Unbelief, is it a sin?

[farout]

The choice is not about believing in something or not. It is the determining wither what is presented raises to the level of acknowledgement that something might be there. You must get over the hurdle of skepticism before anything.

I see this is splitting a hair. I see your side.

 

[AHH who-stole-my-name]

If believing was not a choice, that why preach the Good News to those who are living without Christ?

You are talking from inside belief out and she is talking from outside belief in. There is a huge perception barrier there.

 

[AHH who-stole-my-name]

I see this is splitting a hair. I see your side.

The idea of splitting hairs is one of perception. Skepticism is a huge one way burden who shifts it's entire weight on the person presenting the evidence.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

But we make a choice to believe or not to. A jury for instance makes to choice to believe or not do do so if the person is guilty, it is a belief, is it not?

No, the jury doesn't make a choice, they examine the evidence and make the conclusion the evidence leads to.

 

[Foghorn]

But belief isn't a choice.

I agree.

 

[Foghorn]

If believing was not a choice, that why preach the Good News to those who are living without Christ?

Because that is how the Holy Spirit gathers the elect.

 

[RDKirk]

Yes. Unbelief is a choice. Disbelief is more involuntary.

Or the other way around.

un·be·lief
ˌənbəˈlēf/
noun

1. lack of religious belief; an absence of faith.
   • another term for disbelief.

dis·be·lief
ˌdisbəˈlēf/
noun

1. inability or refusal to accept that something is true or real.
   "Laura shook her head in disbelief"
   synonyms: incredulity, astonishment, amazement, surprise, incredulousness; More
   
   • lack of faith in something.
     "I'll burn in hell for disbelief"
     synonyms: atheism, nonbelief, unbelief, godlessness, irreligion, agnosticism,nihilism
     "in the film religious faith and disbelief are interwoven"

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

I agree.

So in your view, what should a person like me, who struggles to believe, understand that to mean?

 

[Foghorn]

So in your view, what should a person like me, who struggles to believe, understand that to mean?

Well, let me ask you this, what are you struggling to believe?

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

Well, let me ask you this, what are you struggling to believe?

In the existence of God, or anything supernatural for that matter.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

In the existence of God, or anything supernatural for that matter.

Did you ever think about the perfect life conditions of the Earth? How about love? Do you believe that such a thing exists? The Scriptures say "God is love." Do you feel deep down that there are evil things in this world? For example: Are there some crimes that get you really angry? Would such a concept exist if we all at one time single celled organisms who eliminated each other by the process of natural selection (i.e. survival of the fittest)? Have you ever looked at the beauty of a sunset and or a mountain side and was not in awe by it's beauty?


...

 

[Bible Highlighter]

In the existence of God, or anything supernatural for that matter.

Also, if you need a good list of some Biblical evidences to lead you to God, check out the following thread link here:

http://www.christianforums.com/threads/general-list-of-biblical-evidences.7833944/

However, you will have to log out of this website in order to view the thread, though. There are restrictions in viewing certain parts of this website if you are not Christian and you are logged in.

May God bless you.


...

 

[imstillstanding]

So man is more powerful than God's sovereign commands.

No, but I believe man's God given free will can determine obedience to God's sovereign commands.

 

[imstillstanding]

Is something real if I don't believe it is? Does its reality depend upon my belief?

No, I don't think so, at least not in the example I'll provide here. Oxygen is real and whether or not you believe it to be so, its evidence in your life is clear as you are breathing it, being sustained by it.

 

[EmSw]

No, but I believe man's God given free will can determine obedience to God's sovereign commands.

Exactly.

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

Did you ever think about the perfect life conditions of the Earth? How about love? Do you believe that such a thing exists? The Scriptures say "God is love." Do you feel deep down that there are evil things in this world? For example: Are there some crimes that get you really angry? Would such a concept exist if we all at one time single celled organisms who eliminated each other by the process of natural selection (i.e. survival of the fittest)? Have you ever looked at the beauty of a sunset and or a mountain side and was not in awe by it's beauty?


...

I think life conditions on earth are perfect, or at least close enough, for all living things that successfully evolved to live here. Things that aren't perfectly suitable would go extinct....and many species of living things have.
I believe love, compassion and a sense of justice exist, but I think that for single celled organizes to evolve into complex mammals that require community to survive these are necessary traits.
I see beauty, and am in fact quite in awe of the universe. I've been moved to study it and have been quite humbled by the age of the universe, the size of it and the diversity of it.

As to your second post, I will check out the link. I may have posted it earlier, but I don't identify as an atheist, but a Catholic agnostic, so I can read all parts of the list site. I may not be convinced that God exists, but I keep looking, I attend Church, read the Bible, study everything I can relating to religion, philosophy and physics, and pray. I haven't given up that I might someday hear from God, even though I've struggled with disbelief for about 40 years.

 

[AHH who-stole-my-name]

No, I don't think so, at least not in the example I'll provide here. Oxygen is real and whether or not you believe it to be so, its evidence in your life is clear as you are breathing it, being sustained by it.

Agreed. Reality is a victim of perception. Perception extends outward from and inward into the body and that is why so many people fail at determining what so many others do.
The ego and the insurmountably of ideology provide the gilded cage where we hold off the disturbing forces of change. We use the word proof as a password when we know that we are the only ones you will judge wither this substance called proof rises to the level of acceptance. Sometime we hide even from that because fear of what resides beyond that word.

 

[toLiJC]

Is unbelief a sin?
I believe it is.

God commands all men to repent and believe.

If God commands something and we do not do it, it is sin.

Agree?
Disagree?

Thoughts?

it depends on how the term "unbelief" is understood according to the corresponding context, the unbelief of a worshiper is a sin if it consists in some misbelief, in all other cases the unbelief is not a sin

Mark 6:1-6 "And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.",

Romans 3:1-4 "What advantage then hath the Jew(i.e. the worshiper)? or what profit is there of circumcision(i.e. of faith)? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God(i.e. to them is given the chance to be spiritual servants of God). For what if some did not believe(also: what if some are not believers/worhsipers)? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar(i.e. every human incompetent compared to Him); as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged(i.e. when You do Your work on the overall salvation in Jesus Christ)."

Blessings

 

[Mountain_Girl406]

Agreed. Reality is a victim of perception. Perception extends outward from and inward into the body and that is why so many people fail at determining what so many others do.
The ego and the insurmountably of ideology provide the gilded cage where we hold off the disturbing forces of change. We use the word proof as a password when we know that we are the only ones you will judge wither this substance called proof rises to the level of acceptance. Sometime we hide even from that because fear of what resides beyond that word.

I disagree with the idea that proof has to be a subjective concept. There are objective standards for these things when considering a scientific hypothesis, why not apply them?

 

[Foghorn]

In the existence of God, or anything supernatural for that matter.

When it comes to belief unto salvation, one either believes or they don't. There is no trying to believe.

To believe is to have faith, and faith is "to know, agree and wilfully trust in something or someone.

1 John 3:23
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
Do you believe this?