For New ChristiansThis forum is for new Christians to ask questions and be encouraged by other Christians. Here you can post your questions and talk about issues relating to new believers.
Hi guys, I'm a 14 year old Catholic. I really want to start getting closer to God, but there are some things with my religion that are hard to accept. 1. The idea that killing is a horrible sin, but if you kill in the name of religion or for your country then it is OK. 2. I also believe that God started everything, and then evolution took over. I'm having trouble figuring out where Adam and Eve fit into the picture, because I think God put the first microorganism on the Earth, but then everything started evolving.
I'm not a Catholic, but I believe God blesses every searching heart. I'll keep you in my prayers, and surely there are many here with lots of good wisdom to share with you. Just pray, and keep praying! All who seek answers from God will find them. (((hugs)))
__________________ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
I'm not a Catholic, but I believe God blesses every searching heart. I'll keep you in my prayers, and surely there are many here with lots of good wisdom to share with you. Just pray, and keep praying! All who seek answers from God will find them. (((hugs)))
Hi guys, I'm a 14 year old Catholic. I really want to start getting closer to God, but there are some things with my religion that are hard to accept. 1. The idea that killing is a horrible sin, but if you kill in the name of religion or for your country then it is OK. 2. I also believe that God started everything, and then evolution took over. I'm having trouble figuring out where Adam and Eve fit into the picture, because I think God put the first microorganism on the Earth, but then everything started evolving.
1. Yea I agree with you, don't kill someone in the name of God and don't join the army and you'll be just fine!
2. You don't have to believe ancient hebrew stories in order to believe in God and accept Christ.
Hi guys, I'm a 14 year old Catholic. I really want to start getting closer to God, but there are some things with my religion that are hard to accept. 1. The idea that killing is a horrible sin, but if you kill in the name of religion or for your country then it is OK. 2. I also believe that God started everything, and then evolution took over. I'm having trouble figuring out where Adam and Eve fit into the picture, because I think God put the first microorganism on the Earth, but then everything started evolving.
1. Be careful on judging. On soldiers and police, God did not condemn them with the Romans and Rome was a very bad state. They would throw people to the lions for entertainment.
Really, that is from Scripture.
As for "killing someone for religion", I do not see where that is acceptable.
I am not in the military myself, but I do not take it upon myself to judge those who are and would strongly suggest not doing so yourself.
Jesus did not tell the centurions to put down their arms, nor did He condemn them for bearing arms. The Apostle reminded us that 'the sword' is given to the authorities by God.
2. I do not believe in evolution. There were times when I considered it, but I no longer do. I do believe that it is a lie and people are deceiving themselves on these matters.
Do not be mistaken: anytime everyone says they know everything, they likely do not.
Obviously, this causes many to slander us as those who are "ignorant" that believe such matters: but God created the Heavens and the earth. I have no problem believing that. We 'move and live and breathe in God' and 'God fills all of creation'. Jesus worked such miracles as turning water to wine and walking on water.
Science is fine, but when it gets into matters that there can be no real proof for it veers off into dogma.
It then ceases to be science and starts to be a religion.
However, one is not damned if they are incorrect in such beliefs. Nor should such beliefs be a reason not to believe other matters of Scripture.
1. Be careful on judging. On soldiers and police, God did not condemn them with the Romans and Rome was a very bad state. They would throw people to the lions for entertainment.
Really, that is from Scripture.
As for "killing someone for religion", I do not see where that is acceptable.
I am not in the military myself, but I do not take it upon myself to judge those who are and would strongly suggest not doing so yourself.
Jesus did not tell the centurions to put down their arms, nor did He condemn them for bearing arms. The Apostle reminded us that 'the sword' is given to the authorities by God.
2. I do not believe in evolution. There were times when I considered it, but I no longer do. I do believe that it is a lie and people are deceiving themselves on these matters.
Do not be mistaken: anytime everyone says they know everything, they likely do not.
Obviously, this causes many to slander us as those who are "ignorant" that believe such matters: but God created the Heavens and the earth. I have no problem believing that. We 'move and live and breathe in God' and 'God fills all of creation'. Jesus worked such miracles as turning water to wine and walking on water.
Science is fine, but when it gets into matters that there can be no real proof for it veers off into dogma.
It then ceases to be science and starts to be a religion.
However, one is not damned if they are incorrect in such beliefs. Nor should such beliefs be a reason not to believe other matters of Scripture.
1. The idea that killing is a horrible sin, but if you kill in the name of religion or for your country then it is OK.
That's not what the Bible teaches. I just can't see Peter, who you claim as your first Pope, agreeing with this statement when I read his first letter in the Bible.
Originally Posted by DoctorAkAz
2. I also believe that God started everything, and then evolution took over. I'm having trouble figuring out where Adam and Eve fit into the picture, because I think God put the first microorganism on the Earth, but then everything started evolving.
Christians who believe in evolution run into this predicament. It's part of why I don't believe in evolution. We know the Adam and Eve story is true, so how does it fit with evolution? Not very well. Science is not perfect, but we know that God's word is.
__________________ Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
- Proverbs 30:5-6
1. Yea I agree with you, don't kill someone in the name of God and don't join the army and you'll be just fine!
2. You don't have to believe ancient hebrew stories in order to believe in God and accept Christ.
OP:
Scripture shows if there is war, God is behind it. God showed how He led the King of Babylon and Assyria against Israel herself, for instance, in very vivid terms. God plainly admits He 'created the destroyer' and created the cure.
War, we know, from Scripture, will not always be with us.
As for being a young teenager there is much you do not know about the world. The US government is a legitimate government.
We see this from the Apostle Paul in Romans:
Romans 13:3-5 (New International Version)
3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
One should consider the historical enemies of the States and the Free World. They are totalitarian and tyrannical in nature. They have persecuted and murdered countless Christians, many of them. The Soviet Union especially massacred untold millions of Christian, often in horrific ways.
Communist and Islamic doctrine both deny Christ. One can not safely be a Christian nor speak the Christian word in Islamic majority nations for the most part, nor in Communist countries for the most part.
Further, while we have a Democratic society where citizens may voice their own opinions and push their own viewpoints, regardless there are authorities in place. As Scripture says: they are in place by God.
And we know what happened to the Hebrews who grumbled against the authorities.
There is a difference between engaging in malicious, hateful slander and pushing forward right doctrine.
As for 'no harm done if you do not join the army': I disagree with this. You are judging countless men and women who are serving their country.
People forget just what it is we are doing and have done, or they blow up mistakes well beyond their proportion, essentially forgetting what team they are on.
Many like to point out the ravages of the Vietnam war, for instance, forgetting that the Viet Cong themselves counted the lack of support for that war as critical to their own success. And what from that did they win? A ruined country with a ruined, totalitarian system. Christians are being persecuted to this day in that country.
As Christians, when we bear false witness we can fall under the punishment of the charges we sought for others.
As God said in many places, 'do not bear false witness' and 'do not think evil in your heart of others'.
Jesus never reviled authorities, though He did express criticisms. He did not embrace the zealots and others who sought to free Israel from Rome. Instead, He blessed centurions and warned Roman soldiers simply to not falsely accuse nor accepted bribery.
That was a major thing to do. It is difficult for people to imagine today.
Jesus also said to pay your taxes. And the Apostles taught to live lawfully in the land at all times.
Countless Christians went to the lions in Rome, yet did they preach politics of the world? No, they preached the message of Christ. (There are rare times I mention political matters in a religious context, as have other Christians, this is one of those times: the emphasis, however, is on suspending one's judgment of others and trying to be merciful in one's thoughts against people.)
As for the theoretical sciences that claim to know for sure the earth is billions of years old: consider, do they? Were they there? Are their dating samples and "evidence" so sure? After all, it is trivial for God to fool even the "wise" masses as He did with the cross.
And they fall on their own sword of conceit, not knowing the truth.
And as for knowledge, should a teenager consider that they have listened to every side of an issue? I know I grew up under the babyboomers, was very well read, and was systematically fed singular viewpoints on such matters as these.
As with their parents before them, we were not given the options we thought we had.
Now, if the world can fix itself by its' own hand: I would love to see that. But, it will not happen but by the Hand of God.
Last edited by freeport; 12th August 2009 at 05:09 PM.
Politics and science are very complicated matters. I am well read and have studied both. But, I do not consider much of anything authoritative. And why should anyone who is wise? Even in Greek philosophy it is well argued to not consider that we ever really know anything.
Paul said that well, 'we all have knowledge, but knowledge puffs up, while love builds up'. And, 'we never really know anything as we should'.
I just wrote another post where I showed some more political viewpoints you are less likely to have heard before. That said, I have heard contrary, solid viewpoints. For instance, with Vietnam, we engaged them in war because it was sure the Vietnamese were going to have the Communists win - fairly - in a Democratic vote.
But, having studied the ravages of the tyrannical, totalitarian political systems against Christians I am certain - absolutely so - we should be opposed to said systems.
Some books on these matters which you may find eye opening:
'Tortured for Christ' -- written by the founder of the Voice of the Martyrs, now passed away.
'The Persecutor', and 'the Bible Smugglers'.
There are many others. For a Catholic, I could suggest checking out Eusebius and also Augustine.
I am a pacifist, myself, by large. And I consider our battle spiritual. But, far be it from me to judge nations that are lawful and opposing tyrannical systems or judge men and women who may be called by God - how does one not know - to serve their country and the interests of freedom.
I would prefer we find peace on earth without war. As long as there is sin, we will have wars. It is ugly, but so are the alternatives of God's judgments against the sinful.
As for any church, I do disagree with your church's doctrines, and with any church that claims that salvation is by a church other then Christ. I do not disagree with all of your church's doctrines. And I have known and do know many fine Christians who are Catholic.
But, any brick and mortar church is just that. Our faith is between ourselves and God. Between Scripture, believing it, and being guided by the Holy Spirit in our hearts -- which we must strive to listen to.
As for excellent and well approved Christians from your church, outside of Scripture, I heartily recommend Francis of Assisi and Teresa of Avila. Otherwise, I would strongly suggest getting to Scripture.
From my viewpoint Heaven and earth is as nothing. The same Holy Spirit we have in our hearts created it. Our Heavenly Father, our true Father, created it. And for the literal stars, for the moon, for the literal animals? No, but for us, the Children of God.
Everything but ourselves is temporary and passing away. God's word will never pass away, for those words come from God. Nor shall we who remain in His word pass away.
Science and the wisdom of men who turn away from God and boast in their own, earthly wisdom have been taken surprise by God and continue to: God condemns man's strength and wisdom when it is apart from God. No one may boast before the Almighty.
We do not yet see this, but life passes much more quickly then people understand. It seems to crawl when one is young, but it is but a flash when we are older.
As we grow in patience, we see, over time, the follies of man and how they are frustrated in their schemes. With patience comes a stronger understanding of how fleeting our lives and this world really are.
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