Why do you believe in God?

Question

I believe in God because it was forced upon me. My parents are Lutheran so I grew up in a Lutheran Church. It was not my choice, but now it is my lifestyle. For those of you who chose to believe in God, my question to you is why?

Answer 1

Even though I believe with all of my being in God I would tell anyone not to believe because it was "thrust" upon them. Be open to Him.I think God can make a relationship with you without the help zealot parents.
I talk with God while I am brushing my teeth or when I almost hit another car on my way to work or try to figure out what to say when an employee tells me they cant come to work because their boyfriend just kicked their ***.
The best advice I can give you is just ask God,"Why should I believe in you?"And keep asking.I promise.if you keep asking honestly...you will get an answer.

Answer 2

I grew up an atheist - I might have gione to church half a dozen times in my life. Then I got involved in politics and was critiquing a bit of legislation - I was looking for the silver bullet reason to prove that the legislation was unjust. As I thought about it I realized that there is no such thing as justice if there is no God. The closest we come to any sort of justice is what we legislate, and there is no standard by which to judge the legislation. When I realized that I stopped looking for justice and started looking for God.

You see, I can't believe there is no justice. We have an inherent sense that some things are right and some things are wrong, even if we are taught to believe it is all subjective. Most of our modern philosophy says all we believer about right and wrong is just what we have been taught to believe. At some point we realize that at least one thing is right or wrong even if nobody else believes it. Some things are just and some are unjust.

So I started studying the evidence for God. For a long time I couldn't believe it. I had been so well indoctrinated with the atheist worldview that, no matter what the evidence, I just couldn't really accept it. But I kept reading - not just religious stuff, but atheist stuff as well - and compared the arguments.

As far as I can see, the atheists have a very weak argument that is based almost completely upon a belief that nature, or matter, is all that exists. If you accept theat premise, then the atheist arguments appear credible, but without that one premise, the whole thing begins to unravel.

The argument for God is the explanation for why we are what we are. We think and we discuss and we make value (moral) judgements. We are more than "matter in motion" and atheism cannot explain why.

Dave

Answer 3

Tessa,

I must echo Sakurachan.

I am certain that my belief in God began with the gift of the Holy Spirit given by Gods Grace at my baptism. I was just a little over 1 week old. The Holy Spirit continued to nurture my faith, as I grew, attended Sunday School, studied Scripture with the aid of the Catechism, was confirmed, married, buried my parents, and had my own daughter baptized.

I too am Lutheran (originally Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, now Lutheran Church Canada). I grew up on a farm. My original parish was rural, and 3/4 of a mile away. I don't think I was forced, Church was just a huge part of my life. Everything revolved around the Church. Even in the one room school I attended for 3 years about 80% of the students and our teacher were members of our Church.

I went on to become a Funeral Director, and had an oppertunity to work with many different denominations. This experience made me even more steadfastly Lutheran.

We ended up with a very liberal Pastor, and I left my home Chruch because of doctrinal differences with the Pastor that we were unable to resolve. I floated around and tried Anglican and Roman Catholic. The Anglicans were more liberal than what I left, the Catholics were as conservative as I was but had some doctrine that I just could not accept.

One Easter we walked into my present Lutheran Congregation, and I felt instantly at home, but because of my past experiences I did not join the Church, and just kind of stagnated, although I did attend regularily. The Pastor accepted a call and we were vacant for a fairly long time. We called a young Pastor who was Confessional, and orthodox in belief and practice. Many in the congregation was more liberal than they appeared. Everything blew up.

I had no choice but to support the Pastor. At one meeting that was called to vote on firing the Pastor, I presented a letter requesting transfer to the Church, and spoke on Pastor's behalf. Within a few months the Congregation asked me to become an Elder, and my faith has been growing ever since.

Again the Holy Spirit, working through our new Pastor gave me the eclesiastical kick in the a*r*s*e that I needed.

I truly believe, as the Bible and Confessional Lutheran doctrine teaches that I really had no part in my believing, since I can not remember no believing. I truly is a gift of God's Grace!

Your friend in Christ,

Mark

Vieth's book should be read by ALL Christians, not just us Lutherans. It may not convert others, but it will make them better Christians!

Answer 4

I was raised Lutheran as well. I am no longer a Lutheran but that religion helped me believe in the Bible. I was raised memorizing scripture and the one thing that set with me is the Bible is the final authority on God. I left the Lutheran Church because I felt my church was not behaving according to the Bible.

Anyway, to answer your question. Yes! I believe in God (YHWH the actual name for God used in the original Biblical texts). I believe the Bible is accurate because of prophesy. Daniel and Revelation in the Bible are so accurate once you understand it (Daniel helps interpret the symbolism in Revelation and vice versa) that the Bible couldn't be false. Also, to look around and see the planet and all God made for us and how detailed it is, makes me believe it has to be a grand design with a grand designer!

Answer 5

I grew up in a Lutheran Church also. But as I got older I questioned my faith due to many circumstances and read the Bible and studied alot of theological writings. Now I believe in Jesus and God, but not so much in Organized Religion, its too judgmental and far removed from what the NT was getting at- IMO. I also meditate, it calms the mind.

Answer 6

I was born catholic and I had to go to church until I wasn't getting any answers to the questions I was asking. I grew to hate God by high school. I finally started getting the answers when I was 20 years old. I was finally getting the answers that I needed and God introduced Himself to me. He showed me an act of kindness from one person to another person and saw what Jesus actually does. I had a choice to have no choice and accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Why do I believe? I learned that God is a loving God who gave us a choice to choose him or not. Gave his Son for us so we can have eternal life. I like Jesus' style.

Answer 7

The question should be, why wouldn't you? Proof is for those without faith. I have been questioning my faith a lot recently...even ventured into Buddhism. Religion is not something that was forced upon me. My parents are Christians, yes, but not Bible-thumping ones that get in people's faces about it. They let me make my own choices, and the only logical thing for me IS Christianity. God is a source of comfort and strength for a lot of people, and there is something very powerful in that fact alone. Everyone will question their faith at one time or another, but the reason I believe is because the times that I have questioned and even abandoned it, Jesus has always welcomed me back with open arms. God has never punished me for my questions but has only led me back where I belong.

Answer 8

Because by believing in Him my life becomes meaningful.
By not believing in Him my life has no meaning.

My parents are catholic. They gave me a very good example of catholic living. I saw many people living their christian lives as protestants, methodists, lutherans, seventh day adventists. But on my own, i chose the same faith and church my parents had not only because of their examples but because of the acceptability of catholic faith, life and principles compared to other churches or faith.

My belief in God is made deeper and more fruitful by my catholic faith and conviction.

Answer 9

i was put n a catholic school at a yong age but im against alot of there principles.lol i choose God because of all the blessing i received, im not poor, my parents love me, have a home 2 sleep n, but most importantly i have this funny feeling thats he exist & that hes been watching over me the whole time. plus a had a moments where this funny feeling n my gut(instinct i guess) was tellin me not 2 do this or that which saved me from alot of problems. u have 2 find those answers on ur own though & no1 should force religion on anybody cuzz God wouldnt want u 2 luv or worship him do 2 tha fact that some1 else wants u 2. thats y he gave us freewill. its up 2 u

Answer 10

If you were forced to belive, then you saying you are unsure of what your beliefs are. They may have forced you to go to church , read scripture, pray, or anything and everything else.
But, they cannot force you to belive in God.
To be a child of God , you must choose it for yourself. Christ said ... I am the way, the truth and the life :no man cometh to the father, but by me.
This excludes your parents, they can turn you in direction , but cannot make you walk