Set in stone

There isn't any god whose existence can be proven scientifically, is there? But for me, the uniqueness and proven reliability of the Bible, plus the success of the Christian faith in the world makes a strong recommendation that none other can rival. In fact, with the exception of Judaism, which is the foundation for Christianity, there arguably is no other religion in the world. Not in the same sense of the word.

While we talk as though there are a half-dozen or so great world religious systems on Earth, Islam is a knock-off of Judaism and Christianity and most of the Oriental religions do not believe in supreme being/Creator at all.

Another man, christian or not, cannot prove to you that God is real..... They can, at best, paint a picture of Him and tell a story that you can choose to believe or not....And you can then go on believing till you die and then find out if what you decided to believe was truth. risky business.

To know God you must experience Him for yourself. You have to see Him face to Face.....then you will know as you are known....

And this doesn't require someone else......you can be walking along the street, called strait, and meet Him. In Fact, He said he is found by those who sought Him not.....

God is seeking to reveal Himself to us.
Sometimes we have to be still, stop our search, in order to be found......

Project Panda said:

Why does Jesus need Christian's to prove to me that he is real? Isn't he real enough to make his existence known to me? He knows exactly what evidence I need to know he's real, so using his underlings who don't know what evidence I require is a poor decision.

Since every Christian I've met has very different idea's about God, and that they construct different theories about Gods existence, I'm left in continual doubt. I need more that a mixed bag of ideas here, I need something concrete, but this God of yours has never given me concrete evidence of his existence.

Which makes me think, what kind of evidence did you receive from Jesus himself that was concrete enough to base your whole life around Christianity?

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In a word... prophesy. It is God's method of showing us that what the Bible has said would happen, has happened.... future proves past. Here is a link for a video series that shows Bible prophesy in such a way that the viewer cannot deny the truth and authenticity of the Bible and of God's existence.
Landmarks of Prophecy | Media Archives | Amazing Facts

God bless you on your journey of discovery... may the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth.

Project Panda said:

Why does Jesus need Christian's to prove to me that he is real? Isn't he real enough to make his existence known to me? He knows exactly what evidence I need to know he's real, so using his underlings who don't know what evidence I require is a poor decision.

Since every Christian I've met has very different idea's about God, and that they construct different theories about Gods existence, I'm left in continual doubt. I need more that a mixed bag of ideas here, I need something concrete, but this God of yours has never given me concrete evidence of his existence.

Which makes me think, what kind of evidence did you receive from Jesus himself that was concrete enough to base your whole life around Christianity?

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When you pray constantly, as Paul directed (1 Thess 5:17), you get to know the Lord. He leads you through your life and solves all your problems for you.

Project Panda said:

I'm left in continual doubt. I need more that a mixed bag of ideas here, I need something concrete, but this God of yours has never given me concrete evidence of his existence.
Which makes me think, what kind of evidence did you receive from Jesus himself that was concrete enough to base your whole life around Christianity?

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Hello again PP - Concrete itself is evidence of God - but let's not get too esoteric .
As we are told at the beginning of the letter to the Hebrew, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We who have received Christ are witnesses to his reality. Are witnesses 'proof'? As others have said, such 'proof' as you are looking for will not be given. We are saved through faith.
As a Christian I don't, "base my whole life around Christianity". It is by, in, with, because of Christ that I live.
Certainly, coming to and finding The Lord involved an intellectual process/journey. But the crucial thing to understand is that becoming a Christian is not primarily something we decide to do. It is something that God does to us. He gives us a new (eternal) life.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ..."
Ephesians2:4,5

Those who seek will find.
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I believe that people can only communicate so much to another. Each one of us is unique with unique perspectives, understandings, experiences, and expectations. Scripture indicates that each person's faith is individual and personal, and it is between the individual and God. No human can convince another human, if they are not already truly seeking God for themselves or open to what the Holy Spirit is revealing to them. If someone isn't willing to read and believe the Bible, then they probably aren't going to believe another human.

I believe for some people coming to faith and belief in God takes longer than others because each of us have different lives, needs, and backgrounds. Other people can only take you so far. You have to be willing to open yourself up to God directly and to wait for the Lord to do what it is you need when the timing is right for you to receive faith and understanding.

A pitfall sometimes occurs when people go at it backwards. They want the proof, something tangible, then they will commit to belief. Scripture says believing is seeing. You can't see it until you do believe. Miracles have already happened and people doubt. The creation itself is proof of God, but people still doubt.

That being said, a very good documentary is on Netflix called, "Is Genesis History." If you are into having proof, then it's a pretty good thing to watch.

Basically, I think you have to decide for yourself to be fully open to belief and faith before you can be ministered to in a way that you can perceive the Holy Spirit and become spiritually sensitive.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Project Panda said:

If you want to prove Christianity to us non'z, then learn to bend the law's of nature and demonstrate these unique spiritual gifts Jesus gives you. Jesus himself promised his disciples that they could do the thing's he did, so I don't see why it should be unexpected for anyone to ask for a miracle.

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Actually, I would not want to prove Christ to anyone...if that required me to work a magic trick for him on a dare. It is the truth of the Gospel that should reach and convert the unbeliever.

Yes, miracles have happened just as you were thinking. Many times. But neither is it the case that any believer can bring one up at any moment, strictly on his own power and authority, for any reason. I would even think that if such an approach to miracles were theoretically possible, we would not be speaking of miracles as we understand miracles.

Project Panda said:

Think about this for a second

1. Are all prophecies in the Bible coherent and foretell event's specifically.

2. Are there any original Biblical manuscripts that can be compared to current day manuscripts, so we can be certain that the prophecies were not written after the event's they foretold transpired.

3. There are prophecies in the Bible that did not meet with the event it foretold.

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The historical veracity of books such as Daniel, in which many, many prophesies are contained, is certain because of the secular historian Josephus' "The Antiquities of the Jews" as well as the dead sea scrolls among other evidences.

Can you be more specific on which prophesies you don't think met with the event it foretold?

Project Panda said:

Believing something doesn't make it so, and our current universal reality seems to prove that certain phenomena is not possible. Such as walking on water, such as curing leprosy with chicken's blood, such as floating off into the cloud's, such as fixing brain defects by casting out demon's, such as turning water into wine.

If you want to prove Christianity to us non'z, then learn to bend the law's of nature and demonstrate these unique spiritual gifts Jesus gives you. Jesus himself promised his disciples that they could do the thing's he did, so I don't see why it should be unexpected for anyone to ask for a miracle.

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Also, consider Lee Strobel's book "A Case For Christ".

Project Panda said:

Believing something doesn't make it so, and our current universal reality seems to prove that certain phenomena is not possible. Such as walking on water, such as curing leprosy with chicken's blood, such as floating off into the cloud's, such as fixing brain defects by casting out demon's, such as turning water into wine.

If you want to prove Christianity to us non'z, then learn to bend the law's of nature and demonstrate these unique spiritual gifts Jesus gives you. Jesus himself promised his disciples that they could do the thing's he did, so I don't see why it should be unexpected for anyone to ask for a miracle.

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Dear PP - We are witnesses and messengers not conjurers or snake oil salesmen.
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. .........
The Lord Jesus said to them,
"A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.
Matthew 16:1-4
Reality is much greater than the 'universal reality' you are confined to.
Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened.
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Project Panda said:

How can I first believe in your God when I'm told "Not to lean on my own understanding"

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I am against just believing and going about your business....re-read my post. You will have to be still and know....Have the truth revealed...not just believe what others say. You have to go on to the end. You must first believe that He is.....and that he is a rewarder to them that diligently seek Him.

I say you are on the right track....I would just remove expectations however....it would be unwise to decide to worship anything that can produce miracles... He is will come in a time and way that you think not.....try not to crucify Him when he comes....just because He doesn't meet your expectations....like in the days of old.

Project Panda said:

A case for an invisible God, gotcha.

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Why do you start a thread posing as a seeker if all you're going to do is denigrate the information given? Regardless of what you believe, all will bow before Him on judgement day.

Project Panda said:

Type "Failed biblical prophecies" in google, bing, yahoo.

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So you're an internet sceptic... not even interested in the subject enough to do your own research. I got your game figured out....

EastCoastRemnant said:

Why do you start a thread posing as a seeker if all you're going to do is denigrate the information given? Regardless of what you believe, all will bow before Him on judgement day.

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He is right to not go by what others believe. Do you have advice for ways that He can Know that what you saying is truth? Do you want him to believe in your words and your relationship with your God, or have a relationship himself?