Questions/Concerns

[Raccko]

So, I'm not sure where to start, I keep wanting to do this, but keep putting it off. Though, I feel things are becoming a bit more desperate. I have a list (an actual physical list) of questions and concerns that I've had either recently or in the past that has kept me from coming to God.

x. A Bit of History
So to begin, I was born in a Christian family, went to church, christian schools. Became a Christian when I was in Kindergarten. In my pre-teenage years, I fell into a deep depression, where my faith was shook and eventually came to the conclusion that God was not a God of love. Since then, I would occasionally would become a Christian again for a few months, something would happen and I would get angry and leave. This would happen occasionally over the years. Something kept bringing me back, but then something always angered me too.

x. Being Christian is Mentally Draining
Every time, I come back to God, I feel so stressed and anxious. Feels like God is like big brother, always watching me, waiting for me to slip up just once or I'm not praying to Him enough or reading the Bible enough. I always hear about Christians talk about come to God and he'll take the burden, but it always feels like the opposite, it becomes overwhelming.

x. Bible Days vs Present Days
So, Bible seems like a collection of fairy tales. It talks about how God did miracles, sending fire down, and healing a lot of people. Even in Acts, Paul and a few others performed wonders, a lot like Christ. However, nowadays, you don't see any of that. Everything revolves around the rules of the world. Nothing happens that can't be explained. I guess miracles can happen, ex. Avoiding a car accident, but no one can see that. It's nothing like back in the Bible age though.

x. Jesus Seems to Act Differently than God
God and Jesus seems to be very different. God seems to be more anger and judges harder and quicker. Killing a couple teenagers with a bear because they made fun of Elisha, destroying a city(Sodom and Gomorrah), destroyed the world(Great Flood), kills a man who proclaims to be God. However when Christ is in the world, suddenly, he's merciful, not quick to judge. The only time he gets hot-headed is when he turns the tables in the temple. When he goes back to heaven, suddenly it's back to the way God deals with things, kills a couple who lied to the apostles about how much money they gave.

x. Is God Really All Loving? Does He Only Care About the Church or Indiviuals too?
'Christ died for your sins', I've heard this more times than... But this brings something else up. It doesn't seem like he died for me, nor you. He died for mankind, for everybody. Would it have been different if it was only for a few or for me or you. Everything always seems to be done for a group of people, the church. Most of the New Testament talks about the church, forming the church, teaching the church, writing letters to the church. 'When two or more people are gathered in my name, I am there.' I don't want to be just another number to God, like I'm here but I have no real importance or if he even cares about me, as an individual. How do I really know if God really does love me, but I guess I'm not really right now as I'm considered as an enemy at the moment.

x. Is God's Will Really the Best For Us?
Everyone says 'God's will be done,' his will is best for us. However, why was it God's will for Pharaoh's heart to hardened with Moses, which caused a lot of pain and death for others besides Pharaoh? Was it his will for Judas to betray Jesus and then be labeled as one of the most wicked people to ever live? If it was God's will, did he really stand a chance to not do what he did. To harden a generation's heart? My observation is that God's will gets he wants done, but not necessarily the best for us.

I don't even know if God even exists anymore. If I'm praying to a real loving God or just praying to like an imaginary person. Sorry for the long essay I tried to edit it down and I appreciate you taking the time to hear me out and any answers or advise.

 

[orangeness365]

So about your depression. Depression as we all know is something a lot of people struggle with, myself included. The thing about suffering, is that the Bible talks about suffering a lot in the Bible, often as something that is a refining fire testing one with fire in order to produce precious metals. Suffering is something Jesus did, and suffering for righteousness and/or for Jesus is commendable. 1 Peter 1:7, Revelation 3:18, Psalms 66:10-12, Zechariah 13:8-9, Daniel 11:35, Malachi 3:2-4. Maybe you get angry that you have to suffer while on earth? We live in a broken world, and suffering is a result for many people.


God is more like a father, or friend, and you're right, He does constantly watch everything everyone does, but He does that regardless of whether you are a Christian or not. God is more eager to save you than to condemn you. He wants to save everyone, 2 Peter 3:9. We all have to repent, because none of us are perfect, but God knows the heart, Jeremiah 17:10, 1 Samuel 16:7. Of course God notices sin in our lives, but He doesn't want anyone to go to hell. Life becomes less of a burden when you put your trust in God to deliver you from your worries and cares of this world, to trust that he wants the best for you, even if that involves you suffering in order to refine you as silver.


As far as miracles are concerned, there are many claiming that they are still happening. I like to watch Sid Roth's It's Supernatural because it talks about a lot of faith healing that still goes on in our times.


I personally think the difference you see is a result from being under the Old Testament covenant versus being under the New Testament covenant. The covenant in the Old Testament was a lot stricter than Jesus' covenant, although when you try to follow Jesus' it's impossible without repentance and his blood and forgiveness. I think at times when God to have his religion wiped out, or close to wiped out, he takes more extreme measures to keep it alive, to make sure everyone is saved, and sometimes for his own glory. Isaiah 48:9-11.

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/biblical-texts-to-show-gods-zeal-for-his-own-glory

The website even talks about how the issue of giving glory to God is our reason for living, and is once again the reason for Herod being struck down in Acts. While Jesus is alive the He is giving glory to God through his healing, and before and after that various things happen for God's glory or name's sake.


Each person is judged according to their deeds on Judgment Day. For those that are saved, each one gets their own mansion in Heaven, John 14:3. I'm sure Jesus would have died on the cross to save even just one person, but He wants to save everyone, and his blood is for everyone. There are a lot of passages about God's love for us John 3:16, Romans 8:37-39, Ephesians 2:4-5, Romans 5:8, 1 Peter 5:6-7. I think God cares about each of us as individuals, and even counts every hair on our head Matthew 10:29-31. God makes us for every day that we live, Psalms 139:13-18. God also talks about specific rewards being giving in Heaven for the churches that persevere in Revelation 2:17, will be given manna and a stone each encrypted so that only the one receiving it will know it’s meaning.


If you want God to love you then love him, Proverbs 8:17. If you want all things to be for your good, then love God, Romans 8:28. If you’re having trouble loving God, then pray for a heart that loves God. God can change hearts, Proverbs 21:1, Ezekiel 36:26. When I read about Pharaoh, it says that God was doing it because he wanted His name to be proclaimed throughout all the earth, Exodus 9:14-16, Exodus 11:9, and because He had a beef with the Egyptian gods Exodus 12:12, Numbers 33:4. I believe in God, so obviously I’m going to tell you He’s not imaginary. Judas still had free choice. He wasn’t forced to betray Jesus, it’s just that God already knew what would happen, prophesied that Jesus would be sold for 30 pieces of silver, Zechariah 11:12. God’s will is to save everyone, not condemn them.

 

[Gordon Wright]

I very much doubt anyone of kindergarten age has the moral understanding to make a proper commitment to Christ. In fact, I'm leery of twelve-year-olds being baptized, especially those from sheltered church backgrounds.

There's a reason we don't let minors enter into contracts.

Also: http://www.christianforums.com/threads/the-case-against-raising-your-kids-christian.7903188/

Jesus was often blunt, and I'll emulate him. Every concern in the OP indicates to me a lack of understanding of God and the Bible. Much of the blame must be laid on a church that would think you can become a Christian in kindergarten. This church likely was confused on many other points as well.

There is no perfect church, but there are some you can cut some slack, and others that are just plain messed up. You may have been sold a counterfeit version of Christianity.

 

[4thWatch]

Gods not hanging over you judging every move you make. On the contrary he made each of us different and he loves to watch the goofy things we do when we exhibit our differences.

I think of God, Jesus and the Angels as friends. They know me and love me, faults and all. I think God gets a kick out of the little things that make us who we are and doesn't judge us so harshly.

He's my Heavenly Father and wants only the best for me and Jesus is my heavenly big brother and between giving me Indian burns and noogies he loves me for who I am. It sounds to me like someone sold you a bill of goods that has a scary God who's just waiting to send you to hell. That's not the God I know, he's hoping you don't screw up but even when you do he still loves you.

You have put way to much intensity into an angry God that is their to judge each of us harshly. To me that's just not God, he's got a a huge heart that loves us all (accept my mother in law) and a great sense of humor that makes him laugh at some of the things we do.

Does he expect us to pick up the pace a bit and help others, yes of course, does he expect us to not harm others or ourselves with sin, yes he does but he not a sin sniper waiting on some rooftop waiting for you to sin and then dropping you like a fly.

I'm a Templar Christian, a warrior Christian and we see Gods greatness, humor and love all around us. We have faith that God will put us in a place where we can defend Christians and help bring new souls to the flock. God has made so many gifts for us to revel in like love, and happiness and the Beauty of the world that it's hard to imagine he's an angry God.

I'd suggest prayer and happiness, pray I mean really get into it and have a great talk with God. Then be happy, look around at your blessings and praise God.

Be happy! God above made you, and your special, and you can help someone else be happy as well. I hope you pray and feel Gods love, I hope you help others which is quite fulfilling. And I hope you become happy and filled with joy.

Good luck to you.

 

[Steven Wood]

So, I'm not sure where to start, I keep wanting to do this, but keep putting it off. Though, I feel things are becoming a bit more desperate. I have a list (an actual physical list) of questions and concerns that I've had either recently or in the past that has kept me from coming to God.

x. A Bit of History
So to begin, I was born in a Christian family, went to church, christian schools. Became a Christian when I was in Kindergarten. In my pre-teenage years, I fell into a deep depression, where my faith was shook and eventually came to the conclusion that God was not a God of love. Since then, I would occasionally would become a Christian again for a few months, something would happen and I would get angry and leave. This would happen occasionally over the years. Something kept bringing me back, but then something always angered me too.

x. Being Christian is Mentally Draining
Every time, I come back to God, I feel so stressed and anxious. Feels like God is like big brother, always watching me, waiting for me to slip up just once or I'm not praying to Him enough or reading the Bible enough. I always hear about Christians talk about come to God and he'll take the burden, but it always feels like the opposite, it becomes overwhelming.

x. Bible Days vs Present Days
So, Bible seems like a collection of fairy tales. It talks about how God did miracles, sending fire down, and healing a lot of people. Even in Acts, Paul and a few others performed wonders, a lot like Christ. However, nowadays, you don't see any of that. Everything revolves around the rules of the world. Nothing happens that can't be explained. I guess miracles can happen, ex. Avoiding a car accident, but no one can see that. It's nothing like back in the Bible age though.

x. Jesus Seems to Act Differently than God
God and Jesus seems to be very different. God seems to be more anger and judges harder and quicker. Killing a couple teenagers with a bear because they made fun of Elisha, destroying a city(Sodom and Gomorrah), destroyed the world(Great Flood), kills a man who proclaims to be God. However when Christ is in the world, suddenly, he's merciful, not quick to judge. The only time he gets hot-headed is when he turns the tables in the temple. When he goes back to heaven, suddenly it's back to the way God deals with things, kills a couple who lied to the apostles about how much money they gave.

x. Is God Really All Loving? Does He Only Care About the Church or Indiviuals too?
'Christ died for your sins', I've heard this more times than... But this brings something else up. It doesn't seem like he died for me, nor you. He died for mankind, for everybody. Would it have been different if it was only for a few or for me or you. Everything always seems to be done for a group of people, the church. Most of the New Testament talks about the church, forming the church, teaching the church, writing letters to the church. 'When two or more people are gathered in my name, I am there.' I don't want to be just another number to God, like I'm here but I have no real importance or if he even cares about me, as an individual. How do I really know if God really does love me, but I guess I'm not really right now as I'm considered as an enemy at the moment.

x. Is God's Will Really the Best For Us?
Everyone says 'God's will be done,' his will is best for us. However, why was it God's will for Pharaoh's heart to hardened with Moses, which caused a lot of pain and death for others besides Pharaoh? Was it his will for Judas to betray Jesus and then be labeled as one of the most wicked people to ever live? If it was God's will, did he really stand a chance to not do what he did. To harden a generation's heart? My observation is that God's will gets he wants done, but not necessarily the best for us.

I don't even know if God even exists anymore. If I'm praying to a real loving God or just praying to like an imaginary person. Sorry for the long essay I tried to edit it down and I appreciate you taking the time to hear me out and any answers or advise.

WOW!!!!! Ok first of all thank you very much. I say that because before I come to this sight I pray not only that GOD guides me to where I need to go but that I step out of my own way and he grants me wisdom to help those that need it so here goes. This is going to take a minute, I love this stuff it really fuels me. I don't want to skip or miss anything, you deserve my undidved attention so I am going to read each part one by one and address them individually.As for your history I was born and raised in the church too and had the same issues as you. I found GOD more as an ever watching punishment for when I messed up and I have come to believe now that GOD has opened my eyes to his wisdom and grace that that is what worldly church is has become and not what GOD and his church is at all so what you are feeling as the pulling away and the guilt and wrestling is not from GOD but from satan and his church blaming it on GOD and not from GOD himself, Although GOD is just and he will let you choose, he will let you know through conviction what is wrong but he does not guilt you away from anything and by his love and your love for him you will come to turn away from bad things because you just won't want to do those things. Satan comes as guilt and shame making you think these are from GOD, causing you to eventually get tired of feeling so bad you want nothing to do with GOD and fall away. Now think about this Why would GOD want you to hate yourself shortly after accepting him so you just turn away right after. That's one of the devils greatest tricks. Part 2 Though it's great and the Bible says to always be in prayer and always read his word, sometimes I'll find myself going days and sometimes weeks without reading the Bible, sometimes my idea of reading the Bible is even getting on youtube and watching a bible study video because I don't go to church anymore. I don't think these church are GOD's churches and Jesus said that 2 or 3 people that come in my name you'll find me so that's a church. Giving your burdens to GOD is a good thing, he will take your burdens but it's not quite that. Have the faith that things will be good and the way they should be, not the way you want them to be but don't just sit there, you have to take action yourself to make things happen too. It's very simple but very hard to comprehend in the last couple of months GOD has reawakened my belief in him and my entire way of thinking has changed, my ways of praying, my faith, life is so simple but it is very hard to accept and takes a long time to explain but in the Bible Jesus only prayed for himself once and it was the only prayer that was not answered but even then he said father if it is your will. Part 3... Miracles happen everyday still the difference, The people healed had faith that they were healed, This day in age when things happen we thank the miracles of modern medicine, technology, etc. You are very correct about things being held by the laws of the world, satan is the king of this world and Jesus said in the end days there will be a great falling away, satan tempted Jesus with all the power of this world so that gives proof that he controls this world, even though GOD owns the earth and all things in it, we willingly choose to listen to sin and satan in the end days, the Bible tells us that, Only a few don't, they are the ones who's eyes are open to the lies that we're told every day and realize all the junk that we think that's so important really isn't. Part 4... It's hard to really think about but Jesus is GOD. Jesus is the second Adam because he was the only man since Adam to be born without the sin he had to be born by the breath of GOD which was GOD's holy spirit to a virgin because sex is what gives us sin and the sin of death. If Jesus was born in the natural way without the spirit of GOD from a mortal man then he wouldn't BE GOD, he would have the same sin as all of us just from the basics of being conceived. Jesus stayed without sin and blameless so he could die for us and redeem us. Him chasing out the money lenders was righteous anger and GOD's anger of evils and wrong doing in the temple almost like old testament wrath. GOD/Jesus didn't act differently but you do have to see things in a different way. If you remember Jesus always would say his time did not yet come. His story in the new testament though GOD was still in Heaven working was the story of GOD/Jesus working on Earth. He could not go around killing and dishing out his wrath and for that matter Jesus. even saying he came to enforce and re-enforce the law also came to save man so offerings that just covered sin was not constantly needed and Jesus going around just killing people would have attracted attention and he would have been crucified too early..As for the 2 that were killed though I'm not completely sure of this I know that saying and dedicating to the Lord and then not would still incur wrath. He may have still been doing it While Jesus was on Earth but the Bible did not say. The church is made up of a group. Jesus died for you and me individually and none especially you are never an enemy. It's easier to say the church and I can promise what we call the church today isn't the church that the Jesus was talking about. GOD know the lilies of the field, he feeds the ravens, he knows the numbers of hairs on ours heads. He knows you by name, you not a number to him and he hears you when you talk to him. The problem we all have now is what we're talking to him about. GOD knows that our hearts are troubled and that bothers him, the shortest verse in the Bible is Jesus wept.Now for the last. GOD's will is always the best or us. In thinking about all the heart's that were and are hardened and all the people that have and are going to die think of all the people that will be saved because of it. Think of the lives changed, We don't know what went on in the thoughts of the people in the last moments of their lives. Jesus saved us all and we can all be saved if we choose. None have to perish but many will because they choose to. The ones that were and are forsaken were and are the ones who have been approached countless times and yet chose not to listen. The Bible even says that after a while our sins won't be forgiven because we want to commit the sin even though we ask for forgiveness. our hearts will harden to that sin. You can't ask to be forgiven from gambling with a quarter in the slot you can't repent and turn away from smoking with a lighter next to a cigarette and GOD isn't going to save the person that worships another god when he says you shouldn't have another god before him. But if he purposely hardens a persons heart he may give a chance again he could have softened their heart and redeemed them at the very end. Even though he is just he is still loving. I really pray that any and all of this may help you and GOD open your heart to your troubles. It is a very big issue. The most important there is. I'll be praying for you and if you ever want to talk about anything just shoot a message. You really made my day. Sorry for the long response.

 

[aiki]

A Bit of History
So to begin, I was born in a Christian family, went to church, christian schools. Became a Christian when I was in Kindergarten. In my pre-teenage years, I fell into a deep depression, where my faith was shook and eventually came to the conclusion that God was not a God of love. Since then, I would occasionally would become a Christian again for a few months, something would happen and I would get angry and leave. This would happen occasionally over the years. Something kept bringing me back, but then something always angered me too.

You don't seem to understand the fundamental truth of salvation: It is a Person: Jesus Christ. When you are saved and become a child of God, a disciple of Christ, a Christian, you are adopted into God's family and become the "temple" of God's Holy Spirit. God and Christ in the Person of the Holy Spirit take up permanent residence within you. Being a Christian isn't a label you can put on and take off of yourself. It isn't just adherence to a particular set of religious beliefs. It is something God does in you. He saves you and makes you His child. And when He has, the kind of behaviour you've described above does not go on.

Anger and pride go hand-in-hand. Self-righteousness often gets mixed in, too. There is no real walking with God, no fellowship with Him, when you refuse to let Him be God of your life. Placing yourself in the position of God's judge and assuming you know better than He how things ought to be, requires making God very small in your thinking and magnifying yourself over Him. And doing this requires an enormous ego. But such a large ego is also a very sensitive one. It is easily bruised, and when it is, anger is the result.

Being Christian is Mentally Draining
Every time, I come back to God, I feel so stressed and anxious. Feels like God is like big brother, always watching me, waiting for me to slip up just once or I'm not praying to Him enough or reading the Bible enough. I always hear about Christians talk about come to God and he'll take the burden, but it always feels like the opposite, it becomes overwhelming.

Well, God is watching over you - and everyone else - all the time. He is both omniscient and omnipresent. He knows all things and is everywhere. His gaze upon you feels like a burden because you don't truly know Him and His love for you. It seems also that you don't understand the basis of your acceptance with Him. When these things are sorted out, walking with God will be a joy, not a stressful duty.

Bible Days vs Present Days
So, Bible seems like a collection of fairy tales. It talks about how God did miracles, sending fire down, and healing a lot of people. Even in Acts, Paul and a few others performed wonders, a lot like Christ. However, nowadays, you don't see any of that. Everything revolves around the rules of the world. Nothing happens that can't be explained. I guess miracles can happen, ex. Avoiding a car accident, but no one can see that. It's nothing like back in the Bible age though.

Why is it a fairy tale when God acts supernaturally? It would be very strange to me if the God of the universe did not act supernaturally. I would have great suspicion of a God who claimed to be supernatural but who never did anything miraculous. The fairy tales confirm God's nature and power.

I don't know in what part of the Christian community you've been moving, but there are plenty of miraculous things going on. Craig Keener published fairly recently a two-volume set discussing the whole matter of miracles in the Bible. Part of his work recounts modern miracles that simply can't be reasonably dismissed as coincidence, or self-fulfilling prophecies, or the consequence of probability. If you're serious about the issue of miracles, read Keener's books! You'll see they aren't as rare today or as unlikely as you believe they are.

Jesus Seems to Act Differently than God
God and Jesus seems to be very different. God seems to be more anger and judges harder and quicker. Killing a couple teenagers with a bear because they made fun of Elisha, destroying a city(Sodom and Gomorrah), destroyed the world(Great Flood), kills a man who proclaims to be God. However when Christ is in the world, suddenly, he's merciful, not quick to judge. The only time he gets hot-headed is when he turns the tables in the temple. When he goes back to heaven, suddenly it's back to the way God deals with things, kills a couple who lied to the apostles about how much money they gave.

You have a very lopsided and superficial understanding of the God of the Bible. Have you not read in Scripture that when Jesus returns, it will be as Warrior, King and Judge? He came first to the world as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" but he will return to it bearing a sword and executing the wrath of God upon the wicked. Jesus did not wink at sin, or refuse to judge it while he lived on Earth. "Go and sin no more" was his command to those he healed. He condemned the hypocritical Pharisees calling them "sons of hell," and "white-washed tombs," and the "brood of vipers." He criticized the greedy rich, and the prideful, and the self-righteous.

The God of the Old Testament constantly extended Himself to protect the righteous. He guarded His Chosen People from the aggression of their pagan neighbors again and again; He healed proud Naaman, fed and comforted an exhausted and fearful Elijah, safeguarded David from the bloodthirsty King Saul, kept Daniel safe in the lions' den, preserved righteous Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom, saved and blessed a faithful Joseph in the land of Egypt, and so on.

I don't see, then, the difference between Jesus and Jehovah-God that you say exists. God is holy in the OT just as Jesus is in the NT. God is loving and patient in the OT just as Jesus is in the NT. God is faithful in the OT just as Jesus is in the NT. And so on. You realize that Jesus was sent by God, right? In fact, he was God in the flesh. To look upon Jesus was to look upon God. The Jesus who wept, the Jesus who healed the sick, the Jesus who saved wicked sinners is God the Son.

Is God Really All Loving? Does He Only Care About the Church or Indiviuals too?
'Christ died for your sins', I've heard this more times than... But this brings something else up. It doesn't seem like he died for me, nor you. He died for mankind, for everybody. Would it have been different if it was only for a few or for me or you. Everything always seems to be done for a group of people, the church. Most of the New Testament talks about the church, forming the church, teaching the church, writing letters to the church. 'When two or more people are gathered in my name, I am there.' I don't want to be just another number to God, like I'm here but I have no real importance or if he even cares about me, as an individual. How do I really know if God really does love me, but I guess I'm not really right now as I'm considered as an enemy at the moment.

I don't understand what you mean when you say Jesus didn't die for me, or you, but for mankind. Mankind consists of me and you - and every other human person. There is no mankind, no humanity, without the individuals that constitute it.

You know, when people start to talk in sweeping generalities, it is clear they are not really thinking carefully. You wrote, "Everything, always seems..." Everything? Really? And always? Always? If you stop and ponder these words, you'll see they are rather hyperbolic. But this seems to be a problem all along in your thinking. You are framing things in a very one-sided and myopic way.

My wife used to think God was too busy to be bothered with her problems. But this was a reflection of how confused she was about the nature of God. As I remarked to you already, God, being omniscient and omnipresent knows all there is to know about you. And there has never been a time when He did not know you and every thought and feeling you have had and will ever have. Because of who God is it is impossible for you to be "just another number" to Him. God is fully cognizant of you; you cannot escape His attention - and His love.

How do you know God really loves you? Because He died for you on a cross at the hands of wicked men. He didn't have to, you know. He was under no obligation to save you from the just punishment of your sins. You rightly deserve - as we all do - to go to hell. God would have done no wrong to let every sinful human suffer the destruction their sin incurs. But while God was under no obligation to save us from ourselves, He was under the constraint of His own loving nature. So, He made a way for you to be reconciled to Himself and to escape the eternal punishment your sin deserves. To do this He had to humiliate Himself to a mind-boggling degree. He set aside His power, and glory, and position as the Ruler of the Universe to become one of us. In the vast expanse of the universe we are hyper-microscopic. We are tiny specks on a minuscule planet in an insignificant galaxy among countless billions of galaxies. What God did in coming to our world as one of us is roughly akin to you becoming an electron of an atom of a molecule in the tiniest bacteria in your body. Imagine what you would give up in becoming such a thing! All of the power, and relationships, and joys, and pleasures, and knowledge that you enjoy would have to be forsaken. You would become weak, insignificant, and incredibly limited. But because God loved you this is what He did for you.

But this isn't all! Not only did God suffer the deep humiliation of becoming one of us, He then submitted to being abused and finally murdered by those He had come to save! And He did this, not just for "everybody" but for you. Why? Again, because He loves you. He endured ridicule, and anger, and rejection and then the terrible torment of crucifixion so that you might know Him as your Heavenly Father and Friend. The Bible says He did this "while we were yet His enemies." God holds out His love to rebellious, wicked sinners; for they are the ones who need it most.

Is God's Will Really the Best For Us?
Everyone says 'God's will be done,' his will is best for us. However, why was it God's will for Pharaoh's heart to hardened with Moses, which caused a lot of pain and death for others besides Pharaoh? Was it his will for Judas to betray Jesus and then be labeled as one of the most wicked people to ever live? If it was God's will, did he really stand a chance to not do what he did. To harden a generation's heart? My observation is that God's will gets he wants done, but not necessarily the best for us.

It is God's universe we are all in. He made it; He sustains it; He gets to do with it as He wants. This is what it means to be God. Is His will "the best for us"? That depends upon what you mean by "best." God made us to fellowship and worship Him. And when we do, we fulfill our fundamental purpose for being. As far as I'm concerned, this is the best way to live. Getting us to the place where we are in deep fellowship with God, however, often requires pain and suffering. But God esteems our fellowship with Him more highly than any passing pleasure or momentary happiness that sin and the Satan-ruled world may offer us. He will sacrifice our happiness and self-gratification in order to bring us into the joy and love of fellowship with Him.

God did not impose hardness upon Pharaoh's heart so much as He confirmed Pharaoh in a hardness of heart which he had already chosen. Did God make Judas the betrayer of Jesus? No. Judas had made a lifetime of choices that brought him to the betrayal of Christ. We do truly choose at certain points in our lives the direction it will take.

God is near as thought to you. He may seem imaginary and distant, but He is not. One day, you will meet Him face-to-face. Will He be your Heavenly Father, then, or your Wrathful Judge? The choice is yours.

Selah.

 

[cuja1]

What is it that you believe about God? From what you see in life, how do you perceive God? Do you notice any evidence of His existence. Do you notice Him doing anything in our world?

 

[cuja1]

Those are all perfectly legitimate questions. But a lot of your questions could require a book to fully explain them. You're trying to put together a puzzle. I recommend taking it one piece at a time. If you look at the whole puzzle you run the risk of getting overwhelmed. Be aware that it could take years to put most of it together. Some pieces only fit together after you have fit some other pieces together.

I've had many of the same questions. The best thing you can do is pray and ask God to help you understand. You probably won't have a quick response. It seems like God takes awhile to show us the answer to our questions, so be prepared to wait.

Have you had any experiences with God? I can't imagine anyone truly believing in God without some sort of revelation from Him. I think there are levels of belief in God too. At first God can seem like someone far and distant that you accept His existence, but that's about it. You can move on to believing that He actually is at work in the world and seeing His work, you may slowly get a revelation about God's personality, such as His love of creating things and the artful, skillful way He does it (I'm amazed when I look at tropical plants, the way they seem like living art).

I've had many questions, and God has answered almost all of them for me. The truth is, I could give the best answer to all your questions and you still wouldn't believe me unless God allowed it to be so. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals the truth to us.

John 16:13
"13"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."

and this

Romans 10:14
13for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

That is why you need to ask God for help. He will save you and He will show you all the truth you need.

 

[paul1149]

Feels like God is like big brother, always watching me, waiting for me to slip up just once or I'm not praying to Him enough or reading the Bible enough.

Even in Acts, Paul and a few others performed wonders, a lot like Christ. However, nowadays, you don't see any of that.

God and Jesus seems to be very different. God seems to be more anger and judges harder and quicker.

Raccko, you've already gotten some detailed answers, I'm going to keep mine simple. My goal is to give you a hermeneutic, a framework with which you can understand the Bible's history of God's relationship to man.

There certainly is a difference between Old and New Testaments. The book of Hebrews explains that we now have a fuller representation of god. Jesus is the express image of the Father, the very radiance of His glory. Beforehand we heard from God through Angels and prophets, but now we have heard from the Son himself.

One great truth is that God limits himself in His dealings with man. He has to, of course, or we would die of shock. God respects the structures He put into place at the beginning, and rather than tear them down and start over, He chose to work within them and rebuild from within. The foundation stone for this renewal is the cross of Christ.

And so in His wisdom God bode his time, dealing with man at each stage as was appropriate. It was "in the fullness of time" that Christ appeared. Before that, God dealt with man through the covenant of law. But even then, as it became clear that the covenant of law was increasingly a failure, His prophets began calling the people to a heart relationship with the Lord. Then came centuries of silence, and then finally the Christ appeared.

History is "His story". There is a progression. So it is not going to be helpful to view the Bible narrative as a static expression. I hope that helps a little.

In Galatians Paul tells us the law is the tutor that leads us to Christ. The covenant of law makes our sin manifest. This is what reading the Old Testament often does. The good news is that Jesus has paid the price of our sin, allowing us to be reconciled to the Father. You must view the OT through the lens of the NT to see it in correct perspective.

BTW, miracles are happening today, and happening big-time. The second and third world, and in particular the Muslim nations, are seeing them, but they are also happening her in the West, and in the US.

I hope that helps a little. God bless you.

 

[029b10]

x. Being Christian is Mentally Draining
Every time, I come back to God, I feel so stressed and anxious. Feels like God is like big brother, always watching me, waiting for me to slip up just once or I'm not praying to Him enough or reading the Bible enough. I always hear about Christians talk about come to God and he'll take the burden, but it always feels like the opposite, it becomes overwhelming.

Might check Jeremiah 23:32-40

There is no real walking with God, no fellowship with Him, when you refuse to let Him be God of your life.

Well, God is watching over you - and everyone else - all the time.

How does one walk with God and have not seen him nor heard his voice?

 

[Winken]

So, I'm not sure where to start, I keep wanting to do this, but keep putting it off. Though, I feel things are becoming a bit more desperate. I have a list (an actual physical list) of questions and concerns that I've had either recently or in the past that has kept me from coming to God.
that. It's nothing like back in the Bible age though.

I don't even know if God even exists anymore. If I'm praying to a real loving God or just praying to like an imaginary person. Sorry for the long essay I tried to edit it down and I appreciate you taking the time to hear me out and any answers or advise.

You have received some excellent responses. Now visit my BLOG, Winken, top of page, Christianforums.com.

God Bless You!

 

[Ken Reetz]

Two books might help you understand the Bible better, and therefore the nature and character of God. "Steps to Christ" and "The Desire of Ages"

Google them - they are free and available to read online.