Faith destroyed?

Sunniesnl · Jan 9, 2012

I have always struggled with faith and belief in the bible. I always believed in Jesus and still do. When I was in high school I was just starting to grow in my faith without struggling with my belief in God. Then right after I graduated my best friend and the one who bright me to church, was killed in a car accident. My faith was destroyed.
Now even though I am willing and want to believe, I cannot find any faith. The sad thing is thay I have always believed in Jesus, I just can't make myself believe in the bible. I don't know where to go from here...

Sunniesnl · Jan 9, 2012

Sorry about the errors, doing this on my phone

Nanopants · Jan 9, 2012

I'm very sorry to hear about your friend, and I've also experienced similar loss in my life that has challenged my own faith.

The realization that I eventually came to is that the Christian message is not mostly about this life. In other words, it's not about God fixing every problem in this temporary life. It's about God's redemptive plan for the world which is very dark and broken without Him.

danluc · Jan 9, 2012

Hi Sunniesni,

I remember when I first became a Christian, I struggled with believing the bible. I went to a christian conference where God revealed himself to me in such a real way and after that I was convinced He was real. But I wasn't so sure about the bible.

I while later after the conference when I was flipping through channels on tv I came across some stand up comedy with Ricky Gervis. Basically he was making fun of the whole genesis account (the garden of Eden, adam and eve, etc). I went to my bedroom full of doubt and finding it so difficult to believe the bible. I remember what I prayed that night. I said, "God, I know that you're real, but what about this book?!". That night God spoke to me, and let me know that I can trust the scripture and that its from Him.

Since then the more I read and study the scriptures the more I'm convinced that the bible is trustworthy and true.

danluc · Jan 9, 2012

I guess my advice is to read and study the bible and with every doubt and unbelief that comes up direct it to God. If there's things you don't understand, ask God to show you. Like when I asked God whether the bible is true, just direct all your questions to Him.

God actually promises that if we seek Him with all our heart we will find Him.

As you spend more and more time reading and studying you'll be more and more convinced. It was like that for me.

danluc · Jan 9, 2012

Hi Sunniesni,

I remember when I first became a Christian, I struggled with believing the bible. I went to a christian conference where God revealed himself to me in such a real way and after that I was convinced He was real. But I wasn't so sure about the bible.

I while later after the conference when I was flipping through channels on tv I came across some stand up comedy with Ricky Gervis. Basically he was making fun of the whole genesis account (the garden of Eden, adam and eve, etc). I went to my bedroom full of doubt and finding it so difficult to believe the bible. I remember what I prayed that night. I said, "God, I know that you're real, but what about this book?!". That night God spoke to me, and let me know that I can trust the scripture and that its from Him.

Since then the more I read and study the scriptures the more I'm convinced that the bible is trustworthy and true.

Sunniesnl · Jan 10, 2012

Thank you so much for sharing with me! I will do those things and pray for guidance

.

razeontherock · Jan 10, 2012

You've gotten good responses so far. If I can add anything of value, let me say it is the words of Jesus Himself that are most significant. The rest of the NT is mainly showing what happens when we live out His words! I would reccommend staying away from the OT until after you go through this much of the process. (Psalms and Proverbs can be an exception, if you really want to read more variety)

If you take issue with any of Jesus' words, I would encourage you to bring those objections here, if you don't have a better avenue ...

AvgJoe · Jan 11, 2012

Hi Sunniesnl,

I am so sorry for your loss. The tragedies in this life really do test our faith. I experienced a profound tragedy when I was in my teens. I turned away from God, thinking He was partly to blame and it was 20 years before I went back to church. During my time away, I realised that God was not to blame for any part of what had happened.

Without the Bible, we cannot know Jesus. It tells us who He is, what He has done for us and how we can have a personal relationship with Him.

Following are a few links to sites that will be helpful in showing you why the Bible is reliable and can be trusted. Here is the first one~~~>» Discovery Series . It will take you to an eBook called 'Can I Really Trust the Bible'. Once there, click on the 'View PDF' button and it will bring up the eBook.

That eBook is offered by RBC Ministries. They have many more eBooks about the Bible. They can be found here~~~> Discovery Series » Offering more than 200 Bible-based teachings .

Another site that has many articles on the Bible is CARM. Their article, 'Is The Bible Reliable?', can be found here~~~> Is the Bible reliable? | Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry .

May God bless you abundantly.

salida · Jan 19, 2012

Pray and ask God to give you faith.

There is overwhelming circumstantial evidence of the bible. This type of evidence is used in a court of law.
Visit: www.TheBibleProofBook.com, (you will need acrobat reader for this), read The Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell a former agnostic- (its overwhelming circumstantial evidence of bible) and Examine the Evidence by Muncaster a former athiest/The Case for Christ and The Real Jesus by Lee Strobel a former athiest.

100 fulfilled Bible prophecies
Fulfilled Prophecy: Evidence for the Reliability of the Bible | Reasons To Believe (science website)
Eyewitnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Apologetics Study - Evidence For The Christian Faith
Bible Reliability: M-A-P-S to Guide You through Bible Reliability

Historical Accuracy
The bible is loaded with historical statements concerning events hundreds of years ago and has not
been proven incorrect in any.
(Bible compared to other ancient documents):
New Testament starts - at 25 years between original and first surviving copies
Homer - starts at 500 years
Demosthenes - at 1400 years
Plato - at 1200 years

salida · Jan 19, 2012

Pray and ask God to give you faith.

There is overwhelming circumstantial evidence of the bible. This type of evidence is used in a court of law.
Visit: www.TheBibleProofBook.com, (you will need acrobat reader for this), read The Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell a former agnostic- (its overwhelming circumstantial evidence of bible) and Examine the Evidence by Muncaster a former athiest/The Case for Christ and The Real Jesus by Lee Strobel a former athiest.

100 fulfilled Bible prophecies
Fulfilled Prophecy: Evidence for the Reliability of the Bible | Reasons To Believe (science website)
Eyewitnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Apologetics Study - Evidence For The Christian Faith
Bible Reliability: M-A-P-S to Guide You through Bible Reliability

Historical Accuracy
The bible is loaded with historical statements concerning events hundreds of years ago and has not
been proven incorrect in any.
(Bible compared to other ancient documents):
New Testament starts - at 25 years between original and first surviving copies
Homer - starts at 500 years
Demosthenes - at 1400 years
Plato - at 1200 years

drich0150 · Jan 19, 2012

Can you define what you understand to be "Faith?"

SanFrank · Jan 30, 2012

It really does not sound as though your faith was destroyed because you still believe in the Lord. Did you mean to say something else? It sounds like you're remorseful over the loss of your friend. I can comfort you by reminding you that immediately upon death, the christian is at once in the presence of the Lord. Paul alludes to that here:

2 Cor 5.7-8 "We live by faith, not by sight.http://www.biblestudytools.com/2-corinthians/5.html#cr-descriptionAnchor-8 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

Away from the body (death) is at home with the Lord. Your friend is happier than you are it sounds. You may choose to remember your friend by finding out what made him/her want to go to church. What was so important about church that made him/her want you to go? And of course, belief is by hearing, and hearing the Word of the Lord (Bible). Study it and be comforted. G*d is good and His love endures forever.

underheaven · Jan 31, 2012

Well since I believe in the pre -existence of souls ,and know that the early christians did too .When
we are born we already have a history,and a'fate' to work out. You will have heard of 'karma',
which means that whatever we did in a previous life will have to be worked out in this one.
Sometimes what happens to us if bad is because we have made some one else suffer .
Or it might just be that we have needed for whatever reason to learn a' lesson',which we
chose to learn. I became very very ill to learn that God is not only there ,but that His
laws rule everything ,and we live according to Love,and Faith ,or perish. Christians are
always looking into the bible,the past ,but it is God who guided us into this Modern world .
He is not a ' sky fairy ' as the ignorant atheist tells, us but the guiding Intelligence behind all science ,
astronomy ,as well as being a Loving God,
who can heal, all pain etc .
However many do not seek their God , live with, and in Him
:they are too busy externalising ,talking words etc,but God wants relationship,dependence,seeking ,listening,and being prepared to give up some of our time
to be alone with Him .
Only in this way, can we find 'forgiveness of past 'sins'[karma] ,
and protection from 'consequences of 'sin'. :hug:

lucaspa · Feb 3, 2012

First, the Bible is simply a means to bring you to faith in God and Jesus. None of us are supposed to have "faith in the Bible". We have faith in God and Jesus!

Lots of people have trouble dealing with bad things happening to good people. It would seem that the death of your friend is an example of that. Is that why your "faith was destroyed"? Your friend's death has nothing to do with the existence of God or the willingness and ability of God to emotionally help you in your grief.

Johnnz · Feb 5, 2012

Too few young Christians are given really good information that provides a reasonable basis for what they believe. Thus they sort of have a kind of faith based on faith basis. Your faith is not being destroyed as much as it is being challenged to have its basis expanded.

Some of above list of books are a must read for you. Probably you will need some further issues explored. Feel free to PM me if you want some suggested sources of good information.

John
NZ

[serious] · Feb 7, 2012

Well, is Christianity about God or the bible?

Keep in mind that the bible was not delivered to us by Jesus, but rather the current books were chosen as canon over the next couple hundred years. Many of the books in the bible were not originally intended to be considered divinely inspired but instead were simply letters between various people. Significant debate over what was and wasn't canon was common and continues, to a degree, today.

idscience · Mar 2, 2012

There is no pain like the pain of loss. My wife and I have each held one of our children while they passed away. A son and a daughter. I can tell you Jesus saw us through. I also lost my brother when he was only 32, and my nephew at age 9. You faith is not gone. I know, I thought mine may leave in the deepest pain of my life, and seeing the pain in my wife's eyes. WE don't know why God allows these things, all we know is he loves us, and our loved ones more then we can ever hope to. They are also his. I was set free in church one morning while I was still grieving my brother years later when I felt God speak to my spirit. He told me that my brother was his, not mine, and I felt his say he loves him more than I ever could.

I just encourage you to spend quiet time with God, speak from your heart and spend time listening. Spend some time in the psalms and see how others have dealt with great pain and fear. He will never leave you. He is still knocking on your heart. Take heart in the fact that he holds onto you, you are not holding onto him.

underheaven · Mar 2, 2012

Well put.That is it, exactly,it is being challenged in order that it will grow to be a greater,and more perfected one,in love faith,and intellect. To oversimplify the route that leads to perfect relationship with God, is to realise, that it is not 'magic' ,but constant interaction, of the heart and mind with Him. As we see in the bible,and those of us who walk the path [or try to], it is a living relationship,and on our side, can be filled with doubts and fears,even darkness at times,but by keeping on ,we grow in relationship,and become more certain,more supported.

narrowgatebroadroad · Mar 4, 2012

Forgive me if I am slightly off track but I wanted to say a couple of things:

I wanted to ask WHY the loss of your friend would make you lose your faith?

I don't think God is sitting up there saying 'This one will die in a car accident' 'This one has cancer'....no no no.... God does not ALLOW this stuff to happen....
When the fall occurred sin was released into the world and like a cancer it has spread right through humanity, right through every age and time. Like a computer virus...This world and this second rate life and all who are in it are totally affected by the corruption. This life, this world and all of the things that occur in it are NOT fair.
God has given us freewill and the right to choose if we follow after him or not.

One more thing that I don't understand adn I would ask you to consider would be this....Your friend was obviously a follower, a believer of God....She would believe that when she died, when she next opened her eyes she would be going to be with God.. How can THAT be something to lose your faith over?

BTW This is not an attack I am genuinely interested in your answers... I would ask you the same thing if we were having this conversation in person too...

Faith destroyed?

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