Originally posted by Jesusfreak1981:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by dianetavegia:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jesusfreak1981:
But I have to know the answer otherwise I cannot pray effectively.
Then where is YOUR faith?
Diane </font>[/QUOTE]Oh man, I mean I have to know how it all works and how we are able to be faithful. I have to know everything, this is how I am, I am sort of pedantic but I wish I wasn't.
And how does one know wether you are really faithful ? How do you know wether you have absolute faith ? is this something you feel or something you know ? How do I know wether I really have faith in something or wether I only cheat myself ? Imagine somebody is dying and then the family members may believe that everything will be fine again simply because they cannot deal with the thought that this person might die, this is why they push away this thought and protect themselves this way. This isn't faith, this is simply protection. So what is faith and how do you measure it and how do you know wether you really have faith ?
When I imagine that I'm really really sick then I would believe that God will do something, I would think to myself that God won't allow that, but is this faith or is it simply the wish that everything will be fine again or you could also call it escape from reality. People which are sick sometimes deny their sickness simply to protect themselves. This is not faith, so what is faith ? You see, I'm really pedantic, but I really suffer from this. I ask things which nobody else would even think about, this is how I am. And I also torture myself by thinking about such questions all day, I just have to think about such stuff, it's kind of obsessive.
I also prayed to God to help me but nothing happened, I still think too much. </font>[/QUOTE]Jesusfreak, many people sometime have questions. When the questions become strong and seem too perplexing we call them doubts it seems.
But everyone who believes has some other reason that compels them to believe; I know I do.
What compels you? Why do you belive? Why do you want to believe?
I've wrestled with almost everything and many kinds of questions. But I continue because I am compelled. Going over your description of your "doubts" and your other post on UFO's, I find myself saying, 'yes, I remember thinking that'.
Some people have had a "miracle", or some kind of mystical experience, which you have mentioned. And for those people, this event compels them.
Other people have been seriosly affected by the charater and integrity of Christians who they have seen in action as it were, and then go on to find the source of that character in Christ. Once they read the teachings and character of the love of Christ, they are attracted in a powerful way that compels them to continue to belive in the face of whatever other questions they may have.
Other people find some powerful compelling beauty and logic in the scriptures that convinces and compels them.
What motivated you in the first place? Hang onto that, whatever it was. And then grow further.
I have had many questions as well, and I still do. But for me, when I read the gospel of John for example I am compelled to believe; I want to believe. When I read the book of Ephesians, that is another source that compels me. There have also been a few incidences in my life where I have had what some people would call a mystical "experience with God" as it were.
But even if you have any of the above, there is also an element of choice and will. I choose to continue and choose to believe (notwithstanding the theology of any Reformed or Calvinist brethren, who, even if they are correct, the end result is the same).
Some of your questions may be answered. You also probably have some initial experience or something else, some idea or value or love that makes you want to believe.
I have thought about whether life exists in outer space, or on other planets, and find that all of life in the universe is an axiomatic problem unless there is a designer. Yes there are still questions, but for me, this makes more sense. So things are settled enough for now.
I find a powerful attraction and love when I consider Christ. I feel and sense, and I think that a creator/designer is the only philosophical concept that fills the axiomatic void created by why did everything begin.
Why do you belive? Why do you want to? Go back to that and build upon it.
