how can christians say that they spiritually "know" that god exists?

Question

mother theresa struggled throughout her life with the feeling that god very quite possibly didn't exist.
Are these christians more closer to god than she was?

Answer 1

"Mother" Teresa didn't know Jesus at all. She was a catholic, and catholics are not saved Christians. They have a false gospel of works, and as such, she died without Jesus and is in hell now eternally.

Answer 2

I grew up Lutheran, and later became a catholic. These traditional churches teach, most often, that you cannot experience God's presence. Though some might argue that, stating that communion or other sacraments are the presence of God. They say this religously by doctrine, not by actually feeling or sensing God. Others within the church who have experienced God's presence will also argue they have but they are a minority.

Most people, but not all, who experience God's presence have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. This is reffered sometimes to pentecost, charismatic churches, spirit filled christians, and other such names.

And I and a some others actually experienced this movement in traditional churches. I was Spirit Filled in the Catholic church, but when I met God presence at a monastery, I left the Catholic church because of this very issue.

While they recognized the movement, they keep it quiet and do not promote it. Some protestant denominations also have mixed beliefs about it some accepting some rejecting. For example most baptists believe it is not available, but a small baptist churches do celebrate pentecost. Some baptists even believe its demonic and of satan.

Then there are some born again christians who are not baptized in the Holy Spirit but have experienced God's presence, but such folk are lesser percentaged. But they will have more folks who have experieneced God's presence than those who are saved but not born again.

Whats the difference between those? Well since this question does not go there, I will not delve into that but you can read about it here:

http://www.kingdom-gospel.com/bvb.html

The farther one goes down the following list, the greater chance he has of experiencing God's presence:

believer-saved
born again
Spirit Filled
Holiness Movement/Baptism of Fire
Discipleship/Baptism of Suffering

Answer 3

It's like going to the moon. There are people who don't believe that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. They say it was a hoax. There are those who don't believe that the holocaust actually happened.

However, no one will ever be able to convince those who actually experienced these events that they never happened. They "know" what they "know", and they can't "unknow" it.

We as Christians "know" that God is real, because we have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In my case, I know that God is real because I can look back over my life and relate time after time when God was present and active in the things that happened, and did not happen to me.

I have no way of knowing what kind of relationship Mother Theresa had with God. I know she was a moral woman, who gave her life doing good for the poor. The fact that she had doubts is not proof that she was, or was not, close to God. It only proves that she was human, like the rest of us. ><>♥<><

Answer 4

I think everyone, even the most devout of any religion, has their doubts, since religion is a matter of faith. Either you believe it or not. There is a fine line between "proving" your religion as a way to edify your faith and to lose it. If you don't have to trust because all the answers are spelled out, then there is no need for faith, now is there?

In the end, as a Christian, the proof I have is that my faith helps me everyday. My life works better without it. The answers given to me by Christian teaching satisfy me. For the answers I don't have, I am content not to know everything...in fact, I don't want to know everything...if my God doesn't know more than me, he is not God. In my life, God is the all knowing, the One in control, the Master of my circumstances. I don't have to know everything because I am in fellowship with the One who does.

Another thing I can say is that I think we are all born with an intimate knowledge of God and we somehow get jaded to it as we get more used to the way things work in a body, on the earth. When we come across the teaching that reminds us most of what we used to know, it is the faith we choose. Our religions settle the soul, remind us where we came from, help us along, and give us a map to where we want to return.

Answer 5

I would never presume to say that I have a closer relationship to God than any other Christian. Mother Theresa was a wonderful humanitarian. I can and will say that there is no doubt in my mind that God not only exists, but that I converse with Him on a regular basis.

Answer 6

faith= trust, to know, an unseen promise...... Yes, we who are Christians do have all of that..... we struggle, we decide each day to follow Gods word, It does NOT come naturally... flesh and spirit are at war..... Mother Theresa did the same.... she wrote her doubts and worries down, and I trust they were for a purpose...... I write mine down at times too, does NOT mean I have given up, just that I struggle..... Humans struggle through life, even those who do not believe in God.... NO ONE is closer to God than the next person, we may, if we come through Jesus, approach the throne room, but we can NOT stay there....... go in peace..... God bless

Answer 7

Did I misunderstand Mother Theresa's letters? I thought it was on occasion, when she witnessed such terrible suffering, that a doubt entered her mind, where was God.

Of course I know God exists. And I don't compare myself as better or worse than anyone else. How do I know? My own experience.

I think Mother Theresa was a wonderful person who was a doer of the word, and not a hearer only. But if you don't mind, I believe I will leave the judgment of her heart to God.

Answer 8

its interesting to hear people's struggles against the core of who they were. I have to think any intelligent person would have to at least consider it, rather than forever just spitting out an answer. I believe that the judeochristian God exists but I do have doubts about things from time to time.

It is always a big deal and big decision to decide on and be convicted of a certain belief system. Don't rush it. Keep your heart and mind open.

Answer 9

I know God exists. I question alot of what happends in the world, but my faith is my faith. I don't understand why people have such an issue with Christians and their strong faith. if Mother Teresa questioned God's existance, then that would be between her and God. if someone else doesn't then tahts there personal belief. If some don't believe in him then thats it. The world continues. Move on and let people enjoy their beliefs.

Answer 10

No christian is close to God..They think they are,but how are they when they dont do anything He commands..or they pick and choose what they will follow..They dont live according to His word 4 real 4 real..They dont live by the God of Israel,our creator,spoken about in the OT..They live by JC of the NT,which doesnt speak of the God of Israel,because a false god is trying to take over..Only His chosen ones spiritually know Him..Harsh,but true..Would u deal with anyone who never takes the time out to know u..Christians and many others "know of" Him, but dont "know" Him..Big difference..But if u ever wanna find out,u can find out about Him in our original Hebrew writings,actual accounts from our ancestors..The OT..Only His chosen ones know him..Shalom

Answer 11

I can count on my hand 3 or 4 times that God spoke directly to me. I had further confirmation of that 2 or 3 weeks after each event.

5 or 6 other times God has spoken to me through circumstances that the odds are so incredible that it had to be him.