My faith can be shaken so easily

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

JF,

There is a forum for the versions debate. Key to your growth is to find a good Bible preaching church when you can discuss thinsgyou come across.

 

[Jesusfreak1981]

But in my town there are not many churches and I cannot go to any different church and also don't want to, cause at least I know my pastor quite well and I cannot simply switch churches.
Too many people simply switch churches as soon as they don't like it anymore, this is not okay.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

The choice is up to you. You need a good sound Bible preaching church and the fellowship of others who love the Word of God.

 

[Jesusfreak1981]

I know that, but it's simply not available.
What shall I do ? Move to another town ? That's not possible.

 

[New In Christ]

JesusFreak1981,

You remind me of someone I know pretty well...Me!

It was only a year or two ago I went through similar doubts and spent weeks in turmoil. At times I found it easier to believe there was no God than to believe there was. I nearly turned my back on it all.

I'm still trying to get a handle on your exact problem...is it intellectual arguments (evolution, etc.) against the existence of God, is it that you don't feel God's presence as you want to? Many here can give you reasons galore for the existence of God, but if you're waiting to hear from God on your own, consider that, whereas God can speak apart from the Bible, that is not how He normally communicates to us. His primary means of communication is through His Word.

Have you ever considered that this whole time God HAS been calling out to you? Y'know, the very turmoil you feel may, in fact, be the Holy Spirit. His sheep hear his voice. You may be hearing it now, but since you're a young sheep you may not quite understand it's the Shepherd's voice you're hearing.

BTW, don't get hung up on the experiences others describe in their walk with God. Don't think your's has to be like their's to be genuine. Sure we'd all like to have the fireworks, but I've never had the fireworks. My walk with the Lord has been less a fireworks show but more a gently and steadily growing flame.

Please know, we will be praying

 

[gb93433]

Just think about it: The non-believers are reading the Christian books and trying to refute them by slanting the truth. I recently talked with a young man and what he told me was a surprise. I am 25 years older than him and told him about where the source came from and what the source actually wrote.

I have found that Henry Morris has written some excellent books to refute evolution. Even the so called evolutionists do not belief the old evolutuion any more. They have moved off their position.

The world continues to refuse to believe the truth so they teach a science and foundation without God. How can you have any foundatuion built upon something that is ever changing? Try to imagine creation without God. What would you say? If you refuse to acknowledge God you would attempt to do the same thing. As one gets older they begin to see the futility in some of those erroneous points of view and some of the lies that have been pushed on the public under the guise of truth.

 

[computerjunkie]

JF, let's take a closer look at this thread. You say your faith can be easily shaken. You say you ARE saved.

Diane said to recognize your doubts are from Satan, and next time he puts those doubts in your head, let Jesus answer for you!

Your answer:

Well, this is easier said than done.

Originally posted by Jesusfreak1981:

No, I don't have christian friends at all, in my town there is not much going on and in my church there are only old people.

But only focusing on the bible also isn't good in my opinion.

It cannot be the solution that you have doubts now and then, this is simply sick.

I want a real relationship with God.If I call him father and talk to him and the other day I doubt that he even exist, how do you think does he feel ? This cannot be the solution.

Blackbird said you need to be in the Book.

Dan said you need to be in the Book.

Christ4Kildare said you need to be in the Book and be in a Bible-believing church with the fellowship of other believers.

Your answers:

reading the bible is really hard for me and I forget most of it afterwards.

But in my town there are not many churches and I cannot go to any different church and also don't want to, cause at least I know my pastor quite well and I cannot simply switch churches.

Too many people simply switch churches as soon as they don't like it anymore, this is not okay.

know that, but it's simply not available.
What shall I do ? Move to another town ? That's not possible.

The people who have offered you guidance are extremely well-grounded Christians and have given you answers that will help you with your confusion and doubts, yet you have countered every answer they gave you with a negative that their suggestions are not possible or not OK or why you cannot do this.

You say you can't go to another church because you like your pastor. Have you talked to him and can he help you with your questions?

There are many online websites for Christians...Bible studies, devotions, sermons. Have you looked at any of these?

I'm not sure how we can help you. We can love you and pray for you, but at some point, you DO need to read and study your Bible as the answers are there for you.

In Christ,
CJ

 

[gb93433]

Begin to share your faith and disciple someone. That will cure many ills of doubt. When someone begins to ask questions of you it makes you dig and learn even more.

 

[Jesusfreak1981]

My pastor cannot answer me all my questions. I have thousands of questions and I constantly get new questions.When I read the bible I also get new questions and sometimes I think I found a controversy and then I feel miserable as long as somebody gave me an answer to it.
Reading the bible often confuses me even more.
I have to admit that I'm really jealous of all the christians which experience these fireworks. It makes me angry cause I feel like God loves them more than me, cause he's so much closer to them and he talks to them.
I have been a christian for nearly 3 years and he has never talked to me. I also didn't do much, but I don't do much simply because I think that it doesn't help anyway.
I am so discouraged and I become frustrated so easily that I rather don't even try it, cause I know that if I try it without anything happening that I'll become frustrated and angry.
I simply cannot understand why God hides so much. When he's alive and I ask him to talk to me, why doesn't he do it ? I cannot deal with that. It disappoints me.
Maybe I should reduce my expectations and expect nothing from God this way I also cannot be disappointed. I cannot even not become angry. I have been angry at God so often and felt like he doesn't care about me and this made me so angry that I hated him.
I felt like he is up there and doesn't care and I cannot deal with that. I hate the thought that he ignores me or that I am not worth being given a sign.
I am scared of becoming angry again. I have been angry so often and it happens over and over again. I can only think what an earthly father would do and if I asked my father to do something for me then he would do it, so why doesn't God ?
I don't understand him. Maybe I am simply not worth it. I mean all the famous evangelists are much more precious than me, it's logical that God is closer to them and that he does more for them than for me.
I feel like I'm a second class christian who is not worth it and this is why God is so absent. I can't help but think of it this way. Maybe it's not this way, but I just can't help.

 

[Watchman]

Jf:
We walk by faith and not by sight. You seek some kind of sign, so did the first century Jews and, although The Lord Jesus displayed miracle after miracle, they wanted something else. You apparently want God to speak to you, like He did Moses. It doesn't work that way. The creation shows His handiwork and His eternal power and Godhead are clearly seen. I will recommend to you two books: The Case For Faith and The Case For Christ, both written by a former atheist. He put all of the evidence available together and, well became a Christian!

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

JF,

Walking by faith, as mentioned above, is key. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. You can read on your own, but you say that confuses you.

If you will PM I will be HAPPY to help you find a good Bible preaching church near you. It sounds like you really need a sound mentor who can sit down with you and an open Bible to answer your questions.

If you visit my website you can find all the contact details you need. I don't know where you are in Europe, but know several men pastoring sound churches throughout Europe.

Roger

 

[Jesusfreak1981]

It doesn't work this way.
Even if I had all the evidence that God exists then I would still want him to talk to me. Where is the sense of being so absent ? There is no sense.

 

[Don]

JesusFreak, after reading through this thread, I truly understand what you're asking for, and I know what the problem is.

I want you to read the next three stories carefully. After you read them, and understand what they're telling you, please go back and look at the advice that has been given to you. There's been one thing that has been suggested more than once, that you haven't commented on much and seem to be ignoring.

Here goes:

 

[Don]

A flood came, and in desparation, the man climbed up on his roof and prayed, "God, save me from this flood!"

Shortly after that, another man came by in a motorboat, and offered to take the first man with him. "No," said the man, "I'm waiting on God to save me."

Shortly after that, a helicopter approached, and asked if he needed assistance. "No," the man replied, "I'm waiting on God to save me."

Shortly after that, the flood took its toll on the house, destroying it, and the man drowned. At the judgment throne, he angrily asked God, "I asked you to save me! Why didn't you save me?"

To which God replied, "I sent you a boat and a helicopter...."

 

[Don]

The man whispered, "God, speak to me" And a meadowlark sang. But the man did not hear.

So the man yelled "God, speak to me" And the thunder & lightning rolled across the sky. But the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you." And a star shined brightly. But the man did not see.

And, the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle" And a life was born. But the man did not notice.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me, God, and let me know you are here."
Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

God is always around us in the little and simple things that we take for granted.

 

[Don]

Some years ago Charles Bradlaugh, one of the leading atheists in England, was ever challenging the validity of the claims of Christianity.

Down in one of the slums of London was a minister by the name of Hugh Price Hughes. He was a real personality, and all London was aware of the miracles of grace accomplished at his mission.

Charles Bradlaugh challenged Mr. Hughes to debate with him the validity of the claims of Christianity. London was greatly interested. What would Mr. Hughes do? He immediately accepted the challenge, and in doing so added one of his own. He said in substance:

"Since we know, Mr. Bradlaugh, that 'a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still,' and since the debate as a matter of mental gymnastics will not likely convert anyone, I propose to you that we bring some concrete evidences of the validity of our claims in the form of men and women who have been redeemed from lives of sin and shame by the influence of Christinaity and by atheism. I will bring one
hundred such men and women, and I challenge you to do the same.

"If you cannot bring one hundred, Mr. Bradlaugh, to match my hundred, I will be satisfied if you will bring fifty men and women who will stand and testify that they have been lifted up from lives of shame by the influence of your teachings.

"If you cannot bring fifty, I challenge you to bring twenty people who will testify with shining faces, as my hundred will, that they have a great new joy in a life of self-respect as a result of your atheistic teachings.

"If you cannot bring twenty, I will be satisfied if you bring ten. Nay, Mr. Bradlaugh, I challenge you to one, just one man or woman who will make such a testimony regarding the uplifting of your atheistic teachings. My redeemed men and women will bring an unanswerable proof to the saving power of Jesus Christ in the lives of those who have been redeemed from the laveries of sin and shame. Perhaps, Mr. Bradlaugh, this will be the real demonstration of the validity of the claims of Christianity.

Again, London was stirred. What would Mr. Bradlaugh do?

For answer, Charles Bradlaugh, in great discomfiture and chagrin, publicly withdrew his challenge for the debate.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Perfect illustrations Don

JF,

The offer is there. I will be happy to do what I can do to help you find a church, resources to answer your questions, or even do long distance mentoring my email, or even telephone. You know how to contact me.

You can't just sit back and wait for God to holler out your name. I won't bother you again here on this thread. The offer is there, its up to you.

Roger

 

[Jude]

Ours is 'faith seeking understanding', not the other way around. (see Jn.3.3) Our faith, our religion is NOT illogical, but logic first will never get you into the Kingdom. "Lord, open my eyes, that I might see!"

 

[BobRyan]

JF said --
I feel miserable at the moment cause my faith is once again shaken.
My faith can be shaken so easily.For example I just read that water has been found on mars and then I asked myself what effects this discover will have.Does it prove the evolutionary theory or does it support it ?The problem is that all these things shake my faith and make me doubt. Whnever I talk about God with an atheist and he bombards me with all these theories about the big bang and all that stuff then I feel miserable afterwards and my faith is shaken.

And you have not even gotten to the questions where the atheist charges that the Bible contradicts itself.

There are three approaches you can take to questions.

#1. The head-in-sand blind-faith model that says no matter how significant the question "pretend that it is really nothing".

As some have done here with the Creation story.

The problem with that view - is that it requires that you put your brain "on hold" and then "it" becomes your enemy as well as the Atheists because "it" keeps thinking "anyway".

#2. You can crumble with each new challenge - becoming discouraged because - "unknown" after "unknown" is available in the real world and you will never "solve every puzzle known to man" about Faith and the Gospel.

The problem here is obvious - a life of fear and instability.

#3. You can choose the path of "the disciple". Become one that "does not know" the answers but who sits at the feet of "The Master" each day. One who is willing to take an organized approach to Bible and science discovery - as part of your "walk with God". Use a notebook - write down one question at the top of each page and let "God and time" help you discover the answer.

In other sections of the notebook write down one doctrinal statement at the top of a page and let "God and time" help you discover the Bible position on that doctrine.

I recommend option 3. In Romans 8:13-16 we are told to walk "in the Spirit" and in the Spirit to "put to death the deeds of the flesh". We are also told that the "Spirit WILL bear witness with OUR spirit that we ARE the children of God".

That is a "living transaction" an "experience" not a "lecture" from someone else. You have to take the time in meditation and worship to experience it.

Begin by praying through a few Psalms - maybe 2 or 3 at a time. (start with some easy ones like Psalms 23 and Psalms 51).

Let each time of meditation and worhsip contain confession, praise, and then tell God the things that "bug you" or that "you question". Sit in silence and be ready to write on a prayer notebook those things that God brings to your attention.

Let your time of praise include singing - a CD with some good worship music that is "meditative" for your time of worship instead of "bouncy".

Christianity is much more than exposing the flaws in mindless-evilutionism's mythologies (though that is tons of fun!).

Christ offers a personnal encounter "Come unto ME and I will give you rest" Matt 11.

In fact "Peace I give to - not as the World Gives" John 14 -- Christ gives an "experience" of peace that passes all understanding.

In Christ,

Bob

 

[Jesusfreak1981]

Thank you guys.
I appreciate that you're willing to help me.
I do talk to God and also tell him the things which bother me and which I don't understand but I get no answers.
I really do my best but sometimes I just don't know what to do, I also cannot sing and it sounds terrible and I also have no worship music.
I have only one cd from Vineyard and this cd hurts me ears. I don't like such music.
It's simply so hard doing all these things on your own, I wish I had some friends which I could you meet with and then pray together.
In my area there is no other community which would suit me, I know that better than anybody else. The worst thing is that I become frustrated so easily. I just have to read of somebody who was touched by God and then I become frustrated.When I read what others experienced with God then it always drags me down. I try to be patient and not to demand things from God, but people always tell me that I just have to ask God and he'll do it and then they encourage me to do it and when I try it nothing happens and this is always when I become angry. I don't think it's okay to push somebody that way. God does things his way and he doesn't do anything just because somebody demands it from him.