Hi! I'm new to these forums.
I was a Christian for many years and never gave it much intellectual thought. Over the last couple years, I started to use reason and logic to analyze the claims which were associated with Christianity as well as what is written in the Bible. Upon doing this, I came to the conclusion that much of what is written in the Bible is mythology. However, many of my good friends as well as my family still attend church and find being in the community so rewarding. I've tried to attend with them, as I don't want to lose the community aspect. But I feel guilty taking up space in the church when I don't believe any of what they're talking about.
The main reasons I can't accept it:
1) contradictions in the Bible
2) the Bible advocates slaughter and killing
3) the logical problems of omniscience, omnipotence and omnibenevolence
4) the mafia boss aspect of it (e.g. "if you don't believe this, you will rot in hell")
For number 4.) There is an answer people do not say sometimes. The reason people go to hell is not because God wants them to, it is not like He is forcing you, or intimidating you to follow or die in a sense that He is power hungry, He is simply telling us the truth.
Is water like a mob boss? I mean you have to drink it, or you die, because you need water, does that mean you are forced into it. God is good. ALL things good come directly from HIS PRESENCE. Love, God is love. Joy, God is joy, and all things good. So since He made us, we are given these things as a direct result of being alive, because He is life. You may think of Joy as a thing, instead of a person right? Well think, all the good things that people label just things, like they are there but not of a person. Well love is a direct result of Gods presence on earth. So think of God as living water , now, He tells you HEY YOU NEED ME, I am the reason life exists for I am life' He tells you because it is true, because He knows that He is the only one who can give you that, because He is that. Joy, love, truth, and all well being are not things of their own, they do not belong , to themselves, they are not just random objects or things, or happen to be s.. They are HIM. On earth though, we are separated from Him, that is why there is also a LACK of these things. Since we are not totally basking in His presence, now there is absence, absence of joy , is what we call sadness, depression etc. Absence of love, is what we call hate, misery, lifelessness. Absence of His eternal life, results in the death of each and every one of us, at least once. So when we went against God, we went against life, we went against love and joy, therefore how can we have life and love and joy if we denied it, the very source of it is God and if we deny Him, we can not have any. So then, God knowing our sufferings, even though WE caused them, all of us, He sent His OWN SON, to this earth, and He lived among us, and died on the cross for our wrongs, our sins, and rose again on the third day and lives again. So, we separated ourselves, since we did that, since we denied God, then what else can we have what is left? The ABSENCE of God, but Jesus, took that absence upon Himself, And paid it for us, and He never , ever even sinned. He never went against God, yet He felt , and took upon Himself the absence of His presence, the suffering, the hurt, the pain, the tears, and ultimately, DEATH. And it is by Jesus Christ the SON of God, that we are forgiven, He took that for us, and all who accept Him, are saved from our sufferings, our punishment, that we created. Jesus Christ is living water! You cannot blame God for your needing of Him. Life would not exist if it were not this way. God is real, He is who He is, He is alive, and aware, He knows all things, and all things good come of Him. There is only with God, or without God. Since God is the whole basis of existence in the first place, without God, there is not even nothing. Nothingness could not even exist without God, God is reality. And I tell you now, even if you do not understand what I say. Hear this. You need to seek out Christ right now. Nothing is more important for you, or ever will be. I plead with you , to right now, ask to be saved, call out to Jesus, confess that He is the Son of God that He came into the flesh and lived among us, died for your sins on the cross and rose from the dead on the 3rd day and lives again. Ask for forgiveness, ask for the Holy Spirit, ask Him to reveal Himself to you, to save you, to show you He loves you. He is calling for you right now otherwise you would not be hearing this. I really want you to see the beauty of life, when you walk with God, He shows you so much, and it blows your mind, the things you did not even see , the things of beauty right in your face all these years, yet you could not actually perceive the beauty. There is absolutely no reason to wait, all you have to do is seek Him, He already paid our sins, all we have to do is seek Him and accept Him and what He did. Just allow Him to guide you.
You never actually accepted Him if you can deny Him, I am not here to hate on you, I am here to help you, I am telling you this out of love, you have no clue what you are missing out on. The world may count foolish the things of God, things of pure beauty, do not be one of those anymore. God is calling you right now, it is time to open that door, to answer Him and receive Him, Seek the Lord while He is near. Give Him your heart, allow Him to show you the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, the wisdom, the riches the glory, the love, the joy, the forgiveness, the life. Do not be swayed by what other people are doing, or those buildings they call churches, or denominations, there are many many things built to DECEIVE you from accepting Christ, to dilute you, to confuse you, and to make you think you already know, because you see this 'church' and they are weird, or you already know because you did this and that. Do not follow a denomination, follow Christ.
