MeganSophia said:
I've got a bit of a dilemma. Currently, I'm an agnostic. Up until recently, I'd even call myself an atheist. However, the guy I've been seeing for quite some time now is Christian so I thought I'd look into it a little, since he's been talking about it with me. It really does seem nice, he's told me all the things God and praying has helped him with, so I wanted to try it to. And I have, quite a bit lately.
Hi, "Megan"! Christianity isn't something
someone can "try". It's either real to someone, or it's not; the problem with dating someone of different faith (and you do have a "faith"), is that conflict is sure to arise. Suppose you "became a Christian" for him; is it possible you could grow to resent it? Yes.
Suppose he fell away from his faith for you; could he grow to resent it? Yes.
Now let's examine what I just said about "became a Christian for him" ---
the concept of a "Christian", is not just to believe a certain something. It is to engage in a real relationship, with a real person --- Jesus.
Meaning no insult to anyone --- I have much more respect for an "agnostic", than for an "atheist". I am an engineer, thus a "scientist". I can say with 100% certainty that
no science conflicts the idea of a hyper-dimensional Being, a "Creator". I know very little about how the Universe is constructed; neither does anyone else. Oh we can talk about "protons" and "electrons" and "neutrinos" and "quarks" and "gluons", and even "string theory";
but no one really knows what reality is.
Thus --- how can someone be SURE there is no God (atheist)? Ahhh --- an AGNOSTIC, doesn't know,
but is open to the POSSIBILITY. Seems a much more logical position...
My problem is, though, that I find it so hard to have faith in something I can't see or hear. I find myself constantly questioning if God exists. I don't know how I'm supposed to find that faith, to believe in it enough that I could actually get to the point of calling myself a Christian.
First, there are things you should understand.
The Bible is the most credible text in existence; 25,000 copies survive time, some datable to within 50 years of Christ. In a "legal" sense, it is an accurate record of what happened.
No other main religious founder claimed to be God --- Jesus did. Per author C.S.Lewis, He WAS God, or was not and knew it (liar, died for a lie; disciples pulled the greatest "con" of all time, the Resurrection). Or He wasn't and did NOT know it, was a lunatic, His whole ministry came from an insane man (and disciples pulled the greatest "con" of all time, the Resurrection).
Nothing in any field of science has falsified the Bible. The "obviously fiction" stories of Sodom and Gomorrah,
were proven true when they found the probable remains of Sodom. Jericho? Found it.
We can talk of "evolution", and I can show you things like "irredicible complexity", and "probability", which really require intelligent thought to direct the creation of biological life. We can talk of physics, how more than a dozen constants in the Universe have the distinct appearance of having been TUNED, carefully adjusted so that life as we know it is possible.
You see --- there are several aspects to belief; one facet is based on "facts". You should read "Evidence That Demands a Verdict", difficult to read --- but Josh McDowel began a pursuit of exposing the falsehood of Christianity and Jesus;
but he found he could not deny the truth, and received Jesus.
There is of course a facet of belief
that is based on faith. For me, that began when I
ASKED God:
"Do You exist?
If You do,
do You want me?"
He answered both of those, "YES!"
Because I'd like to believe, so much. I really would. I just can't wrap my head around the whole concept Any advice?
Where are Heaven, and Hell? Scientific answer --- "between". There are at least 11 dimensions in the Universe, and you and I only occupy 4; three spatial, and time. "Black Holes" actually intrude into a fourth spatial dimension...
I know exactly how you feel; I couldn't handle the idea of "God sitting on the clouds, strumming His harp". But once I knew about physics, that caused me to seek His person.
In Jeremiah29:11-13, is written "If you seek Me you will FIND Me, when you search with all your heart."
Why is Christianity different from all others? All others (without exception), is "man making himself good enough for God"; works-based. Christianity proposes that God KNEW we could not be "good", so Jesus became Human, and died in our place; thus to receive Him, begins a communion (fellowship!), so that our good deeds are the CONSEQUENCE of Jesus and the Spirit in our hearts.
Religion: "You are what you do" (and Jesus isn't God).
Christianity: "You do what you are" (and Jesus IS God).
Christianity asserts that Jesus changes our hearts from the inside out, and THEN that causes our good deeds.
God is real; He thinks, laughs, cries. If anyone wants to know Him, I just say "ASK!" If you really want the answer,
He will answer. But you cannot come to know Him
just to please your boyfriend.
If you are created (as I know you are), then your Creator knows what is best for you, and what will make you happy. Don't expect a "soft life"; but He can be your strength, your song (see Psalm 118:14), your love. That's the key --- "love is a person". 1Jn4:16
Let me leave you with a comment, at the risk of angering you or someone. You are not a Christian; for your boyfriend to date you,
he is not close to God. I would never risk my heart by dating a girl who is not strong in Jesus; for I well COULD fall in love with her,
and she would not share my love for Christ. This is not a minor issue; suppose you never become a Christian, but you
marry one; will there be conflict over how the children are raised?
Of course.
"Christian", is so much more than a belief; it is a true communion between Creator (Christ!) and creature (you and me!) ---
therefore, marriage is a partnership of THREE. Husband, wife,
and Lord.
BTW, there are other books easier to read than "Evidence"; but that details his journey,
and why he had no choice but to accept Jesus.
Hope I helped!
