My search for God is making me ill

[matthew241006]

I've been here before. In your condition, you do not need to be listening to hardline calvinists unless they believe in the message of God's love. Nobody can wrap their minds around sovereignty issues anyways.

In my own opinion, I think you should back off from the search a bit if it is driving you mad. Pray, of course, and let God answer in His own way. He may be answering you but you could be too wrapped up in something else to see or hear it. You could do things like ask for signs for confirmation or what not, but don't let your imagination get ahold of you. Try to keep level as best as you can.

He does answer by the way

You know, I think that's among the best replies I've had
Thank you so very, very much.
Even though I don't believe (yet ), God should at least help me along. I mean, it's not lke I'm flatly rejecting Jesus. Yes, I think that if God wills me to be saved, as the Bible says somewhere, then He would help me.
Okay, time to jump off this rollercoaster, hit the Bible (not literally of course ) and do some .

 

[Sojourner<><]

You know, I think that's among the best replies I've had
Thank you so very, very much.
Even though I don't believe (yet ), God should at least help me along. I mean, it's not lke I'm flatly rejecting Jesus. Yes, I think that if God wills me to be saved, as the Bible says somewhere, then He would help me.
Okay, time to jump off this rollercoaster, hit the Bible (not literally of course ) and do some .

You're very welcome.

Just one more thing... I'm assuming you've already heard the gospel message right? I would strongly suggest that you understand that God is holy. At your stage, some can make a wrong turn into thinking that God is neutral. I've been there too... just take it from me that that road does not end in a good place.

I've said a prayer for you. God bless!

 

[matthew241006]

You're very welcome.

Just one more thing... I'm assuming you've already heard the gospel message right? I would strongly suggest that you understand that God is holy. At your stage, some can make a wrong turn into thinking that God is neutral. I've been there too... just take it from me that that road does not end in a good place.

I've said a prayer for you. God bless!

Well I have read the NT (a couple of years ago) and re-read bits, so I suppose I've heard the message, even if I didn't fully understand it.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'thinking that God is neutral'.

 

[Sojourner<><]

Well I have read the NT (a couple of years ago) and re-read bits, so I suppose I've heard the message, even if I didn't fully understand it.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'thinking that God is neutral'.

Some people believe that everything is as it should be. This is not true. Scripture teaches that everything was made to be perfect by God because he is perfect, and then evil entered the world but not by His will. Evil corrupted it.

 

[tonysma]

God promiced he would never leave us nor forsake us....A lot of times I have to say this to myself...Maybe you have something in your life that you need to let go of... Sometimes I just don't feel like praying...but I do it anyway...this does help. If you have ask God for your fogiveness, and excepted Christ...just dont give up...we may walk away from God, but he never will walk away from us...

 

[matthew241006]

Some people believe that everything is as it should be. This is not true. Scripture teaches that everything was made to be perfect by God because he is perfect, and then evil entered the world but not by His will. Evil corrupted it.

How did evil enter?
As I understand it, incorrectly no doubt, Evil entered via an act of disobedience, or pride.
Is that it? The abuse of free will?
If so, surely God would have known the *potential* for abuse. Perhaps, on reflection, free will was a mistake?

 

[Sojourner<><]

How did evil enter?
As I understand it, incorrectly no doubt, Evil entered via an act of disobedience, or pride.
Is that it? The abuse of free will?
If so, surely God would have known the *potential* for abuse. Perhaps, on reflection, free will was a mistake?

That is tough to say. We know that God doesn't make mistakes because He is sovereign and yet he allows us to make mistakes that are against His will. We also know that when we do make mistakes, He can cause good to come out of it. That doesn't mean He willed for the mistake, but it shows how he's in control and still allows for mistakes to be made without stopping us. Free will is important to Him then and it appears that He preserves it.

 

[FallingWaters]

Oh dear
I'm sure Muslims would disagree with you.
I understand you posting that, but I don't find it very helpful.
Isn't the whole 'one true religion, all the rest are false' state of mind something that has caused untold suffering and wars throughout the ages?
And even if Christianity is the only true religion, what about the divisions within it? How long before we get on to the whole 'Catholic = true, Protestant = false' and vica-versa debacle?
And who, or what, is the 'enemy'? The Devil I presume. And that carries the implication that Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, etc are all devil worshippers, does it not?
So much for tolerance, eh?
Perhaps you can see why I gave this thread the title " My search for God is making me ill".

I guess I thought with your eternal destiny at stake, that beating around the bush wasn't a good idea.

 

[YankeeJeff]

I guess I thought with your eternal destiny at stake, that beating around the bush wasn't a good idea.

And beating this poor guy with fundamentalist preaching isn't a good idea either.
You gotta let him do the work. God reveals to those who look.
'Doctrine' does more harm than good.
Just let this guy seek and leave the rest up to Christ.

 

[matthew241006]

I didn't want to start a fight

 

[~InHisHands~]

I'd say he has failed to help me in *every* way.
I pray for help in knowing truth from lies.
I pray for help in discerning whether Jesus really did die and was ressurected.
I pray for help in seeing if other religions are true or not.
I pray for help in understanding the bible.
And many other things.
I just can't hear or see any replies to my prayers.
Its not like I'm asking for a miracle. I *could* ask for my health problems to go away, but I am what I am and some day I'll die, we all will. I just want help from him in determinig my fate after death.
Maybe I have been so bad, said such awful things against god - and even knowing I shouldn't - maybe it's just too late for me.
Having a 'personality disorder' (I hate that term) doesn't help. How do I know if what I say is due to illness or not?
I really have said the most disgusting things about god and Jesus. I don't think theres anyway back for me.

Perhaps he has answered but you weren't listening. That happens to the best of us. It's not too late to ask for forgiveness and try again Matthew.

 

[matthew241006]

Perhaps he has answered but you weren't listening. That happens to the best of us. It's not too late to ask for forgiveness and try again Matthew.

You know, I've thought about it that way.
Trouble is how can I be sure that I would ever hear?
If I didn't hear the first time...well how many chances to I have?
Maybe my cycnicism and health problems have made me hard of hearing, spiritually.

 

[~InHisHands~]

You know, I've thought about it that way.
Trouble is how can I be sure that I would ever hear?
If I didn't hear the first time...well how many chances to I have?
Maybe my cycnicism and health problems have made me hard of hearing, spiritually.

Hi Matthew. It's Red. Maybe you just don't understand. When I first became a Christian I didn't understand much of any of it. Just keep trying. I'll pray for you.

 

[matthew241006]

Hi Matthew.

Hi

It's Red.

Maybe you just don't understand.

I don't understand the 'It's Red' part.

When I first became a Christian I didn't understand much of any of it. Just keep trying. I'll pray for you.

Thanks, I will keep trying.

P.S. Sorry if this shows up as a double-post.

 

[~InHisHands~]

Hi



I don't understand the 'It's Red' part.

Thanks, I will keep trying.

P.S. Sorry if this shows up as a double-post.

I was explaining that it's LunaticRed. I changed my name. I lifted you up in prayer a little bit ago. Just keep reading in your bible. And keep praying for God to help you to understand.

 

[united4Peace]

That makes me nervous. I'd expect bad things. But, OK, I'll give it a try.

Sorry...
reading these and I didnt explain myself.

Just relax and dont let Religion take over your life.
God will guide you and take you in the direction God wants you to go in.
Maybe it wont even be Christianity....maybe it will...
just remember Christians dont own God...no one does as God created everyone and everything.
We are all God's children therefore...and God is with you all the time....
Dont let anyone scare you into believing something or not believing something.
You need to believe in something because you believe it, not because someone else does or doesnt.
So when I say concentrate on your family, I say that because sometimes when one concentrates only on God and Religion they neglect everything else around them including themselves which I dont think God would want.

Good luck and Prayers to you

 

[matthew241006]

Maybe it wont even be Christianity....maybe it will...
just remember Christians dont own God...no one does as God created everyone and everything.

OK, now that I've picked my jaw up from the floor...
How can a Christian even say that?
Whats the verse "no one comes to the Father except through me"?
If I were a Hindu I could worship an avatar of my choice, and do away with the Devil at the same time.
If I became a Muslim then I would not be acknowledging that Jesus was even crucified and that God had no son.
To a Buddhist, God does not exist.
I think I agree with you, it was just a shock seeing what you wrote.

You need to believe in something because you believe it, not because someone else does or doesnt.

Agreed. Sad that some don't see it that way.

So when I say concentrate on your family, I say that because sometimes when one concentrates only on God and Religion they neglect everything else around them including themselves which I dont think God would want.

Ah, I understand. Sorry - I misunderstood you earlier post.
Thanks.

 

[united4Peace]

ooohhh I hope you didnt hurt your jaw

Okay...how can a Christian say that....
This is me and only me...
I have formed this by reading and from gathering together bits of information.

I believe that yes Jesus put himself on the cross not for our sins but for human kind/creation in the sence that Jesus fought the evil of the system...(okay I read Marcus Borg and he says it much better ).

We all belong to God...we did in the beginning and we do in the end. I believe the cross is one way, not the only way.
We all have to choose a way...I chose the way Im headed, another person may choose a whole different path, it doesnt make either of us better or worse in God's eyes as we are both equal to God.



(Again...stressing...this is only my opinion...however it is a fact that ice is great for pain relief )

 

[matthew241006]

I was explaining that it's LunaticRed. I changed my name. I lifted you up in prayer a little bit ago. Just keep reading in your bible. And keep praying for God to help you to understand.

I like your new name.

 

[~InHisHands~]

United has a point. We all have to choose. God knocks. We have to decide whether or not to open the door. Many will argue against free will but, just because God comes a knocking doesn't mean that everyone will open the door and welcome him into their lives. You can't just accept Jesus because everyone else is doing it. It has to come from the heart. You have to want it. You have to want Jesus and all that comes with being a child of his. ~Hugs~