How can one overcome severe doubt in the validity of Christ and the existence of God? This is an issue that I have been struggling with for years but I wish I could just accept God's existence and Christianity.
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Overcoming doubt
- Thread starter SPB1987
- Start date
Hi
May I begin with a question, what is your reason for wishing to overcome doubt? In other words how would you benefit if doubt in a) God and b) Christianity was removed?
May I begin with a question, what is your reason for wishing to overcome doubt? In other words how would you benefit if doubt in a) God and b) Christianity was removed?
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Think about this, friend: If the amazing order of the universe, the earth, and amazing faculties of the wonder of mankind, etc. is some evidence of a Creator, then what is your relationship to Him? He has told us so clearly in His Word, so one should read it daily.
We need to also be mindful that without the salvation of God we will perish in our sins as natural men, as He declares. One needs to be "born again" (spiritually) as God says. Are you ready to leave this world and face the Creator without assurance of salvation (note John 3:16 and all of John 1, John 3, and John 14)?
We need to also be mindful that without the salvation of God we will perish in our sins as natural men, as He declares. One needs to be "born again" (spiritually) as God says. Are you ready to leave this world and face the Creator without assurance of salvation (note John 3:16 and all of John 1, John 3, and John 14)?
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Well my wife believes and attends church on a regular basis. It does upset her that I generally do not join her at church or in belief. Plus I would like to believe in God but have trouble believing in a God who created the world and put a tree of knowledge in the middle of a garden and allowed a serpent to tempt his creation. Then when his creation eats a fruit from that tree we are then cursed with sicknesses, plagues and now we need to be saved....just does not make sense to me.
I also have trouble believing in a personal God. I have trouble believing that a perfect creator of the universe would care about what I do or require animal sacrifices and would need to send his only son (which is really just himself in human form correct?) to be born of a virgin and die the brutal death of a crucifixion so we could be forgiven of our sins......
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Hi
I might be wrong but I think that there are ways to approach the scriptures (the stories and theology you quote). I don't think you must take it literally or if you need to dwell on these topics to enjoy a relationship with God, a church and Jesus. Others may step in here, but I have seen mixed messages from a wide range of Christians.
Firstly I think it is not possible to pick up an idea and believe in it. What I would suggest is finding a personal relationship with God then deciding on how the Chruch/Scripture and so on help to enhance that relationship and enjoy it.
God isn't only in the Church or the book, they help us, but it sounds like they are not what you may need right now. Firstly look inwards, question your very own beingness. Walk in the countryside or by the coast and feel a part of living life. There are options we, as mortals, can look into without loosing out on what may be a good relationship with God. Following that, it may be easier to go to Church and enjoy what you wife feels she enjoys and wants to share. Likewise it would be very hard to go to Church or study the scripture if you feel there is no tangible personal value or relationship in it for you. I have been there too.
If I obliged you to come to my office and sit whilst I worked, without feeling there is something in it for you, you may also feel bored, frustrated or leave looking for a reason to be there again. What I mean to reiterate is that first look for a relationship for you personally, where you feel you might get support or even companionship with an omnipresent God, then look to the scriptures and church. I am not here to persuade anyone of God or Church, but you sound like someone who is searching. What do you think?
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All Souls
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Join the club! Have you explored the more liberal traditions of the Christian faith? Try Paul Tillich's The Courage to Be.
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Join the club! Have you explored the more liberal traditions of the Christian faith? Try Paul Tillich's The Courage to Be.
Can you elaborate on liberal? Do you mean the ones who support gay marriage and/or women's ordination? If so, I have not considered them because they seem so opposed to what is in the Bible. Plus my wife would never go for anything like that. She attends a Church of Christ and I go with her sometimes.
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All Souls
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I was more thinking about the application of the historical critical method to biblical texts.
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I see the point you are making. However, how would I enter into a personal relationship with God without first accepting Christ?
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I see...so basically not the literal interpretation? If so, then yes that makes sense to me. I have a hard time accepting the Adam and Eve story as literal and not just as a story to illustrate why things are the way they are. I also believe in evolution.
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All Souls
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I also believe in evolution, there is no textual reason for holding to the historicity of Adam and Eve. Gen. 1 is priestly and dates to the exile, whilst Gen. 2-3 is J and dates to no earlier than the monarchy (1000 BCE).
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