Losing faith?

[Spike511]

Got a second?

Recently, I dont know, I guess i've been going through a fall-out. For whatever reason, I just guess I havent been as strong in my faith in Christ anymore.

I've started to read into atheistic and other non-theist forms of reason, and, honestly, some of it make sense.

What if I was raised in a home of atheists? I'd be athesist.

A home of jews? I'd be jewish.

Maybe its just chance?

The sad thing is, I dont want to be an atheist, I want to be a Christian. There has to be something beyond all this.

I dont really know what to say, its a pretty ill composed post. Mainly just my random thoughts on paper. For whatever reason I felt compelled to post.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

--
Eric

 

[Tangible]

Here's something that may help, I hope anyway.

From Luther's Anfechtungen: Setting for the Reformation

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]"After his evangelical breakthrough, Luther understood the positive contribution that his anfechtungen made to his theology (his understanding of the Gospel). In one of his "Table Talks" Luther once remarked, "I didn't learn my theology all at once. I had to ponder over it ever more deeply, and my spiritual trials [anfechtungen] were of help to me in this, for one doesn't learn anything without practice" (LW 54:50). Later, in discussing what makes a true theologian, Luther, following Psalm 119, lists [contemplatio, oratio, and] tentatio (spiritual trials, including anfechtungen) as one of the three rules, and calls it the "touchstone" of theology. (LW 34:279-288).

[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]"It is important to see why Luther considered his spiritual trials as good. His anfechtungen were valuable because they drove him to Scripture and compelled him to cling to God's promises. They taught him by experience, how sure, mighty, and comforting, God's promises can be. Thus, he not only knew, but lived God's Word.

[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]"Thus is was through the Scriptures that Luther overcame his anfechtungen. When the onslaught of darkness began he would turn not just to any word of Scripture, but to the Gospel portions of Scripture, the promises, which spoke of Christ's completed salvation and of God's present help and mercy.

[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]"Luther's anfechtungen were crucial to him, for they drove him into Scripture; and once inside the Scriptures they continually drove him to Christ."

Otherwise, if you find that reading those kind of books damage your faith ... then don't read those books. Try not to think too much about 'what if'. Focus on the fact that you are a Christian, and that is your reality. The 'what ifs' are not real.
[/FONT]

 

[Aibrean]

I was raised in a Brethren/C&MA church and I became Lutheran of my own accord. We have freedom of choice. You can change, but that doesn't mean you always should.

 

[Spike511]

I've spoken with a few pastors and friends and have resolved the problem, hopefully.

I appreciate the advice,
Eric

 

[seajoy]

I've spoken with a few pastors and friends and have resolved the problem, hopefully.

I appreciate the advice,
Eric

Stay with reading the Bible. The Holy Spirit will always draw you to Jesus.

 

[LilLamb219]

I think most of us have had times where we've questioned our faith or wondered why we are in the place that we are, when others aren't. But when we do that, we forget about the cross and the Christ who died there so that we could be reconciled to God. If we keep returning to that good news, the doubts aren't so important anymore.

 

[Capuano231]

If you lose faith in Jesus, you were never truly saved to begin with.
Psalm 14:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." Many atheists will think that is God calling the open Atheist a fool but really he is calling a false Christian a atheist, ( btw, this is a great verse to give out when asked about what you think about the Crusades) A Christian like yourself, you say your a Christian when in your heart your just a non-believer. That is OK, you can change that by watching or reading stuff by William Lane Craig, he is a Christian philosopher who knows his stuff. He teaches and debates Atheists about the existance of God, the resurrection. Lots of other stuff to. He truly knows what he is talking about and gives out logic information instead of biblical stuff, well there is biblical stuff but he uses logic also. You may say a million times you are a Christian but what matters is what your heart says. That is what that verse means that I presented above. Maybe I've gone off-track and this isn't the answer you are looking for but keep trying to reach God, he loves you no matter what. Pray to him and do what ever you can.

I'll pray for you

God Bless

 

[Tangible]

Oh boy.

 

[Aibrean]

Yea...I decided not to touch that one this time.

 

[DaRev]

If you lose faith in Jesus, you were never truly saved to begin with.
Psalm 14:1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." Many atheists will think that is God calling the open Atheist a fool but really he is calling a false Christian a atheist, ( btw, this is a great verse to give out when asked about what you think about the Crusades) A Christian like yourself, you say your a Christian when in your heart your just a non-believer. That is OK, you can change that by watching or reading stuff by William Lane Craig, he is a Christian philosopher who knows his stuff. He teaches and debates Atheists about the existance of God, the resurrection. Lots of other stuff to. He truly knows what he is talking about and gives out logic information instead of biblical stuff, well there is biblical stuff but he uses logic also. You may say a million times you are a Christian but what matters is what your heart says. That is what that verse means that I presented above. Maybe I've gone off-track and this isn't the answer you are looking for but keep trying to reach God, he loves you no matter what. Pray to him and do what ever you can.

I'll pray for you

God Bless

Absolutely none of that is Lutheran teaching.

 

[Capuano231]

Absolutely none of that is Lutheran teaching.

When did I say it was?

 

[Aibrean]

When you had a Lutheran icon.

 

[Capuano231]

When you had a Lutheran icon.

I think somebodys been doing some sinful drug...

 

[Aibrean]

If you believe a photographic memory is a sinful drug...

 

[Tangible]

I took a peek at your profile and it seems as though you believe that we initially come to salvation in Christ by making a personal choice or decision. This is very different from the Lutheran view, but yet you are displaying a Luther rose next to your username. I guess I'm a little confused.

 

[Capuano231]

I'm confused too... More suprised actually that fellow Christians are taking horrible drugs and then lie about it...

 

[DaRev]

I'm confused too... More suprised actually that fellow Christians are taking horrible drugs and then lie about it...

Then maybe you should stay away from the medicine cabinet.

 

[QuiltAngel]

When did I say it was?

By coming into a Lutheran forum and answering a question a Lutheran had asked Lutherans.

 

[Beautiful Bride]

I feel that what you are going through is a common occurrence, so you should not feel alone. You still have the desire to be a Christian and that is wonderful .. It shows your love of Christ outweighs atheistic views. You're still young just as I am and this a time when we come into who we are and we start questioning a lot of things. The best advice I could possibly give you would be to pray to God with the problems you are having and since you still want to be a Christian maybe you could stop reading all the atheistic stuff you have been looking into lately.

 

[BigNorsk]

Got a second?

Recently, I dont know, I guess i've been going through a fall-out. For whatever reason, I just guess I havent been as strong in my faith in Christ anymore.

I've started to read into atheistic and other non-theist forms of reason, and, honestly, some of it make sense.

What if I was raised in a home of atheists? I'd be athesist.

A home of jews? I'd be jewish.

Maybe its just chance?

The sad thing is, I dont want to be an atheist, I want to be a Christian. There has to be something beyond all this.

I dont really know what to say, its a pretty ill composed post. Mainly just my random thoughts on paper. For whatever reason I felt compelled to post.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

--
Eric

Got to watch out for that reasoning ability. Christianity doesn't make sense. God dieing for the man who rejects him? Give me a break. Doesn't happen, never will. It's improbable and impossible. Just as being raised from the dead is impossible. Just as being saved without earning it is impossible. None of that is reasonable. It's not fair, it's unbelievable.

Belief based on reasoning of course seems reasonable.

But our faith does not rely on reasoning, it is biblical, not rationalizations. If you use your reason to judge, you get in some rather slippery slopes.

Would you be something just because you were raised in that as a part of your culture? Well, there are certainly cultural Christians but many raised in Christian homes do not believe. Many others not raised in Christian homes do.

It's easy to be fooled by outward appearances.