Looking For A Way Out

[emilylauren]

I've found myself sinking into a state where I alternate between being apathetic and depressed. I've lost all interest in everything, unless it has an explicitly religious overtone, so I've begun spending quite a lot of time here and other Christian forums reading and debating various positions. But through this all I've become so muddled and confused. All of these differing religious positions have sort of melded into each other, and I feel as though I can't seperate what I know to be true from what is just "theory" or "opinion".

I feel so lost and overwhelmed with all of this theological conjecture-- and I just feel that the truth is buried deep under all of this, but that I am unable to find it. I fear that this obsession with religion is ruining my relationship with friends and family, but at the same time I feel that my time is best spent understanding God all the while feeling as though the more I read the less I feel I 'know' God.

I just want to stand up and start again, but I have no idea where to start. I want to get out from under all this pressure and just come before God without all that theological debate over dispensations and covenents and various denominations-- I just don't know where I can start and it is killing me.

 

[kaykay9.0]

My advice first of all would be to get off the internet (religious sites) for awhile. "Too many voices" can be very confusing. Go back to the basics of prayer and maybe just read the gospel of John for awhile. If you have not sought counseling about the possible OCD, I would strongly encourage you to do so.

 

[emilylauren]

My advice first of all would be to get off the internet (religious sites) for awhile. "Too many voices" can be very confusing. Go back to the basics of prayer and maybe just read the gospel of John for awhile. If you have not sought counseling about the possible OCD, I would strongly encourage you to do so.

I agree. I've also decided to focus on the "early church", looking at things more "chronologically". I mean, God wouldn't have let his Church get the wrong information to years and then suddenly "eureka! I actually know what this passage means!" I think I feel God leading me back-- and it does start with tuning out those "excess" voices.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

 

[kaykay9.0]

I agree. I've also decided to focus on the "early church", looking at things more "chronologically". I mean, God wouldn't have let his Church get the wrong information to years and then suddenly "eureka! I actually know what this passage means!" I think I feel God leading me back-- and it does start with tuning out those "excess" voices.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Well, I think there has been some dark periods of church history where doctine may have been lacking in clarity. I just think the closer you can get to biblical accuracy the better, and often this does require the illlumination of the Holy Spirit (not simply academic endeavor)

Wishing you the best, Emily~~

 

[emilylauren]

Well, I think there has been some dark periods of church history where doctine may have been lacking in clarity. I just think the closer you can get to biblical accuracy the better, and often this does require the illlumination of the Holy Spirit (not simply academic endeavor)

Wishing you the best, Emily~~

No, I agree with this. I guess my point was that I wasn't going to try and compare all denominations and their views at once, but sort of see how these views changed and were adapted. And of course, prayerfully considering what I read.

Thank you for the advice.

 

[stephanieamber]

Personally, I think that before you even examine this religion stuff, that you get your relationship with the Lord in the right. If your faith is being hurt because of this, then you really need to just strip it down to the basics. There are so many people who seek out head knowledge of God, and that ultimately means nothing because it says that we must believe in our hearts.

When it is time for you to start looking for answers, I'd recommend going to different church denominations. Find churches near you and go to a service. Talk to their pastors and ask them questions about their church. Explain that you are just interested in learning about their denomination. That way you are not part of a debate (which usually is biased in sharing of facts anyway) but are instead gathering information for comparison on your own terms (all with careful prayer and maybe even a friend to help you keep your learning in check and controllable).

 

[keryakos]

you touch on something here that i think is often not talked about the jungle we sometimes call theology ..

it reminds me of something ..there was a man lost in a jungle and a nother man found him wandering around aimlessly ...when they met the lost man says where is the way out of here ....The other man said I AM THE WAY.Christ is like that ..he is The way ..

We look for a road we look for A way but we need to follow The Way .

 

[thefatherslove]

I was just thinking about truth today and all these differing denominations and all the different things people believe and say and remembered how easily Jesus broke it down when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Whenever, I have those thoughts, I just remember those words. Jesus is the truth.

 

[gracealone]

If you have OCD, which only a professional can diagnose, it's pretty common to have differing doctrinal positions cause you to feel uncomfortable or begin to question what you truly believe. I love apologetics but when my OCD is real active the topics and debate of apologetics can really get me spiking.
You've been given real good advice here. For me, when this type of thing happens I also have to get back to basic truth. I hear Jesus asking, "Who do you say that I AM?" and my answer is always, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Hope you're doing better.
Mitzi

 

[keryakos]

a greek orthodox priest and i were talking one day and i told him that i was looking for truth and he said i was asking the wrong question ..he said the question should not be what is truth the question should be WHO is truth .
You reminded me of that conversation.

 

[gracealone]

a greek orthodox priest and i were talking one day and i told him that i was looking for truth and he said i was asking the wrong question ..he said the question should not be what is truth the question should be WHO is truth .
You reminded me of that conversation.

Amen to that!!
Jesus didn't say... I'm going to show you the way. He said "I AM the way". He didn't say I'm going to tell you some truth, He said, " I AM the truth. He didn't say I'm going to show you how you can find life. He said, "I AM the life." Who but God, could make such proclamations?
Thanks for sharing.
Mitzi

 

[keryakos]

Amen to that!!
Jesus didn't say... I'm going to show you the way. He said "I AM the way". He didn't say I'm going to tell you some truth, He said, " I AM the truth. He didn't say I'm going to show you how you can find life. He said, "I AM the life." Who but God, could make such proclamations?
Thanks for sharing.
Mitzi

Thank you mitzi you always make me feel better ..


emily i hope you are feeling better ..

 

[emilylauren]

Thank you mitzi you always make me feel better ..


emily i hope you are feeling better ..

Thank you, I am feeling better. I've been praying quite a bit, and I think God is leading me through all of this. :] Thanks for all the advice, everyone!