believe God is always present, and always reaching out toward humanity, but it's up to us to use the eyes of the soul, to be still and listen, and to open our spirits. I recognize that at some level, as a person of faith, I am making a choice to believe God is present in and through certain situations. For example, a while back I was really struggling in my work, very discouraged, and basically ready to quit. A person who normally gets on my nerves started talking to me and said some things that really spoke to me, and were some things I really needed to hear. I can chalk it up to coincidence, or I can view it as the Spirit at work in both our lives. You say you were truly open, but to put out a test like that seems more like you're mind is made up, and it's up to God to change it.
2007-09-01 15:18:07 · answer #4 · answered by keri gee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wrote to you once and told you that I would be praying for you, I think it was from my "pinkrose" profile. I am still praying for you regularly, Captain, and the fact that you are posting this question is an encouragement to me.
I know that God's timing is not my timing, but I know He DOES ANSWER PRAYER, and I will keep praying for that miracle to happen in your life.
I wonder, for example, why God allowed Saul to persecute followers of Jesus for so long before He struck him down on the road to Damascus and revealed Himself to Saul in a mighty way.
At the time I wrote to you, I said that I would pray for you under one condition and your response was that you wouldn't accept any conditions. I responded by saying would still pray for you anyway.
Now I would just like to add one verse for you to consider:
"Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that HE REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM." Heb.11:6
If you truly have a desire to know God you can find Him by reading His Word prayerfully and regularly.
2007-09-01 06:48:38 · answer #5 · answered by Friend of Jesus 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Friend you can not just think you will seek God on your own, First of all God seeks you in his due time, Not when you think he should. God is not lost, You are, Just as I was one day, Yes I was religious most of my life but not a Christian, Unless the Holy Ghost convicts you in God's due time, you can try all you want to, & you will not get no where. If you are really honest, wait on God, Too many Christians thinks God is lost & they say I found God last night, But little do they know it was God that found them, Now when I say this I know exactly what you will say, You will say I thought God already knew where they were at, He does, But God will bring each child of his to him in his due time.
2007-08-31 23:23:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Before I became a Christian, I was doing the same thing. I was actively searching for God, and yet doubting in His existence because I couldn't find any sign. But when I was honest, and I told God that I wanted to want to believe, THAT is when I started seeing that He does exist.
There was one time in the Bible where a man told Jesus that he believed, but that he wanted Jesus to help him with his unbelief.
Perhaps it might help you to say the same thing.
Maybe it's not God that's holding you back by not giving you any sign that He exists. Maybe YOU are holding yourself back. And I'm not saying this to condemn you or to judge you, but it's the truth. The fact that you're thirsting says that God exists.
Keep seeking. We're promised that we'll find Him. Sometimes it just takes time. It took me my whole life. I was twenty-five when God finally found me.
2007-08-31 23:35:38 · answer #7 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
God will find you when you really do want to find him. At the moment your just playing games and he knows it. You will only see a sign that God exists when he thinks you need to see one.
2007-09-01 04:22:06 · answer #8 · answered by ANDY T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I will pray for you. I have been in the same way over the last year but he does come to you and prayer works it was that, that got me through.
2007-08-31 23:22:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Do you see this as a way of proving there is no God... Then all the praying in the world won't help.
Or else keep seeking. lf you are really serious, there's a promise that you will find him.
2007-08-31 23:20:14 · answer #10 · answered by Amelie 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋