Doubting

[servant4ever]

Hello everybody,

This is going to be hard for me to say, but I have been struggling with doubting if there is even a God or if Christianity is true. (waits while all the gasps cease) I am a born-again Christian, as I have called on the name of Jesus Christ, but I have just been struggling with doubting. Now, should a Christian even start to wonder if Christianity is true? I don't know if this is a stupid attack from satan, but it is starting to scare me if I am even a Christian. Just to let you know, after thinking if Christianity is real or not, I do decide that Christianity is real because of what the Bible says, if that makes any sense.

Any viewpoint will be helpful,

servant4ever

 

[Protoevangel]

Hi servant4ever,


Welcome to the club my friend. We all have times of doubt. The best antidote to doubt for me is a huge helping of Bible garnished with generous dollops of prayer.

 

[servant4ever]

But, see the thing is, I "decided" one night that there wasn't even a God. (GASP) I did repent of that the next day, but should a Christian even go through that? I mean, I keep getting these doubts larger and larger whenever they come into my mind. I seriously wonder if there is something wrong with me.

servant4ever

 

[BuffBry089]

I don't think there is anything wrong with you. You are just being tempted by Satin. He knows that you are having faith problems and wants to keep on tempting you. The only advice that I would give to you would to be to stay strong and keep praying. God will help you through this if you trust in him.

 

[Protoevangel]

Mark 9:24
Right away the boy's father cried out, "I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!"

I think there is value in going through times of doubt. Without doubt, where is faith? How can a faith and hope in what is unseen grow stronger if it doesn’t have something to struggle against? Do your muscles grow stronger without resistance? Faith works much the same way. If you are tested much, rejoice, God has much trust in you. Remember, No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

The cure for doubt? Read the Bible, talk with God (in prayer and throughout all of your daily activities; tell him of your doubt and ask Him to help). Doubt again? Rebuke Satan and dive right back into that Book of books.

Like I said in my earlier post, welcome to the club. I have been there, and I would venture to guess that every Christian has had periods of doubt. You are in good company.

If you have any specific doubts, go ahead and pm me. I will try to help you work through them.

 

[Svt4Him]

Yes it's normal. Then you need to remember all that God has done for you. Think back to what He said to you, or how He directed you, or remember a time you were really thankful.

 

[Asar'el]

Several thoughts... without knowing more about your particular situation it is hard to give you specific advice ... and while I think despair is dangerous, neither do I think there is nothing to worry about:

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Temptation, as may be seen above, is common to man; and God is faithful to provide the means to bear it. Nevertheless, I am troubled by your statement,

I mean, I keep getting these doubts larger and larger whenever they come into my mind.

This is hard to take in without knowing more details... but we are expected to grow in faith, not in doubt. It sounds to me like your faith is being attacked, and without knowing more, I'd say it's being attacked somewhere at your foundation, where it may not be most solid.

On the plus side, you can take comfort in knowing that it is faith being attacked - if you didn't have it, there would be no reason to attack it

My advice: make your foundation sure; and when it comes to it, only one foundation is true, Christ Jesus, our Lord. Learn more and more of Him from His word, and you will find doubt grow smaller and smaller.

 

[Adoniram]

But, see the thing is, I "decided" one night that there wasn't even a God. (GASP) I did repent of that the next day, but should a Christian even go through that? I mean, I keep getting these doubts larger and larger whenever they come into my mind. I seriously wonder if there is something wrong with me.

Consider the case of "doubting" Thomas--

John 20 (NIV)
24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.

Be of good courage and doubt not for the Lord also says--

John 6 (NIV)
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

 

[Anti-Fear]

Sometimes I doubt too.

But think about it this way.
Ok, imagine that the Bible isn't true.
It still teaches values we all love, it unites us, it makes us happy, and it does good things for society.

 

[Harry the Heretic]

Been there done that, and may do so again sometime, who knows? Some things I've reflected on when I doubted.

The source of Christianity is unique. Both Judaism and Christianity from a worldy standpoint were so weak(unlike Islam and Bhudaism, established by rich and powerful men) in origin that if God had not established them, they would have died long ago. Why is the bible the best selling book in the world, especially given the attacks and the way it portrays governments? (many would like to see it disappear). Many people despise the bible because it accuses them, no one views it as quaint, unlike many other beliefs.

God is self evident in his creation. Think about it this way. there is this tiny world hanging in space. Just the slightest changes in distance from the sun causes extreme changes in climate. The smallest of fluxes in natural forces causes violent earthquakes, storms etc. There is no other place like it. When I understand the forces of nature is when I really understand how precarious the whole situation we take for granted here is.

The evil in the world is evidence of the spiritual warfare spoken of in the word. (this is a biggie for me)

It's foundation is so crazy it has to be true. How else could Christianity exist today if it wasn't? All other conspiracy theories are just too weak when put under proper scrutiny.

Every theory, every new thing, every discovery, most new discourse, everything except the church is an accuser or an adversary to the Christian God. Not to the God of Islam, or Ra etc. The world would dethrone him or doubt his existence, as the word teaches.

Remember, those that seek and trust God will not be confounded.

Sometimes faith is having your feet firmly planted on a solid rock, and other times it is hanging by a fingernail onto that same rock.

Only the Lord can pull you back up, not yourself.

Just some thoughts. Now go read Isaiah chapter 40!




May the Lord grant you peace

 

[JVD]

Any real thinking person doubts. As one of my best teachers said...QUESTION EVERYTHING.

You will not make your faith your own unless you question things...but then go after the answers. Just sitting there in a sea of doubt is unhealthy. So, since you doubt, now go after the answers.

As many have said here...read the bible, and that is true, you must gain a thorough understanding of God's word. After you gain that, or while you are gaining that do more study.

For example, how do you know God's word is God's word? After all the Mormons are just as convinced that the book of mormon is God's word as others are convinced that the King James Bible is God's word. So do some real study of the history of bringing the word of God down through the centuries.

For me, when I doubt, I go back to Jesus. Was he a real person? Was he who he said he was? After my study I find enough to convince me that the answer is yes he really did claim to be God and proved it by his death and resurrection. And I have become convinced that the gospels are accurate, historical accounts of a real person.

One recent book that may help is The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. I find it a well laid out set of evidence for Christ. And after the answers for Jesus are there, the rest fall into place. After all, the real question of Christianity is WHO IS JESUS?

 

[Diane_Windsor]

But, see the thing is, I "decided" one night that there wasn't even a God. (GASP) I did repent of that the next day, but should a Christian even go through that? I mean, I keep getting these doubts larger and larger whenever they come into my mind. I seriously wonder if there is something wrong with me.

I've been in your exact position and I have been in and out of the Christian faith numerous times. On my death bed I'll probably have a Baptist minister, a Buddhist monk, a RC priest, etc. all at my side to help me with the transition lol. I will probably struggle with this for the rest of my life.

There is nothing is wrong with you. I have a few questions. Were you raised as a Christian? Have you recently left home for college? If so, then you might be entering into a time period where you will struggle a lot about your beliefs. That is normal. Everybody has to grow up and claim their own faith-apart from their parents faith. When I was in college I broke away from my parent's faith (Baptist), and I am still in the process of claiming my own faith.

Hope this helps,
Diane

 

[Blade]

Like DanHead said PRAYER. Take some time and really get somewhere and pray and tell him all about it. As you take time to talk to him he WILL talk to you. Expect it. Stay in the Word. Jer 33.3. Remember you did not find him he found you..

 

[servant4ever]

But, the thing is, why would I pray if I am doubting Him? I am in that stage again because something bad just happened, I don't know, I feel so dumb for sharing this, but why would God allow evil to happen?

servant4ever

 

[Svt4Him]

If God was to judge evil right this moment, a lot of people will die. I'd be ok if God judged murderers, and rapist, but then He'd also judge liars and gossips, and all sin. In His mercy, He allows time for people to repent. He will judge all in His time.

 

[Harry the Heretic]

But, the thing is, why would I pray if I am doubting Him? I am in that stage again because something bad just happened, I don't know, I feel so dumb for sharing this, but why would God allow evil to happen?

servant4ever

You need to seek the Sabbath of God. Look for the rest that is in Christ. For when you cease striving then He will strive for you. Confess your doubts to him and be at peace. For the spirit within you groans and intercedes for you even when you cannot pray, and Christ which is in you knows your struggles. Lay your burden on Him and enter into his rest.

Christ will be victorious.

 

[servant4ever]

I don't know if I am really messed up or what, but I am doubting again. What would it matter if this truly wasn't real; we were just falling for a lie? How do we even know Jesus lived? Why would god even allow my grandpa, who treated my grandma poorly, treat another woman with the most respect? Why would God allow the church to be so divided? Why would God just make it so hard to get to heaven? I mean, believing in Jesus is hard to get to heaven because not many of the 6 billion people have heard of Jesus. I mean, I have accepted the call to faith in Christ, but what if that was just my emotions running wild? Does this sound crazy, or what? Am I just under horrible spiritual attack? What if all I'm living for (Jesus) isn't true? If you wish to talk to me, send me a PM...

servant4ever

 

[Protoevangel]

Well, since you aren't getting any replies here servant4ever, I'll repost the reply I sent you via PM, maybe it'll spark more thoughts from others to give you the encouragement you need.






Blessings, my friend,


You are no more messed up than the rest of us. We are all messed up, and all have doubts.


What would it matter?
Paul tells us that if it were not for the Resurrection, we would be the most pitiable of people.


How do we know Jesus lived?
Besides faith, we have several historical records of Jesus. The Jewish Sanhedrin wrote of him, they called him a sorcerer, and accused him of leading people of Israel into apostasy. They admit to having him executed. They tried to crush the Sect that eventually became know as Christians, if they could have denied his existence, be sure that they would have done so.

The Roman historian Tacitus, and the Roman writer Suetonius both wrote about him. The Greek playwright Lucian wrote about him. Josephus is the most well known historian of the first century mentions James, and describes him as "the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ".


Why would god even allow my grandpa, who treated my grandma poorly, treat another woman with the most respect?
Why would God allow Hitler to get away with the atrocities he preformed for so long? The answer is that God allows us to act on our own, to choose His way or to chose our own way. If your grandmother has been a victim for a time, know that she will be comforted for eternity.


Why would God allow the church to be so divided?
Same answer, God does not force us to act a certain way. If he did, then we could not choose to love Him. We would not be His children, we would be His slaves (which we should be anyway, but by choice, not by being manipulated).


Why would God just make it so hard to get to heaven?
He doesn’t, we do. All it takes is to accept His free gift.


I mean, believing in Jesus is hard to get to heaven because not many of the 6 billion people have heard of Jesus.
Know this; God is all mercy, God is all justice. No one will be judged wrongly or cruelly. No one will be judged for what they did not know, but for what they did know, and denied. On that great Day of Judgment, no one will be able to say that they were wronged by God. It will be fair, and it will be merciful, and I am sure that we will all be surprised by how fair and merciful it is.


I mean, I have accepted the call to faith in Christ, but what if that was just my emotions running wild?
No one can accept the call to faith except those who have been called by God.


Does this sound crazy, or what? Am I just under horrible spiritual attack?
I believe it is the latter. Satan will do his best to make us doubt and stumble. The best cure is exactly what I told you in my first post to you. Stay in the Word, read in the Bible every day, several times per day, if it is at all possible. Pray, often and hard, explain your lack of faith to God, ask for renewed faith. One other thing that would help is to stop associating, as much as possible, with unbelievers. Find strong believers to spend time with, people who understand your doubts, and will encourage you. Don’t think I am telling you to completely avoid your old friends or family if they are not believers, but you may need a short time away from them for your faith to take root and become healthy again. This may be too much for you at this time, that’s ok too. It will just take more prayer and time in the Word, if you are still associating closely with unbelievers.


What if all I'm living for (Jesus) isn't true? If you wish to talk to me, send me a PM...
We have already established that Jesus existed. The only question left is: Is He who He said He is? We accept His claims on faith, but is there mort than faith by which we can be sure of whom He is? The answer to that is YES! I will be more than happy to share more with you later. Make sure to PM me back to let me know if you are interested.


servant4ever
That is a powerful name you chose. God can make it a reality.

 

[Asaph]

Yup. Right on target DH. Amen, and amen.
Asaph

 

[9-iron]

I don't have a whole lot to add, but in these times surround yourself with those strong in their faith. It will help to be around these people. Even though there might be some age differences I have found there is wisdom and strength in our elders. Find someone to be somewhat of a mentor.


It helps and sometimes all you need is to be around these people. They don't necessarily need to minister to you or anything. Strength and faith can be contagious.