Struggling with faith.

[dms1972]

I have been really struggling with believing for some time. I can talk and discuss doctrine, theology etc. and read a lot on that, and that seems safer to me. But it seems to me like I am trying too much to believe in my conscious mind, and living in theories. I have studied and read within nearly every sort of theology and philosophy - from Calvinism to Existentialism to Neo-Orthodoxy... I get the impression from some christians (not all) that faith is a much, much deeper thing with them. Its like my faith is too much connected to activities like praying, too behavioural, too external as it were, when prayer needs to be something which is from deep within, because one has faith.

I have had traumatic events in my life ans suspect i have some dissociation and wonder if that might be part of the reason?

 

[MariaJLM]

Welcome to my life...

 

[Jonaitis]

Friend, you talk about all this searching and studying of deeper theological issues, but have you ever come to Christ by way of the simplicity of the gospel? All these other things fall without the gospel, and it is the power of God for salvation.

What is the Gospel?

 

[dms1972]

Friend, you talk about all this searching and studying of deeper theological issues, but have you ever come to Christ by way of the simplicity of the gospel? All these other things fall without the gospel, and it is the power of God for salvation.

What is the Gospel?

I certainly thought I had at one time. I don't know now if I have lost faith, or if its the dissociation.

 

[Lost4words]

You need to get back to basics my friend. Strip away everything to just prayer.

Forget about reading this and that. Worrying about theology and what others do. Just offer up your sufferings, thoughts etc to God.

Pray, and dont worry my friend.

 

[dms1972]

I tend to read books on theology to correct my thinking.

 

[kala83]

to me as long as you have the desire to move forward you will do just fine. Don't give up

 

[seekingmuch]

I have been really struggling with believing for some time. I can talk and discuss doctrine, theology etc. and read a lot on that, and that seems safer to me. But it seems to me like I am trying too much to believe in my conscious mind, and living in theories. I have studied and read within nearly every sort of theology and philosophy - from Calvinism to Existentialism to Neo-Orthodoxy... I get the impression from some christians (not all) that faith is a much, much deeper thing with them. Its like my faith is too much connected to activities like praying, too behavioural, too external as it were, when prayer needs to be something which is from deep within, because one has faith.

I have had traumatic events in my life ans suspect i have some dissociation and wonder if that might be part of the reason?

Make God your friend, best friend you treat like a friend.

Ask God about me and him. I tell him exactly whats on my mind. It ain't always peaches and cream. But, I told him, "do I do that to anyone else? Nope. You got in bed with me, a Bipolar, and know how we are so don't *itch if I let you have it one day and am in love with you the next." I tell God what I think about church, what I think about him, etc., etc. I thank him when he does something. He knows my rants aren't personal, cause I figure out he's not to blame, but if he wants my undying love, he's got to take my wrath on occasion. Actually, I think God has figured out if I'm mad with him and yell at him, we're cool in the end. But, if I say, "fine, whatever," just like a woman, I'm really mad. I told him, "preachers have caused most of my problems. From now on, I ain't listening to any of them."

That's what God wants--friendship.

The rest is a bonus to him.