Even in the Bible, there are people who have the same difficulty believing in what they cannot fathom. Thomas, a disciple of Christ, was such a man. He knew Jesus personally and sat with Him as He spoke.
Yet, when Jesus returned after the crucifixion, Thomas was off doing something else, and refused to believe until he could touch the holes in Jesus' hands. Jesus accommodated Thomas by giving him that chance a few days later.
Jesus commented that Thomas believed because he saw, but how much more blessed are those who believe without seeing.
Believing without hard proof is called "Faith". Stepping out on Faith is a nice term to remember, and it recalls the time when Peter walked on the water for a few steps because he believed Jesus. Of course, he faltered when his analytical mind could not accept his seemingly impossible feat.
A better analogy than the air thing is to think about this. You believe that there will be another day, tomorrow. You plan on it, and many tomorrows afterward, yet, you have never seen tomorrow. You have faith that tomorow will come, nonetheless. (Unless you wake up every morning surprised to be here, anyways...)
So, you have the capability for faith, but have not exercised it in the God/Jesus/Eternity arena at this time.
No problem. Please, feel free to visit churches and see what they are all about. Get a bible, and read some. Attend a few bible classes to see if you can learn some of the deeper lessons the word of God offers you.
Starting out with inquiry on your heart is a grand idea! You will see all flavors or Christianity, some good, some not. You will experience good will, and you will experience people interested only in power. Your search will eventually lead you to a Scripturally based church that teaches the truth.
At that point, you will have found a church home.
In the meantime, remember this. You don't need a doctor if you are healthy. In the same way, Church is there for those who do not yet believe. Christ himself lived among the people who had no clue what God really wanted, and ministered to them.
If you attend a church to learn something, you are fine. Our hope is that the light and joy in our lives will shine on you, and inspire you to attain what we have, and to reach your full potential as a child of God.
2007-09-06 05:59:41
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answer #1
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answered by Barry F 5
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People with great faith believe in God even though you can't see God. I would imagine that if you are questioning God's existence, one place to go would be church to learn more about faith and God. This is such a cliche, but I feel there has to be some sort of God, just looking at a new born baby, a beautiful flower from a small seed. Anyway, good luck on your search for faith. I lost my dad 3 years ago and miss him every day, I am not a terribly religious person, but I find some comfort in the fact that he is in a "better" place an no longer suffering from the terrible cancer he had.
2007-09-06 05:41:49
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answer #2
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answered by Don Drapers woman 6
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Where is your faith?
Did you believe as a child in God, Jesus, and heaven?
What changed in you from a child to the present adult you are today?
Where is your first love?
Not one person here can "convince" you that there is a God or there is no god.
Where is the "trust" in what the scriptures have revealed to you once... ? Who stole this from you?
The Bible tells us that God made us in His image... in "their" image.... God the Father/Son/Holy Spirit.
Each time you look in a mirror you see the image of God. Each time you look at your spouse, child, friend, dad's picture, mom, siblings...you get the picture... you see the image of God. What more proof do you really need? You wake each morning to even know it is morning... God has granted you another day... Why don't you seek God's face... seek His kingdom... Matthew 6:33..... ;o) All you have to do is have faith the size of a mustard seed... that's all... and we know how small that is... ;o)
Why would it be a "sin" for one to attend a church? Every church has sinners in the pews. If you find a good church that teaches the Bible... doesn't preach the society ways... you will find God. :o) I'm a sinner saved by the mercy and grace of God... through the actions of Christ upon the cross. Just one tiny microdrop of His blood has freed me from the sins my life.
I'm almost 50.. I say get your self into a good Bible teaching, God fearing church. "fearing" = Respecting God... not fearing Him as in how others fear the outcome of a fight.. etc... show God respect... ;o)
2007-09-06 05:44:16
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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I understand completely where you're coming from. As an atheist, I think the most difficult thing about being atheist is that you feel that you will never see your loved ones again, and it does make death more painful to bear. I wish I could say something that will be of comfort, but each of us has to find our own ways to deal with it.
It is not wrong to be on a search. Even as an atheist, I still consider myself to always be on a search for the truth. If there IS a God out there, obviously I would want to know that. Unfortunately, for me, the more I searched for God through the years, the more evidence I found pointing away from that. Go ahead and search in any way that brings you comfort. I wish you luck, and I hope you find comfort.
2007-09-06 06:33:22
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answer #4
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answered by Jess H 7
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I think all of us that believe in God have started out with a sincere desire to seek the Lord.
I didn't depend on people to prove to me that God existed, they were definitely a help in the type of person I wanted to be, a believer.
I went to church and it wasn't until 3 years later that I felt that I was in the right place for me and that God was there.
If you have the desire to know God, if you want to believe, a step into that direction in "knowing," God is definitely through attendance in church. You learn of His message, his doctrine, you are reminded of his teachings every time you go to church and it renews you spiritually to handle another week of your life - for the better.
I don't think you're wrong for returning to church, for any reason.
But I do have to give you a warning. Most people, like me, take a long time "to see," because I had a lifestyle that I found very hard to change from. When you find God, you are given a responsibility to be his representative at all times, you can't live a life against God's teachings and expect him to be near to you spiritually when you're not even prepared physically to have a change of heart and mind.
2007-09-06 05:51:11
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answer #5
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answered by CurlySue 6
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I once said that the idea of God and heavens is a very comforting idea because life isn't fair,isn't perfect.
because there must be something after death.
why would we just die and disappear as if we have never existed on earth?
how is that fair?do you think your dad is now "none",do you think he's just nothing and no one right now?
honey,death is one proof we are so weak,so helpless...
if we were the most powerful,the most unique in this universe,then why are we so small so negligible that we're creatures that live on one of the planets of one of the solar systems of one of the galaxies of a whole marvelous universe?
we're like atoms my dear.
and it's not just that,we're not forever,we'll die,all of us will.
So how could this make sense?we were born,we will go to our graves after a long life,and maybe young also, and that's it,that's just it??
how ridiculous is that? how heart breaking is that?
I wish I wasn't born if that's just it!
it actually makes us less than human beings.
it makes us as some say,monkeys' granddaughters and grandsons.
only God makes sense of a life.
created us to test us,and take us back to him.
listen my dear,I wish I can make you believe today,because there's nothing like believing in God.
it makes you a different person.
a stronger and modest person...a happy person.
could all this wonderfully arranged universe be a COINCIDENCE? happened by chance?
honey,do you realize how shallow is that?
it's an impossible chance!!!
the arrangements in this universe...from tiny atoms to molecules,to cells,to a whole creature...to a whole universe....
and the similar laws the governs life around you.
physics,math,chemistry,biology!
they're all a chance!
some kindda stupid evolution...what with the heaven is that!
life is boring if we don't believe in God.
of course we'll get depressed, of course so many will commit suicide, so many will get lost, of course we'll get bored.
We are here by chance...and our Grandfather was a monkey.
this is what makes life sometimes seem boring like hell, seem unacceptable and so sad.
believing in God gives you more than you can imagine...gives our race some value,makes us worth living.
God didn't send us here without clues.
he sent so many prophets so many holy books.
read more and learn more about the divine three religions,
Judaism,Christianity,and Islam.
they're all historically connected,almost same concept,but some differences.
history can't deny them honey,please read more.
Good luck!
2007-09-06 06:28:35
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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Do you believe in the sun when it isn't shining? Do you believe in love when you can't feel it? God is like the wind, you can't see Him but you can feel Him. God calls us to have faith in Him even when He is silent. Going to church because you want to go to Heaven is the wrong reason. God loves you and He wants a relationship with you; Heaven is just the reward at the end of the tunnel for being His child and serving him faithfully. I encourage you to go to church even if you have trouble believing in something you can't see because I know that if you seek Him deligently, He will show Himself to you. I once was where you are now, I know what it's like. Seek His face. The Atheists on this site will do everything they can to push you farther out of reach, don't be detered.
2007-09-06 05:43:29
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answer #7
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answered by stakekawa 3
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I really want to say you should to it for God only...and you should, but there needs to be a starting point some where. If you go and do realize there is an after life, you will be schooled and learn the rest.
You don't believe in God because you can not see him, you also can not see your relatives right now, but that doesn't mean they don't or never existed.
This could be a good starting point for you.
2007-09-06 05:41:01
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answer #8
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answered by I'm Here 4
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You have valid questions- the Bible has satisfying answers.
Keep searching. You can pray to God to find the truth. Jesus said that "one day all those in the memorial tombes will hear his voice and come out". We all long to see our dead loved ones again--the Bible assures us that we can. Not in heaven but here on earth in perfect conditions- no sickness, death, war, etc. The Bibles says that "there are going to be a new heavens and new earth where righteous is to dwell" and that
"the righteous will inherit the earth and they shall reside forever upon it"- Psalms 37:29. It's not too good to be true- God has promised it and he will do it. There is a website you can go to for further answers. www.watchtower.org
I hope you do.
2007-09-06 05:56:51
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answer #9
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answered by Earthgirl1914 3
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Absolutely not a sin. Jesus taught a parable about a "prodigal" son who went off and did his own thing, but eventually came back to his father. The fatherforgave the son when he came back. Of course God is the father in the parable, and he will take you back in if you are sincere about it.
The church of Jesus Christ has the restored keys of sealing that allow families to be together for time and all eternity. It is a wonderful blessing. If you're interested in learning more, check it out at www.lds.org
2007-09-06 05:40:11
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answer #10
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answered by Open Heart Searchery 7
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