doubting

[faith7401]

I wouldn't exactly call myself a non-Christian, but I am new to this site and didn't know where else to post this question. Please excuse me if I should have posted elsewhere.

Lately I have had a lot of issues with my faith. I often find myself thinking it's all made up and fake. This, of course, leads me to feel like there is no point to life and so forth.

I really don't want to be feeling this way. I have prayed. I have read the Bible. I have gone to church. I have talked to my fiance about it. I don't know what to do, and I'm hoping someone here has some advice...

 

[Jayangel81]

While someone can give you more advice, sounds like the enemy putting things in youre head. In my experiance Faith takes time and through trials we persevere.

Keep praying and know that God will help you, He will not leave you faithless if in youre hear you want to increase.

ARe you part of a active church? fellowshipping is very important. Faith comes from hearing the word. STay in Gods word. You need a foundation. Be careful what unbelievers tell you if you have any friends because often times they tend to steer us away with their beliefs, it happens.

Heavenly Father please help this child along the way, I know that everything is possible with you, I pray that you may increase her Faith so that she may get to know you better. I pray that you show her the truth through youre Word. I pray that you get ahold of her and pull her right to you. Please keep her from satans schemes, Hes feeding her lies that is so well known to us.. I pray this in Jesus name.

 

[Lukaris]

The world definitely consumes us without our faith in Jesus Christ. Keep that in focus and that whatever good you can do (according to the Gospel) in your works is to the glory of God (see Ephesians 2:8-10). Do not force anything & let the Holy Spirit teach & guide you; Mother Theresa is an inspiration to us all & if possible, an example of the glory of God to imitate, but not all of us are her (I know I ain't). Praying for others in a non judgmental loving spirit (as per Matthew 6:9-13 & the command of love per Matthew 22:34-40). Not all of us (I know I am not at this point)are evangelists but to find out if the Holy Spirit will lead us literally "pray the Lord of the harvest" (see Matthew 9:36-39). Cry out like the distraught father of a tormented child in Mark 9:24:"...Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" and remember doubting Thomas, "...My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Hope this is helpful, a sinner.

 

[Adstar]

I wouldn't exactly call myself a non-Christian, but I am new to this site and didn't know where else to post this question. Please excuse me if I should have posted elsewhere.

Lately I have had a lot of issues with my faith. I often find myself thinking it's all made up and fake. This, of course, leads me to feel like there is no point to life and so forth.

I really don't want to be feeling this way. I have prayed. I have read the Bible. I have gone to church. I have talked to my fiance about it. I don't know what to do, and I'm hoping someone here has some advice...

These feelings must come from either a specific point of your beliefs or from a series of them. So maybe it would be good to talk about the points in the Gospel message that are leading you to feel this way.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[Emmy]

Dear faith 7401. God knows our hearts, He knows all we think or wish, perhaps you are given a short time to be absolutely sure what you really want, while you doubt, God will not force you, or coerce you in any way. as soon as you have overcome any doubt, faith7401, God will give what you truly want. Just accept it dear, and thank God for it. I say this humbly and with love, and send greetings. Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[zaksmummy]

All christians doubt from time to time. Recently I read in the paper that Mother Teresa had many doubts about her faith over a prolonged period of time, but .... she was faithfully to the end.

The journey we are on is a marathan not a sprint, many times we will all have doubts, but these are countered by the times when we feel close to God. Just remember that he is right next to you always, or as some people put it, hes just a prayer away. Whatever happens God is with you, trust him and all things will become clearer

 

[salida]

No, its not all made up and fake. In fact, the exact opposite is true. Its more true than any book in the world. Yes, I have studied other religious books and none come close to this. I'm a christian spiritually first and intellectually second. The Bible could only be written by God because of its many unusual characteristics. First, it has hundreds of detailed prophesies in it that has come true and more to come. It goes along with science - www.reasons.org - science and belief. A PhD in Chemistry started this website. Read Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell (it would stand up in a court of law) and Examine the Evidence by Muncaster (a former athiest). This is enough to get you started. Also, bible info in a nutshell below.

Biblical Evidence – This is a very small amount of information
out of large amounts of information out there.

Internal Evidences-Prophesies that are confirmed with Bible;

mentioning only a few – but there are hundreds.

Life of Christ
The Tribe of Judah, Gen. 49:10, Luke 3:23-28
(Genesis was written 4004 BC to 1689 BC)
(Luke’s time period is 60-70 AD)

Royal Line of David, Jer 23:5, Matt 1:1
(Jeremiah 760 to 698 BC)/(Matthew 60-70 AD)

Born of a Virgin, Isaiah 7:14/Matt 1:18-23
(Isaiah 760 to 698 BC)/(60-70 AD)

Rise of Empires
In the book of Daniel, Chapter 2 – four kingdoms are described in the interpretation
of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greek – Daniel 8:21, 10:20/ and a fourth great kingdom to follow which was part iron and clay – which is the
Roman Empire – during this empire, Christ came and the church was established – Daniel 2:44.

Historical Accuracy

The Bible is loaded with historical statements concerning events of hundreds of years ago, yet
none of them has been proven to be incorrect.
(Bible compared to other ancient documents)
New Testament – starts at 25 years – between the original and surviving copies
Homer- starts at 500 years/Demosthenes – at 1400 years/Plato – at 1200 years/
Caesar – at 1000 years

Number of Manuscript Copies

New Testament – 5,686/Homer – 643/Demosthenes – 200/Plato – 7/Caesar – 10

Consistency – Written by 40 men over a period of time exceeding 1400 years, and has no
Internal inconsistencies.



Claim of Inspiration- It claims to be spoken by God, 2 Tim 3:16-17). No other religious book makes such claims.


External Evidences

(Prophesies Outside the Bible)
These cities were prophesied to be destroyed and never to be built again- and they haven’t.
Niveveh – Nahum 1:10, 3:7, 15, Zephaniah 2:13-14
Babylon – Isaiah 13:1-22
Tyre -Ezekiel 26:1-28

Bible before Science

He hangs the earth on nothing – Job 26:7
(Job was written at least 1000 years ago – some scholars think it could have been even 3000
years ago)
Note: Man only knew the above for 350 years.
Earth is a sphere – Isaiah 40:22/Air has weight – Job 28:25/
Gravity – Job 26:7, Job 38: 31-33/Winds blow in cyclones, Eccl 1:6

Documents that Prove Bible is True

Gilgamesh Epic, The Sumerian King List, Mari Tablets, Babylonian Chronicles

Archealogical Evidence (Still adding to this list today- it hasn’t stopped)
Excavations of Ur, Location of Zoar, Ziggurats and the foundation of Tower of Babel

 

[lilmissmontana]

I wouldn't exactly call myself a non-Christian, but I am new to this site and didn't know where else to post this question. Please excuse me if I should have posted elsewhere.

Lately I have had a lot of issues with my faith. I often find myself thinking it's all made up and fake. This, of course, leads me to feel like there is no point to life and so forth.

I really don't want to be feeling this way. I have prayed. I have read the Bible. I have gone to church. I have talked to my fiance about it. I don't know what to do, and I'm hoping someone here has some advice...

well, I can sure relate to you here! ... I've been going through a real struggle with this since Oct. ... but for the first time in 54 years of my life somethings different ... I can't explain it but for the first ime I feel calm about it ... I can't tell you how hard I had to fight this! ... I just found something to do for the Lord and threw myself into it ... and didn't let up ... I just got so tired of this battle I decided it was getting straightened out once and for all ... I literally cried nonstop for months! ... I'm not telling you this for any other reason than I want you to be sure I understand ... and then I want to say ... it will be alright ... Jesus will not leave you ... if He carried the weight of the world on His shoulders ... my friend He can carry you, too ... just trust Him ... if you think you need more faith just ask Him for it ... He loves you very much and would welcome the opportunity to show you His love ... God bless!

 

[FollowTheLamb]

Lately I have had a lot of issues with my faith. I often find myself thinking it's all made up and fake. This, of course, leads me to feel like there is no point to life and so forth.

In the Parable of the Sower, we have several reasons why you may feel this way. First, you may not understand the messages you are receiving, so you are like the one who does not understand, so the enemy takes it out of your heart (Matt. 13:19).

Or you may be afraid to pursue your religion more because you are afraid of what others may think. You are not strong enough with rich spiritual experiences to back your faith and stand on your own (Matt. 13:20-21).

Or you may have compromised the work of the Holy Spirit because the cares of this life or the deceitfulness of riches has crowded out the word of God (Matt. 13:22), and you have become unfruitful. You have no inward proofs of God working in you, so you think it's all fake.

I really don't want to be feeling this way. I have prayed. I have read the Bible. I have gone to church. I have talked to my fiance about it. I don't know what to do, and I'm hoping someone here has some advice...

My advice is to decide which, if any, of the above scenarios fit you the best and repent. The one who went on to fruitfulness is the fourth soil in Matt. 13:23. That person understood the message and accepted it for his life. I suggest you talk with a pastor about what this involves so that you can get on the right track.

God bless you!

 

[jamiel]

The journey we are on is a marathan not a sprint, many times we will all have doubts, but these are countered by the times when we feel close to God.

This is so very true. It's indeed a marathon and not a sprint . . . You have to look at it that way.

I think most Christians have been through doubts, and then they've past, revealing what's real and true (and in fact, people have emerged stronger even after having doubted).

I think of the examples of Abraham and Sarah. Abraham is the great man of faith, "God's friend." And yet, if you closely follow his story one can see the man had doubts, but was willing to sacrifice his son in the end.

The point here is that it's normal to experience this, God knows this, and to continue your walk with Him, for He is there with you every step of the way.



God Bless.

 

[Faith In God]

I wouldn't exactly call myself a non-Christian

By that reasoning, you also wouldn't exactly call yourself a Christian.

Lately I have had a lot of issues with my faith. I often find myself thinking it's all made up and fake. This, of course, leads me to feel like there is no point to life and so forth.

I really don't want to be feeling this way. I have prayed. I have read the Bible. I have gone to church. I have talked to my fiance about it. I don't know what to do, and I'm hoping someone here has some advice...

Faith is believing in that which is not seen. And there is nothing more faithful than going full-tilt against your feelings.

Have you put all your eggs in this basket, or is the bridge still behind you unburned?
Your senses are deceiving: just because things feel/sound/taste/look alright does not make it so.

What you have to do is believe anyway. Whether you like elevators or not, if you're getting on one, believe in it anyway. Doing so rarely yields negative results.
However, with Christianity, you have to take it one step further: it's like skydiving. You rely solely on that parachute to save you. Trust in it completely, and ignore those butterflies in your stomache (they are only gonna bug you and make you feel worse about taking the jump).

In other words, go for it. I don't think you quite trust in God 100%. Do it. Behave and trust as if He and His words are true and go for it. Study His word all the time, live the way His Son decrees. And don't look back, regardless of what you feel.

That is Christianity. Complete surrender.

 

[aiki]

Faith7401:

Every Christian who is going to be mature and stable in their faith needs to find a "reason of the hope that is in you" (1 Pe. 3:15). Doesn't sound like you've got that yet. Upon what is your faith based? What reason(s) do you have to believe? Blind faith is a fool's faith -- and, more than that, it isn't biblical. God hasn't given us the capacity to reason just so that we may ignore it.

Many Christians will urge you to do things that are the consequence of a well-founded faith. But such urgings, in your case, put the cart before the horse. Certainly, you aren't going to throw yourself heart and soul into a relationship with a God you doubt even exists. And He isn't asking you to. Paul the apostle wrote, "...for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." (2Tim. 1:12) Paul didn't commit himself to God until he knew, believed and was persuaded that he could do so. God isn't asking more of your faith than He did of Paul's. You too must know, believe and be persuaded.

Salida posted earlier in this thread some evidences for the faith for you to examine. I would encourage you to do so. Ravi Zacharias and Norman Geisler are two other authors whose apologetic writing I would highly recommend. There are good reasons to believe, if, in fact, you want to.

Peace to you.

 

[Lisa0315]

I wouldn't exactly call myself a non-Christian, but I am new to this site and didn't know where else to post this question. Please excuse me if I should have posted elsewhere.

Lately I have had a lot of issues with my faith. I often find myself thinking it's all made up and fake. This, of course, leads me to feel like there is no point to life and so forth.

I really don't want to be feeling this way. I have prayed. I have read the Bible. I have gone to church. I have talked to my fiance about it. I don't know what to do, and I'm hoping someone here has some advice...

I understand. Here is my advice:

1) Practice your faith even when it does not "feel" right. This means continue to pray, read your Bible, and go to church.
2) Confess and repent of any sin in your life. This can keep you a guilty distance from God and give Satan a foothold to cast doubt in your mind.
3) Praise God. Spend time every single day doing nothing except thanking God for what He has done for you. God will show up, I promise.
4) Make sure you are really saved. Doubt can be the other side of the coin of conviction. There is a difference from believing IN and believing ON the Lord.

Lisa

 

[Light hearted]

We recently covered this same situation at church. The timing couldn't have been better.

I was also feeling unattached to God, wondering where he has gone, will he be back, why doesn't he show when I call for him.

The pastor explained it this way.

Just as we have children, as we are God's children, we lead our children and watch over them as much as possible. Same as God watches and leads us on the days we feel him near us. Then the day comes when we feel distant. Question is.... when we don't feel him watching over us do we slide back to worldly ways, or do we use what God has taught us and stay the course when we don't feel his immediate presents.

Look at it this way. Ever stand back and watch your child interact with other children when they don't know you are peeking around the corner. Isn't it the greatest feeling when your child uses all that you have taught it, and it is kind and helpful to it's playmates. It is at this time you feel the child is now ready for the next step of learning, or perhaps an unexpected blessing (gift) from you.

I believe God is the same. I believe at times when God seems distant is the time for me to be the best Christian I can be. It is easy to do God's work when he is holding your hand, it is when he lets go that you now show what kind of student you have been.

I hope this helps,

 

[Faith In God]

Every Christian who is going to be mature and stable in their faith needs to find a "reason of the hope that is in you" (1 Pe. 3:15). Doesn't sound like you've got that yet. Upon what is your faith based? What reason(s) do you have to believe? Blind faith is a fool's faith -- and, more than that, it isn't biblical. God hasn't given us the capacity to reason just so that we may ignore it.

Many Christians will urge you to do things that are the consequence of a well-founded faith. But such urgings, in your case, put the cart before the horse.

Actually, I disagree. You've taken 1 Peter 3:15 out of context: Peter is talking to believers: they have the reason for the hope in them NOW THAT THEY BELIEVE.
Here's a broad cut of that passage:

13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

Peter is giving them instructions! These are things believers DO and DO NOT. It doesn't just happen. Paul was not convinced when he saw Jesus: but he believed, and then AFTERWARDS, all the Scriptures fell into place!

Paul the apostle wrote, "...for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." (2Tim. 1:12) Paul didn't commit himself to God until he knew, believed and was persuaded that he could do so.

There is no Biblical backing for this statement. Paul was converted as soon as he saw in his heart Who he should be following. Then he threw himself into it, preaching to the city he was going to persecute.

You're right in that God will not ask you to throw your heart and soul into service to Him when you doubt Him. But God is asking you to trust Him in faith.

And He will follow through, if you throw your heart and soul and mind into it.

 

[hlaltimus]

I wouldn't exactly call myself a non-Christian, but I am new to this site and didn't know where else to post this question. Please excuse me if I should have posted elsewhere.

Lately I have had a lot of issues with my faith. I often find myself thinking it's all made up and fake. This, of course, leads me to feel like there is no point to life and so forth.

I really don't want to be feeling this way. I have prayed. I have read the Bible. I have gone to church. I have talked to my fiance about it. I don't know what to do, and I'm hoping someone here has some advice...

HI, This answer may seem irrelevant to you having little or nothing to do with your problem of doubt, but I assure you it is a very relevant answer and if you will honestly, sincerely and consistently give this answer a try, I just know that you will be both strengthened and blessed in the faith that you now waver in:

Obey God!

It may not make any sense to you now, but obey God. When the Lord first made the man Adam in the Garden of Eden, the Creator's very first communication to that man began with those binding words, "The Lord God commanded the man" and this principle for harmony with that Creator has never, ever since changed. Jesus said, "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." It could be that you know a considerable or even a marginal amount of Bible knowledge at this point, but all of this knowledge, (valuable as it is,) will be of no lasting benefit to you if you do not commit yourself in that knowledge to a life of obedience. I am not saying now that you are not obeying God at all at this point!! Only that obedience to God is something which is much easier to propose than it is to achieve. The godliest saints on Earth have complained of failure on this point and it hits me right in the face every night as I pray to God just before laying myself down to sleep. It is an invariably true principle found in the Holy Scriptures: Obedience wins God's favor and disobedience disfavors Him. As a Christian, it is very true that you are reconciled to God soley upon a basis of faith alone in the mediatorial righteousness of Christ and not in your own personal works, but the God who saves you by faith does so in order for you to be a qualified recipent of the Holy Spirit of God, and that Holy Spirit gives you the same nature that is found in Christ and His nature is one that loves to obey and honor His and our Father.

When the Jews reached Mt. Gerizim God held out to them the sure promise of rich and lasting blessings upon that nation and the several conditions for that promised blessing could be all summed up in one word, "Obey!" Continue to live a Christian life that comprises faith, love and hope, but remember that all three of these virtues are already commanded you in the scriptures and that in your very faith, in your very love and hope you are rendering three examples of personal obedience to God. It is something that we never get around in this or the next life, and old Adam couldn't get around this responsibility either and for the very same reason:

"The Lord God commanded the man." Genesis 2:16

 

[xino]

don't be deceived!

I was like that!

When ever you think there is no GoD...Satan is whispering it to your ears.

I mean when I heard the Austrai story, the father that raped the daughter and kept captive for 24 years.
I kept saying, isn't there no GoD, to deliver her from that evil man?

I was being stupid to myself!

There is a God!

Satan will do all his power to make you believe there is no GoD!
Satan is a liar and father of all lies!

 

[aiki]

FIG:

I would like to respond to your statements, but this isn't a forum for debate between Christians. Suffice it to say, you've got the wrong end of the stick. I know to whom Paul was writing and why and this doesn't change my comments one bit. Paul didn't believe in a vacuum; he had reasons for his faith. God, in His Word, gives a rationale for why we should trust in Him. We don't open the Bible and find just the single command: Trust Me. No, we see a God who, over and over again, gives mankind cause to believe who and that He is.

Peace to you.

 

[Faith In God]

Paul didn't believe in a vacuum; he had reasons for his faith.

Oh, of course!
But we're talking about which comes first. Paul didn't believe until Jesus struck him down. But he was blind for three days, so he couldn't exactly study! In that time, he turned himself around.

God, in His Word, gives a rationale for why we should trust in Him.

Certainly. But we trust Him first.

We don't open the Bible and find just the single command: Trust Me.

It isn't a command, but it is implicit. The first two commands in the Bible are 1) tend the garden (implicit: see Gen 2:15), and 2) "from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."
How did Adam and Eve fail?

They did not trust God whole-heartedly.
They had only three reasons to believe God. And that was His creation, His provision, and His word.

1 John tells us exactly where our love for God comes from:
We love, because He first loved us
Yes, there is some understanding necessary...but it's not a Science Class.

It's understanding the depth of our sin, God's loathing for sin, and His provision for us sinners despite how abominable we are.

 

[musicman30mm]

If something is true, it will hold up to the utmost scrutiny. It will hold up to your deepest questions, and you shouldn't have to twist logic or ignore your common sense.

I am an atheist, not here to evangelize, but to offer a different prespective. I imagine the answers you have gotten here are the same one's you've been facing throughout the Christian community, and part of your doubt is a reaction to these types of answers. That's good, you should demand solid answers to simple questions, otherwise you will always feel unsatisfied, doubtfull of your foremost beliefs.

The reason I say you should doubt these kind of answers is because they really don't answer anything. In fact, there has scantly been an answer given in this thread- only statements, "Just believe." This is somehow regarded as a noble sentiment among Christains, but how noble is it to believe in something without REALLY believing in it for REAL reasons? How intellectually honest is that?

Think about the story Peter Pan. When you were a child you probably read the book or saw the movie. There's a scene in which Tinkerbell's glow fades and it appears as if she has died. Peter addresses the audience, saying to close your eyes and believe in faries... Just believe. She will be saved. As a kid, you probably closed your eyes, and at least for the moment, you really believed that faries were real. Now you know they are not. Because there is no real REASON to believe in them, and if you did, you couldn't answer alot of very reasonable questions about it.

The advice you are getting from the well meaning CHristians here is the same advice Peter Pan would give about faries, "Just believe and you will believe." "It's most important to believe hardest when you don't believe." Yeah, just close your eyes and believe away those pesky questions, and that develish logic. Then it'll all be okay. But will it? Will everything be rosy if you believe in, or in your case pretend not to doubt, a god? Will everything fall to pieces if you don't? Search for those answers, among others.

As I said, any belief worth having should stand up to whatever kind of questioning you can muster, so question away. I would reccomend, above all, looking into the alternatives to Christianity or theism in general. There's secular-humanism, universal unitarianism, pantheism, deism or just plain atheism and agnosticism. If you really want to find out whether or not you 'believe', read the arguments against theism. If you are truly a believer, you should find them lacking, if not you will have found your place, and it will be enlightening. The God Delusion is a very good humored, interesting, and highly intellegent look at the arguments against religion. Despite what you have probably heard about it from other Christians, it is not evil or mean or anything else. It is actually quite fair.

Most importantly, don't ever think there is something bad or wrong about having doubts. In fact, there is something very good and right about it.