Random questions about random things.

[Aiyacha]

Hello all - I recently accepted Christ as my savior, but I have some things that still swirl around in my mind that I just...don't really know the answer to, or give me doubts about my faith.

I guess the one thing that I haven't understood is how God seems so different between the Old and New Testament...granted, I haven't read everything yet, but there just seems to be kind of a big difference between the two. Can somebody try to explain it for me?

Also, I was gonna ask about the 'do you need to be baptized to be saved' thing, but there's already a thread going on that, soo...I'll go to something slightly different.
I don't belong to a church, but I feel a pull to be baptized. I thought you kind of had to belong to a church to do it? I'm going to college this fall, and there's an on-campus service there, but it's pretty much impossible to get to any church as I would have liked to have done. Is it possible to be baptized...somehow else? And does denomination really, actually matter?

And, sometimes, I think a lot about the universe, and how large it is, and it makes me doubt sometimes; there's a good chance there's life on other planets, and if they're sentient...what about them? Do they go to hell? Do they not matter? Of course, this is all hypothetical, but the universe is so big and we're so small.

And what happens to people that never hear about Christ, or have heard somewhat but aren't for sure on what they believe?

One last thing; does it make me a bad Christian for being afraid to admit that I've converted in the last month? I was a pretty hardcore atheist for a long time, and I don't know how to approach the subject with people without sounding totally unlike myself. I feel like I need to, and I feel like I'm disappointing God when I don't; but I don't know how.

I still have a lot to learn, so thanks for any answers you guys may have, and God bless!
(Oh and sorry, new to the forum, so if I mess something up I don't do it on purpose haha)

 

[singpeace]

...how God seems so different between the Old and New Testament...granted, I haven't read everything yet, but there just seems to be kind of a big difference between the two. Can somebody try to explain it for me?

Throughout the Bible, God is portrayed as not only loving and long-suffering, but also a righteous judge of the unrepentant and the wicked. This is as true in the New Testament as in the Old. The Book of Revelation specifically speaks about God's judgment on the nations. Similarly, the Old Testament highlights instances where god reached out to sinning nations and gave them unusual grace. The Ninevites were extended a chance to repent in the book of Jonah, even though their deeds were wicked. So the character of God remains consistent throughout the Bible.

I don't belong to a church, but I feel a pull to be baptized. I thought you kind of had to belong to a church to do it?

If you believe in Jesus Christ and have made him your Lord and Savior, it doesn't matter where you are baptized - with a Christian friend; just the two of you, or by a Pastor of a church. Definitely get baptized. I would recommend joining a church and speaking to the Pastor about baptism.

And does denomination really, actually matter?

The number and variety of denominations (traditions) is really not so much of an issue. The real issues center around biblical truth and doctrine. Denominations that embrace the Word of God, as it is written are ones that you should embrace.

... there's a good chance there's life on other planets, and if they're sentient...what about them? Do they go to hell? Do they not matter? Of course, this is all hypothetical, but the universe is so big and we're so small.

Obviously, the answers to these questions are beyond our reach. Technology is too limited to verify the existence (or non-existence) of life on other planets, and the Bible doesn't address this subject. I personally believe there is no life on other planets, but that God created such a large universe because He wanted to give our world a surrounding that has no visible end, a surrounding that seems complete and to give those of us on Earth a glimpse of His power and majesty.

And what happens to people that never hear about Christ, or have heard somewhat but aren't for sure on what they believe?

The Bible makes it clear that through nature and conscience each person has some knowledge about God and sin for which he is accountable.

Romans 1:19-20
19. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Romans 2:14-16
14. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16. on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

One last thing; does it make me a bad Christian for being afraid to admit that I've converted in the last month? I was a pretty hardcore atheist for a long time, and I don't know how to approach the subject with people without sounding totally unlike myself. I feel like I need to, and I feel like I'm disappointing God when I don't; but I don't know how

Moses was afraid. He said to God, " . . . what if they do not believe me or listen to me?" (Exodus 4:1).


As a true christian, your life should be a witness. You should exhibit love, patience, and genuine interest in the cares and needs of others. If you want to win someone over to Christ, try being Christ-like and show them love and kindness. Let your light shine in the midst of frustrations and difficulties. Be forgiving and kind to people even when they are hateful towards you and remember that you are not better than your fellow man. Treat even those with whom you disagree with dignity and respect and see how much more powerful your witness will be. Remember that most folks won't care about what you know or THINK you know until they know how much you care.

 

[jehoiakim]

This is an entry form my blog, but I feel like it is a thorough answer so I just copied and pasted it. If you have other questions and would like to ask me personally via a personal message I'd be happy to answer them.

One rather looming criticism of Christianity has been that the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are completely different characters seemingly inconsistent with one another. The solution does not seem rather difficult to comprehend, but the clarification is rarely presented and this causes unnecessary strife among believers. Rather than deal with the answer to “difficult questions,” many believers often assume the Old Testament to be irrelevant. ....

The answer is not that God is changing, but that our understanding of him must be based on principals that are slowly revealed. For instance we cannot truly understand mercy and love if we do not first understand what we deserve. If God is truly perfect without sin and holy as we would want and expect him to be, then by nature he could not tolerate any evil. We cannot have it both ways, he is perfect and just, or he is unjust and imperfect. Very early in the scriptures God presents the law in order for us to receive an indication of how wicked we are. At that time man however can have no closer relationship to God other than to know he is unworthy of God. Therefore God to some appears only to be a God of Wrath. (I believe however the Old Testament is clear that God has a loving side we just forget that sometimes because we glaze over those parts.)

Christ of course is the pivotal point if the whole thing. Remember though he said he did not come to change the law but to fulfill it? God did not hold back his love because we are unimportant to him, but because God is holy and we need an intercessor. When Christ comes however, he is God in the flesh. Suddenly we are able to talk to and relate to God in human form. Christ becomes our intercessor and our high-priest. Man now also has a direct way to connect to God the Father and the deeper truths of his character can be revealed. That is that we deserve death, but God loves us, wants a relationship with us and wants us to love others, but until Christ comes, man could not be reconciled to God and looking back we have trouble understanding that truth that God was Love then as well.

In the Old Testament the highest aspiration of man is to have faith, be righteous and just and to reflect God in that way. Christ in no way changes the fact that God is holy and just, but he provides us a way to be justified before God allowing us understand the deeper truths of God. The Father is not just angry and the son is not just a loving friend who pleads for us. Both Father and son must judge and have wrath because they are Holy and perfect, but they are also both loving.

 

[jehoiakim]

ps I'd be happy to answer the other questions as well but I am about to run out the door...

but importantly, I have been a Christian for a long time and have often been to nervous to identify myself as a Christian, my biggest hang up though was not that I was embarassed about Christ, but by other Christians... Once I realized that it became a lot easier to tell people because in the end it is all about Christ not us. For that reason some people use words like Christ follower, or believer instead. I don't really subscribe to that, but I am pretty sure it's something you'll grow out of if you keep pushing yourself to be a little bit more open about it as time goes on. If you just give up that fear will always stay with you

 

[heymikey80]

Hello all - I recently accepted Christ as my savior, but I have some things that still swirl around in my mind that I just...don't really know the answer to, or give me doubts about my faith.

I guess the one thing that I haven't understood is how God seems so different between the Old and New Testament...granted, I haven't read everything yet, but there just seems to be kind of a big difference between the two. Can somebody try to explain it for me?

Sure. The key point is that God is often greatly misunderstood because of the violence of the times of the Old Testament.

God is a redemptive God. So He will begin where we are at, and start sending us in a redemptive direction.

He is not unloading the dumptruck of all godliness and morality on us each and every day. If He did, we'd all be dead.

He was similarly redemptive back when people burned their children to gods, and carried heads around on pikes as testimony to their gods' power.

How does God approach such a culture? Redemptively.

In our day ... we're no less vulnerable to this. We want to keep it under wraps, in the dark. The 20th Century killed more people in one century than all the others put together. We haven't learned. We've just become better at covering it up.

I don't belong to a church, but I feel a pull to be baptized. I thought you kind of had to belong to a church to do it? I'm going to college this fall, and there's an on-campus service there, but it's pretty much impossible to get to any church as I would have liked to have done. Is it possible to be baptized...somehow else? And does denomination really, actually matter?

Denomination within Christianity doesn't really matter much. Churches just want to be sure you have a grasp of the basics. Churches teach to equip you for a whole new live, and it's eternal. It can seem tough to get to a church for its help, but we often spend so little time preparing for something so big. It can become a big problem. Get involved, even if it's on a campus ministry. Maybe you could ask the campus ministry group who's sponsoring their ministry, and could they put together a new Christians' class on-campus which includes baptism?

And, sometimes, I think a lot about the universe, and how large it is, and it makes me doubt sometimes; there's a good chance there's life on other planets, and if they're sentient...what about them? Do they go to hell? Do they not matter? Of course, this is all hypothetical, but the universe is so big and we're so small.

God's bigger than our own interests in salvation. We don't know the details, but we do know God cares for all His creatures and creation.

 

[1watchman]

Hello all - I recently accepted Christ as my savior, but I have some things that still swirl around in my mind that I just...don't really know the answer to, or give me doubts about my faith.

I guess the one thing that I haven't understood is how God seems so different between the Old and New Testament...granted, I haven't read everything yet, but there just seems to be kind of a big difference between the two. Can somebody try to explain it for me?

Also, I was gonna ask about the 'do you need to be baptized to be saved' thing, but there's already a thread going on that, soo...I'll go to something slightly different.
I don't belong to a church, but I feel a pull to be baptized. I thought you kind of had to belong to a church to do it? I'm going to college this fall, and there's an on-campus service there, but it's pretty much impossible to get to any church as I would have liked to have done. Is it possible to be baptized...somehow else? And does denomination really, actually matter?

And, sometimes, I think a lot about the universe, and how large it is, and it makes me doubt sometimes; there's a good chance there's life on other planets, and if they're sentient...what about them? Do they go to hell? Do they not matter? Of course, this is all hypothetical, but the universe is so big and we're so small.

And what happens to people that never hear about Christ, or have heard somewhat but aren't for sure on what they believe?

One last thing; does it make me a bad Christian for being afraid to admit that I've converted in the last month? I was a pretty hardcore atheist for a long time, and I don't know how to approach the subject with people without sounding totally unlike myself. I feel like I need to, and I feel like I'm disappointing God when I don't; but I don't know how.

I still have a lot to learn, so thanks for any answers you guys may have, and God bless!
(Oh and sorry, new to the forum, so if I mess something up I don't do it on purpose haha)

It would be important for you, friend, to get involved with a good Bible believing group to study these things --not just with a group of novices, but in a sound Bible teaching church group. There are many Q. you will need to learn, and if you get a good foundation about God and His Word, the other things will fall into place. God is "the same yesterday, today, and forever", as He said. Remember, too, there is no substitute for communion with the Lord Jesus who is our Teacher through His Spirit.

- 1 Watchman

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

Hello all - I recently accepted Christ as my savior, but I have some things that still swirl around in my mind that I just...don't really know the answer to, or give me doubts about my faith.

First of all, the best cure for doubt is to have a firm foundation from which you base your beliefs on, this foundation is the word of God, test it, probe it and study it until you believe every word and doubt none of God's promises in it. This is the bed-rock of our faith.

I guess the one thing that I haven't understood is how God seems so different between the Old and New Testament...granted, I haven't read everything yet, but there just seems to be kind of a big difference between the two. Can somebody try to explain it for me?

First: God is three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But they are ONE being; One God, the three personalities never contradict each-other and never disagree, they are always in complete agreement in every decision:

"Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." (John 5:19)

Jesus declared that His Father was the God of the Old Testament, not some mystical being who nobody ever heard of, when Jesus came onto the scene in ancient Israel and declared to the Pharisees, Sadducees and all the Jews who He was, there was no doubt He was speaking of the true God of the OT: The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. With this in mind, when Jesus spoke of love and mercy, He spoke in agreement with His Father because He said He could do nothing apart from Him.

God (the three Persons) is really beyond comprehension (especially the fact of the triune being) but we do know of His attributes: First and foremost: God is HOLY and has no part in any-kind of evil, He is completely pure, not only this, but His holiness demands satisfaction when it is crossed (or transgressed). Most questionable (by human intelligence) incidents in the OT can be traced back to God's judgement on humanity because of sin (transgressing the eternal laws of a holy God).

Second: God is love and He is merciful, God in His holiness and pure justice could have allowed all humanity to die and go to hell and never experience Himself and be lost in their sin forever:

"All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:5)

Thirdly: God is the universal Judge for all beings who have a moral conscience. And He alone is capable and worthy of such a position because of His purity and holiness, He alone can judge a world:

"they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth." (Psalms 96:13)

Also, I was gonna ask about the 'do you need to be baptized to be saved' thing, but there's already a thread going on that, soo...I'll go to something slightly different.
I don't belong to a church, but I feel a pull to be baptized. I thought you kind of had to belong to a church to do it? I'm going to college this fall, and there's an on-campus service there, but it's pretty much impossible to get to any church as I would have liked to have done. Is it possible to be baptized...somehow else? And does denomination really, actually matter?

You need to be baptised, it will take many of your doubts away and a lot of verses in the NT will start to make more sense when you are baptised into the family (the Body of Christ). The "pull" you feel to be baptised is the Holy Spirit's drawing and should not be ignored.

Baptism is not salvation, salvation is by grace through faith alone, but baptism is a fruit of true salvation. You will learn more about the fruit of a true saving faith the more you mature in your walk with the Lord, but baptism is the first step, do not expect to go further in your walk when you refuse to do one of the first and most basic requirements in faith.

And, sometimes, I think a lot about the universe, and how large it is, and it makes me doubt sometimes; there's a good chance there's life on other planets, and if they're sentient...what about them? Do they go to hell? Do they not matter? Of course, this is all hypothetical, but the universe is so big and we're so small.

Yes, this is only theory, but even if life on other planets came to be fact one day (which I highly doubt) this does nothing to take away from the truth of Scripture or the work of the Lord Jesus. God has revealed to us through His word and through history itself who He is and who we are in relation to Him and what we must do to restore that relationship. If life was found in outer-space these truths still remain true and demanding on the human race until Christ returns.

And what happens to people that never hear about Christ, or have heard somewhat but aren't for sure on what they believe?

Some things are not for us to know, but what we do know is that God is holy, just and merciful and whatever decision He makes will be done in mercy and justice for the lost soul. We must leave these decisions at the feet of our Lord, He alone is wise.

One last thing; does it make me a bad Christian for being afraid to admit that I've converted in the last month? I was a pretty hardcore atheist for a long time, and I don't know how to approach the subject with people without sounding totally unlike myself. I feel like I need to, and I feel like I'm disappointing God when I don't; but I don't know how.

You need to learn about who you are now in Christ, you are no longer that other person, you are saved and loved by God and you must not be afraid to speak up and tell everyone around you about who you are now. We are to be bold for the Lord, granted some are more bold than others, but nonetheless we are still to stand firm and profess without shame the Lord Jesus Christ when given the chance.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15)

"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36)

I still have a lot to learn, so thanks for any answers you guys may have, and God bless!
(Oh and sorry, new to the forum, so if I mess something up I don't do it on purpose haha)

God bless and welcome to the kingdom of Jesus Christ, your brother in the Lord,

Joshua SoS.

 

[akaspooky]

I guess the one thing that I haven't understood is how God seems so different between the Old and New Testament...granted, I haven't read everything yet, but there just seems to be kind of a big difference between the two. Can somebody try to explain it for me?

And what happens to people that never hear about Christ, or have heard somewhat but aren't for sure on what they believe?

Most of the OT is a pretty good example of how laws don't make people good, don't you think?

But Adam chose for us -- that we were to be held accountable for our actions, due to the knowledge of good and evil. And the more knowledge God gave them about good and evil, via the Law, the more evil man actually did. Paul says that he followed the Law and that it tempted him into doing evil... Paul was only righteous under the Law because he offered the animal sacrifices that covered his sins -- sacrifices which were built in to that system... so God fully expected them to fail miserably. And it'd be real hard NOT to notice what a failure you were in that type of system.

But there's some reason why Jesus said Matthew 23, right? So the Pharisees are still walking around today... STILL as Hagar the bondwoman's sons and still persecuting Abraham and Sarah's kids -- the children of the Promised Seed.

Isaiah at the beginning says that man chose those mountains of burnt flesh in which God had no pleasure, and the end of Isaiah says that God will also chose their delusions... this is that strong delusion of end times. And in the end times the air between Heaven and Earth will be full of the smoke and the smells of entire herds burning, sacrificed from all of the people in the world... hmmm... wonder if this is where that famine part comes in?

Anyway... the Lord Jesus Christ has pulled all that down, ripped the curtain between God and man in half, and walks with man in the cool of the garden again. Man is innocent again, if he wants to be. It's all about God's perception of us... it always has been. Today, when God looks at Christians, He sees us hidden in Jesus Christ.

 

[Aiyacha]

Thanks for all of the opinions and information, guys.

jehoiakim, that explanation cleared up a lot for me, thanks. I never really thought about it that way, but it makes sense.
I've also heard the 'OT is irrelevant' argument before, but even years ago, it never made much sense to me. I think some of it is based on the culture of the time, yeah, but that doesn't mean it's irrelevant, that's for sure!

And, yes, I'm embarrassed by some other Christians. I don't know how to get over it; there's a lot of Christians that use the Bible to justify their hate (WBC, as one example), but I just have to remember that the majority of Christians are loving, and that the rest are a minority...but it's hard, and I'm afraid of other people's judgment, even if I shouldn't be.

In our day ... we're no less vulnerable to this. We want to keep it under wraps, in the dark. The 20th Century killed more people in one century than all the others put together. We haven't learned. We've just become better at covering it up.

Wow...never thought about this either. So true!

I know I'm going to get involved in the on-campus ministry; luckily they have a Sunday night worship, so I'll be able to go after I return from home from the weekend...they have stuff on Tuesday nights as well, so as long as I'm not wallowing in homework I'll try to go.

God's bigger than our own interests in salvation. We don't know the details, but we do know God cares for all His creatures and creation.

I need to think this thought more often...

You need to be baptised, it will take many of your doubts away and a lot of verses in the NT will start to make more sense when you are baptised into the family (the Body of Christ). The "pull" you feel to be baptised is the Holy Spirit's drawing and should not be ignored.

I kind of thought that's what it was, but...I wasn't sure. I don't want to ignore it, but what can I do when I don't have a church or, really, anything around here that I can do until college? Should I wait until then, or attempt to find someone around in my town?

Thanks for your words, they helped a lot.

 

[SoldierOfSoul]

I kind of thought that's what it was, but...I wasn't sure. I don't want to ignore it, but what can I do when I don't have a church or, really, anything around here that I can do until college? Should I wait until then, or attempt to find someone around in my town?

Whatever you have to do, at some point (sooner rather then later) get baptised, you will not regret it and it will make you feel more complete and whole in your relationship with the Lord. Check out some local ministries around town or a small group, anyplace where true believers gather (if you can't find a church).

Thanks for your words, they helped a lot.

Your welcome Aiyacha, God bless.

 

[Alex1234567890]

Good luck