Some struggles and questions

[Missy Baby]

Have patiences....
You are in my prayers

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Jonatan, how are things going?

 

[LilRitt04]

Hey, my first post here. God and Jesus recently started getting a much higher value in my life. And the more and more I put into them/him, the more difficult I find it to understand that I could once live without him. I always acknowledged Jesus as a wonderful person and God as something I couldn't comprehend. But now I want more. I found out that Christianity can give me satisfying answers about many things I've been wondering about for the best part of my life. I started going to Jesuschurch here in Norway (I'm a Belgian exchange student who lives in Norway for one year) every once in a while and I love it. I basically stopped going to church at all in Belgium because it was so boring (catholic church, no offense intended) to me. This church is full of life and extremely interesting people.
More and more I am led to the spiritual side and I hope that one day I will really believe in Jesus and be able to give my life to him. But I have some questions. The difficult part is that I really don't know how to put them.

For starters: should I take the bible literaly? I found an article, written by an atheist, about wrong things in the Bible. F.e. how Jesus disapproves of violence but goes out of control in the temple. Or how he says you will be punished for saying "you fool" while he uses this word himself again at the templescene I think (I haven't read enough bibleverses to fully support these statements, and I don't feel for looking up the link to the article). My point is, it doesn't take a genius to spot some contradictions in the Bible.
Another thing, through history the bible has been altered by the catholics. There is proof of this, I heard. What I'm wondering, to what extent is the Bible still reliable?
Also, I'm having general troubles believing in the supernatural. I know I want to but I find it difficult. I know I am on the right path but somewhere something is stopping me. What I have found out is that it is way easier to climb out of a pit to the top of the ladder, than starting at the middle. By this I mean that I don't really need God in the way that I need something to hold on to, or so one could say. Because my life is wonderful. But somehow I want more, "I wanna go deeper" (delirious ). Life seems pointless without any consequences.
But, I've met so many people that have talked to God, have been touched by Jesus or are filled with the Holy Spirit. I feel a weird jaelousy towards them. Somewhere I expect to get a sign, a feeling, or a word from God, but I also know it's not going to come. Because I ask for it out of curiousity, not out of faith.
I have long lost my main trail of thought here, but I think I shared enough struggles for one post. And don't let all of this fool you, I am an incredibly happy person who loves life and love. I just want to find out what I believe in.

-- thanks, jonatan


(admins: It's my first post so if I did anything wrong in this post, please let me know so I can keep this in mind next time.)

first of all i dont mean any offense to you, but people here on this forum cant tell you what to believe. you have to believe what you want to believe. but what i can say is that you need to find a church that doesnt sugar coat anything the Bible says. i am pentecostal and filled with the holy spirit. my church is a total charismatic church that doesnt sugar coat anything. you have to find that church and go. it is going to be weird the first time but it will bless your life.
when you are a christian you have to rely on the bible hand and foot. i use it everyday it is my sword! i know it like i know my name...and thats to put it lightly. once you start reading it and understand it, you really begin to get a better understanding of religon itself. dont read the book by and athiest if you want to be a christian (no offense to anyone). but God created this world...and he is coming back whether we are ready or not. the bible is life lessons of what is to come in the end times...it teaches you the meaning the the holy spirit, the meaning a God, what God intends for ourlives. its my favorite book (and i hate to read!) but just start out with a verse here or there. what i do is when i am going through something i take my bible and open it to a random page, and everytime i open it, it relates to the same thing i am going through. try it! God Bless

Jenn