Unbelief

[Akita Suggagaki]

Mark 9:23-25
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Belief must be some kind of continuum that differs for every topic. I believe the Bible is the Word of God but I do not believe that it is entirely literal.

I believe that Jesus us the Son of God but I am not entirely sure what that means.,
I believe that Jesus rose form the dead but I am not sure how to believe in his ascension.

Do I believe enough to walk on water? To cast a mountain into the sea? No

Do I believe enough to not worry, to have no anxiety? No.

Lord, help me to believe in truth, even when I do not like it.
Guard me from believing in untruth, in lies and deceptions.
Help me to the gift of my reason to sort it all out.

​

 

[Clare73]

Mark 9:23-25​

23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”​

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”​

​

Belief must be some kind of continuum that differs for every topic. I believe the Bible is the Word of God but I do not believe that it is entirely literal.​

I believe that Jesus us the Son of God but I am not entirely sure what that means.,​

I believe that Jesus rose form the dead but I am not sure how to believe in his ascension.​

You simply believe in the facts presented, and if there are any implications of those facts, you trust in those implications.
For example, I believe that Jesus' crucifixion atoned for the sin of those who believe in him.
Therefore, I trust that my sin is forgiven and I am saved from God's condemnation on sin at the Judgment.

 

[Unqualified]

God died a merciless death for the sins of the whole world.

Believe like a little child because it’s said in the Bible. It is Gods Word.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

You simply believe in the facts presented, and if there are any implications of those facts, you trust in those implications.
For example, I believe that Jesus' crucifixion atoned for the sin of those who believe in him.
Therefore, I trust that my sin is forgiven and I am saved from God's condemnation on sin at the Judgment.

Atonement, forgiveness and salvation are a bit easier to believe because they are not testable. They are matters of faith.
But God's love when faced with disasters, God's protection when faced with catastrophe, not so easy.

And Jesus never hid that from us, challenging us to love him more than parents, not to worry about what we will eat or wear, to take up our own crosses and die to self. Blessed are we then.

 

[Clare73]

Atonement, forgiveness and salvation are a bit easier to believe because they are not testable. They are matters of faith.
But God's love when faced with disasters, God's protection when faced with catastrophe, not so easy.

We have no promise of deliverance from disasters and catastrophe.
We have only the promise that God is with the those in Christ in such situations.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I find that everyday I need to remind myself. "What is it that believe?" And recommit.

 

[jacks]

None of us moves mountains.

The apostles also couldn't remove the evil spirit from the boy in the passage you quoted. They asked:

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” Mark 9:28-29

Perhaps when our belief is weak, prayer is what we should be doing. We might find the mountain doesn't need to be cast into the sea.

 

[Hentenza]

I find that everyday I need to remind myself. "What is it that believe?" And recommit.

If you have the fortitude to recommit daily then you are doing better than most. We all have our doubts but then you remember why you do what you do. God is truly amazing.