Am I doomed?

[Rolf Ernst]

I became a Christian when I was 7 years old. I was raised Southern Baptist. I used to believe Jesus was my savior, that he died on the cross for my and our sins, I asked Jesus to be my lord and savior, and asked God to forgive me. Ten years later, I started reading apologetics to try to convert my then boyfriend, who was atheist. The more I started thinking about Christianity, studying it more, reading the apologetics for it, the more I started to doubt it and became very skeptical. Throughout the years, I've been studying it more and praying, but ironically I've drifted further and further away. Instead of being more sure, I'm more confused. I am now almost 35 years old and have been struggling with this for over half my life. I went from full faith, loving God, dedicated...to confused, skeptical. I don't believe that Jesus is God or my savior anymore and I have doubts about God, although I wouldn't say I'm atheist. Perhaps there is a higher power that created us.

That's my background info. I've been searching and searching and haven't gotten closer to God in the process. I'm getting to the point of giving up, because it isn't looking better, it's looking worse (in the perspective of re-converting to Christianity). So, here's my question:

Would the following prayer be good enough for God?

"Dear God, I'm not so sure if you really exist. I wish I knew. If I knew you existed, I would want to get to know you and follow your plan for me. I'm not sure if there is a plan for me--to follow Christ, to follow Mohammed, to follow someone else. I wish I could follow my heart, but it leads me nowhere. If I follow my brain, as I now perceive things to be, then I cannot believe/follow you. If you are out there, please give me some guidance and direction. If you are real, then I hope you know me better than I know myself and can touch me in a way that will leave me no doubt what to believe and what to do. Thank you."

If this prayer isn't good enough, then I am doomed. I cannot believe what I do not believe.


Boomygrrl

Boomygrrl--when you say "if this prayer isn't good enough, then I am doomed." That statement seems to show that you are placing your hope not in Christ Himself, but in your prayer--hoping it would have a saving effect. From your OP I gather that the family and your church did not give you much theological understanding and as a consequence, your faith never was resting on Christ Himself, but on the general experience you had in going to church.
There is a real salvation which results from Christ's work of redemption. Someone should have informed you that Christ--who He is and what He did--should be the basis of your faith. Have you ever felt like you could truly say,
"I believe in Christ because of who He is and because of what He has done!"?
If you have ever said that, could you also say exactly what it was about who He is and what He did that forms the reason for your confidence in Him?? There is a specific reason why Christ is worthy of our placing our confidence in Him, a reaon for us to rely on Him. Christian faith is depending upon Christ and His work of redemption.

 

[Boomygrrl]

Boomygrrl--when you say "if this prayer isn't good enough, then I am doomed." That statement seems to show that you are placing your hope not in Christ Himself, but in your prayer--hoping it would have a saving effect. From your OP I gather that the family and your church did not give you much theological understanding and as a consequence, your faith never was resting on Christ Himself, but on the general experience you had in going to church.
There is a real salvation which results from Christ's work of redemption. Someone should have informed you that Christ--who He is and what He did--should be the basis of your faith. Have you ever felt like you could truly say,
"I believe in Christ because of who He is and because of what He has done!"?
If you have ever said that, could you also say exactly what it was about who He is and what He did that forms the reason for your confidence in Him?? There is a specific reason why Christ is worthy of our placing our confidence in Him, a reaon for us to rely on Him. Christian faith is depending upon Christ and His work of redemption.

Of course, I'm not putting my faith on Christ. At this point, I don't believe. I don't think you can make the assumption that my family and church didn't give me theological understanding. Don't confuse my lack of belief with not understanding. I understood it and still understand it. I just don't believe it to be true. I can read a story, understand what the author is saying, and still not believe what the author believes. Same here. When I was a child, I could say "I believe in Christ because of who He is and because of what He has done." Now, I have too many doubts to make the assertion of this statement.


Boomygrrl

 

[Boomygrrl]

The Bible says you have to believe with a child like faith. Another words a young child who has never been told there is no Santa Clause will believe with out a doubt that there is S.C. It is the same with us, except we've been told so many lies and half truths no one knows the truth anymore. This has us confused with what to believe. Yes it is hard to believe with so many ppl telling you everything else.

Interesting that you brought up Santa Claus. That's how it exactly feels. I don't have a child-like faith, so I guess you answered my O.P.
I'm not so sure that my doubs are based on lies and half truths. In fact, I know this will be offensive to many of you and I know you don't want to hear it...I feel like Christianity and the bible is not truthful. I don't want to feel that way, but I do. Contradictions concerning Jesus' birth, death, resurrection, and ascension when you read the gospels side by side seem like something cannot be fully truthful there. Mark is the oldest gospel; then Matthew and Luke (forgot which one is second and which one is third); and then John. There is a big difference between Mark and John and, to me, it suggests that there became more and more embellishments as time went on. The virgin birth is a pagan concept. So is the resurrection. Jesus' prediction of his second coming being soon, that the faithful will have miraculous powers even greater than his, and that "ask and it will be given unto you" (when two or more pray in his name), etc. These haven't come true. I'm not going to say prayers do not ever get answered. I'm not in a position to say that. I know there will be people who will say that their prayers were answered, and I can say "great." But there isn't this big change in Christians to see what Jesus "predicted." When people have argued that the Old Testament prophesied Jesus, it just doesn't seem very convincing. The fact that Jesus is God and had to sacrifice himself to himself (God) in order for us to be forgiven, saved, and have a relationship with God doesn't make sense. Already, you have to be faithful to accept that...and if you are already faithful, why the blood sacrifice? Look, I don't want apologetics about all this. I have already posted concerns like this in the apologetics forum. I understand the animal sacrifice argument, although I don't agree with it. I will "understand" what you tell me about this, but it still doesn't seem rational to me. Who knows, maybe I'm retarded and I just don't get it. But I don't think it's a lack of knowledge or intelligence on my part.
I really wish I did have the faith. I do. But I cannot believe what I don't believe. Does that make sense? It's sad, like the kid who finds out there isn't a Santa Claus. The child-like faith is fun; it's comforting; it's secure. I can't go back to believing in Santa Claus. I suspect it'll be the same here with Christianity. I wish that wasn't the case. Will God forgive me for this?


Boomygrrl

 

[lilangel04_86]

Don't make it so complicated. I do this and start thinking the same way you do. Apparently you still believe in God or you wouldn't be worried if he would forgive you for this. God is a merciful and understanding God. He knows what you're facing and he is sitting right there with you. All he wants is a relationship with you. Nothing else matters. If he wants you to know something than he himself will show you and you will know he was the one to do it. Don't try all the complicated studies. Just talk to him everyday just like I'm talking to you now. You can write to him in a journal or whatever. Just start there, and talk everyday to him and from there he'll let you know what for real.
I hope I'm helping.

 

[Scholar in training]

Interesting that you brought up Santa Claus. That's how it exactly feels. I don't have a child-like faith, so I guess you answered my O.P.

The words "child-like faith" have a few different connotations. As I first read the opening paragraph to your post I thought you were referring to Jesus' words when he said that the kingdom of God belongs to people "as these" (i.e., children). What Jesus was saying is that children are humble; and as it was said elsewhere in Scripture, God exalts the humble.

Then I read your paragraph over again and I realized that you are using it in a "blind faith" sort of way. First, allow me to be frank in saying that "faith" is about loyalty to one's patron because that patron has earned it through previous deeds; it has nothing to do with blind acceptance. Second, nowhere do we see in the Bible the proverb "he who covers his ears is pleasing to God". On the contrary, we are told to "test everything" and the Bereans were considered "more noble than" the Thessalonians because they "received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11). The Bereans weighed Paul's message against the foundation they had already tested.

Contradictions concerning Jesus' birth, death, resurrection, and ascension when you read the gospels side by side seem like something cannot be fully truthful there.

Does "variation" equal "contradiction"?

I expect citation from scholars explaining why this is so, if it is.

The virgin birth is a pagan concept.

So are wedding rings and calendars. None of these three things are exclusively pagan.

So is the resurrection.

The resurrection is certainly not a pagan concept; at least not of the Greeks and Romans who are, ironically, most credited by ill-informed skeptics with the "paganization" of Israelite culture. Gnostics, among other groups, saw matter as evil, and the Word of God "putting on sarx, flesh" (and not merely the Incarnation, but infinitely worse, the idea of a God being vindicated through a resurrection of all things) would actually repel and disgust many pagans.

Jesus' prediction of his second coming being soon

As an orthodox preterist I believe that Jesus never indicated that the apocalypse was "soon"; but I do believe that a coming of Jesus (at 70 A.D.) was indicated as being "soon". The infamous "Left Behind" series and other popculture books on eschatology are not a good representation of scholarly Christian thinking on the endtimes.

When people have argued that the Old Testament prophesied Jesus, it just doesn't seem very convincing.

Do you know how the NT writers applied pesher in relation to the Old Testament?

The fact that Jesus is God and had to sacrifice himself to himself (God) in order for us to be forgiven, saved, and have a relationship with God doesn't make sense.

This is a strawman, because it is a simplification of the argument for substitutionary atonement. However even if substitutionary atonement is the correct understanding of Christ's death, then he technically didn't "sacrifice himself to himself" because the Father and the Son are not the same person. I believe that Jesus "trampled on death by death" (a view known as Christ Victorius).

Already, you have to be faithful to accept that...and if you are already faithful, why the blood sacrifice? Look, I don't want apologetics about all this.

Unfortunately there is no other way to discuss these topics, as they are all about apologetics. You are essentially asking us to overlook what you are saying by stating that you "don't want apologetics about all this", or saying that you have no interest in discussing them -- or even more odd, that you have no interest in defending your beliefs.

 

[Scholar in training]

I sometimes believe in a higher power...most of the time actually. Sometimes I doubt that as well.

I see. I was curious whether you had researched social milieu of the ANE in your studies of Christianity. Forgive me if I sound blunt, but if I may ask, have you done this?

Generally speaking, I believe the sociological background of the ANE is a sorely overlooked area of study.

Thanks for the website. Do you have any suggestions of books to read?

Malina and Rohrbaugh have written many books detailing life and sociological topics related to the ANE. One such book is Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels, a detailed read but exceptionally informative.

 

[Godslilgurlalways]

No, I don't think you are doomed. You are wondering to much for that. And you are never doomed long as you have breathe in your body there is still hope. I think that is a good one and I hope that he shows you that he is the same God as he was when you were seven. I feel that instead of using your brain you need to start using your heart. I am praying and asking God that he will show who he is to you that you may belive in him again like you use to.I wish you the est b/c I can't wait to say welcome to the family again glad you are her and here to stay.

 

[Haggai]

I became a Christian when I was 7 years old. I was raised Southern Baptist. I used to believe Jesus was my savior, that he died on the cross for my and our sins, I asked Jesus to be my lord and savior, and asked God to forgive me. Ten years later, I started reading apologetics to try to convert my then boyfriend, who was atheist. The more I started thinking about Christianity, studying it more, reading the apologetics for it, the more I started to doubt it and became very skeptical. Throughout the years, I've been studying it more and praying, but ironically I've drifted further and further away. Instead of being more sure, I'm more confused. I am now almost 35 years old and have been struggling with this for over half my life. I went from full faith, loving God, dedicated...to confused, skeptical. I don't believe that Jesus is God or my savior anymore and I have doubts about God, although I wouldn't say I'm atheist. Perhaps there is a higher power that created us.

That's my background info. I've been searching and searching and haven't gotten closer to God in the process. I'm getting to the point of giving up, because it isn't looking better, it's looking worse (in the perspective of re-converting to Christianity). So, here's my question:

Would the following prayer be good enough for God?

"Dear God, I'm not so sure if you really exist. I wish I knew. If I knew you existed, I would want to get to know you and follow your plan for me. I'm not sure if there is a plan for me--to follow Christ, to follow Mohammed, to follow someone else. I wish I could follow my heart, but it leads me nowhere. If I follow my brain, as I now perceive things to be, then I cannot believe/follow you. If you are out there, please give me some guidance and direction. If you are real, then I hope you know me better than I know myself and can touch me in a way that will leave me no doubt what to believe and what to do. Thank you."

If this prayer isn't good enough, then I am doomed. I cannot believe what I do not believe.


Boomygrrl

So dramatic about such a simple thing. Quite unnecessary. God cannot be scientifically proven, but does not go against the laws of science. Evolution cannot be scientifically proven, and does not go against the laws of science. Both beleifs take a considerable amount of faith to beleive in. You can beleive a random blob in space somehow reacted someway or another and created cells and created all the worlds the the vastness of this cosmos, and created humans, animals, trees,flowers, mountains, hills, and all the beauties of this world, or you can beleive in God. God created all of this, it is his masterpeice, his great work of art. The complexities of life cannot be scientifically explained to the fullest sense, because God is way beyond our understanding. You must have faith that God exists. To me, it is an easy decision. I see Bible prophecy fulfilled, I know that Evolution is such an impossibility, and I know that there is a God watching out for me every milisecond of my life.

 

[djns9437]

I became a Christian when I was 7 years old. I was raised Southern Baptist. I used to believe Jesus was my savior, that he died on the cross for my and our sins, I asked Jesus to be my lord and savior, and asked God to forgive me. Ten years later, I started reading apologetics to try to convert my then boyfriend, who was atheist. The more I started thinking about Christianity, studying it more, reading the apologetics for it, the more I started to doubt it and became very skeptical. Throughout the years, I've been studying it more and praying, but ironically I've drifted further and further away. Instead of being more sure, I'm more confused. I am now almost 35 years old and have been struggling with this for over half my life. I went from full faith, loving God, dedicated...to confused, skeptical. I don't believe that Jesus is God or my savior anymore and I have doubts about God, although I wouldn't say I'm atheist. Perhaps there is a higher power that created us.

That's my background info. I've been searching and searching and haven't gotten closer to God in the process. I'm getting to the point of giving up, because it isn't looking better, it's looking worse (in the perspective of re-converting to Christianity). So, here's my question:

Would the following prayer be good enough for God?

"Dear God, I'm not so sure if you really exist. I wish I knew. If I knew you existed, I would want to get to know you and follow your plan for me. I'm not sure if there is a plan for me--to follow Christ, to follow Mohammed, to follow someone else. I wish I could follow my heart, but it leads me nowhere. If I follow my brain, as I now perceive things to be, then I cannot believe/follow you. If you are out there, please give me some guidance and direction. If you are real, then I hope you know me better than I know myself and can touch me in a way that will leave me no doubt what to believe and what to do. Thank you."

If this prayer isn't good enough, then I am doomed. I cannot believe what I do not believe.


Boomygrrl

Sound's to me like your problem may be with authority,not faith.What I found in my own life when I came too the crossroads was a rejection of protestantism,not of The Holy Trinity.Preachers love to say you lack faith if you can't belive what they say,well,maybe its just that there wrong in what they are saying.The Truth has a way of separating its self from the lie,even when it is intermingled.You may find your at the beginning of The Catholic Church,and at the end of ....?????

 

[Boomygrrl]

Don't make it so complicated. I do this and start thinking the same way you do. Apparently you still believe in God or you wouldn't be worried if he would forgive you for this. God is a merciful and understanding God. He knows what you're facing and he is sitting right there with you. All he wants is a relationship with you. Nothing else matters. If he wants you to know something than he himself will show you and you will know he was the one to do it. Don't try all the complicated studies. Just talk to him everyday just like I'm talking to you now. You can write to him in a journal or whatever. Just start there, and talk everyday to him and from there he'll let you know what for real.
I hope I'm helping.

Thank you.

Boomygrrl

 

[Boomygrrl]

Unfortunately there is no other way to discuss these topics, as they are all about apologetics. You are essentially asking us to overlook what you are saying by stating that you "don't want apologetics about all this", or saying that you have no interest in discussing them -- or even more odd, that you have no interest in defending your beliefs.

I've posted on the apologetics forum until the cows come home. I wanted this discussion to be mostly about the OP. If I search for another 60 years (it could happen...women live almost to a hundred in my family), and I still don't find the Truth, then what? Do I die and go to hell?

I don't want to defend to you my beliefs. I am tired of this. I am. Take it on faith that I am telling the truth, that I have been searching for almost 18 years already. I know you don't have to believe me, I know many will doubt it and say "if you searched that long, then what's wrong with you? either you're lying or you are just being prideful." Conclude what you want from me, but I know what I've been struggling through.

This OP really is about..."oh my God...it's been almost 18 years of searching and I've actually drifted further away, rather than closer to God. Hope I don't die in a car wreck or get a fatal disease anytime soon, because if Christianity is true, I'm scre#ed!!"

It's also about "if Christianity is true, if God is real, I want to go back to being a Christian...I will want to have a relationship with God again."

At this point, I am not there. At this point, I am believing it less and less. However, I know I don't know everything. I know that I could be wrong.
So, am I doomed, or not? This isn't anger-driven, this is anxiety-driven! Does anyone understand what I'm asking yet?


Boomygrrl

 

[Boomygrrl]

I see. I was curious whether you had researched social milieu of the ANE in your studies of Christianity. Forgive me if I sound blunt, but if I may ask, have you done this?

Generally speaking, I believe the sociological background of the ANE is a sorely overlooked area of study.


Malina and Rohrbaugh have written many books detailing life and sociological topics related to the ANE. One such book is Social-Science Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels, a detailed read but exceptionally informative.

social milieu of the ANE?


Boomygrrl

 

[Boomygrrl]

Sound's to me like your problem may be with authority,not faith.What I found in my own life when I came too the crossroads was a rejection of protestantism,not of The Holy Trinity.Preachers love to say you lack faith if you can't belive what they say,well,maybe its just that there wrong in what they are saying.The Truth has a way of separating its self from the lie,even when it is intermingled.You may find your at the beginning of The Catholic Church,and at the end of ....?????

Problem with authority? No, I'm a law-abider. I don't have problems with authority figures. You lost me on the rest of your message.

Boomygrrl

 

[DIANAC]

,,

 

[DIANAC]

Boomygrrl, thanks for your reply.
Reading your post reminded me of the following quotation

Quote

Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.
Blaise Pascal

I understand your doubts. I suppose everyone has them at one point or another. And I want to state that faith is a matter of choice. Remember all those arguments that shook your faith? Are they unshakable? I know most of them and I know the answers to those arguments. But, we are not discussing them now. At one point in your life you decided to believe arguments against existence of God. You can not prove that they are 100% correct, but you decided in your heart that you want to follow this line of thinking. I am sure that you know that unbelief is also a faith. You believe the following type of reasoning: there's no God, this world is all there is, I am in charge of my own destiny, there is no Creator, we are here due to evolution, etc. You can not prove this reasoning, but you choose to believe it. The good news is that to believe in God you do not have to have a huge faith that moves mountains, or have good feelings about it. Small, tiny faith will do, per Jesus. You can also ask Jesus, as his disciples did, help me in my unbelief! In those cases when faced with unbelief, Jesus replied, "just believe!". You can make a decision to believe and God will answer your prayers. Mat11:12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force". It requires making a step in the right direction, making the right decision, laying hold of kingdom of God.
I wish you well,
Diana

 

[Key]

Sorry I have not gotten back to you sooner regarding this Boomygrrl

But lets put all apologetics aside, I am sure that no matter what questions you have asked, there are answers to them, some of them long and drawn out, some of them short and to the point.

You have made it clear that you wanted this to remain about the OP, and I would like very much to keep it in that direction and on that subject. Lets just take a moment to look back a second at the questions I asked you.

The Reason why I asked what do you think the answer is, is because, in many cases, there is a mass amount of miss understanding as well as different opinions in the Christian faith (And among proclaimed Christians) regarding many if not all issues of faith. Salvation is no exception.

The basic Answer is, We are all sinners. Since you were raised in the Faith I am going to pretend that you are fully aware of what a sin is, and as such, need no explanation what is Sin.

Since we are all Sinners, we need to be Forgiven for our sins.

This is where the fun starts, if you want to call it fun, I am calling it fun in a sarcastic way.

I would like to impress upon you, that God holds no Grudge nor is their any form of Damnation from specifically “not believing in God”. Surprisingly enough, being faithless is not a sin. How about that one Huh?

Now, You can not have any “god before God” what this means, is if you have no faith in God, then you better not have any god at all, (IE: Money can not be your god, nor can power or anything else for that matter) and by doing this, you have not committed any sins by lack of faith.

Feel better yet?

Well you should.

Is there a Down side? Yes, Yes there is.

You’re still a sinner. That has not changed, nor will that ever Change. Being faithless may not be a Sin, but a lot of other things are, “other things” that I am sure you have done, as I have done.

And Sin requires true forgiveness from God.

And that is where your true problem is.

{quote=Boomygrrl] I don't believe that Jesus is God or my savior anymore and I have doubts about God, although I wouldn't say I'm atheist[/quote]

By your own words, you have said Jesus is not your Savor.

Now, this is really where your problem is.

How can you receive Salvation, or Forgiveness, if you have no one to ask for it.

I would forgive you, if you asked me, but that means nothing really, because I have nothing to forgive you for.

"Dear God, I'm not so sure if you really exist. I wish I knew. If I knew you existed, I would want to get to know you and follow your plan for me. I'm not sure if there is a plan for me--to follow Christ, to follow Mohammed, to follow someone else. I wish I could follow my heart, but it leads me nowhere. If I follow my brain, as I now perceive things to be, then I cannot believe/follow you. If you are out there, please give me some guidance and direction. If you are real, then I hope you know me better than I know myself and can touch me in a way that will leave me no doubt what to believe and what to do. Thank you."

This is a start.

It is really “Good Enough” for God?

Good enough in what way?

What are you hoping for?

Is it good enough to get you into Heaven? No.

Is it good enough to get you forgiven by God for your Sins? No.

Is it good enough to make you unaccountable for your actions? No.

It is a Good enough to pray to God? Yes it is!

If you wish to have an off discussion regarding apologetics, or the Christian Faith, we can do that on another topic. I do not Post in GA, the civility is dead in there.

I am not sure if I have given you any form of answer to you question, if you could tell me more about what you with for this “Prayer” to accomplish, then we could progress further in this discussion.

God Bless

[font=&quot]Key.[/font]

 

[Merlin]

The prayer would be fine.

 

[Scholar in training]

I've posted on the apologetics forum until the cows come home. I wanted this discussion to be mostly about the OP. If I search for another 60 years (it could happen...women live almost to a hundred in my family), and I still don't find the Truth, then what? Do I die and go to hell?

I thought that what I was saying did relate to the OP. I'm sorry if I have made you more anxious, but it bothers me that you would make claims about the truth value of Christianity (most of which were very false; the "pagan resurrection" for instance), and then being unwilling to defend what you have brought up. If you do not want to debate these issues, then will you give me your word to at least research? Research information about the social background of the ancient near east on sites like Tektonics.org?

I don't want to defend to you my beliefs. I am tired of this. I am. Take it on faith that I am telling the truth, that I have been searching for almost 18 years already. I know you don't have to believe me, I know many will doubt it and say "if you searched that long, then what's wrong with you? either you're lying or you are just being prideful." Conclude what you want from me, but I know what I've been struggling through.

It's not that I don't believe you, it's that I am concerned about why you believe some of the things you do about the beginning of Christianity.

This OP really is about..."oh my God...it's been almost 18 years of searching and I've actually drifted further away, rather than closer to God. Hope I don't die in a car wreck or get a fatal disease anytime soon, because if Christianity is true, I'm scre#ed!!"

God isn't out to get you, Boomygrrl. I believe that he judges fairly, according to his mercy, our knowledge of the truth and our conduct. I don't feel comfortable speaking on your salvation - far be it from me to do that of someone, especially someone I don't know personally - but what I can tell you is that God certainly isn't a sadist.

It's also about "if Christianity is true, if God is real, I want to go back to being a Christian...I will want to have a relationship with God again."

I can understand that. But isn't one of the ways to find out if Christianity is true to discuss it? If you don't discuss it, how will you come any closer to the truth?

social milieu of the ANE?

The social environment of the ancient near east. For instance, the ANE was based on collectivism, but our culture is based on individualism.

 

[Shakon]

Hey, I think it's great you're coming and talking about this!

I sometimes have doubts myself, and I'm sure a lot of us do (whether we want to admit it or not). But that's where faith comes in. It's one of the most important aspects of Christianity. Faith that God exsists is just something we all have to believe. And it's okay to doubt sometimes, but as a Christian, you have to shut out those doubts.

Also, if you can believe that a huge protion of those doubt and lies are coming from your deadly enemy, satan, then that may help you as well. satan hates you, and he'll do anything to keep you from wanting God. he's the father of lies, and he's brilliant - meaning smart. The Bible says he was the highest Angel before he fell (meaning beautiful, intelligent, very strong and powerful). However, when Jesus died, he gave us authority over this devil. So, yeah, satan has power, but he has no authority, and so, you are allowed to command him to high-tail it out of your life. (Trust me, it works. I had to kick him out of my room last night. *laughs*)

Now, one last thing. You said

"I've been searching and searching and haven't gotten closer to God in the process."

However, don't you realize that God is always with you? You're not the one who's running after God, He's the one running after you! He loves you with all of His heart, and he's not going to let go, because you're never too-far-gone for him. You just have to hang in there, girl! Try going to different Churches, find a Bible version you can understand, and pray, in faith. God loves it when you reach out in faith! He knows what you're going through, and he made it through! So, don't worry! You can too.

*God bless!*
*Peace, Love, and Joy to you.*
*Merry Christmas!*

 

[whitestar]

Boomygrrl, I know you said you want to stick to the op, but you seriously cannot expect us to say nothing when you bring up these questions...it would be failing on our part if we did not address the concerns you bring up. It makes no sense to me why you would bring up these things, then gag us so we couldn't reply...unless you don't want the answers. Posting on GA will get you little truth as most of the posters there are nonbelievers. Here you don't have to deal with their twisted 'truths' and get straight answers to your questions on here. If I had questions about anything I wouldn't ask, then say..oh don't answer me...that implies you really don't want to know the answer. I am NOT trying to debat you...simply providing answers to your questions...that is all. If you don't want them, don't read them. But realize...why botherbring them up in the first place if you don't want the answers? Is that rational? If you don't start dealing with these doubts you won't believe...and without belief....well...

John 3:18
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

As you said, what if you do die in a car wreck suddenly? And you could have been getting answers to your doubts all this time...leading you to believe in God AND His Son...I would hate to see the regrets for not just dealing with them here, while you do have that chance to do so.

http://www.christianforums.com/index.php

IS THE VIRGIN BIRTH MIRACLE OR MYTH?

This article first appeared in the Ask Hank column of the Christian Research Journal, volume 27, number 4 (2004). For further information or to subscribe to the Christian Research Journal go to: http://www.equip.org

“‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ — which means, ‘God with us’” (Matt. 1:23 NIV).

In an op-ed piece published by the New York Times (August 15, 2003), columnist Nicholas Kristof used the virgin birth of Jesus to shamelessly promote the Enlightenment’s false dichotomy between faith and reason. In his words, “The faith in the Virgin Birth reflects the way American Christianity is becoming less intellectual and more mystical over time.” Kristof ends his piece with the following patronizing comment: “The heart is a wonderful organ, but so is the brain.” Those who have a truly open mind, however, should resist rejecting the virgin birth before examining the evidence for it.

Several lines of evidence support the miracle of the virgin birth (technically it should be called the virgin conception). First, miracles are not only possible, but they are necessary in order to make sense of the universe in which we live. According to modern science, the universe not only had a beginning, but it is unfathomably fine tuned to support life. Not only so, but the origin of life, information in the genetic code, irreducible complexity in biological systems, and the phenomenon of the human mind pose intractable difficulties for merely natural explanations. Reason, therefore, forces us to look beyond the natural world to a supernatural Designer who periodically intervenes in the affairs of His created handiwork. In other words, if we are willing to believe that God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1), we should have no problem accepting the virgin birth.

Furthermore, reason and evidence compel us to acknowledge that the Bible is divine rather than human in origin. Manuscript evidence, archaeology, predictive prophecy, and the science of statistical probability together provide a persuasive case for the reliability of Scripture; thus, we may legitimately appeal to the Word of God as evidence for the virgin birth. Christ, moreover, who demonstrated that He was God in human flesh through the undeniable fact of His resurrection, pronounced the Scriptures infallible (John 10:35; 14:24–26; 15:26–27; 16:13; Heb. 1:1–2). If Christ concurs with the biblical record, therefore, no one should have the temerity to contradict its claims.

Finally, while it is currently popular to suggest that the Gospel writers borrowed the virgin birth motif from pagan mythology, the facts say otherwise. Stories of gods having sexual intercourse with women — such as the sun god Apollo becoming a snake and impregnating the mother of Augustus Caesar — hardly parallel the virgin birth account in the Gospels. Moreover, given the strict monotheistic worldview of New Testament authors, it should stretch credulity beyond the breaking point to suppose they borrowed from pagan mythologies, especially myths extolling the sexual exploits of pagan gods! It has become all too common for people to buy into what has been well described as “a unique brand of fundamentalism” — a skepticism that values rhetoric and emotion over reason and evidence. Those who suppose that the virgin birth is mythological would be well advised to carefully consider defensible arguments rather than uncritically swallowing dogmatic assertions.