Bored with Christianity

[Hazelelponi]

I have been asking myself the same question.

Seriously, listen to the people in this thread because this God? This God of Christianity.. This God I would die for.

If your bored, then you've not met HIM yet, and He's what Christianity is all about.

 

[fhansen]

Having been a Christian for about ten years I'm now bored with the whole thing. What advice can people offer?

I was brought up as a Buddhist but became increasing disillusioned, became interested in whether God existed. I began praying, reading the Bible and attending church.

Now though I am over the whole thing. When I became a Christian I had no friends and my life was fairly pointless. Now though I have a network of friends, I have a social life and a permanent job that I enjoy. I am much more self confident, and am doing things I was previously afraid to do.

In the midst of this Christianity is simply less relevant, I have other things far more fun and interesting to do.

Of course you will be wondering why I don't simply leave. Unfortunately i live with relatives who are Christian so leaving the church would create difficulties, so I am stuck, paying lip service to something that no longer moves me. Of course I did this for years when I was a Buddhist, but I was younger then, and I hate the thought of wasting more of my life living a lie.

What do you advise?

What do people here advise? Sheez-it appears you already decided that Christianity is a lie, so why bother asking what anyone advises? Sounds like you already have better things to do. The faith will kick in when you have need; when things are going well in life we don't really find a need for God. But when things get rough, when we're helplessly staring into the abyss that holds a loved who's been taken from us with an awful finality or we face our own illness or a whole host of troubles that we may encounter in this world, then, like Prodigals, we may well find ourselves running back to the God who we hadn't yet learned to appreciate previously in this life.

 

[Ananda B.]

Seriously, listen to the people in this thread because this God? This God of Christianity.. This God I would die for.

If your bored, then you've not met HIM yet, and He's what Christianity is all about.

To tell the truth I struggle to believe that God even exists, I was reading an article in Quadrant, a conservative magazine here in Australia, which pointed out that if God did exist His existence would be obvious, but, of course, it isn't, therefore God does not exist. What I find distressing is that, up to late 2017 I had no doubt whatever that God existed, now that certainty has completely evaporated.

 

[Hazelelponi]

To tell the truth I struggle to believe that God even exists, I was reading an article in Quadrant, a conservative magazine here in Australia, which pointed out that if God did exist His existence would be obvious, but, of course, it isn't, therefore God does not exist. What I find distressing is that, up to late 2017 I had no doubt whatever that God existed, now that certainty has completely evaporated.

Even many scientists are hard pressed to say a "first cause" doesn't exist, yet you are certain? Look around, there are plenty of proofs for a God that exists..

If you desire to know God, or are struggling with faith, why not pray? It's written in scriptures that you should ask God..

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

it is exactly this you should be asking for, faith to see God in Truth, His truth. Ask like your life depends on it, because it does.

 

[Ananda B.]

What do people here advise? Sheez-it appears you already decided that Christianity is a lie, so why bother asking what anyone advises? Sounds like you already have better things to do. The faith will kick in when you have need; when things are going well in life we don't really find a need for God. But when things get rough, when we're helplessly staring into the abyss that holds a loved who's been taken from us with an awful finality or we face our own illness or a whole host of troubles that we may encounter in this world, then, like Prodigals, we may well find ourselves running back to the God who we hadn't yet learned to appreciate previously in this life.

What bothers me though is that while I struggle to believe I would rather live in a universe where God exists, and 'knowing' that He doesn't certainty does not make me happy, quite the opposite, not having God makes me miserable. I wonder if that is evidence that he exists after all, I rather hope so but fear this is simply wishful thinking.

 

[Ananda B.]

I

Even many scientists are hard pressed to say a "first cause" doesn't exist, yet you are certain? Look around, there are plenty of proofs for a God that exists..

If you desire to know God, or are struggling with faith, why not pray? It's written in scriptures that you should ask God..

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

it is exactly this you should be asking for, faith to see God in Truth, His truth. Ask like your life depends on it, because it does.

I have been praying, and getting no answer, and the longer I wait the more doubt grows.

 

[Kaon]

Having been a Christian for about ten years I'm now bored with the whole thing. What advice can people offer?

I was brought up as a Buddhist but became increasing disillusioned, became interested in whether God existed. I began praying, reading the Bible and attending church.

Now though I am over the whole thing. When I became a Christian I had no friends and my life was fairly pointless. Now though I have a network of friends, I have a social life and a permanent job that I enjoy. I am much more self confident, and am doing things I was previously afraid to do.

In the midst of this Christianity is simply less relevant, I have other things far more fun and interesting to do.

Of course you will be wondering why I don't simply leave. Unfortunately i live with relatives who are Christian so leaving the church would create difficulties, so I am stuck, paying lip service to something that no longer moves me. Of course I did this for years when I was a Buddhist, but I was younger then, and I hate the thought of wasting more of my life living a lie.

What do you advise?

If you believe He exists, and you are willing to go through what it takes (good and bad) to develop a relationship with the Most High God, then ask Him these things, and tell Him what you are telling us.

The Word of God is a LIVING entity, He isn't just a canonical book. So, you need to use the bible to determine what is expected of you as a Child of the Most High God, and you need to read the bible to begin to understand the Living entity known as the Word of God/Son of Man/Christ/Redeemer.

Since the Word of God is also a Living Entity, an academic or institutional understand of Him won't work either. You need to talk to the Most High God with the mindset that the Word of God has fulfilled everything he has said - include the people of the Most High God (which means when He died, He resurrected as the firstfruit.)

Then, you have to have the trust/faith that you can recognize His voice (audible or through life experiences), and trust it - not other humans.

I definitely had many words for my Father and this life of following Him, but I definitely never said the walk was boring. In fact, often life is boring in comparison to the walk. If you are up for a relationship built with Him, and all that it includes, then you will lose your boredom quickly. Hopefully, those voids .ca be filled.

If you aren't interested in pursuing something like that, remember it is your sovereign right to choose who to follow. The Most High God isn't going to force you to follow Him; about the only choice we have that is ours is to who we pledge our allegiance in this life.

 

[Hazelelponi]

I

I have been praying, and getting no answer, and the longer I wait the more doubt grows.

Do you know the story in the Bible about Jacob and how He got the name Israel?

It's found in Genesis 32:22-31

Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord until Jacob got a blessing from Him. While the story in the Bible seems short and unassuming, it's absolutely packed with meaning, and forevermore people of faith, with faith, are called Israel because it's not usually handed to you on a silver platter. You wrestle with God for it.

The night can be any length of time when your in darkness, meaning without an understanding of God. Wrestle with Him in prayer until you are blessed with this understanding you seek.. You may not come out of it without your own scars like Jacob, but the blessing is worth it all..

 

[Ananda B.]

If you believe He exists, and you are willing to go through what it takes (good and bad) to develop a relationship with the Most High God, then ask Him these things, and tell Him what you are telling us.

The Word of God is a LIVING entity, He isn't just a canonical book. So, you need to use the bible to determine what is expected of you as a Child of the Most High God, and you need to read the bible to begin to understand the Living entity known as the Word of God/Son of Man/Christ/Redeemer.

Since the Word of God is also a Living Entity, an academic or institutional understand of Him won't work either. You need to talk to the Most High God with the mindset that the Word of God has fulfilled everything he has said - include the people of the Most High God (which means when He died, He resurrected as the firstfruit.)

Then, you have to have the trust/faith that you can recognize His voice (audible or through life experiences), and trust it - not other humans.

I definitely had many words for my Father and this life of following Him, but I definitely never said the walk was boring. In fact, often life is boring in comparison to the walk. If you are up for a relationship built with Him, and all that it includes, then you will lose your boredom quickly. Hopefully, those voids .ca be filled.

If you aren't interested in pursuing something like that, remember it is your sovereign right to choose who to follow. The Most High God isn't going to force you to follow Him; about the only choice we have that is ours is to who we pledge our allegiance in this life.

You are right, I will keep praying.

 

[fhansen]

What bothers me though is that while I struggle to believe I would rather live in a universe where God exists, and 'knowing' that He doesn't certainty does not make me happy, quite the opposite, not having God makes me miserable. I wonder if that is evidence that he exists after all, I rather hope so but fear this is simply wishful thinking.

God exists-or doesn't exist-regardless of our personal desires. And yet...there exists in man a hope, and a knowledge, even, of some long-lost Something, something missing, something distant yet somehow familiar, something that promises to fill in the missing pieces in life. Anyway, here are some teachings I'm familiar with that have come to make sense to me:

I. The Desire for God

27 The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for:

The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator.1

28 In many ways, throughout history down to the present day, men have given expression to their quest for God in their religious beliefs and behaviour: in their prayers, sacrifices, rituals, meditations, and so forth. These forms of religious expression, despite the ambiguities they often bring with them, are so universal that one may well call man a religious being:

From one ancestor (God) made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him - though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For "in him we live and move and have our being."2

29 But this "intimate and vital bond of man to God" (GS 19 # 1) can be forgotten, overlooked, or even explicitly rejected by man. Such attitudes can have different causes: revolt against evil in the world; religious ignorance or indifference; the cares and riches of this world; the scandal of bad example on the part of believers; currents of thought hostile to religion; finally, that attitude of sinful man which makes him hide from God out of fear and flee his call.4

30 "Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice."5 Although man can forget God or reject him, He never ceases to call every man to seek him, so as to find life and happiness. But this search for God demands of man every effort of intellect, a sound will, "an upright heart", as well as the witness of others who teach him to seek God.

"You are great, O Lord, and greatly to be praised: great is your power and your wisdom is without measure. and man, so small a part of your creation, wants to praise you: this man, though clothed with mortality and bearing the evidence of sin and the proof that you withstand the proud. Despite everything, man, though but a small a part of your creation, wants to praise you. You yourself encourage him to delight in your praise, for you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." Augustine

We find God to the extent that we sincerely seek Him, or, more accurately perhaps, He finds us then.

 

[Ananda B.]

T

God exists-or doesn't exist-regardless of our personal desires. And yet...there exists in man a hope, and a knowledge, even, of some long-lost Something, something missing, something distant yet somehow familiar, something that promises to fill in the missing pieces in life. Anyway, here are some teachings I'm familiar with that have come to make sense to me:

I. The Desire for God

27 The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for:

The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator.1

28 In many ways, throughout history down to the present day, men have given expression to their quest for God in their religious beliefs and behaviour: in their prayers, sacrifices, rituals, meditations, and so forth. These forms of religious expression, despite the ambiguities they often bring with them, are so universal that one may well call man a religious being:

From one ancestor (God) made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him - though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For "in him we live and move and have our being."2

29 But this "intimate and vital bond of man to God" (GS 19 # 1) can be forgotten, overlooked, or even explicitly rejected by man. Such attitudes can have different causes: revolt against evil in the world; religious ignorance or indifference; the cares and riches of this world; the scandal of bad example on the part of believers; currents of thought hostile to religion; finally, that attitude of sinful man which makes him hide from God out of fear and flee his call.4

30 "Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice."5 Although man can forget God or reject him, He never ceases to call every man to seek him, so as to find life and happiness. But this search for God demands of man every effort of intellect, a sound will, "an upright heart", as well as the witness of others who teach him to seek God.

"You are great, O Lord, and greatly to be praised: great is your power and your wisdom is without measure. and man, so small a part of your creation, wants to praise you: this man, though clothed with mortality and bearing the evidence of sin and the proof that you withstand the proud. Despite everything, man, though but a small a part of your creation, wants to praise you. You yourself encourage him to delight in your praise, for you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." Augustine

Thank you for that, if I recall C. S. Lewis makes a similar argument. I will make a point of rereading one of the Gospels this evening. No point in sitting around giving in to dispair.

 

[Ananda B.]

Do you know the story in the Bible about Jacob and how He got the name Israel?

It's found in Genesis 32:22-31

Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord until Jacob got a blessing from Him. While the story in the Bible seems short and unassuming, it's absolutely packed with meaning, and forevermore people of faith, with faith, are called Israel because it's not usually handed to you on a silver platter. You wrestle with God for it.

The night can be any length of time when your in darkness, meaning without an understanding of God. Wrestle with Him in prayer until you are blessed with this understanding you seek.. You may not come out of it without your own scars like Jacob, but the blessing is worth it all..

In fact I am going to have a shower and then read one of the gospels, John, I think. Thank you!

 

[Helmut-WK]

Now though I am over the whole thing. When I became a Christian I had no friends and my life was fairly pointless. Now though I have a network of friends, I have a social life and a permanent job that I enjoy. I am much more self confident, and am doing things I was previously afraid to do.

In the midst of this Christianity is simply less relevant, I have other things far more fun and interesting to do.

You don't speak about your faith and how you lost it. This doesn't sound to me as if you ever were a real Christian.

Unfortunately i live with relatives who are Christian so leaving the church would create difficulties

If your relatives are acting in the love of Christ, they will certainly try to persuade you not to leave, but they will not create real difficulties for you.

so I am stuck, paying lip service to something that no longer moves me. Of course I did this for years when I was a Buddhist

Again, I get the impression that you never sought God, but only human relationship, social life etc. (if I'm mistaken about this, please forgive me, but this is my impression).

From a pure Christian point of view, it is better to stand to one's convictions than to be a hypocrite. Jesus rebuked the pious, but rather hypocritical, Pharisees stronger than anyone else.

Leave, and ask your relatives to pray for you. If they are better Christians than you were, they will let you go. And I hope that you will find Jesus. Maybe not tomorrow, but if you ever need help no man can give to you, remember that he will receive you with arms wide open.

EDIT: After reading other postings and your answers, I want to say that I will, of course, enjoy if you stay being a Christian, provided, of course, if this is sincere (sincerely searching at first) and not "hiding your thoughts".

 

[Helmut-WK]

I was reading an article in Quadrant, a conservative magazine here in Australia, which pointed out that if God did exist His existence would be obvious

This is the god of the philosophers, not the God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, to use a phrase from Blaise Pascal. In the German Wikipedia, there is the full text (translated) of the "memorial" Pascal wrote on his experience. Its not in the English wiki, but I found the English translation elsewhere (please note that after the "Amen" a commentary starts).

The God of the Bible may chose to hide Himself, because of the wickedness of the people. There is no logical reason to assume he should be obviously "visible" to anybody.
[ EDIT: clarified the Wiki matter]

 

[Sketcher]

Having been a Christian for about ten years I'm now bored with the whole thing. What advice can people offer?

I was brought up as a Buddhist but became increasing disillusioned, became interested in whether God existed. I began praying, reading the Bible and attending church.

Now though I am over the whole thing. When I became a Christian I had no friends and my life was fairly pointless. Now though I have a network of friends, I have a social life and a permanent job that I enjoy. I am much more self confident, and am doing things I was previously afraid to do.

In the midst of this Christianity is simply less relevant, I have other things far more fun and interesting to do.

Of course you will be wondering why I don't simply leave. Unfortunately i live with relatives who are Christian so leaving the church would create difficulties, so I am stuck, paying lip service to something that no longer moves me. Of course I did this for years when I was a Buddhist, but I was younger then, and I hate the thought of wasting more of my life living a lie.

What do you advise?

There's always more of Christianity that you can apply to your life. Since Christianity teaches that you will never be perfect in this life, there's always something to improve, whether it is your love for God, or any given aspect of your character.

To tell the truth I struggle to believe that God even exists, I was reading an article in Quadrant, a conservative magazine here in Australia, which pointed out that if God did exist His existence would be obvious, but, of course, it isn't, therefore God does not exist. What I find distressing is that, up to late 2017 I had no doubt whatever that God existed, now that certainty has completely evaporated.

Why do you think the Creator of the Universe depends on people being able to see him in order to exist? It doesn't follow - he was here first.

 

[AWorkInProgress]

To tell the truth I struggle to believe that God even exists, I was reading an article in Quadrant, a conservative magazine here in Australia, which pointed out that if God did exist His existence would be obvious, but, of course, it isn't, therefore God does not exist. What I find distressing is that, up to late 2017 I had no doubt whatever that God existed, now that certainty has completely evaporated.

Hello again Ananda,

I want to say I am proud of you. It is better to be honest with yourself, than to live "blind folded fear". How can your family know that they need to pray for you, if they don't know where you truly stand. I know it will be uncomfortable making the change, but it will benefit you more than continuing with something you don't believe in. I rather you struggle with the things within your heart about if a God exist, than to be in a church lying to yourself about what you believe.

One of the people I looked up to over 10 years ago shared his testimony and he stated he used a quote from Thomas Jefferson to guide his search. 'If there be a God, He would rather have honest questioning, than blind folded fear'. Be sincere and honest in your search, ask the tough questions in your heart.

God willing one day we will see you again, but this time you will know in your heart that the Lord is with you. =)

 

[Ananda B.]

Hello again Ananda,

I want to say I am proud of you. It is better to be honest with yourself, than to live "blind folded fear". How can your family know that they need to pray for you, if they don't know where you truly stand. I know it will be uncomfortable making the change, but it will benefit you more than continuing with something you don't believe in. I rather you struggle with the things within your heart about if a God exist, than to be in a church lying to yourself about what you believe.

One of the people I looked up to over 10 years ago shared his testimony and he stated he used a quote from Thomas Jefferson to guide his search. 'If there be a God, He would rather have honest questioning, than blind folded fear'. Be sincere and honest in your search, ask the tough questions in your heart.

God willing one day we will see you again, but this time you will know in your heart that the Lord is with you. =)

Thank you, I am going to keep on struggling, for example I made a point of praying this morning. After all it is stupid to turn my back on God simply because of a transient emotional state. And as you say it is better to be honest, with my self, God and others. Thank you for your advice and prayers!

 

[Ananda B.]

This is the god of the philosophers, not the God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, to use a phrase from Blaise Pascal. In the German Wikipedia, there is the full text (translated) of the "memorial" Pascal wrote on his experience. Its not in the English wiki, but I found the English translation elsewhere (please note that after the "Amen" a commentary starts).

The God of the Bible may chose to hide Himself, because of the wickedness of the people. There is no logical reason to assume he should be obviously "visible" to anybody.
[ EDIT: clarified the Wiki matter]

The argument that ‘God’s existence is not immediately obvious therefor He does not exist’ looks less and less compelling the more I think about it. After all you can use the same argument to disprove the existence of oxygen (it cannot be seen, is colorless and odorless therefor it does not exist, quite logical, except that without oxygen we cannot survive). And the cosmological fine tuning seems unlikely to be the product of chance….

 

[Ananda B.]

There's always more of Christianity that you can apply to your life. Since Christianity teaches that you will never be perfect in this life, there's always something to improve, whether it is your love for God, or any given aspect of your character.


Why do you think the Creator of the Universe depends on people being able to see him in order to exist? It doesn't follow - he was here first.

Yes, note my comment below. 'you can use the same argument to disprove the existence of oxygen...'

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Having been a Christian for about ten years I'm now bored with the whole thing. What advice can people offer?

I was brought up as a Buddhist but became increasing disillusioned, became interested in whether God existed. I began praying, reading the Bible and attending church.

Now though I am over the whole thing. When I became a Christian I had no friends and my life was fairly pointless. Now though I have a network of friends, I have a social life and a permanent job that I enjoy. I am much more self confident, and am doing things I was previously afraid to do.

In the midst of this Christianity is simply less relevant, I have other things far more fun and interesting to do.

Of course you will be wondering why I don't simply leave. Unfortunately i live with relatives who are Christian so leaving the church would create difficulties, so I am stuck, paying lip service to something that no longer moves me. Of course I did this for years when I was a Buddhist, but I was younger then, and I hate the thought of wasting more of my life living a lie.

What do you advise?

Eternal life is very relevant, that is what God offers through Christianity. God does not say we can't have friends, or can't have a life. But you need to think soberly "for what does it benefit you if you gain the whole world but loose your soul".