I'm only a teen, so bear with me here.
My belief Christianity has been wavering for as long as I can remeber. Sometimes I'm convinced of the existence of Jesus/God and other times I'm in doubt. Usually I'm somewhere in between, leaning on the side of belief. I REALLY do want to believe, but some part of me keeps holding me back (I'm pretty sure it's my brain!).
So my question to you is, what makes you a firm believer?
2007-10-20 14:43:53 · 20 answers · asked by deepman 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
By going through what you seem to be going through. Faithfulness to God is more complicated than we often acknowledge. We often have the notions that professing Christians have no more doubts, no more struggles, and no more pain. We trick ourselves into believing that for every struggle there is an easy answer.
Honest doubt goes hand in hand with growing in faith. When we doubt, we seek, and Jesus promises that where we seek we will find. And what we find on the other side of doubt is a deeper relationship and a deeper belief in God.
2007-10-20 14:48:50 · answer #1 · answered by thundercatt9 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Everyone has a time in their life when they doubt. That's part of being human. However the reason I believe is because all the life experiences I have gone through. You, know, seeing God move in my life and in the life of others. I've started keeping a prayer journal, maybe you should too. The reason is that I write down what happens in situations I pray for. I'm in awe of all the prayers God has answered and the way he has answered my prayers. In fact right now I am seeing some awesome answers to prayer, thing that I had personally given up on and I know that there is no explanation for it but God.
Another thing is that I have not only watched what God has done but I have felt his power and presence inside of me. I have felt the Holy Spirit move through me. I've been a Christian since I was a young child, I'm now 20 and still I believe. I never cease to be in awe at the things of God.
I would suggest you get with a solid believing church and get some mature stable Christian friends to help you. Also start reading your bible, even if you've read it through several times over you always find something new and encouraging in there. Another good book to read is The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson. It's an awesome book and is just amazing to read.
Here are some websites I think you should visit:
http://www.gracechurchamarillo.com/
http://www.answersingenesis.org/
Feel free to e-mail me is you want. I can give you links to more great website and talk if you need it. I don't do answers just for points, so I don't care if you ask me questions via e-mail.
Hope this helps :) I'll be praying for you!
2007-10-20 17:08:01 · answer #2 · answered by Janna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I took Him at His word, and acted on it. The results were incredible. Believing God, and acting on what you have learned about His will, generates even more faith.
Becoming deeply familiar with His words, and seeing how perfectly it all was put together casts all doubt aside.
I would recommend doing the words you have read, and reading some of the older theological works, especially concerning the doctrines of scripture, and hermeneutics, the interpretation of scripture.
I say the older works, because so many modern writers are liberal, and have bought into the belief that the Bible has been corrupted. If they doubt the only source for finding out what to believe, what can they possibly believe and have convictions about? Nothing!
Remember this- an Almighty God is certainly capable of preserving His words, and His meanings for a mere few thousand years. The ones that doubt that, do not know God.
2007-10-20 14:57:47 · answer #3 · answered by Jed 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Keep questioning. That is the key. Don't let anyone else decide for you what you should believe. Look at both sides. What makes sense to you about Christianity? What doesn't? What other beliefs do you have? Go with your heart. You don't have to identify with any particular religion to lead a happy, moral, and productive life. You don't need to have a label to make yourself happy. Think hard about what you believe and what feels right for you. And that will be the answer, even if those beliefs don't have a name relating to any religion.
2007-10-20 15:03:24 · answer #4 · answered by Tamsin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How about what makes me a non-believer? The thought patterns that make up the logic of my brain are based on reality and observation. There are no unsubstantiated beliefs or blind faith. I find this gives me a very accurate and predictable foundation for living. I have a good understanding of what is going around me, where I came from, and how to enjoy life. I'm also living life on my own terms and I take full responsibility for my actions, good and bad.
2007-10-20 14:52:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
My faith! His awesome love and the peace in which He gives when I am going through really tough times! My prayer life as I love conversing with the Lord and that is truly what our prayers are!
You know that to be a Christian, we must accept Him, by faith, through Grace. It is you, who must decide to get off the fence of doubt. I would suggest talking to the Lord, in prayer! Seek Him, in everything...He says to seek and we SHALL find!
I am so blessed to pray for your deepening of your relationship with the Lord! Truly, noone can make you a "firm" believer but, if you give God a chance...He can and will!
God bless you on your spiritual journey and as a granny, I am so very PROUD of you as you are one very intelligent teen!
Blessings,
Gail
2007-10-20 16:48:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love the man who came to Jesus and said, "I believe. Help my unbelief!" He was wise enough to know that there is much more to it than a simplistic answer when it comes to belief.
I find my belief bolstered by the basic disciplines:
Bible reading and Bible study
Prayer and Fasting
Worship
Silence and Solitude
Stewardship
Scripture memory
Fellowship with other believers
Listening to good, biblical teaching
These types of activities are often criticized and the Christian To Do List. They aren't. These are just some of the activities He's provided for us to interact with Him and to grow.
You might consider looking into what's currently happening in your days when it comes to growing in your faith and belief.
2007-10-20 14:54:21 · answer #7 · answered by Jennifer 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
JESUS saved my life. the way he changed my heart and the things he has done in my life make me a firm believer.
i think you need to move from the realm of doubt and guessing to the realm of experience .
read the BIBLE.
if you don't know what the BIBLE says your faith can become weaker.
and remember that faith is not some feeling you have it is a decision and no faith is truly blind it is always based on something.
pray that your heart may not be hardened like pharoh after moses showed him ten great signs from GOD he still doubted and died trying to chase the israelites.
2007-10-20 14:54:15 · answer #8 · answered by michael_g 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I too am a teenager and raised a Christian, but I also feel my faith waivering from time to time. I just think how lucky I am to have a loving family, a home, and food on the table. It usually humbles me enough so that I remember that God made it possible.
2007-10-20 14:49:04 · answer #9 · answered by Kelsey 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Once you are filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit you will understand. Just ask God to reveal it to you, He will show you the Truth. In faith, you can pray the sinner's prayer and then the Holy Spirit will be inside you working to bring you to all truth. The spirit will change the brain!
2007-10-20 14:54:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋