The more I try to understand Christianity the more confused I get

[SK_Brace]

I have been trying so desperately to grow my faith and relationship with God and I’m now more confused then ever. To clarify I am not doubting God existence but I’m just doubting my understanding of God. I used to be so sure about what I believed but now when I’m trying to learn more, I’m not anymore. I also don’t understand why Christianity is so confused about so many things and why we have so many denominations. We all read the same bible but somehow come to drastically different conclusions. Why does the bible seem so contradictory sometimes? I used not to think so but it wasn’t until I debated a Jehovah Witness, who used the scriptures to support his statements that Jesus was created and obviously as someone that believes the trinity I don’t believe that but it’s hard to convince someone else when Jesus is so often in the scriptures referred as the only begotten son. Then I use John 1:1 to show him that the Word was God and Jesus is the word. However then he says that he does believe Jesus is a God but not the almighty God. I say that there is only one God and that God is jealous if we worship other gods. However then he shows me a scriptures that say God even calls us gods ( Psalms 82:6 & John 10:34). I didn’t know of this scripture so how can I refute something that is clearly biblical. I understand that some people will say some of these scriptures are not literal and are figuratively but how can you distinguish what is literal and what is figuratively. It’s things like these that confused my faith the most. I will blame in on my lack of understanding or wisdom but it’s just so hard to understand sometimes.

 

[sometimesthewolf]

I have been going through the same thing. I have been trying to just focus on the gospel and then go from there. There is a very helpful site: christiansneedthegospel.com

Start there. Preach the gospel to yourself daily and learn your identity in Christ. Then worry about the other stuff.

https://www.christiansneedthegospel...actical-perspective-on-identification-truths/

 

[Frankl]

Maybe reading ancient fathers will help, also reading and understanding church history will make many things clear

 

[mkgal1]

Why does the bible seem so contradictory sometimes?

If there's a contradiction (I'm sure you know this) then there's a problem with interpretation....not Scripture.

People begin with different paradigms (like the JW you discussed with). Everything is affected by their belief that Jesus is not God....and it colors how they view the overall story of God. I agree that turning to ancient fathers and history will help. Another source of strengthening your understanding of the Trinity are the writings of Richard Rohr and Mike Morrell (like Divine Dance).

 

[d taylor]

Grace Evangelical Society is a great site they have really good teachings explaining many areas of the Bible that seem contradictory.

try their
The Grace New Testament Commentary (Revised Edition)

 

[Der Alte]

... However then he shows me a scriptures that say God even calls us gods ( Psalms 82:6 & John 10:34)....

Neither of those verses call "us" gods. Psalms 82:6 was addressed to a specific group, the judges appointed to govern Israel, not to all mankind.
The native Hebrew speaking Jews who translated the 1917 Jewish Publication Society OT translate that vs.

JPS Psalms 82:6 I said: Ye are godlike beings, and all of you sons of the Most High. ​

 

[Sabertooth]

I used not to think so but it wasn’t until I debated a Jehovah Witness, who used the scriptures to support his statements that Jesus was created and obviously as someone that believes the trinity I don’t believe that but it’s hard to convince someone else when Jesus is so often in the scriptures referred as the only begotten son.

"For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine,

do not receive him into your house nor greet him;
for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds." 2 John 1:7-11 NKJV​

 

[timothyu]

I will blame in on my lack of understanding or wisdom but it’s just so hard to understand sometimes.

First of all don't confuse Jesus with the Christian religion. It was built to serve self and upon the back of another man for the most part.

God was content to continually have us serve each other rather than self. It all boils down to that from the Garden until now. If you want to get lost in doctrine or reverse engineer God then you are falling to the wayside among the scrub and may get smothered.
Keep it simple. Jesus did.

 

[timothyu]

I have been going through the same thing. I have been trying to just focus on the gospel and then go from there.

The Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus taught or another tradition that man created? That mistake could create problems.

 

[timothyu]

Neither of those verses call "us" gods.

Genesis 3:22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: ... will that verse be given another meaning to avoid the gods thing?

 

[SK_Brace]

First of all don't confuse Jesus with the Christian religion. It was built to serve self and upon the back of another for the most part.

God was content to continually have us serve each other rather than self. It all boils down to that from the Garden until now. If you want to get lost in doctrine or reverse engineer God then you are falling to the wayside among the scrub and may get smothered.

But that’s the one thing I don’t want to confuse at all. I don’t believe in religion and that’s why I don’t follow any denomination at all. I want to only know Jesus and God however and I have a desired to preach the gospel to others but it wasn’t until I talked to other people who knew even more than the bible than me that I realized that I really don’t know the bible as much as I thought I did. I don’t understand why the bible says one thing that and then another thing, like I said I will blame it on my lack of understanding. My question is simply how can I understand the word. I also don’t believe in just reading the New Testament and the Old Testament js not as important. I believe both are equally as important. So I want to understand the whole picture of the bible.

 

[timothyu]

My question is simply how can I understand the word.

Jesus summed up the OT it's laws and teachings in two commandments. He created a way of life, not a religion. After telling us numerous times that the ways of man are not the ways of God and that we need to choose between whose governance we will follow, it seems simple enough to stick with putting the will of God before our own and loving all as self.

Matthew 22: 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 

[Andrewn]

I used not to think so but it wasn’t until I debated a Jehovah Witness, who used the scriptures to support his statements that Jesus was created and obviously as someone that believes the trinity I don’t believe that but it’s hard to convince someone else when Jesus is so often in the scriptures referred as the only begotten son. Then I use John 1:1 to show him that the Word was God and Jesus is the word. However then he says that he does believe Jesus is a God but not the almighty God. I say that there is only one God and that God is jealous if we worship other gods. However then he shows me a scriptures that say God even calls us gods ( Psalms 82:6 & John 10:34).

My question is simply how can I understand the word. I also don’t believe in just reading the New Testament and the Old Testament js not as important. I believe both are equally as important. So I want to understand the whole picture of the bible.

It will probably help to join a home Bible study, even if you don't want to join a church.

 

[timothyu]

BTW.. the JW's are extremely well versed in scripture, but what is the point of demanding it's followers live in a box in the same way Baptists, RC's, or even the religion itself demands, thus making all outside the box enemies. Is that how Jesus taught us to treat our enemies, those different. Or did He say to eat and converse with them, to not judge and ask if they needed any love in order to over come the walls and defenses they have built? Those religious factions seem to forget our place in the world because they focus on self and use God to justify their fortress.

 

[paul1149]

However then he shows me a scriptures that say God even calls us gods ( Psalms 82:6 & John 10:34). I didn’t know of this scripture so how can I refute something that is clearly biblical.

The problem is that when you get into this level of debate you really need to know your stuff. Michael Heiser is essential for understanding what is going on in that verse and several others like it; you can find him on youtube. It refers to angels who forsook their place and fell into judgment.

I was just thinking this morning how unperspicacious the Bible can seem. "It is the glory of God to hide a matter; it is the glory of kings to seek out a matter" -pr 25. But for those who really want God His Holy Spirit will illuminate to us what we need to know. We only have to humble ourselves and be diligent.

Ephesians 4 talks about us coming to the unity of the faith, and how the 5-fold ministry is given to achieve that purpose. Some are gifted in these things and do better at them. Yet often even they don't agree on everything.

But they do agree on the basics, the big things, and that's where we ought to rest. That way we can work together even though we don't agree on secondary or tertiary issues. Paul blessed this diversity and says each person ought to be convinced in his own mind, without need to "convert" the other -Rom 14.

So I would say don't get confused or discouraged by the chaos and conflict within the Body. Abide in your place of rest in Christ as He works these things out for you. That's a place of clarity and peace, and in due season you will have whatever answers you need.

 

[NBB]

You need God himself, the closer you are to God/the Holy spirit, the more you are in the right path of course, so seek him a lot, 'things nobody even thought are prepared to those who love him'

 

[SK_Brace]

You need God himself, the closer you are to God/the Holy spirit, the more you are in the right path of course, so seek him a lot, 'things nobody even thought are prepared to those who love him'

But how, because I have asked and tried to find him truly. I’m actually kind of desperate right now. The bible is ofcourse one way to know him and prayer however I don’t know what else to do. I honestly don’t believe I have the Holy Spirit because otherwise I wouldn’t be in confusion.

 

[ChristianGirl_96]

Try taking a break

 

[SK_Brace]

Try taking a break

A break from God? I don’t understand...

 

[xaris]

I also don’t understand why Christianity is so confused about so many things and why we have so many denominations. We all read the same bible but somehow come to drastically different conclusions. Why does the bible seem so contradictory sometimes? I

1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV
[12] For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.