I need immediate help. Anyone with in depth knowledge of christianity plz help.

[religious&reasonable]

I have fallen into a deep pit of dispair in the realm of philosphical and theological thought.

I am 16 years old. For the past 3 years I have been in deep thought about all of this. Here are some of my conclusions that i have forged over day and night in painful contemplation. I am certain there is a God, with very little doubt, and i'm certain he is the christian God, with very little doubt.

Here are my issues.

1: I have a hard time beliveiving God is perfect. this is not my main issue, just a side one. There seems to be so many things one could consider "bad", such as the mass genocide of certain people. I have no trouble believing he is powerful and a good God, but omnipotent and Omnisicent i am not so sure. Why did creating the world take 7 days instead of an instant? Why did God make flawed creations? I am aware that there could be reasons for these actions that my human mind would not be able to contemplate, so this is just a sie issue but not my main problem.

2: I can't trust or have "Faith" in God. I don't know if this is my fault or his, but Blind faith is something i can not bear. People tellme to trust in God to help me, and that I should only look to him for help. Yet God has never taken credit for anything he has done in my life, so how would I know if he would actually help me or just leave me dissapointed?

You could answer those issues with certain theological uncertainties that i am aware of. But that's what it comes down to

AMBIGUITY

Why does God, who is so loving and caring, allow me to suffer a psychological conundrum more painful than a nail through the back of my foot. (I have felt that btw) Many people claim to have seen God, hear him "speak" to them, or seen "visions" brought on by him. I am skeptical to all since I know that atleast some of these people are delusional, but there is not a doubt in my mind that there are some who really have these divine experiences. Why does God not reveal himself to me? He allows me to suffer in uncertainty so distraught not felt since Pascal himself!

I have a few other problems, that being I despise the idea of an eternal Hell and condemning homosexuals and non-believers there is amazingly cruel and monstrous, but that is a topic for another thread.

Can anyone help me?

 

[drich0150]

1: I have a hard time believing God is perfect.

Probably because you do not know what it is to be perfect.
Perfection as it relates to God means one without sin.
The biblical definition of sin is not badness or what you feel to be badness. Sin biblically speaking, is anything not in the Expressed Will of God.
God is perfect because everything He does is indeed in His expressed will.

God IS the Standard of all that is Good and Perfect.
If you feel you can argue with this assessment know that you do not use a scriptural standard to judge God with.

I have no trouble believing he is powerful and a good God, but omnipotent and Omniscient i am not so sure.

Here you must learn to separate "Religion" from Scripture. Religion is man's effort to worship and praise God based on his understandings derived from scripture and tradition.
More to the point the Omni aspects of God are not defined in scripture. They are words created by man in a religious expression to praise and worship God. The "Omni" aspects of God can be used to describe aspects of God, but at the same time they do not define God.

Why did creating the world take 7 days instead of an instant?

Because it pleased Him to do so. Another way to look at it is that God is not bound to the ways "we" count days. It could have taken longer or less time than what we know to be seven days.

Why did God make flawed creations?

He did not.
All of creation was perfect when it was created.

2: I can't trust or have "Faith" in God. I don't know if this is my fault or his, but Blind faith is something i can not bear.

"Blind Faith is not a burden "believers" have to bear.

People tell me to trust in God to help me, and that I should only look to him for help. Yet God has never taken credit for anything he has done in my life, so how would I know if he would actually help me or just leave me disappointed?

You have "eyes" yet you do not See. You have "ears" Yet you do not Hear. Simply Ask God to open you eyes and ears so that you may be allowed to see His hand at work and hears his voice in your life. Keep asking till your heart gets what it wants.

AMBIGUITY

Why does God, who is so loving and caring, allow me to suffer a psychological conundrum more painful than a nail through the back of my foot.

Don't know for certain, but if you are like me the answer would be pride. I wanted to see God on my terms till someone asked me if I approached the president with the same list of demands or "proof of life" as I did God would the leader of this country humble himself to my set of demands to meet me?

On the cometary my chances of seeing the president would be far greater if I humbled myself to meet him on His terms right? If I did not expect to meet the president of one nation on my terms, how was I expected to meet the Master and Commander of the Universe, by demanding that He grant me wishes or do magic tricks for me?

(I have felt that BTW) Many people claim to have seen God, hear him "speak" to them, or seen "visions" brought on by him. I am skeptical to all since I know that at least some of these people are delusional, but there is not a doubt in my mind that there are some who really have these divine experiences. Why does God not reveal himself to me?

Again, Who are you that He humble Himself to meet you? (it looks as if you and i were alike at 16)

He allows me to suffer in uncertainty so distraught not felt since Pascal himself!

I would say that Christ (His son) suffered quite a bit more than either of you. Your suffering is not a measure of God's love (or the lack of) for you.

I have a few other problems, that being I despise the idea of an eternal Hell

What should God do, to meet with your approval?

 

[Tim Myers]

Have you been getting enough sleep??.........

 

[LWB]

Our history and the climax of that history in the book of Revelation reveals that our God has a flare for the dramatic. Creating everything in an instant just isn't his style! He unfolds things one layer after another, and I can almost hear the gasps of the angels as each new day unveiled another wonder to behold.

In regard to genocide and all the awful things of this world, and the claim that we were flawed from the start, I wonder if you are reading the same Bible as I am? We were created with potential for goodness, or potential for evil. Rather than create robots, God created creatures with a choice. We chose wrong and got the world we richly deserved.

But you really need to understand who is suffering the consequences of our decision. We have no life in and of ourselves. We were made from inanimate dust. God lent us his precious life when he breathed himself into our nostrils. Then we became living beings. It is God in man that suffers and is grieved by all the monstrous acts of human wickedness and cruelty. God alone bears this burden so that we have the opportunity to become living souls, so what does any human have to complain about? They can go back to the non-existence they came from and be no worse off for the experience, but God must remember forever and ever.

When a person is convicted by the testimony of the gospel, it is God indwelling inside them that has affirmed the truth. We can listen to that affirmation, or we can snuff it out and bury it. It is that inner presence that illumines Scripture and encourages our reconciliation with God. Rather than be carried all the way like an infant, at some point we are given the opportunity to stand on our own feet and see how far we can get.

During such times of growth it may feel like we are in darkness, and that our faith is blind, but the morning will come again and even if we completely fall away, if we love the light and truth we'll repent and be pulled back to our feet. This is the Christian experience, and it is sometimes agonising. But it is so worthwhile if you persevere.

 

[solarwave]

1: I have a hard time beliveiving God is perfect. this is not my main issue, just a side one. There seems to be so many things one could consider "bad", such as the mass genocide of certain people.

Free will lets us follow or go against God. Things like earthquakes are a necessary part of a physical world. For example gravity is good because it keeps us on the earth, but it is bad if you fall off a cliff. Earthquakes volcanoes are the affect of having a earth which can live and have a magnetic field which keeps us safe from the sun. Physical laws don't work by morality so the laws can work for good or evil.

I have no trouble believing he is powerful and a good God, but omnipotent and Omnisicent i am not so sure. Why did creating the world take 7 days instead of an instant? Why did God make flawed creations?

God created the world by the Big Bang and Evolution. The Creation story is spiritually true, just not physically true. This is true of other areas of the Bible too (eg: Revelation).

But if you don't accept that then the reason creation is flawed is because of sin. Sin brought a curse upon creation.

2: I can't trust or have "Faith" in God. I don't know if this is my fault or his, but Blind faith is something i can not bear. People tellme to trust in God to help me, and that I should only look to him for help. Yet God has never taken credit for anything he has done in my life, so how would I know if he would actually help me or just leave me dissapointed?

I'll give you one way of understanding faith that I have written down:

Descartes said that things tend to work out best if you act as if the choice you have made is certainly true, even if you have doubts. Be decisive and happy with the decision you make because it is the best you could have made considering the evidence you have at hand. Of course this can be reconsidered in the future, but at the time apparently it is best to 'have faith' in what appears most true. So faith is a virtue because it gets things done to the best of the ability you can do them and doesn't give the possibility of being apathetic about important things. Faith in God is good then because it releases you to do good things for God and others.

Why does God, who is so loving and caring, allow me to suffer a psychological conundrum more painful than a nail through the back of my foot.

Many theologians have had many deep questions/doubts about Christianity.

I have a few other problems, that being I despise the idea of an eternal Hell and condemning homosexuals and non-believers there is amazingly cruel and monstrous, but that is a topic for another thread.

I agree. The idea of eternal pain for those people is horrible.

 

[religious&reasonable]

I beleive I painted my problems innacruatley.

The first problem is not the main issue, as there could be many reasons for God allowing us to have freewill, for allowing creation to take aslong as it did, etc etc.

The problem is with thei dea of faith, and "trusting" God. Faith is based on your knowledge of prior events in which the person or thing has done things for you to gain your favor. Even if God does alter or help things in my life, How would I know since he doesn't take credit for it? I could trust my Dad, my best friend, and my Doctor, becuase i KNOW that they've helped me, but divine intervention is something that is uncertain and impossible to prove or disprove.

And i never had "standards" for God, just expectations, since he is GOD. And it is just a preference of mine in that i despise the idea of hell. just an opnion, not the main issue here.

 

[Sketcher]

1: I have a hard time beliveiving God is perfect. this is not my main issue, just a side one. There seems to be so many things one could consider "bad", such as the mass genocide of certain people. I have no trouble believing he is powerful and a good God, but omnipotent and Omnisicent i am not so sure. Why did creating the world take 7 days instead of an instant? Why did God make flawed creations? I am aware that there could be reasons for these actions that my human mind would not be able to contemplate, so this is just a sie issue but not my main problem.

I'm not seeing how either of those are knocks on God's perfection.

2: I can't trust or have "Faith" in God. I don't know if this is my fault or his, but Blind faith is something i can not bear. People tellme to trust in God to help me, and that I should only look to him for help. Yet God has never taken credit for anything he has done in my life, so how would I know if he would actually help me or just leave me dissapointed?

Well what do you mean by "God has never taken credit?"

Furthermore, you have faith more than you realize. Whenever you sit in a chair you have never sat in before, you have faith that the chair will hold your weight, rather than collapse out from under you. Whenever you call a reliable person with a need, you expect that person to take care of that need because you have faith in that person. Faith in God is no different from the faith we use to live our everyday lives. The only thing that's different is the stakes.

Why does God, who is so loving and caring, allow me to suffer a psychological conundrum more painful than a nail through the back of my foot. (I have felt that btw) Many people claim to have seen God, hear him "speak" to them, or seen "visions" brought on by him. I am skeptical to all since I know that atleast some of these people are delusional, but there is not a doubt in my mind that there are some who really have these divine experiences. Why does God not reveal himself to me? He allows me to suffer in uncertainty so distraught not felt since Pascal himself!

Is this the conundrum you're talking about? Or are you referring to a more serious condition?

Yeah, people go through that, and we're stronger for it - this includes the Christians who go through it and have stronger faith for having gone through it.

I have a few other problems, that being I despise the idea of an eternal Hell and condemning homosexuals and non-believers there is amazingly cruel and monstrous, but that is a topic for another thread.

I like the idea of Hell. I have no problems with serial killers and serial rapists and those who oppress others meeting their fate in Hell. Now, I believe it's going to be hotter for them than the run-of-the-mill unbelievers, but we need to understand something. God is perfect. He is the ultimate Source of all pleasure. We get a little bit of that residually here on Earth. It's tainted by human wickedness and the evil one running around, but we still get some of it. Hell is a state with none of it. None of his grace, none of his favor. Those who love God and obey him can be with him and experience his grace and his favor. Those who do not love him - well, he has no obligation to let them into his presence. If somebody was constantly spreading lies about you, thoroughly hated you, and wanted nothing to do with you, would you be inclined to let him into your house? No, you have no reason to trust him! God has the right to make similar decisions.

 

[salida]

1) Adam and Eve were perfect but when they disobeyed God they spiritually fell. True your human natural mind can’t understand it because its supernatural. This is why the holy spirit and the bible (word of God) is in a Christians life. Human effort alone can’t live a christian life.
God created the way he wanted to-this is what he chose.

2: Its not blind faith. Ones faith continues to grow when one repents and accepts Christ in their, life.
He hasn’t? The fact alone that your still breathing is to Gods credit. Do you believe that you were created or do you think you came from an ameoba?

There is suffering with all of us-its how you react to this. How many Christians react to this:
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
Look what rrials the apostles went through.
God reveals himself to individuals in different ways. Just because one person gets a vision and you don’t doesn’t mean your less of an individual. Christ goal is to have your inner self become more like him-it’s a lifelong lifestyle.
People choose hell-God doesn’t send them there. Its like a parent telling a child to stop touching a stove but the child does this anyway-one will face consequences for it.

Are you a good person?
www.livingwaters.com/good/


Its a spiritual decision first but you may want to read this also:

Research the credibility of the bible concerning overwhelming circumstantial evidence which is very high even though it’s a spiritual decision first and secondly an intellectual one. I have studied other religions and they don’t come close to this evidence.
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. www.equip.org (articles), http://www.gotquestions.org/,
http://christiananswers.net/

http://www.reasonableanswers.org/12-Eyewitnesses-of-the-resurrection.html
http://www.ucg.org/bible/jesus-resurrection/
http://www.gotquestions.org/canon-Bible.html
http://equip.org/articles/a-defense-of-sola-scriptura
http://equip.org/articles/bible-reliability

I don't want to overwhelm you with information but these articles are a good start.

 

[salida]

Hope this helped.

 

[Bear.Fr00t]

In order to understand these spiritual matters, you must have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you. Jesus said "Ye must be born again", and Paul said "The things of the spirit are spiritually discerned, the natural man does not know them". Pray that you will be born again Spiritually, and that God will give you ears to hear and eyes to see.

 

[drich0150]

I beleive I painted my problems innacruatley.

The first problem is not the main issue, as there could be many reasons for God allowing us to have freewill, for allowing creation to take aslong as it did, etc etc.

The problem is with thei dea of faith, and "trusting" God. Faith is based on your knowledge of prior events in which the person or thing has done things for you to gain your favor. Even if God does alter or help things in my life, How would I know since he doesn't take credit for it? I could trust my Dad, my best friend, and my Doctor, becuase i KNOW that they've helped me, but divine intervention is something that is uncertain and impossible to prove or disprove.

And i never had "standards" for God, just expectations, since he is GOD. And it is just a preference of mine in that i despise the idea of hell. just an opnion, not the main issue here.

Taken from post number two:

You have "eyes" yet you do not See. You have "ears" Yet you do not Hear. Simply Ask God to open you eyes and ears so that you may be allowed to see His hand at work and hears his voice in your life. Keep asking till your heart gets what it wants.

 

[razeontherock]

The problem is with thei dea of faith, and "trusting" God. Faith is based on your knowledge of prior events in which the person or thing has done things for you to gain your favor. Even if God does alter or help things in my life, How would I know since he doesn't take credit for it?

Can I point out that at 16 you don't have as much experience as Abraham did when he became a Father? Sometimes we need to not take ourselves quite so seriously. I don't mean to make light of your situation; it's real, and you show a sincere heart. I'm just pointing out that the whole patience thing plays in here, in a way you may not be accounting for.

Also, look at the humility of G-d. Have you ever examined that?

 

[BelieversOfGod]

God is God:YESTERDAY,TODAY AND FOREVER.

I sense that your main problem lies to your statement:

Why does God, who is so loving and caring, allow me to suffer a psychological conundrum more painful than a nail through the back of my foot. (I have felt that btw) Many people claim to have seen God, hear him "speak" to them, or seen "visions" brought on by him. I am skeptical to all since I know that atleast some of these people are delusional, but there is not a doubt in my mind that there are some who really have these divine experiences. Why does God not reveal himself to me? He allows me to suffer in uncertainty so distraught not felt since Pascal himself!

NOTE:

Your belief or anyone's belief doesn't contribute to the existence of God, heaven and Hell.

You are confused why not He show himself to you and tell you everything that you are confused off and face to face talk to you.Your are holding your faith off to Him because you saw crimes. Why does He who is loving and caring allow those things to happen?

First, I want you to know that God, Satan, and You are existing in this day.

God is almighty,loving and righteous.
Satan is an angel who wants to take the position of God
You is an important character in your story.

Why Does He not show himself to you face to face? Because you will die.Why?You have a sin.How about the prophets and those who said they saw God? it is only a glimpse of His glory that they saw. Why then He not show His glory to me?You ask maybe. You are already in the process,. Why you are so confused? It is the time that God is clearing your mind. He is making you aware of yourself.Before He must put the right thoughts and idea in your mind, you must understand where are you at. What idea and thoughts do you bear right now.

Why then He that is loving and caring allow such sufferings and crimes to happen? There is Satan,the enemy of God,who puts you away from knowing God and His Will.He is the one who puts confusion into your mind.And He is one of the responsible for the sufferings and crimes in this earth. Why then God allow Satan?He is a powerful God.He can defeat Satan and put him into Hell.Why then He must not do it?
Because, there is an appointed time for Satan to be bound and to be thrown to Hell.Why not now? Because He is giving time for people to know Him, acknowledge Him and make Him their God.That's why He puts an appointed time.

Another responsible for the sufferings we have today in this earth is we, man. Why? How well do you think man is managing the earth? Or How well do you think man is caring his body? You throw garbage on the river, that's why when it rains heavily it overflow. You want to eat more pig meats that's why you get high blood.

Brother, God is allowing you right now to see yourself, who you are in God.You can not hear His voice in your heart, because you are full. Full of thoughts and ideas that are all guided by emotions and not by the truth.

Empty you mind brother.Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand His Words.

God Bless!

 

[joy stephanie]

hi r&r,

i just wanted to remind you about the enemy of the Most High, who you need to be aware of.. because his goal is to burden your mind with all kinds of thoughts and questions he knows you don't understand yet.. satan basically wants to help you look at YAH in a way that doesn't see HIM as absolutely AMAZING, so understand that this is also what is happening to you!

whenever we decide to hide in the shelter of the Almighty, satan targets us and tries to get us to believe lies about YAH again so we'll turn our backs on HIM, or believe that HE's a monster.. but the truth is brother that satan is the monster!! and the source of ALL the trouble on earth. if you believe that today, you'll see it soon.

satan has power on this earth for a short time more, but if you will cling to YAH even when its hard to understand, there will come a time when you DO understand.

solomon tells us in ecclesiastes that everything has a time and season.. so does our growth! keep asking YAH questions, and tell HIM when you feel conflicted. you may not get the answer you want, but you will get peace to accept what HE does give.

no where does it say we must understand everything all at once!

peace and love in HIS service

 

[sterken7983]

I have fallen into a deep pit of dispair in the realm of philosphical and theological thought....
...I have a few other problems, that being I despise the idea of an eternal Hell and condemning homosexuals and non-believers there is amazingly cruel and monstrous, but that is a topic for another thread.

Can anyone help me?

I have shortened your reply but just for size sake.

I have NOT read any of the other posts so I am simply replying straight to your question (you OP)

I can help you as much as my capacity allows (I'll try my best!)

I would like to say something meaning, slow down, deep breath and release, and relax. You're questions are actually grat but first thing you MUST do is to let go of your anxiety JUST FOR A MINUTE!

I am young also so I know that anxiety and yes, I understand and feel the mental anguish you are going through and yes, it hurts and in a word, it sucks.

But let's put a different spin on it: you;re actually thinking thoughts like this! Think about all the people that are just like yay, TV! or woo hoo, pizza! and that is basically the extent of their thoughts. Not because they're dumb but as an atheistic friend I have recently told me when I told her she doesn't have to go to hell, that there is an alternative, she was like yea, I know but I just want a life where I don't have to think about anything. This makes me very sad and me and her are going to hang out more. Luckily, she is someone who listens hard to all I say and we get along like brother and sister so I am hopeful in that sense.

But for you, brother, you are thinking! You are asking the right questions. I know everything feels dark now. But it doesn't have to be that way. And it sounds like you really are LOOKING for answers.

I'm not going to adress every single question you have in this post but rather read this post and reply to it with certain questions, we can have a discussion, and maintain focus through our conversation rather than trying to answer ALL the questions at once and getting lost in it all.

I hear you saying you're grappling with the concept of God being Perfect, Omnipotent, All Knowing, etc. These are AWESOME questions and ones I wanted answers to as well. I was raised around this faith so my questions weren't so much form a "doubting" perspective but more from a "how" perspective.

But one I always had was also things like "why 7 days?" Why not in an instant? Or why not billions of years like the evolutionists claim?

And you had other questions in that paragraph which I apologize for not immediately addressing but the answer is this: what I found in the same questions was that the 7 days was on purpose. Why? Simply for man. Man would have a seven day week. But it's also SO much more than that. Take the Jewish candlebra the Menora (know I spelled that wrong.) 3 sticks on each side, 1 in the center, making 7. Symbolising the creation, the space time continuum (the beginning and ending of time which our dimension, the physical, exists in) and many others. It is part of God's design. I could go deeper into those things but this post is not the place.

The point is that you answered your own question: they are things done by God on purpose. And if He wants to reveal them to you, you must first ask. But at this point, you probably need to focus more on fundamental things and at least recognize Him as omnipotent simply by faith if not by understanding yet. Excitingly, if you choose to walk this path under His rule, He may very well show you many of those answers. Many Christians can explain these things as the Bible shows them but I know what you are asking, you want them for yourself.

And then your problems with faith. Friend, the Lord DOES NOT want you to follow Him with blind faith because the blind leading the blind simply fall into the ditch! All that is required is a leap of faith, a faith that He exists and you asking Him to reveal Himself to you. He will supply you with understanding faith. He will grant you faith that is not blind but trusting, like a small child has faith in a parent. It is not blind: it is because the parent nurtures, loves, protects, feeds, cares for and defends the child. So this faith is not blind but is based on experience.

And the only way you can experience God is to just do it. I believe you said you have sought Him and He has not made Himself known to you nor revealed Himself. This could mean many things but please do not assume that He is not real or doesn't care. He loves all of us on this earth. Guaranteed.

And He defenitely has a reason He hasn't revealed Himself to you yet. And that reason is the one He wants you to figure out. Now, we here can try to help you figure that out but all this requires a humbling on your part: a conscious choice of, okay, I'm gonna put aside my fears, my pain, my confusion, my anxiety for a minute and just be scientific, just be open, just use unbiased and logical trains of thought, being open to the possibility that if I am simply a little human and something that knows EVERYTHING created me and everything around me and says He wants me to know Him I'm gonna give it a shot.

This is all it really comes down to. It's not a blind faith but rather a small leap of faith. Because, like you said, you're worried God might let you down. But haven't you experienced that a lot already in your life? Do you honestly think you will never experience being let down again in your life? If not, then why not take a chance to get to know Him and His reasons?

Now you said you've been seeking Him and He hasn't revealed Himself to oyu. Don't give up! Maintain the seeking. It may take awhile, it may not. But the point is to continue. He works in His own way, on His own time, not ours. I have found it kind of like a dog that's always going out into the woods: don't worry, He'll be back. He always is. Now I'm not saying God is like a dog but that we can;t see Him, we can;t know always what He is doing. If we could, we'd know already exactly when He was about to reveal Himself.

I know this may all be frustrating to read and not giving you the exact answers you wanted but like I said, please respond so we can start a conversation and from there, I have faith that we most defenitely can find answers together. The most important thing to know is that you are not at all alone in feeling this way: almost all Christians feel this way, or have felt this way, at some point in time. I've struggled with all the death and injustice going on in this world and God DAILY reveals more and more to me why that is happening and allowed too. It is for His glory, even though it hurts Him, He suffers it because He loves us and it shows His love. I know that might not make sense, but we can go into that more as well.

It would be great to talk with you and please remember: you've at least come this far, follow you're questions through and don't give up in frustration: God says seek and He will give unto you that which you seek. He is a good God and kind and loving: but His ways are not your ways and He does not operate the way you or I think He should. But He doesn't want to remain a mystery to you forever. But He will bring you unto Himself on His terms. Because this is His game, not yours. We simply are allowed to play in it.

Please, be patient and relax, let things happen and flow naturally. Looking forward to your reply, hope your still active on this thread.

May God send you some peace and some comfort and understanding as to why this world is so confusing.

 

[oi_antz]

I beleive I painted my problems innacruatley.

The first problem is not the main issue, as there could be many reasons for God allowing us to have freewill, for allowing creation to take aslong as it did, etc etc.

The problem is with thei dea of faith, and "trusting" God. Faith is based on your knowledge of prior events in which the person or thing has done things for you to gain your favor. Even if God does alter or help things in my life, How would I know since he doesn't take credit for it? I could trust my Dad, my best friend, and my Doctor, becuase i KNOW that they've helped me, but divine intervention is something that is uncertain and impossible to prove or disprove.

And i never had "standards" for God, just expectations, since he is GOD. And it is just a preference of mine in that i despise the idea of hell. just an opnion, not the main issue here.

I think you are giving more benefit to doubt than is healthy to do so. One thing I would say about this:

1) What is your motive to believe FOR God?
2) What is your motive to believe AGAINST God?

Identify those motives and you will be able to rationalize the problem. Also, I think you are putting more emphasis on trying to answer a question that is probably not even important, whereas overcoming sin is important. Furthermore, you might even find when you investigate your motives, you could be struggling with repentance. In fact, that would certainly be something to make your faith suffer. Take a look at this post, not to say it is a golden ticket to understanding faith, but that I just happened to say the same thing to this guy as I would be saying to you right about now. Holiness vs knowledge - which is more important? I think if you have faith in God and you have a question, He will answer it in His own good time. Meanwhile it is good to concentrate on how you can contribute to the kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:10 (New International Version, ©2011)
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

 

[aiki]

The problem is with thei dea of faith, and "trusting" God. Faith is based on your knowledge of prior events in which the person or thing has done things for you to gain your favor.

Sort of. I don't think favor comes into it necessarily. I have faith in the neighbor's dog's capacity to bite me if I am near it, but this isn't because the dog has done anything to curry my favor (quite the opposite). Anyway...

Even if God does alter or help things in my life, How would I know since he doesn't take credit for it?

In what way do you think God should take credit for His actions? God tells us in His Word that all we are and have is thanks to Him. That's not good enough for you?

I could trust my Dad, my best friend, and my Doctor, becuase i KNOW that they've helped me, but divine intervention is something that is uncertain and impossible to prove or disprove.

Oh, I don't know...God has answered my prayers so many times in such specific and often precise ways that only a complete fool would persist in dismissing His answers as mere coincidence. And this is the experience of many, many other Christians as well.

I have also seen God transforming me over time in subtle but definite ways. He is doing in me that which I could not have done for myself.

You know, God acts when we trust Him; He doesn't necessarily act so that we trust Him. Very often one must believe God and His promises before one experiences the reality of those promises in one's life. This was the case with the Israelites when they came to the borders of the Promised Land. God had promised the land of Canaan to His Chosen People and all they had to do was go in and take it. But, they scouted out the territory and found powerful opponents in it. This provoked fear and doubt among the Israelites about what God had promised to them. In the end, they decided not to believe God and act on what He'd said. As a result, they spent the next forty years wandering and dying in the wilderness as punishment for treating God as a liar. There were two, though, who believed God would give them the land of Canaan whom God sustained until their faithless generation had all died out. They lived to see that God was as good as His word. They stepped out in faith and took the land God had promised to them.

You want to see in order to believe, but God wants you to believe in order to see.

Selah.