Should I stay or should I go?

[Nicole Elder-Kopp]

Your response and Prayer request are very clear and concise. God Bless

 

[Palmfever]

I have a close friend who owns the local hardware store and he lost his wife of many years, several years ago. After the friends, mourners, well wishers faded away, I found a time when I was alone with him at the store. I looked at him behind the counter, he looked at me, neither speaking. After a brief silence I quietly said, “There is nothing I can say.”

I know, he replied.

I see him occasionally and we talk. He has dusted off an old guitar out and is having it repaired. We will sit, play music and share moments. Life is for laughing, grieving, play and work. Life is pleasure and pain.

I have no platitudes, you know the scripture. There is one standing, by eagerly anticipating you will fall. There is another looking forward to an eternity of sharing a greater relationship with you.
Nothing else makes any sense. Those who refuse, for one reason or another, to see God in His work truly are the damned “Fools.”

May God take a special interest in your life at this trying time.
May you see His love and truth in this difficult time.

In Christ

 

[Hanging by a Thread]

Lotta ads on this site. Some of 'em kinda provocative, which seems strange for a Christian forum.

 

[Nicole Elder-Kopp]

Yeah, that's a good point. I've been meaning to take that step and probably will. I was hoping there might be a few pastors on this site as well, though.

 

[Valletta]

Hello,

I’m a lifelong Christian (nearly 60 years) and find myself suddenly suffering depression and a lack of faith in God due to some aspects of my life that didn’t go so well. They say suffering brings you closer to God, but for me, it’s made me take a closer look at God- which to me means refer to our source, the Bible – but the closer I look, the more I struggle with my faith. I’ve read the Bible in full once maybe twice during my younger days, but as I now read it with a more intense search for answers, I’m finding the opposite effect I was looking for. I don’t want to lose my faith, but I have questions about the Bible and our faith and am looking for a place to pose these questions and hopefully find answers that will help restore my faith. The problem is, I’m probably going to come off like an atheist, which I am not (but I feel I am in danger of becoming one). The questions I pose will deal with parts of the Bible that I find disturbing; parts that I feel we tend to ignore or dismiss as figurative, as opposed to passages we refer to because they best fit what we feel our religion is supposed to be. The last thing I want to do is plant seeds of doubt in believers, as that is listed as an automatic ticket to Hell. So I’d like to get a little feedback from some of the regular members here. Are you guys open to my posting here? I promise I’m not an atheist in disguise, and would be willing to join in rebuking an atheist who tries to join the discussion with a clear intent towards atheism (although I would like to have a discussion with an atheist at some point when I’m less vulnerable). I’m just trying to find my way back. I mean geez, I’ve come this far as a Christian. I don’t want to fumble on the goal line.

So please let me know what you guys think. Are you open to my posting here or does my intent sound like something that will be counter-productive to this site?

Discussing God's Word is a good thing, there is plenty of that here on Christian Forums. To me it is particularly fascinating to see how the OT is fulfilled in the NT. A good Bible course can help to enlighten you, our parish had a course on the Book of Job before the pandemic and I was surprised at how much people differed in their impressions. There are some great free courses at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Studies at www.stpaulcenter.com that might give you a different perspective.

 

[Nicole Elder-Kopp]

Have you seen the KJV Bible App?

 

[Valletta]

OK, if you like. Maybe I have been operating on a false notion all these years. That's what's so unsettling and has me searching for answers. I've been "operating" within the Catholic faith, btw. We have a profession of faith that you can look up that pretty much covers the details. In short, we believe what the Bible tells us. At least that's what I thought until I came across some passages that don't add up for me. Thus the reason for my initial comment: -The questions I pose will deal with parts of the Bible that I find disturbing; parts that I feel we tend to ignore or dismiss as figurative, as opposed to passages we refer to because they best fit what we feel our religion is supposed to be.

Besides a Catholic Bible course like the one I suggested read the Church Fathers--there is plenty out there on the Internet. Remember that the Catholic Church chose the 73 books of the Bible in a process that spanned centuries, any book that was not 100 percent in keeping with the Catholic faith (as handed down through the Apostles) was rejected.

 

[Hanging by a Thread]

Ok, I've got enough positive responses to feel comfortable so I'm going to fire away. With the site being new to me, I'm struggling a bit to fully navigate. I'm guessing "Christian Apologetics" would be where my particular content belongs. Let me know if you suggest a different location.
Thanks again, everyone.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Yeah, that's a good point. I've been meaning to take that step and probably will. I was hoping there might be a few pastors on this site as well, though.

There are...

 

[Carl Emerson]

Maybe you should post here

Requests for Christian Advice

That means you will get responses from Christians only...

 

[PloverWing]

Welcome to CF, @Hanging by a Thread ! As Christians, we should definitely be able to ask honest questions and speak the truth about our struggles when we are in community, so your questions are welcome here. I look forward to conversations with you.

 

[Hanging by a Thread]

Besides a Catholic Bible course like the one I suggested read the Church Fathers--there is plenty out there on the Internet. Remember that the Catholic Church chose the 73 books of the Bible in a process that spanned centuries, any book that was not 100 percent in keeping with the Catholic faith (as handed down through the Apostles) was rejected.

I didn't know that, but that raises some questions. I'll admit that I don't know the history of the Bible or how it was constructed. I'll have to look into that eventually, but the way things are going concerning my faith, I'm afraid of what I might find. Maybe I'm one of those guys Jesus was speaking of when he said they hear but they don't understand. I'm not sure of the exact reference point and I'm paraphrasing some, but I think it was close to the part where he was explaining why he spoke in parables.
I'm currently reading a small portion of Sister Maria Faustina H. Kowalska's diary (Divine Mercy in my Soul) each morning. Apparently, this was initially rejected by the Catholic Church, but after further review has been indoctrinated. I'm not done with it but so far it has been an interesting read. I want to believe in it, but you could get the impression she's suffering from a mental illness and it's confirmed she was suffering from an illness that affects the brain, which eventually killed her. Seems nothing is ever clear cut easy. I see you're Catholic so I'm wondering if you're familiar with her Diary and painting?

 

[Hanging by a Thread]

Maybe you should post here

Requests for Christian Advice

That means you will get responses from Christians only...

Thanks, Carl. That's where I'll go.

 

[QvQ]

Hello,

I’m a lifelong Christian (nearly 60 years) and find myself suddenly suffering depression and a lack of faith in God due to some aspects of my life that didn’t go so well. They say suffering brings you closer to God, but for me, it’s made me take a closer look at God- which to me means refer to our source, the Bible – but the closer I look, the more I struggle with my faith. I’ve read the Bible in full once maybe twice during my younger days, but as I now read it with a more intense search for answers, I’m finding the opposite effect I was looking for. I don’t want to lose my faith, but I have questions about the Bible and our faith and am looking for a place to pose these questions and hopefully find answers that will help restore my faith. The problem is, I’m probably going to come off like an atheist, which I am not (but I feel I am in danger of becoming one). The questions I pose will deal with parts of the Bible that I find disturbing; parts that I feel we tend to ignore or dismiss as figurative, as opposed to passages we refer to because they best fit what we feel our religion is supposed to be. The last thing I want to do is plant seeds of doubt in believers, as that is listed as an automatic ticket to Hell. So I’d like to get a little feedback from some of the regular members here. Are you guys open to my posting here? I promise I’m not an atheist in disguise, and would be willing to join in rebuking an atheist who tries to join the discussion with a clear intent towards atheism (although I would like to have a discussion with an atheist at some point when I’m less vulnerable). I’m just trying to find my way back. I mean geez, I’ve come this far as a Christian. I don’t want to fumble on the goal line.

So please let me know what you guys think. Are you open to my posting here or does my intent sound like something that will be counter-productive to this site?

There is a state called the dark night of the soul. St. John of the Cross named this condition as the change from the comfortable understanding to a deeper awareness.
It is not the falling away of faith but the examination of faith that leads to a deeper relationship with God and Christ.
I pray that you are deepening your faith even though it is the dark night of the soul, a painful period of doubt and questioning that precedes a better understanding and a deeper faith.

 

[Valletta]

I didn't know that, but that raises some questions. I'll admit that I don't know the history of the Bible or how it was constructed. I'll have to look into that eventually, but the way things are going concerning my faith, I'm afraid of what I might find. Maybe I'm one of those guys Jesus was speaking of when he said they hear but they don't understand. I'm not sure of the exact reference point and I'm paraphrasing some, but I think it was close to the part where he was explaining why he spoke in parables.
I'm currently reading a small portion of Sister Maria Faustina H. Kowalska's diary (Divine Mercy in my Soul) each morning. Apparently, this was initially rejected by the Catholic Church, but after further review has been indoctrinated. I'm not done with it but so far it has been an interesting read. I want to believe in it, but you could get the impression she's suffering from a mental illness and it's confirmed she was suffering from an illness that affects the brain, which eventually killed her. Seems nothing is ever clear cut easy. I see you're Catholic so I'm wondering if you're familiar with her Diary and painting?

Yes, we have a copy of the Divine Mercy painting hanging up in our Church. As a Catholic it is not part of the faith to believe in any private revelation such as that of Sister Faustina. Many of the personal revelations of people are not approved by the Church, those that are are not to be considered as an approved TEACHING of the Church. It is not unusual to take a long time for approval for study or for someone not to be recognized by the Church until long after their death. In plain words you don't have to believe what is said from private revelations. Even for widely believed events such as Lourdes and Fatima you don't have to believe, you may be wise to believe, but it is not part of official Catholic teaching. I suggest reading the Catholic Catechism and the Church Fathers and Doctors of the Church first before tackling Sister Faustina's diary.

 

[Mark Quayle]

OK, if you like. Maybe I have been operating on a false notion all these years. That's what's so unsettling and has me searching for answers. I've been "operating" within the Catholic faith, btw. We have a profession of faith that you can look up that pretty much covers the details. In short, we believe what the Bible tells us. At least that's what I thought until I came across some passages that don't add up for me. Thus the reason for my initial comment: -The questions I pose will deal with parts of the Bible that I find disturbing; parts that I feel we tend to ignore or dismiss as figurative, as opposed to passages we refer to because they best fit what we feel our religion is supposed to be.

Ok. Let's hear it.

 

[Hanging by a Thread]

There is a state called the dark night of the soul. St. John of the Cross named this condition as the change from the comfortable understanding to a deeper awareness.
It is not the falling away of faith but the examination of faith that leads to a deeper relationship with God and Christ.
I pray that you are deepening your faith even though it is the dark night of the soul, a painful period of doubt and questioning that precedes a better understanding and a deeper faith.

 

[Hanging by a Thread]

There is a state called the dark night of the soul. St. John of the Cross named this condition as the change from the comfortable understanding to a deeper awareness.
It is not the falling away of faith but the examination of faith that leads to a deeper relationship with God and Christ.
I pray that you are deepening your faith even though it is the dark night of the soul, a painful period of doubt and questioning that precedes a better understanding and a deeper faith.

Yeah, I've noticed this as I dig in. I'm hoping that's what's happening with me. I believe I saw a quote from the Pope stating that most all Christians have doubts at some point. Mother Theresa may have died with doubt according to her diary, Sister Faustina (a catholic figure if you're not Catholic and don't know of her) struggled with serious doubts even though both of these women claim to have heard the voice of God. And I've seen it insinuated that most all saints went through the condition you mention.

 

[Hanging by a Thread]

Ok. Let's hear it.

Hear what? The questions I pose? If that's what you mean I've posted a question under the "requests for Christians advice" section. It doesn't directly address a concern I have with the Bible, but I'll get to that. It's my first post so I'm starting off kinda light. I plan to post a different topic every Sunday if all goes well.

 

[QvQ]

Yeah, I've noticed this as I dig in. I'm hoping that's what's happening with me. I believe I saw a quote from the Pope stating that most all Christians have doubts at some point. Mother Theresa may have died with doubt according to her diary, Sister Faustina (a catholic figure if you're not Catholic and don't know of her) struggled with serious doubts even though both of these women claim to have heard the voice of God. And I've seen it insinuated that most all saints went through the condition you mention.

For a long time, I thought "God's in His Heaven, all's right with the world.
Then one day it wasn't all right. I had been doing, thinking, believing right along just like always and suddenly, it was all wrong.
At first I was bitter, feeling betrayed and abandoned but I had read St. John of the Cross, and he seemed to say that the best thing to do is to keep the Faith. Pray, read the Bible, seek fellowship and above all, Keep the Faith.
I like this poem. For me it was written for the times when I alone beweep my outcast state, it is God's sweet love remembered that gets me through the dark nights of the soul..
When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
(Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.