Hello. I have many questions.

[SoManyQuestions!]

First some background info. I used to be an atheist till some stuff happen that changed my prospective. Long story short I started going to church. I now believe in God and Satan/Lucifer. I believe in Jesus. I used to go to church every Sunday and helped with events. For about 4 years till I moved out of town and really can't do that much anymore.

That is not what caused this divide between myself and God though. I had many of these questions before that, but felt like I never got any satisfactory answers to them and that is mostly my fault. I always tried to word them in the best ways I could to not overly offend anyone. Because of that I don't think they really understood what I was asking. So I will try to be more direct here.

As of now. I am not a Christian. I believe in Christ, but I do not love him, or the father. I don't see either of them as being particularly bad or good. Just flawed. I also don't think the devil is evil. He just has a different way of doing things and is in disagreement with God on many of those things and honestly if I had to side with someone at this moment. I'd probably side with Lucifer.

I don't think God is perfect. I do think he makes mistakes, a lot of them actually, and those are the things I have questions about. I want to side with God. I want to believe he is a good person and has a great plan for all of us, but I can't. Not with so many questions unanswered. So that is why I am really here. No to convince you that your faith is wrong and that you should side with Satan, but to be convinced that I am wrong, and that I should side with God. I want that. I do. But I am starting to think that is impossible.

This is getting to long. So I'll just end it by saying hello.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

First some background info. I used to be an atheist till some stuff happen that changed my prospective. Long story short I started going to church. I now believe in God and Satan/Lucifer. I believe in Jesus. I used to go to church every Sunday and helped with events. For about 4 years till I moved out of town and really can't do that much anymore.

That is not what caused this divide between myself and God though. I had many of these questions before that, but felt like I never got any satisfactory answers to them and that is mostly my fault. I always tried to word them in the best ways I could to not overly offend anyone. Because of that I don't think they really understood what I was asking. So I will try to be more direct here.

As of now. I am not a Christian. I believe in Christ, but I do not love him, or the father. I don't see either of them as being particularly bad or good. Just flawed. I also don't think the devil is evil. He just has a different way of doing things and is in disagreement with God on many of those things and honestly if I had to side with someone at this moment. I'd probably side with Lucifer.

I don't think God is perfect. I do think he makes mistakes, a lot of them actually, and those are the things I have questions about. I want to side with God. I want to believe he is a good person and has a great plan for all of us, but I can't. Not with so many questions unanswered. So that is why I am really here. No to convince you that your faith is wrong and that you should side with Satan, but to be convinced that I am wrong, and that I should side with God. I want that. I do. But I am starting to think that is impossible.

This is getting to long. So I'll just end it by saying hello.

Welcome! Looking forward to your many questions ! Be blessed .

 

[Shrewd Manager]

Hello and welcome. You'll find many different understandings of God represented here. Hope it helps you seek Jesus in spirit and truth, and may you be greatly blessed by the riches of His grace.

 

[GenemZ]

How do you know you are not a Christian? What is a Christian? The problem can be that what you have seen so far in Christianity tells you that you can not be a part of it. That does not mean you are not a Christian.

God gave you fingerprints that are unique. So is your soul unique. Its the only one of its kind. Christianity when its alive and spiritual will cause you to be not conformed to this world. Much of Christianity over time has become worldly in approach. So, you might be in a better place for now. What you need is truth, not some system to conform to.

 

[SoManyQuestions!]

How do you know you are not a Christian? What is a Christian? The problem can be that what you have seen so far in Christianity tells you that you can not be a part of it. That does not mean you are not a Christian.

God gave you fingerprints that are unique. So is your soul unique. Its the only one of its kind. Christianity when its alive and spiritual will cause you to be not conformed to this world. Much of Christianity over time has become worldly in approach. So, you might be in a better place for now. What you need is truth, not some system to conform to.

I don't think just believing in Christ makes you Christian. You have to walk the walk and talk the talk. You have to try and be as much like Christ as is humanly possible to be Christian. That is not me. I won't follow someone else's life. I live my own life. Flawed as it is. It is still mine.

 

[Michie]

Hello. Here is the section you might want to pose your questions. https://www.christianforums.com/categories/outreach.272/

This is just the intro section where we are supposed to keep it light.

 

[Aussie Pete]

First some background info. I used to be an atheist till some stuff happen that changed my prospective. Long story short I started going to church. I now believe in God and Satan/Lucifer. I believe in Jesus. I used to go to church every Sunday and helped with events. For about 4 years till I moved out of town and really can't do that much anymore.

That is not what caused this divide between myself and God though. I had many of these questions before that, but felt like I never got any satisfactory answers to them and that is mostly my fault. I always tried to word them in the best ways I could to not overly offend anyone. Because of that I don't think they really understood what I was asking. So I will try to be more direct here.

As of now. I am not a Christian. I believe in Christ, but I do not love him, or the father. I don't see either of them as being particularly bad or good. Just flawed. I also don't think the devil is evil. He just has a different way of doing things and is in disagreement with God on many of those things and honestly if I had to side with someone at this moment. I'd probably side with Lucifer.

I don't think God is perfect. I do think he makes mistakes, a lot of them actually, and those are the things I have questions about. I want to side with God. I want to believe he is a good person and has a great plan for all of us, but I can't. Not with so many questions unanswered. So that is why I am really here. No to convince you that your faith is wrong and that you should side with Satan, but to be convinced that I am wrong, and that I should side with God. I want that. I do. But I am starting to think that is impossible.

This is getting to long. So I'll just end it by saying hello.

Hi. I was much like you until I came to know Jesus. I was afraid of God and I wanted nothing to do with him. That was nearly 50 years ago. I've learned a bit in that time. And I'm not the only one. Feel free to ask all you need to ask.

 

[SoManyQuestions!]

Hello. Here is the section you might want to pose your questions. Outreach | Christian Forums
https://www.christianforums.com/categories/outreach.272/
This is just the intro section where we are supposed to keep it light.

Thank you.

 

[GenemZ]

I don't think just believing in Christ makes you Christian. You have to walk the walk and talk the talk. You have to try and be as much like Christ as is humanly possible to be Christian. That is not me. I won't follow someone else's life. I live my own life. Flawed as it is. It is still mine.

I believed in Christ ten years before I understood I was a Christian. What took so long for me? I hated the phoniness and garbage they present without knowing we are to become spiritual beings that feed on truth to be made strong. Instead, they only offered religious conformity. Each denomination was designed to make persons of a certain demeanor to feel like they fit in. Creative people and people who have a deep sense of autonomy feel like they can not be a Christian. I felt that way for ten years of intense suffering... Then, by God's grace I finally found truth. It was being taught by a few who had the intelligence to present the Word of God in a manner that showed me how the Bible warned against what is happening in many churches today.

Here is the problem we walk into when we become a Christian today.

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 2 Tim 4:3​

And, that's what we find ourselves with today. Over 1000 denominations.. each manifesting a personality of conformity to like minded people.

Pray to the Father in Jesus name that He will guide you to where you can find sound doctrine for EVERY area of your life. People today would rather seek churches where they can feel at home with their natural selves. A church that will find ways by distorting Scripture to tell them that their natural way of doing things is pleasing to God. But, when the Word of God is taught with accuracy we all learn that is not the case... That is why Jesus said if we are to follow him we will have to deny ourselves (of our opinions) and take up our cross (put to death what we come to know is not his way of thinking).

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord." Isa 55:8
​

Christianity is suppose to be the way to having life to its fullest. Jesus warned.. Only a few find it. Most take the "broad and wide road" that leads to the destruction of the spiritual life that harbors joy. Mainstream religiosity is the broad and wide road.

If you are a genuinely creative person? Most churches will sadden you. You need truth before you will need others to socialize with.... Otherwise, you will suffocate spiritually if you do not find the Truth that God will smile and give you life with.

In a real church they must find themselves being offended from time to time to discover that what they pride themselves in is not what God desires for us to be. That's how we ended up with denominations. Each denomination is a home for the offended who want to feel comfortable with what God says must change if we are to follow him. But, His burden is light. Grace makes it easy.

grace and peace......

 

[JesseRaymondBassett]

Hello SoManyQuestions,
Welcome to ChristianForums. We can help you get the answers you seek. If you need advice or prayer, feel free to PM me personally. I am more than willing to help guide you here on the website.

God bless you!

 

[Deade]

Hello SoMany,
welcome to CF.

I hope you'll enjoy your stay here. I put you on my prayer list.

 

[kingsdaughter85]

Hello there. Welcome to cf and be blessed ❤️

 

[April_Rose]

Hello welcome to Christian Forums, I hope you find everything that you're looking for.

 

[sunshineforJesus]

Hi and welcome here.

 

[Anthony2019]

First some background info. I used to be an atheist till some stuff happen that changed my prospective. Long story short I started going to church. I now believe in God and Satan/Lucifer. I believe in Jesus. I used to go to church every Sunday and helped with events. For about 4 years till I moved out of town and really can't do that much anymore.

That is not what caused this divide between myself and God though. I had many of these questions before that, but felt like I never got any satisfactory answers to them and that is mostly my fault. I always tried to word them in the best ways I could to not overly offend anyone. Because of that I don't think they really understood what I was asking. So I will try to be more direct here.

As of now. I am not a Christian. I believe in Christ, but I do not love him, or the father. I don't see either of them as being particularly bad or good. Just flawed. I also don't think the devil is evil. He just has a different way of doing things and is in disagreement with God on many of those things and honestly if I had to side with someone at this moment. I'd probably side with Lucifer.

I don't think God is perfect. I do think he makes mistakes, a lot of them actually, and those are the things I have questions about. I want to side with God. I want to believe he is a good person and has a great plan for all of us, but I can't. Not with so many questions unanswered. So that is why I am really here. No to convince you that your faith is wrong and that you should side with Satan, but to be convinced that I am wrong, and that I should side with God. I want that. I do. But I am starting to think that is impossible.

This is getting to long. So I'll just end it by saying hello.

Hi SoManyQuestions!
It is good to have you with us.
I look forward to reading your questions and hope you will get some helpful responses.

 

[Manu7]

First some background info. I used to be an atheist till some stuff happen that changed my prospective. Long story short I started going to church. I now believe in God and Satan/Lucifer. I believe in Jesus. I used to go to church every Sunday and helped with events. For about 4 years till I moved out of town and really can't do that much anymore.

That is not what caused this divide between myself and God though. I had many of these questions before that, but felt like I never got any satisfactory answers to them and that is mostly my fault. I always tried to word them in the best ways I could to not overly offend anyone. Because of that I don't think they really understood what I was asking. So I will try to be more direct here.

As of now. I am not a Christian. I believe in Christ, but I do not love him, or the father. I don't see either of them as being particularly bad or good. Just flawed. I also don't think the devil is evil. He just has a different way of doing things and is in disagreement with God on many of those things and honestly if I had to side with someone at this moment. I'd probably side with Lucifer.

I don't think God is perfect. I do think he makes mistakes, a lot of them actually, and those are the things I have questions about. I want to side with God. I want to believe he is a good person and has a great plan for all of us, but I can't. Not with so many questions unanswered. So that is why I am really here. No to convince you that your faith is wrong and that you should side with Satan, but to be convinced that I am wrong, and that I should side with God. I want that. I do. But I am starting to think that is impossible.

This is getting to long. So I'll just end it by saying hello.

Search in your heart what may be the cause of your confusion. Are there unacknowledged and unrepented sins?
Has your heart been hardened by your sinful way of life?

PLEASE READ WITH ALL YOUR HEART WHEN YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REFLECT

Hello, i will advice you to hear the sermons of Leonard Ravenhill on "repentance", "the bride prepared" and other sermons. We can have the "wish" and "will" to stop sinning but unless we make a conscious and firm decision to die to our sins in the death of Jesus Christ and live in His resurrection power (that is, believing that He did not only die but resurrected) we might end up living our lives with an unaccomplished "will" to "stop sinning". For this we need to

1. Acknowledge that there are sins in our lives.
2. Know (list) them and decide what we want to do about them.
3. Do we really want to get rid of these?
This is the point where we realise if we are "willing whatever cost it makes" to live a life of repentance.
4. Always pray and seek God vehemently to help us live a life which pleases Him (to glorify Him) and to stop sinning.
5. While doing the above start replacing bad habits with good habits.
Christian life requires discipline in all things (praying, sleeping, working, eating, etc) and self-denial.
If you live with the purpose of following Christ, you will suddenly see that other things are no distraction to you anymore since you are disciplined and have an aim at hand. If you set your mind on Christ and on the things that are above and discipline yourself and crucify your flesh [put your fleshly desires (gluttony, love of materials, sexual immorality) under subordination], you will also see that this is the battle in the Christian life (because the flesh and the spirit fight against teach other) and you will be more focused on Christ.
The flesh and the spirit fight against each other because our spirit wants to follow Christ but our flesh (old man) refuses to die with Jesus on the cross and therefore how can the new man come if the old has not died?
Jesus gave the parable in Luke 5:36-39 kjv

36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

This is the reason why you find it difficult to stop sinning. You are used to your old lifestyle or sinful nature (vs. 39).

No matter what many people tell you, it is still YOUR DECISION to renounce your old nature and follow Christ.

Even Jesus himself said REPENT. No one can be forced to, but all must make a choice.

Joshua said to the unrepenting Israelites (in the book of Joshua 24:15 kjv) who followed other gods just like we follow the world, its ways and its sins:

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

So what is your decision?
You can have all the WILL and WISHES in the world but unless you make a decision and stand firm, repentance will be difficult.

Stay blessed, think and pray about it.

 

[SoManyQuestions!]

Search in your heart what may be the cause of your confusion. Are there unacknowledged and unrepented sins?
Has your heart been hardened by your sinful way of life?

PLEASE READ WITH ALL YOUR HEART WHEN YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REFLECT

Hello, i will advice you to hear the sermons of Leonard Ravenhill on "repentance", "the bride prepared" and other sermons. We can have the "wish" and "will" to stop sinning but unless we make a conscious and firm decision to die to our sins in the death of Jesus Christ and live in His resurrection power (that is, believing that He did not only die but resurrected) we might end up living our lives with an unaccomplished "will" to "stop sinning". For this we need to

1. Acknowledge that there are sins in our lives.
2. Know (list) them and decide what we want to do about them.
3. Do we really want to get rid of these?
This is the point where we realise if we are "willing whatever cost it makes" to live a life of repentance.
4. Always pray and seek God vehemently to help us live a life which pleases Him (to glorify Him) and to stop sinning.
5. While doing the above start replacing bad habits with good habits.
Christian life requires discipline in all things (praying, sleeping, working, eating, etc) and self-denial.
If you live with the purpose of following Christ, you will suddenly see that other things are no distraction to you anymore since you are disciplined and have an aim at hand. If you set your mind on Christ and on the things that are above and discipline yourself and crucify your flesh [put your fleshly desires (gluttony, love of materials, sexual immorality) under subordination], you will also see that this is the battle in the Christian life (because the flesh and the spirit fight against teach other) and you will be more focused on Christ.
The flesh and the spirit fight against each other because our spirit wants to follow Christ but our flesh (old man) refuses to die with Jesus on the cross and therefore how can the new man come if the old has not died?
Jesus gave the parable in Luke 5:36-39 kjv

36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

This is the reason why you find it difficult to stop sinning. You are used to your old lifestyle or sinful nature (vs. 39).

No matter what many people tell you, it is still YOUR DECISION to renounce your old nature and follow Christ.

Even Jesus himself said REPENT. No one can be forced to, but all must make a choice.

Joshua said to the unrepenting Israelites (in the book of Joshua 24:15 kjv) who followed other gods just like we follow the world, its ways and its sins:

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

So what is your decision?
You can have all the WILL and WISHES in the world but unless you make a decision and stand firm, repentance will be difficult.

Stay blessed, think and pray about it.

Sorry I took so long to reply. I live in Florida and hurricanes suck. Lost power for some time and internet for even longer since it took out my internet providers home base of operations apparently.

But any-whoo. My question is this, why did God give humans all these supposedly sinful desires, then institute rules against indulging in them? I think the movie "The Devils Advocate" said it best.

Words from the Devil in the movie: "Let me tell you a little inside information about God. God likes to watch. He is a prankster. Think about it. He gives man instincts, he gives man this extraordinary gift, then for I swear, his own amusement! His own private cosmic gag reel! He sets the rules in opposition to one another."

Those are pretty much my thoughts exactly.

 

[kaijo]

I take it you haven't read the bible from beginning to end.

 

[SoManyQuestions!]

I take it you haven't read the bible from beginning to end.

I have read the whole of the new testament and some of the first. I don't remember where I stopped it was some time back. I was going to a church at the time before I moved. After I told the pastor there that I only tried reading the bible once but was confused by it. He recommended that I start with the new testament then move on to the old. He said it helps to put things into context better. It helped a little bit but I kept running into things that didn't make sense. They were an Evangelical Church by the way. The pastor informed me of that when I first started going there.

I stopped reading the bible not to long after I moved. Mostly because I was no longer in a place where someone who was knowledgeable about the bible could help me better understand what was being said. The pastor and his wife were extremely good at this. But without them I was kinda lost so I gave up.

 

[kaijo]

I have read the whole of the new testament and some of the first. I don't remember where I stopped it was some time back. I was going to a church at the time before I moved. After I told the pastor there that I only tried reading the bible once but was confused by it. He recommended that I start with the new testament then move on to the old. He said it helps to put things into context better. It helped a little bit but I kept running into things that didn't make sense. They were an Evangelical Church by the way. The pastor informed me of that when I first started going there.

I stopped reading the bible not to long after I moved. Mostly because I was no longer in a place where someone who was knowledgeable about the bible could help me better understand what was being said. The pastor and his wife were extremely good at this. But without them I was kinda lost so I gave up.

Ok understood. One thing I believe He taught me 'personally' though is that the amount of effort you put into wanting to know Him will be the same amount of effort He will put into revealing Himself to you/answering your questions. Nothing truly worthwhile is ever easy. I remember being where u are. It wasn't easy for any of us who decided to do the 'hard yards'. But we did it in the end nonetheless. And after finishing it, my questions were finally answered. And every question from then on about life, people, hardships, the world etc were answered/made sense from then on, due to being able to reflect back on everything I had read and identifying similar situations throughout His records. So I guess I'm saying that its upto you how much ur willing to invest in getting to know Him and His side of the story in the end. But until then alot of things in life will probably remain a confusing mystery.