I have been struggling with this issue for some time now. I understand that Jesus walked this earth and that is a known fact. What I'm struggling with is the question, "Is Jesus who he said he was?" and "Did he wake up from the dead or did someone just steel his body?" How do we know for "SURE" that the bible is completely true? I don't want to say I believe, but I don't want to say I don't believe- I just "don't know" anything for sure and just curious what others think about this topic since it's so hard for me to discuss this in person. Thanks for your answers!
2007-11-25 12:19:20 · 30 answers · asked by WorldPeace 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I suggest you read "Evidence that demands a verdict" by Josh MacDowell. It tackles the very question you ask.
Don't confuse "faith" and "blind faith" though. Christians have doubts from time to time. This is part of Worshiping God with all of your mind (Matthew 22:37). Anything else would be an immature faith that couldn't withstand challenges. We have to ask the tough questions to be honest with ourselves. If you just keep pushing them down they will just come up when you are already overwhelmed and least able to deal with them
There are times however when you do have to say something along the lines of "I don't understand this but I believe because there is far more that makes sense than doesn't." This is admitting that we don't know everything, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). For example, the Jews didn't know about germs, but were blessed for washing their hands. The Bible has at times disagreed with the archeology of the day, only to be supported by later evidence.
2007-11-25 12:51:10 · answer #1 · answered by Disciple of Truth 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, it's ok to have your share of doubts. I'm gonna take a neutral stand here. Not saying Jesus was THE LORD. Not saying he wasn't. The fact is that he was born and he walked the earth. Rest could be true, could be partly true but could not be entirely a piece of fiction. What so many people have been beleiving for centuries must be having some origin. To start with, lets think of Jesus as human. Yes he was born and he died like any other human. Whether he was resurrected is not important. Whats important is that there was a man who did some good deeds and the world remembers him. When a person becomes a legend, stories are woven around him. Same with Jesus. We should be respecting him for what he did. Rather than trying to analyse his life. Take inspiration from him, love him in your heart and live your life peacefully. Thats what will make him happy. Thats what will make you happy as well. God Bless.
2007-11-25 20:28:20 · answer #2 · answered by Joey Jigglewank 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one can prove that Jesus is Lord, and God designed it that way. We are not supposed to have proof, because if we do have proof, then we cannot choose to love Him, we have to love Him, because we would know for sure he is there. God is not a God that believes in forced love, which is akin to rape. He wants us to chose to love Him, and chose to follow his word. He created us in him image, having free will. We have the free will to choose to love Him, or turn our backs on Him.
On a personal note, I was asked if I found out that I was wrong, and there was no God, would I have wanted to live in a different way? And I said no, because being a Christian has made me a much better human than I ever was being a Wiccan. Having Faith in God is a hard arguement to defend when there is no absolute proof of His exhistance, but it is a part of Christian life. You need to spend alot of time in prayer and develop a relationship with God and immerse yourself in religous education. Find a teacher that is knowledgeable and is able to answer your questions, like a priest or a minister. Even if you don't decide to follow Christ, you will be educated and not someone who dosen't like Christianity "just because" they heard something about it they don't like. Good luck, God Bless.
2007-11-25 20:33:26 · answer #3 · answered by The Nag 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that if the Romans could have found a body they would have. I also believe that they would have made sure Jesus was dead before His family was allowed to entomb Him. This was one of the reasons for the guards, the Romans knew He claimed He would rise from the dead. The guards knew what the penalty would be for failing to do their job, the Romans were notorious for punishing soldiers with death (origin for decimation: killing one tenth of soldiers in a Roman squad for failure), thus they would have done everything in their power to make sure He was dead and remained in the cave.
2007-11-25 20:27:38 · answer #4 · answered by future dr.t (IM) 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to go back one step. The only 'proof' that Jesus existed is in the bible. Josephus was supposed to have mentioned him in one of his writings, but it's been proven that it was added years later by someone else. If Jesus lived, then there should be a contemporary who mentions him. Also, since Jesus was supposed to have been a Jewish rabbi, you'd think that his followers would've saved all of his writings. Since none have surfaced in the past 2,000 years, we have to assume that none existed because Jesus didn't exist.
2007-11-25 20:27:54 · answer #5 · answered by S K 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nobody has hard proof on any religion or belief, that's why they're called "faiths", people have faith in what they've chosen to believe.
Just... follow your heart. Research a little, get some opinions from different sources. Decide what you want to believe in for yourself. I did, and I'm now in the process of saving myself for the second time.
xD. But I'm happy with it. Just make sure that you're happy with whatever you choose to believe.
2007-11-25 20:25:31 · answer #6 · answered by L. Azymia 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah the King of Israel come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.
Mark 15 v 31-32
Even those whom witnessed the miracles Jesus performed and heard his teaches in his own day, could not find enough "proof" he was whom he said he was. Ask yourself is it worth risking to NOT believe? If yes, then do as you please and care not. Otherwise pray for an increase in faith and stay firm in Christ.
2007-11-25 20:40:19 · answer #7 · answered by useyoursenses 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've read enough history to know that the Bible is a combination of allegorical stories, letters, and essays on religion. It was compiled by a group of men who picked and chose from among many existing early Christian writings.
I believe that most of it is not to be taken literally and that taking it too literally causes a lot of harm.
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." - For me, that's the most important idea to glean from Christianity.
2007-11-25 20:39:37 · answer #8 · answered by Chantal G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know he is true because when I felt so lonely and absolutely felt I would be better off dead, I actually prayed and asked him to forgive me and help me change. I felt like I have been forgiven and all that pain in my heart went away. I know when i am doing the right things and following what the bible say, i feel much better and God fills in that emptiness in my heart
2007-11-25 20:27:28 · answer #9 · answered by ♥Bahama mamma♥ 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can't prove that the bible is all true for the simple reason that it isn't: there are hundreds of errors, and dozens of internal discrepancies. One such error is visible to anyone with a shovel and the ability to count: the annual layers of the Antarctic ice cap go back millions of years. No flood.
2007-11-25 20:24:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋