I want to have faith but cant?

Question

I have always wanted to have this strong faith in Jesus Christ but it seems I just can't. It's not from a lack of giving Christ a chance to come into my life because I have done that so many times. Its just that my logic kicks in and I cant put faith or even love someone I cant see, hear, etc. I want to believe in God and have that strong faith that so many Christians do but my faith always dwindles down after maybe a month and those thoughts start creeping back in. Another thought that comes into play is that there are so many religions. How do you know Christianity is the right one? It could just be that all religions are man-made and are just trying to stay immortal through "life after death". But then the obligatory question comes in. Would God send people to Hell for believing in one religion over another even though we are both seeking the true God (if one exists). Any help with my struggles would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

sounds like you're going through the same stuff i've struggled with for a while.
personally, i went and tried to study all the religions i could, and decided that if i felt anything like faith, i would become a follower. now for me, i haven't found any religion that i could honestly say i have faith in, so i'm still an agnostic.
and don't let those crazy fundies who say you're going to hell because you lack faith bother you any. like i said, they're crazy and have completely lost touch with reality.
i hope this helped.

Answer 2

This is not a simple question, and I will not try to give you a simple answer--be careful of those that do. First, please understand that all mature faith begins in doubt. Faith that has not listened and responded to the counter-arguments tends not to be well considered and thoughtful. Your struggles should not dishearten you but encourage you to learn more and think deeply.

Second, Christianity is not a single phenonemon--there are many versions, and I find some that are either incomprehensible or unbelieveable. Some versions of Christianity are more like magic than religion. Magic talks about G-d suspending natural law or being arbitrary and capricious. Faith and reason are not contradictory, which I personally think leads to problems for people who read the Bible literally; others would disagree strongly, and I do not doubt their sincerity. The major religious faiths with which I am familiar, and the major forms of the Christian faith with which I am most familiar, look to transform the individual believer and, through him or her, help transform the world to bring about the Kingdom of G-d. This involves what Jesus called the 2 great commandments, quoting Deuteronomy: (1) to love G-d with all your heart, mind, and strength (which entails having charity to all of G-d's creation) and (2) to love your neighbor as yourself.

Although some will argue that religion is simply a man-made creation, a projection of a Divine Father figure resulting from an unresolved Oedipus complex, a method of controlling the lower classes by promising a reward in heaven in returning for enduring man-made exploitative economic institutions on earth, or the justification of a middle-class superego--all of which justify not only unbelief but militant atheism (itself a religion), these arguments to the reality of religious faith cannot answer what the great (but personally unpleasant) philosopher, Martin Heidegger called the fundamental question in metaphysics: why is there something instead of nothing?

I hope this helps. If not, there are many people out there far wiser than I am who can provide an answer.

Grace be unto you and peace.

Answer 3

I had the same struggle for a long time...with two different religions. One I ended up leaving, while the other I remain devoted to. So I can offer a couple suggestions:

First, don't expect Jesus (or any other spiritual being) to prove his existence to you. If they gave such obvious proof, faith would be unnecessary. In my experience, proof only comes after you believe. (and even then the intention is not to be "proof" but to communicate something else)

Second, it sounds like you're at a point in your life that you need to really examine your beliefs. Why do you want to have faith in Jesus? If it's just because people have told you you should, is that a good enough reason? If there are other reasons, then focusing on those reasons may help your faith.

Answer 4

If you want to have faith, you have some already (see the mustard-seed quote above). Just ask God to work in your life. The difference you are looking for is between following a religion and having a relationship with God. Many people lead a life of faith and follow the teachings of their religion, but they don't have a relationship with God. Ask God to be part of your daily life. I did and it's amazing what He will do. It's more than just thinking He is helping you out when things go right for you. The presence of God is a powerful thing.

Answer 5

The very fact that you ask that question is the proof that you are seeking. To get more faith you must study the Word of God (which is the Bible). Consider this Scripture:

"14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?”[j] 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17)

It is very important that you apply yourself to knowing the Truth. If you are commited and draw near to God, He will also draw near to you.

I must agree with you concerning the various manmade religion, because of which the Truth of God is blasphemed among the gentiles. However, this should not alter your faith in God. With a proper knowledge of God, you will actually be able to rightly divide the Word of God. You will make a good distinction from what is right and wrong.

There is a God made kingdom and Church. There is also a lot of manmade churches. You will know the difference by comparing the Scriptures to their practices (their fruits). Be careful with the "find a Church of your choice" sort of thing. God has only build one body (Eph 4:4), which is the Church (Eph 1:22-23).

Answer 6

Take more time to reflect on yourself and why you want to believe in G-d. You may find it helpful to study other paths of spiritual enlightenment, it could be that one speaks to your soul more than another. I humbly suggest perusing BeliefNet. It has a good overview of all major religions, and has thoughtful forums as well. Additionally you can read much of the world's religious/sacred texts at Sacred-Texts.com.

Good luck in your journey.

EDIT: And if you're looking for a fresh perspective and interesting place to start, I highly recommend the Baha'i faith. (I am a Deist, so I'm not plugging my own here).

Answer 7

You are trying to "drum up" faith, which will always disappoint and fail you. The Bible says that faith is given by God.

There is a promise, however, that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Logic is not your enemy, but logic based on false premises will be. Much of what you have detailed is flawed or incomplete logic based on assumption and not fact and scripture. You can have, for example, a computer application, but change or delete one line of code, and it will crash. For example, you ask...

"How do you know Christianity is the right one?"

With all the right facts, this can be easily answered as found here...
http://schnebin.blogspot.com/2007/04/proof-of-god.html

Here is what I suggest...

Start a journal and talk to God through it. Each day ask God to reveal Himself to you. Ask Him to answer your question and just commit yourself to wanting to know Him in Spirit and in Truth. A few caveats--ignore all religions, just concentrate on getting in communication with God first. Religions are man's attempt to reach God. True Christianity is God reaching down to man.

Be sure to note every answer that comes. For your answers, just follow what checkmath suggests in the post below.

Start by reading this...
http://www.schneblin.com/studies/pdfs/getting_past_the_guard.pdf

...and be sure to have a good handle on how to obtain salvation.
http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp

Answer 8

You might want to study more about the faith in question.

If you cant accept it, why don't try other faith?

"Read, in the name of God that creates you"
"Read, and God will lift you (to a higher level)"

If you read for the purpose of searching the meaning and the attributes of God, He will help you find one. (Regardless of what faith you are looking for).
(How universal that verses is. Regardless of which faith you come from).

Answer 9

you can have faith. Even with a mustard seed of faith you have enough. Scientist have faith in a hypothesis and then go out and tests it. many times to find out if it is true. The bible says, "Taste and see the the Lord is Good."

Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him.

I also have many personal testimonies over time. I was shaky in my faith at first but over time I have gained experience. You need to be with the church (body of Christ, people who know God personally) They will share with you their experiences and it will help you. You will go to bible studies and learn the bible for your self and not just hear say. You can have your own personal relationship with God and be filled with the Holy Spirit as mentioned in Acts that Jesus left for you! they will pray for you and it will help. You will hear scriptures read you might not have come accost on your own and it will help you. I ask Father that you show this person how much you love them. I pray you introduce them to Christians that will build them up and give them hope and understanding. I pray your angels minster to them. and with the mustard seed of faith they have your water will turn it into a tree and with all their experiences in you their faith will be grounded as a mustard seed that sprouted into a tree and is well rooted in the ground and unmovable. In Jesus name amen.

Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

That is a willingness to step out and test and taste and see the Lord is good.

Answer 10

Live a good Christian life and the rest will follow. grace leads to grace. Don't rely on feelings only.

I am Christian and i find it absurd to believe that God would be so unjust and merciless to damn people to eternal torment because they could not honestly be convinced about the truth of a religion(Christian,Muslim,etc) if those people acted in a good and morally constructive fashion according to the lights God gave them.