I have been pentecostal...

[PivotRaze]

for 13 years, but now im having troubles with it.

Are you willing to answer around 5-10 questions?

 

[lilmissmontana]

for 13 years, but now im having troubles with it.

Are you willing to answer around 5-10 questions?

hi to a fellow montanan! I would say we need the questions to know where we stand on answering . God bless!

 

[stormdancer0]

Hey, let 'er rip!!

 

[PivotRaze]

Okay, here they are:
1) How can God truly care for everyone if so much crap happens in peoples lives? Including Christians?
2) How can we know that our religion is truly the correct one?
3) How can we know that Jesus actually was the Son of God? Aside from the Bible?
4) How can we even know the bible is 1) The word of God, 2) correct in it's sayings?
5) Where is Heaven/Hell? Why do people go to hell if God loves everyone?
6) Why would God GIVE us free will? Why not force us to love him?
7) How come God doesn't just "poke his head through the clouds" and show that he does exist?

 

[lilmissmontana]

Hi

I was afraid they were going to be hard questions ... and they are .

Well, to start with I'd say there isn't one of those questions that hasn't crossed my mind over the years ... more than once.

1. You know ... I've had a lot of loss in my life and over the years I came to realize God was the good part ... not the other stuff. It isn't His will that these things happen. It's the doings of the people. More and more I understand the meaning of every action has a reaction. When we open our mouth and speak hateful things it hurts someone ... and ourself ... or when we do any of the other things we as humans do to each other. I think to keep it in perspective we have to keep it about our own actions and let the Lord deal with those other things. They're just too big for us anyway. I know also that if God wewren't present in our lives there would be nothing protecting or holding back the evil things some do ... it would be mass confusion and chaos ... the Lord's the reason things are as good as they are ... not as bad as they are ... that's the evil one doing that ... can you imagine if people did to Jesus what they did what they'd do to us for a lot less if Jesus hadn't come before us ... especially Christians ...

2. We can know by what the bible tells us to do and be ... it isn't about the denomination ... it's about the whole body in unity ... if the bible doesn't say it ... it isn't the Truth ... so that's your guide

3. We can know by studying the bible during the time He walked on earth ... leaving Jesus out for a minute all else is historically possible and accurate ... even the laws that they broke to crucify Jesus ... also, for instance the crucifiction of Christ ... the number was huge who witnessed it and they all witnessed the same thing ... it's a known fact that people don't have mass hallucenations ... so much like that ... as you spend more and more time over the years He just simply becomes undeniable.

4. This a personal opinion because I use the KJV bible. The reason I do is it's the first translation and the most accurate in my opinion. The people who directly translated it noted every single thing they did and why ... for instance if a couple words were missing they let you know why they used the one they did ... absolutely everything they did is documented fully ... it also says not to change a word ... this may offend some but it's the truth ... NIV for instance changed the verse Isaiah 14:12 and left out the name Lucifer ... rather a big change ... and I guess the rest is a building of faith.

5. It's my opinion heaven will be here on earth. Many verses indicate that including the Lord's prayer. Hell ... some say the center of the earth and I think it's possible because of several verses that indicate it. I don't have the references at the moment ... it's been a while ... I urge you to go up to the first few pages of the stickied God tools thread and find e-sword or any of the others and start finding these answers in the bible. You've got an excellent head for critical thinking. I use Matthew henry's commentary (remember commentaries are someones opinion ... but help you get an understanding) ... I also you the Strong's concordance and bible dictionary and a companion bible ... I know that's a lot but it helps tremedously ... you wouldn't study for a mid term without references

6. He gives us free will because He is just. It wouldn't be real love if it was forced and He has feelings just like we do (that's where we got ours) ... He wants to be loved for real.

7. That would definitely make things easier ... and the answer to that question belongs to Him ... I don't have a clue! I do know, though, that He's showed Himself to me and He will to you when the time is His and you won't be able to deny Him ... and you will be forever changed ... and I do know the fact that you ask these questions tells me He speaks to you ... it's good to always ask questions and always be able to believe ... that means you have to remain the kind of person who can be wrong and who can be taught and who doesn't say God can't ... no matter what it is ... He can.

God bless, my friend ... you are quite special!

 

[PivotRaze]

Thanks lilmissmontana, these questions started... February i think which is when my dad moved out of the house and now worse because my dad is doing a legal separation so that is where the first question comes about. Middle school 8 grade was worst hahaha, now i'm finally in HS so i'm expecting it to get better

 

[lilmissmontana]

I'm sorry to hear those things with your family it sure seems like there's not a lot of dully intact families anymore. I can sure see why you would have questions! And it's so important to understand the enemy is going to work hard on you when these things are taking place. The enemy is a coward and like a thief in the night ... he always comes when we're feeling weak and doubtful ... all the more reason to stay in the Word ... to get real good at knowing what the Lord would and wouldn't say to you. The Lord never talks to us conemning or tossing guilt ... only the enemy does that. The Lord might let you know He doesn't like something but He will never talk down to you.

My grandson is the same age as you ... I'll keep you in my prayers ... your job for the next while is to hang on real tight to the Lord ... for you and your family ... you keep praying for them and for God's will

ps ... some might disagree with this but it's what I believe. We pray His will be done. His will is that ALL are saved. I don't believe for one minute anyone is 'lost'.

God bless

 

[stormdancer0]

Okay, here they are:
1) How can God truly care for everyone if so much crap happens in peoples lives? Including Christians?

Because God has given us free will. If you have free will and steal a car, crashing it and killing three people, how was God responsible? If He takes free will from one, He must in all fairness take it from all.

2) How can we know that our religion is truly the correct one?

I can only tell you what I believe. Christianity is the only religion based not on our works, or on our attempts at "being good." Every other religion fights each other, but they all gang up on Christians. It's okay to have a swastika or an Islamic symbol during a holiday season, but not a Christian symbol. You can study the Koran in public school, but not the Bible. With this world fighting Christ so much, that in itself gives it more credence in my eyes. Plus, there are so many prophecies fulfilled that were recorded in the Bible, both OT prophecies fulfilled in the NT, and NT prophecies fulfilled in the recent past.

3) How can we know that Jesus actually was the Son of God? Aside from the Bible?

Because He filled so many of the OT prophecies. Even non-Biblical references, such as Josepheus (1st century historian) cites evidence of a group called "Christians" who followed the teachings and miracles of a "Jesus, called the Christ."

4) How can we even know the bible is 1) The word of God, 2) correct in it's sayings?

Again, because the prophecies. No other book has so accurately foretold the future, thousands of years before the events. Ur, Ninevah, and many other "mythical" cities in the Bible have been found recently. The multi-decade effort to explain the parting of the Red Sea away (saying it was the "Reed Sea" referring to a shallow part of the river) has been overturned by the discovery of a land bridge where the Jewish tradition says they crossed, just a few yards under the sea surface, along with the remains of ancient Egyptian chariots, wheels, and human remains, all along the land bridge.

5) Where is Heaven/Hell? Why do people go to hell if God loves everyone?

All I know is Heaven is where God lives. People go to hell of their own free will. God gave us a choice. He honors our choice, even though it breaks His heart.

6) Why would God GIVE us free will? Why not force us to love him?

He didn't want a society of robots. He wanted a relationship with people who love Him. Who would want forced love?

7) How come God doesn't just "poke his head through the clouds" and show that he does exist?

He's going to do just that, very soon. But He wants us to CHOOSE to love Him and follow Him.

God wants a faithful people. If He stuck out His head and said "Boo," we would all see Him, hear Him, and follow Him because of intimidation, and where's the love and faith in that?

 

[kton16]

1) How can God truly care for everyone if so much crap happens in peoples lives? Including Christians? Things happen in people's lives for reasons. Most times because a mistake "WE" did. Therefore we have to go through just because a dumb mistake we did. If we aren't covered by the blood then we are lost. Christians go through because Jesus did. But the people that lives aren't covered by the Blood really go through, no protection!

2) How can we know that our religion is truly the correct one? We have a relationship with God.. other's don't. Communicate with him everyday and shows you things like a father show's his son. when you pray he listens.. and he answers them! Sometimes show you things in a dream or you see something in the spiritual world! Have faith!

3) How can we know that Jesus actually was the Son of God? Aside from the Bible? Again by faith! How else was he going send someone to pay for all of our sins? How? He had to be the Son of God because he had no fault or sin. Someone willing to die on the cross.... for sinners! So that we may have life.

4) How can we even know the bible is 1) The word of God, 2) correct in it's sayings? Look at Rev.. things are coming to past. They also found the formation of the Noah's ark in the same place where Noah left it. The same size as the bible said! Crazy huh? But The bible is based on faith. Seek him and you shall find!

5) Where is Heaven/Hell? Why do people go to hell if God loves everyone? Only God knows! God loves everyone but he's not going force someone to do something they don't want to. Say you made 5 robots with love and care. Love them so much. Then some turn on you! Then they harmed the ones the stuck by you no matter what. You have no choice but to send them to Hell. For your "Loved" ones sake.

6) Why would God GIVE us free will? Why not force us to love him? So we can pick who we would serve each day.. him or the devil. You can't force someone to Love you. Then it wouldn't be Love.. right? Can't fall in Love with a male/female you don't want to and most certainly can't make them to. It's not Love.

7) How come God doesn't just "poke his head through the clouds" and show that he does exist? Because it's by faith. Why do he need to show us and the people that don't want no part of him don't care for him. He doesn't have time for nonsense. But he does have time for his people and he will reveal himself to his own people.. not to people that don't want to have no part with him.

 

[LesPaul]

great questions and great answers... thank you.

 

[Blade]

So is everything going good PivotRaze?

 

[jodycour]

What questions do you have I've been a pentecostal for some time now?