Christians...hypothetically, what would you say to a person who WANTS to believe or has tried to but justcan't

Question

what could make them believe?

(((((Laptop!!)))

hope you and your kitty have a great new year....

Answer 1

I've been told that I didn't really super-duper sincerely WANT to believe!

Which kind of irritates me that my reality of pleading and begging and trying to believe apparently goes against their philosophy! Oh well! I tried!

{{{{Happy New Year Elfkin}}}F}OLwwwww\\\\ My cat walking across the keyboard added his bit too! :) )

Answer 2

melastha...: isnt that some sort of self brainwashing? or hypnosis?

Answer 3

Elfkin, I just got done reading a book called Blue Like Jazz. It's a great book. In the book, the author talks about a friend of his who was going through the exact same thing. She wanted to believe but couldn't. The author wrote that she described it as wanting to like a certain food that she's never had a taste for. Does that sound right?

Anyway, she continues to struggle with believing. She hangs out with believers and they get her to start reading the bible. The author says that one night he got an email from her. She said she had been reading the book of matthew and it occurred to her that Jesus was the son of God. I know this might not happen the same way with you and it might not be helpful in anyway to you, but now you know how someone with the same problem started to believe.

Also, I would highly recommend Blue Like Jazz. It's a book about Christian spirituality, and it's not all preachy and the author doesn't try and sell you Christianity, he's just telling his experience. I found it very inspiring. You can email me if you want, too.

Answer 4

I don't think there's anything you can say or do to "make" someone believe anything.

I would suggest they open their hearts and minds; I believe God sends us messages from time to time and we have to be listening to catch them. It's normal to feel doubt sometimes; I think everyone goes through that, even the most faithful of Christians.

Answer 5

I would ask them what in particular they are having trouble with and go from there. Some people do not believe because they do not understand and so it would be my job to help them understand.

Answer 6

This question hits pretty close to home for me. I often find my faith far too weak.

I think there is an interesting popular culture book that is fun to read and was a good starting place for me. The name of the book is Life 101.

Answer 7

Elfkin, I'd say they have been deceived. If a person wants to be a Christian He/She needs to realize they can't earn their way into God's favor. They just need to know what God requires. Salvation is a gift of God that comes through faith (Ephesians 2:9) Believing/faith is NOT A FEELING. It is a choice to take God at His word. Faith is not about warm, fuzzy good feelings. Faith is that God means what He says in the Bible.

There is an enemy of God and man, called satan. satan tries to confuse people and make things seem harder than they are. That voice in the back of your head that mocks your choices and tries to pull everything apart is coming from satan. If he can convince you to doubt/worry/fret he can stop you from enjoying a relationship with God. he can't stop you from becoming a believer but he will try to stop you from grabbing hold on all the good things God has for you.

Believe is Yes or No. It is not maybe. You believe or you don't. Unless you have a very strange mind you can believe if you want to. It is a lie that you can't. That is the kind of junk satan tries to whisper to people to sidetrack them from faith.

God loves us and wants the very best for us. Jesus died so we could be reconciled to God. Read the book of John in the New Testament and just allow yourself to believe. DOUBT YOUR DOUBTS FOR A CHANGE OF PACE!!!

Happy New Year. I hope you resolve your doubts soon and spend this year enjoying the goodness of God!

Answer 8

make them? Only God .

Trying too hard can often make the "trying" take over the eardrums ..thus making the message too faint to be heard in the background of straining to hear.

Don't try anymore. Just learn more patience and presently God will give you exactly what you did not know you needed to help bring about greater faith. Never place your faith on men..only place it on God so it can and will grow.

Answer 9

Only if a person believes in Jesus in his heart and accepts Him will they ever truly know this. Letting Jesus into your heart is something that will completely change the way you think and act. It is a spiritual awakening. Only God can make them believe. You and I can only demonstrate by example.

Answer 10

I would say that God loves you. No matter what you've done or seen or heard in your life. Just believe in the Lord. Trust him every day no matter what the naysayers have to say. Your continual trust and belief will be rewarded.

Answer 11

i think he cannot believe because he was raised by people who were not very closed to God.and who were not gratefull to God for the life He gave them, and who didn't put the value on the qualities of a man and the virtues that come from God..and he must learn the love for God..and the respect for Him..and must learn to thank for the life God gave him.