Whos to say we have it right?

[minus]

Who’s to say we have it right? How do we know that the Christian view of God is the correct one? How do we know that it’s not the Muslims, the Jews, the Buddhists, the Krishnas, the Hindus, the Wiccans, the Atheists, or whoever else who has it right? All these groups and many, many others believe that their way is the only correct way. How can we be sure that our way is the one and only correct way? They all have religious books like the bible that they all read and tells them that their way is the correct way. So what makes all these other groups wrong and our views as Christians the one and only correct path to God?

But what if there isn’t a God? What if what we feel inside is just our conscious telling us that we need to do right. I mean basically as a society we are brought up in a way that goes along with the teachings of Christ. We are all taught as children to love our neighbors, to do good to others and to know the difference between right and wrong. How do we know that what we think is the holly spirit isn’t just our own conscious telling us “hey remember all that stuff that was drilled into your head as a kid? Well its time to grow up and start living by it.”

Sorry but I’m just really confused right now. I just recently asked Christ back into my life. I originally asked him to be my lord and savior when I was 13 and began asking all these questions and never found an answer to them. I strayed away on my own and tried things my own way and did whatever felt “good to the flesh”. I recently started to really realize how much I have screwed up my life and figured that it was time to get right with God but now I’m just wondering if its really him and not just part of myself, my own conscious that is telling me to straighten up and fly right.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

Because Jesus Christ died to save us.

I'm 31 and know exactly what you're feeling.
That feeling is God poking you on the shoulder. Dare to listen to it and believe it, then see what happens.

 

[minus]

Because Jesus Christ died to save us.

I'm 31 and know exactly what you're feeling.
That feeling is God poking you on the shoulder. Dare to listen to it and believe it, then see what happens.

I knew that would be the first thing anyone said. Because Jesus died for me, or because he came back three days later. But when it really comes down to it how do we know this is all historical fact. History is told by men and is biased according to their viewpoints. How can anyone be sure of these things? How do I know that he really did rise from the grave? How do I know he is the son of God? What if Jesus was just some guy who made all these outrageous claims and his followers set things up to make it appear as if he had been raised from the grave? I realize that the rock blocking his tomb was huge and couldn’t have simply been moved by him if he were simply a man, but what if a group of his followers got together and moved the rock and took his body out of the tomb so that the next day they could claim to all that he did rise from the grave. Isn’t it also possible that his followers just simply made up all this stuff in their heads, wrote it all down and passed it off as the New Testament?

These are questions that just keep popping up in my head and I don’t have any answers for them. I want to believe that there is more to my existence than this life here on Earth, but I need answers to these questions. I am truly worried that what I have come to believe could be completely wrong.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

You have to be careful here.
The evidence for the events in the New Testament is overwhelming. Even then, history has left us with missing pieces. Where are those pieces? After 2000 years they're gone. But look at Homer, the Greek poet. We have jack on Homer. And what we do have is ages removed from hsi contemporary time. So when you are dealing with objective history, the farther back you go, the less you have.
But since the New Testament is well supported and has such diverse witnesses, we're in a good position. Even an honest rationalist has to admit that.
So my point is that you are not placing your faith in a fairy tale or a myth of a crazy man. It does take faith, don't get me wrong. But if you're gonna weigh the evidence, you've got some pretty darn good odds.

As far as a body...it's harder to believe they could pull that off than to believe what happened is true. There is no way that a stolen body would have happened. Something would have gone wrong eventually. The body would have been found. I guarantee they looked for it. When the beatings started, someone would have talked.
Ther is no way you can keep 12 guys and some women from talking when beatings come into it. Still, no body.

 

[brettnolan]

Minus,

I've been down exactly the same road that you have, took me a little longer however. Like Mr. Cheese, I need to say BE CAREFUL! Especially here on CF. Ultimately you are going to have to decide for yourself what is true...but there are a lot of boards here that continue to make me question my core beliefs...even "Christian only" boards. Atheistic(and liberal Christian as well) arguments can be very compelling. And I find it interesting that many atheists apparently take a considerable amount of time learning what the Bible says so they can use "science" or "logic" to disprove it. I personally don't have the time (or interest for that matter) to get a full understanding of evolution, for instance, so I have decided to quit spending time and energy debating that particular issue. The bottom line for me on that is, what do I lose by believing in a 6 day creation and 6000 year old earth? If I'm wrong, so what? On the other hand, if trying to figure out that question costs me my faith, I lose out on a great deal. I think my time is better spent learning God's word as given in the Bible. Yes, I know that's a variation of Pascal's wager...so what? Just because I didn't think it up on my own doesn't make it less valid.

I am currently participating in a "bible in a year" reading program, but when I finish that I am going to concentrate heavily on the New Testament. I would encourage you to do that also. The main reason for that is just what Mr. Cheese said; there is considerable evidence that the events in the Gospels are true. That comes mainly in the form of eyewitness accounts, but there are other evidences.

The rock first since you brought it up. If the disciples stole the body, why didn't the Jewish leaders call them on it right then? Why did they let the lie continue? In fact, the tomb was guarded by Roman soldiers just so that WOULDN'T happen.

Another point that Cheese brought up is everyone stuck to the truth through severe persecution. Not just the disciples, but hundreds of other believers. How much do you think you could endure for a LIE?

Also, the historical phsyical evidence to support the New Testament, in terms of extant writings is, in my mind, too hard to dispute. Scholars accept the writings of Josephus as credible historical documents and yet the earliest (to time of writing) existing copies of those manuscripts don't even come close to the earliest existing copies of parts of the NT, including one of the gospels. This is true of other historical documents as well. If those documents are accepted as credible historically, why should the NT be judged by a different standard?

Another question I ask to help me is what would the disciples have to gain by perpetrating this lie? And Paul, in particular. Paul (then Saul) had a pretty good gig, chasing after these crazy Christians and hauling them off to prison or having them killed. Why would he give up a good job, probably a decent life, to spread the very lie he was trying to wipe out? Not only that but he KNEW the persecution he would suffer.

As for other religions having it right, I can't speak to all of them, but I can't really think of one whose prominent figure (Muhammed, Buhdda, etc.) expressly proclaimed to be God. The Jewish people believe in the same God as Christians, they just don't believe that Christ was God in the flesh. My understanding is that they will still have a place in heaven, provided they obey the law. I personally believe that Christ gave us enough evidence to follow Him and BELIEVE that he WAS God in flesh, none of the others even claimed to be God.

There are MANY unanswered questions and I loathe to say that's where faith comes in, but I don't know what else to say.

 

[minus]

Thank you very much Mr. Cheese and brettnolan for your encouragement. I have also been talking to my fiancee and my father about this and I think everybody has brought up some good points.

I really need to start picking up the bible more often. My fiancee and I were trying to read some of the New Testament every night but have just been slacking of lately. It also didn’t help that I missed church this past Sunday because I just started working a 2nd job and they scheduled me to work Sunday morning (luckily that won’t be an excuse any longer because I asked them not to schedule me anymore on Sundays) I really need to keep exposing myself to God’s word and being around fellow Christians and sharing my thoughts and feelings with them. I’m going to call my pastor and ask to set up an appointment with him so we can talk about this one on one. I don’t want to keep stumbling like this, I want to be strong and do things his way. I really want to overcome all of these doubts.

If you all could pray for me that would be greatly appreciated, thanks everyone.

 

[brettnolan]

Thank you very much Mr. Cheese and brettnolan for your encouragement. I have also been talking to my fiancee and my father about this and I think everybody has brought up some good points.

I really need to start picking up the bible more often. My fiancee and I were trying to read some of the New Testament every night but have just been slacking of lately. It also didn’t help that I missed church this past Sunday because I just started working a 2nd job and they scheduled me to work Sunday morning (luckily that won’t be an excuse any longer because I asked them not to schedule me anymore on Sundays) I really need to keep exposing myself to God’s word and being around fellow Christians and sharing my thoughts and feelings with them. I’m going to call my pastor and ask to set up an appointment with him so we can talk about this one on one. I don’t want to keep stumbling like this, I want to be strong and do things his way. I really want to overcome all of these doubts.

If you all could pray for me that would be greatly appreciated, thanks everyone.

I would also suggest some supplemental teaching aids, particularly if you have to miss church.

At oneplace.com you can listen to numerous ministries over the internet. My favorites are Greg Laurie (A New Beginning) and David Jeremiah (Turning Point). They have really helped me to understand what I have read in the Bible. I love my pastor, but these guys come at it from a slightly different angle that is refreshing.

 

[theseed]

There is no way that a stolen body would have happened. Something would have gone wrong eventually. The body would have been found

The rock door that seal the tomb weighed at least 2000 lbs, there is no way that a group of people would have got that open. Even today, it would have been a pain in the but, and don't forget the higlhy trained Roman guards there 12-16, who watched in shifts and would only sleep for 4 hours at a time.

 

[minus]

Ok, I'm feeling better about all of this today. I prayed on my own and prayed with my fiancee about this. I also read from the bible last night and right there was a verse that summed it up pretty well for me. I’m at work right now with no bible in sight so I can’t quote scripture but there was a verse in John about a man who wanted Jesus to heal his dying son. Jesus told the guy something along the lines of “Do I have to perform miracles before you people will believe in me”. That verse really spoke to me and helped me to come to my senses.

 

[Heinrich]

There was a Muslim somewhere in the east. He was persecuting Christians till one day he picked up a bible with he idea to disprove them. He became a Christian and a great one for that matter.

How many muslims have been cured of cancer/aids or raised from the dead?

I've heard of and seen people released from all kinds of things from drugs to smoking to swearing. People raised up from the brink of killing them self to having life again in christ.
I myself was released of Pornography and lust throught Christ.

And to top it all, I had the glorious grace that the LORD actually spoke to me once or twice in no uncertain terms.

There is no other religion in history that has anything like christianity. The bible is and was the top seller of all time. There is no other book that had this effect on the world.

John 10:10 "The thief came to kill steal and desroy; But I've come so that you may have life and have it more abundantly"
And I found this to be true!

Now on what point did you question my religion?

 

[theseed]

Ok, I'm feeling better about all of this today. I prayed on my own and prayed with my fiancee about this. I also read from the bible last night and right there was a verse that summed it up pretty well for me. I’m at work right now with no bible in sight so I can’t quote scripture but there was a verse in John about a man who wanted Jesus to heal his dying son. Jesus told the guy something along the lines of “Do I have to perform miracles before you people will believe in me”. That verse really spoke to me and helped me to come to my senses.

Also remember that Jesus cries when we cry as he did when his friends cried in John 11.

John 11.35

Jesus wept.

 

[michael servetus]

If it helps I didn't have it right.

That should narrow it down a little....