Question:
It's funny when i think about it. I've been in the church all my life from when my parents first brought me to their church when i was a baby to this very day. I gave my life to God a long time ago and i am proud of my faith in Christ.
but something odd has come up
recently God has been speaking to me in a really striking way. i have been living inside my christian community bubble for a long time and got, well, comfortable. reaaaaaaaaaaal comfortable. then the bubble burst with my painful realization that the world around me is not as black and white as the bubble i have created. people have recently directly attacked my faith and questioned the validity of christianity. it struck me real hard. i guess that parable with the men building estates on different foundations has a whole new meaning now. when i got "comfortable" i started becoming lazy and did not do my QTs anymore. I would even go through days where i didn't even pray/speak to God. Basically, i was ignoring God and because of that, why would God want to associate with anyone who quite simply ignores him? I guess you can say that God ignored me. I would raise my hands in prayer asking God for answers and all i recieved was silence and a storm. well, all i can say is that storm blew me away. now i have a clearer idea what God wants from me and what i have to do to "reconnect" with God. But the storm is still raging on.
To the main reason why i made this thread...
Many people have been asking me if there is a God. I came to the realization that i have forgotten that answer...in a way. i have always dismissed that answer in my head, "why of course there is a God" and went on with my life. now that i am vulnerable in my spiritual life many people have asked me that question. i am still holding on the the fact that there was a reason why i gave my life to Him and that God HAS revealed himself to me in many ways during my spiritual walk. it seems that i have forgotten everything from my sloth.
I'd like to know how you all would justify there being a God (in any way you want) and how you've held on to your faith when the storm blew in.
many thanks
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I think this would be better suited in apologetics so off we go.
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God never ignores you or anyone. The question is: are you ignoring him?
the more you pray, the more you read your bible etc all affect your relationship with him. God's always listening, but whether he answers in the way we expect...thats another story. God is not sinful, he is perfect, that is why he thinks differently to us, and might give us an answer which we completely unexpect. ive realised that the more i pray, the closer i become to God. i try to never leave contact with him, try to always be praying. talkin to God, chatting.
Answer:
It's funny when i think about it. I've been in the church all my life from when my parents first brought me to their church when i was a baby to this very day. I gave my life to God a long time ago and i am proud of my faith in Christ. but something odd has come up
recently God has been speaking to me in a really striking way. i have been living inside my christian community bubble for a long time and got, well, comfortable. reaaaaaaaaaaal comfortable. then the bubble burst with my painful realization that the world around me is not as black and white as the bubble i have created. people have recently directly attacked my faith and questioned the validity of christianity. it struck me real hard. i guess that parable with the men building estates on different foundations has a whole new meaning now. when i got "comfortable" i started becoming lazy and did not do my QTs anymore. I would even go through days where i didn't even pray/speak to God. Basically, i was ignoring God and because of that, why would God want to associate with anyone who quite simply ignores him? I guess you can say that God ignored me. I would raise my hands in prayer asking God for answers and all i recieved was silence and a storm. well, all i can say is that storm blew me away. now i have a clearer idea what God wants from me and what i have to do to "reconnect" with God. But the storm is still raging on.
To the main reason why i made this thread...
Many people have been asking me if there is a God. I came to the realization that i have forgotten that answer...in a way. i have always dismissed that answer in my head, "why of course there is a God" and went on with my life. now that i am vulnerable in my spiritual life many people have asked me that question. i am still holding on the the fact that there was a reason why i gave my life to Him and that God HAS revealed himself to me in many ways during my spiritual walk. it seems that i have forgotten everything from my sloth.
I'd like to know how you all would justify there being a God (in any way you want) and how you've held on to your faith when the storm blew in.
many thanks
I know where you're coming from. I'm there kind of myself too. But I don't think that God ignores us at all. He is always there, always! It is us that lose sight of Him. He will never leave or forsake us, that's a promise. But I know what the storm is like and what it is like when people directly tell you waht you believe and what you "think" you know isn't real and that its false. And when you are thinking like you are, then it is easy to let something like that "shake your faith" I've been there several times and I am there now as well. Later days
~::Cin::~
Answer:
Originally Posted by iAMspartacus i am still holding on the the fact that there was a reason why i gave my life to Him and that God HAS revealed himself to me in many ways during my spiritual walk. it seems that i have forgotten everything from my sloth.
I'd like to know how you all would justify there being a God (in any way you want) and how you've held on to your faith when the storm blew in.
many thanks The people questioning you, (sounds like) are tempting you, to question your faith, of God.
jmac-jm is right, questioning God is good, (talk to our father) that's what he wants. And use your bible too, this is how we grow, it is alive, and grows as we do. (it's how God talks to us) A little every day, is good, (don't go over-board, and get lost to the rest of the world) and in that way God can use you, to answer the people that are questioning you, about your faith.
We don't have to justify God, He can do that Himself. All we can do is live the life He has given us, with our faith. (He didn't say it would be easy, but the other way around) Look at the way the world treated the King, that is the way they will treat us.
The storm you speak of is just starting, it's going to get worse, so we need "like minded people" and that is the reason for our churches. (and places like this) sgary
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on one hand you'll hear that christianity presupposes God, who is affirmed in the Bible, which is presupposed to be His word and so it has been confirmed and a round and around we could go.
that comes from a worldview perspective, however every worldview presupposes something. people have gotten in the habit, even here of late, of assuming that a presupposition is a baseless belief. it is not. it is simply something we cannot prove beyond a shadow of a doubt. i cannot prove evolution beyond a shadow of a doubt, no one can. nor can i prove God. i can give you what evidence is available and you can decide. so then, you look at the world around you. i cannot accept that it came together by chance. it is to intricate it has design and purpose, and somethign like that must have a maker. therefore, God must exist. however i still only presuppose it. an atheist will look at the same things and come to a conclusion that evolution exists.
from there you can get into evidence for inerrancy of the scriptrue and so on.
i'm sure there are much better arguments out there for this but, keep in mind there is a faith issue here. as much as some would hate to admit it though, they take evolution on faith to some degree too.
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that comes from a worldview perspective, however every worldview presupposes something. people have gotten in the habit, even here of late, of assuming that a presupposition is a baseless belief. it is not. it is simply something we cannot prove beyond a shadow of a doubt. That would not be an accurate statement regardig a presupposition. If it's conjecture off existing knowledge, then it's conjecture... not presupposiiton.
i can give you what evidence is available and you can decide. No evidence exists without first presupposting something.
i can give you what evidence is available and you can decide. I exist? There is a world around me? I can percieve it?
You have ignored how these fundamental statements were supported.
i cannot accept that it came together by chance. it is to intricate it has design and purpose, and somethign like that must have a maker. therefore, God must exist. however i still only presuppose it. No, you assume it... even more accuracy, you draw an appeal from ignorance.
Answer:
back to the original topic,
stagnant faith isn't faith at all; and it sounds like thats where you've been... and it caught up with you. its nice when we can get 'comfortable' with our faith, but many times, thats when we start forgetting about it and putting our relationship with Christ on the backburner. the key is to not let that happen... don't neglect your devotions/ reading your bible. don't neglect prayer. and sometimes God will draw back from you to test you. hold strong to what you know and believe.
also, i'd strongly recommend reading the purpose driven life . my entire church is reading it, as have other churches in my area. its been a real refresher to me and makes you think about things from another perspective. its really been helping me advance my faith and relationship with Christ... and i'm only on day 13 of 40. it doesn't focus a whole lot on whether there is a God or not, but is a wakeup call and makes you seriously reassess your life and faith.
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You should stone those who have tried to lead you away from God, as per Deuteronomy 13. Show them no mercy, and let your hand be the first to strike. Stone them with stones until they are dead.
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also, i'd strongly recommend reading the purpose driven life . my entire church is reading it, as have other churches in my area. its been a real refresher to me and makes you think about things from another perspective. Much better than using that Bible thing to look at stuff from God's perspective. Perhaps we can just change books. While you are at it, replace that idol of Jesus with some other idol to worship.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Qingu You should stone those who have tried to lead you away from God, as per Deuteronomy 13. Show them no mercy, and let your hand be the first to strike. Stone them with stones until they are dead. You first?
just kidding. the only thing i can throw at you are electronic rocks
hm...E-rocks...maybe i should start my own new business
[quote]Much better than using that Bible thing to look at stuff from God's perspective. Perhaps we can just change books. While you are at it, replace that idol of Jesus with some other idol to worship.[quote]
eh? maybe taking his comment a bit too seriously? *sigh* i think you already know the whole idea of the trinity so i don't think i need to say anything. Of course we christians have to find answers from what we belive is to be the very word of God, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't read what our brothers have written on their interpretation of life and what God is saying through the Bible.
Great, this is exactly what did didn't want to happen. I knew that you guys are very intelligent and believe strongly against the christian faith i don't want a theological debate to happen again. Though helpful in some aspects to open our minds to other fields, i believe that these debates don't go anywhere often. Both sides are closed up and butt heads all the time without any real outcome. all i wanted was "I'd like to know how you all would justify there being a God (in any way you want) and how you've held on to your faith when the storm blew in" and this was originally in the "Advice" forum so that i could get help from my brohers and sisters and avoiding you guys (sorry, but that's the truth).
Anyways, now that it is in the apologetics forum, i'd like to hear your take, but please refrain from arguing with one another. i want to keep this as clean as possible. (yeah, am i crazy or what?)
as for the moderators, i am not happy that you all moved my topic without my consent. at the very least you all could have told me your reasons for moving and asked if i would agree.
please keep talking
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Ah, I see. I shan't molest you anymore then.
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eh? maybe taking his comment a bit too seriously? *sigh* i think you already know the whole idea of the trinity so i don't think i need to say anything. Of course we christians have to find answers from what we belive is to be the very word of God, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't read what our brothers have written on their interpretation of life and what God is saying through the Bible. Sounds like the Catholocism that the reformation railed against... putting interpreters between you and your understanding of God.
It also sounds like you are imply that the Bible is something less than perfect, and that someone else can tell you better.
[quote]Great, this is exactly what did didn't want to happen. I knew that you guys are very intelligent and believe strongly against the christian faith i don't want a theological debate to happen again. Though helpful in some aspects to open our minds to other fields, i believe that these debates don't go anywhere often. Both sides are closed up and butt heads all the time without any real outcome.[/qoute] OK. I'll drop it then.
Answer:
My suggestion is this
Stop doing so much.
God does not want people who do this or do that, he want people who are locked in on being his Children. Just stop and listen to God, get away from distractions for a time, and talk just a little bit with God, but for the most part listen. Quiet times are great, but make sure that you look for God not just the quiet time. Go ahead, pick up Purpose Driven Life, but if God doesn't speak to you through that, turn it into bathroom reading and pick up a different book (my recommendation is Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning but if that don't work, refer to last suggestion). Put on a CD that makes you yearn for God. Stand on your head at noon reciting lyrics to 18th centure Hymns, whatever it is just find God in it. Just be.
Coincidentally, the storm itself should reaffirm to you the fact that God is still there. He is sharpening you, and from the emotion in your thread, probably for something amazing.
I will throw up a couple of prayers for you. You are definately not alone.