Why won't God answer me?

[Reformationist]

" I think when one chooses to believe.."

I'm hitting a personal impass here. Belief isn't a choice. Like you couldn't just say tomorrow that you believe in Santa and take it to heart. Belief must be convinced, and I'm not sure how to pass it.

Well, I'm with you, if that means anything. I think anyone who pleads with you to believe doesn't understand where faith comes from. For your benefit, I quote St. Augustine, who did understand the source of faith:

"Lord, Give what Thou commandest and command what Thou will."

God commands of us faith and it is God, and God alone, who has the power to grant it.

Now, on a different note, it is appropriate for me to plead with you to obey God, for that is your responsibility.

The problem, Umaro, is that many confuse the imperative verses of Scripture with the indicative verses.

God bless

 

[Reformationist]

You are so right about belief not being a choice. But you are wrong that you think you need to be convinced.

God gives us our faith in Him, it is a gift...not our power, but His Power.
Someone that is dead in their sins cannot bring themself to Christ. Give the Glory to God.

Rejection of Christ is our own doing...but our faith is a gift.

Great post seajoy.

I offer a hearty and resounding .

God bless

 

[Umaro]

Crujir, I looked into that site, but found it very disappointing. The argument that god does not need a creator used the bible as the reasoning. I don't believe the bible, so how will a site such as that help me?

 

[Reformationist]

Crujir, I looked into that site, but found it very disappointing. The argument that god does not need a creator used the bible as the reasoning. I don't believe the bible, so how will a site such as that help me?

Though we Christians see the evidence of God's mighty hand in all that our eyes drink in, you're going to have a hard time discussing God with Christians if you take issue with their pointing to the Bible as the primary source for knowledge about God.

You see Umaro, Christians have no real problem with circular reasoning like, "The Bible is true because the Bible says it's true" because we believe the Bible is God's own testimony of Himself.

I understand it does not appeal to someone who doubts the authenticity of Scripture but, alas, it is what it is.

God bless

 

[seajoy]

Crujir, I looked into that site, but found it very disappointing. The argument that god does not need a creator used the bible as the reasoning. I don't believe the bible, so how will a site such as that help me?

You're going to have a tough time getting answers about God from something else than the bible while here in the Christian forums.
That's where we get all our ideas from.

May your eyes be opened, Umaro.

 

[Reformationist]

You're going to have a tough time getting answers about God from something else than the bible while here in the Christian forums.
That's where we get all our ideas from.

May your eyes be opened, Umaro.

Either great minds think alike or you and I are sharing a brain. If it's the latter, can I borrow it for a few minutes...

 

[sgrimsley]

Crujir, I looked into that site, but found it very disappointing. The argument that god does not need a creator used the bible as the reasoning. I don't believe the bible, so how will a site such as that help me?

I would check out Lee Strobel's A Case for Christ, and his other books. He is a lawyer who was an agnostic at best, and was transformed by God. He then went on to make a case, as a lawyer would based on facts, for Christ, God, Creation, and so on. Very interesting stuff, and would give you something to think about... that goes for Christians here who haven't read them as well.

 

[seajoy]

Either great minds think alike or you and I are sharing a brain. If it's the latter, can I borrow it for a few minutes...

Never had anybody ask to share my brain before . I better keep what little I have for myself .

 

[Reformationist]

Not sure if you missed this previously Umaro, but, do you believe yourself to be a sinner? Do you recognize the authority of God as binding in your life?

God bless

 

[Umaro]

"do you believe yourself to be a sinner? Do you recognize the authority of God as binding in your life?"

I do not recognize God as a binding authority, because currently I don't believe God exists. That also means I do not consider myself a sinner, because by definition a sin is a transgression against God. I am by no means perfect, and occationally lie like everyone else, but apart from that, I don't feel I do significant wrong. I disagree with your God on a number of things, such as right to die, homosexuality, eternal punishments and the like, and I do not keep Sunday's holy or attend church. That's my call on it though, and I know christians believe everyone is a sinner.

On a side note, why is origional sin from Eden passed down? I'm guilty of nothing my father does, so why should I be guilty for someone reportedly 6000+ years ago?

 

[pletho]

I appreciate all the good responces I've gotten in this topic, but one thing dawned on me from reading them. Several posts have said that I have to believe first, then God will reveal himself. The thing is, I cannot lie to myself, and I can't just change my mind. So it seems like I have reached an impass. Is there some way around this? I don't understand why God would only reveal himself to those who already believe. Wouldn't those who are not sure,but activly seeking be a more appropriate area of concentration?

Hello, You can believe, all people believe something, you are always believing something, you believe there is no God, that is believing. You can make a decision to believe, because believing is a decision of the heart the inner most part of a man. You believe that tree leaves are green! Why? because someone told you that when you were young, and you accepted that as truth. somethings are accepted easier than others, but either way believing is still a choice, a decision, to accept something as true.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith (believing) it is impossible to please him: (GOD) for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, (that he exist) and that he is a rewarder of them that DILIGENTLY seek him

Psalms 33: He (God) fashioneth their (ALL MENS) hearts alike (Men were designed to believe).

Romans 10:17 So then faith (believing) cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

When you hear the word of God, you have a choice to believe it, it's freedom of will, or not believe it.

Maybe the problem is that you have not heard enough about God taught rightly for you to believe in Him, or you have a hang up mentally, something that you already believe in your heart that contradicts a belief in God.

What ever the case I'm sure that with honesty and the word we can work it out, but if you just want some sign that God exist, look around you at the creation, it could not have just happened, look at the design of your body how it works so well together, their was a creator behind all that you see.

Hebrews 11:3 (By) (believing) we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

You will NOT BELIEVE unless you see and you will NOT SEE unless you BELIEVE, that's a catch 22, and that's the problem. God wants you to believe first then you'll see, the whole bible is about believing God.

 

[Umaro]

" When you hear the word of God, you have a choice to believe it, it's freedom of will, or not believe it."

I'll say it again. I just can't force myself to believe. If I told you to believe in Santa Claus right now, you couldn't do it. Belief is not a choice. I cannot lie to myself.

 

[pletho]

" When you hear the word of God, you have a choice to believe it, it's freedom of will, or not believe it."

I'll say it again. I just can't force myself to believe. If I told you to believe in Santa Claus right now, you couldn't do it. Belief is not a choice. I cannot lie to myself.

How can you say that believing is not a choice, explain that one to me? Example: You have dollar bill, do you belive that that dollar bill will buy you a hamburger at Mc Donalds? Yes or No

 

[peacechild4]

" I think when one chooses to believe.."

I'm hitting a personal impass here. Belief isn't a choice. Like you couldn't just say tomorrow that you believe in Santa and take it to heart. Belief must be convinced, and I'm not sure how to pass it.

Believing is YOUR choice!! You can choose to believe...

What would happen if you just chose to believe in God even if you didn't really know He was there?? You would read the bible searching.. you would be seeking to find Him.. I found a bible verse that I want to share about this..

John 11:40
Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

God also said.. Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

I think if you give it a go at believing God and do it with all your heart.. you will find the answers but don't take my word for it.. that is what Jesus said!! So why not see if what He says is right or wrong!! If He said it and you are wrong... then you have found God.. the answers to life.. But if you believe and find you were right.. You are still going to be in the same boat but you can at least stop searching.. so what have you go to lose here?



Believe in the dictionary means this..

1.to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so: Only if one believes in something can one act purposefully.

 

[pletho]

" When you hear the word of God, you have a choice to believe it, it's freedom of will, or not believe it."

I'll say it again. I just can't force myself to believe. If I told you to believe in Santa Claus right now, you couldn't do it. Belief is not a choice. I cannot lie to myself.

If you asked me to believe in santas claus I would have a choice, Correct? To believe or not to beleive? You are the determining factor of what you believe. what you decide to accept as true. think about that in practicality of life. It's very logical.

 

[Reformationist]

I do not recognize God as a binding authority, because currently I don't believe God exists.

So the result is just as God reveals in Scripture:

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

On a side note, why is origional sin from Eden passed down? I'm guilty of nothing my father does, so why should I be guilty for someone reportedly 6000+ years ago?

There are only two examples in the Bible of people being held accountable for the actions of another, Adam and Christ. The biblically accurate teaching of the Fall is that Adam was created and appointed as man's representative before God for wealth or ruin. God established a covenant of works with Adam and promised to bless him, and his progeny, for obedience. Conversely, Adam was warned that the wages of sin are death. Without getting into what is, in my opinion, the most confusing section of the Bible, I will simply tell you that Adam's actions affected Adam and all whom Adam represented, i.e., mankind. Christ, also, served in a representative capacity, though those He represented were those whom God had ordained to save through Christ's atoning work.

God bless

 

[Umaro]

"Umaro, as much as you may not like the answer, your attempts to "know God" stem from disbelief, not faith."

I would agree with this wholeheartedly. I do not try to hide or deny my disbelief. Truthfully, I do not like the concept of Faith in regard to anything.

 

[Umaro]

"Not believing is a choice not to believe, it's believing negatively, it's unbelief, He had stated that believing wasn't a choice, or that was his excuse, because it was not a choice."

Go get a blue pen. Now convince yourself that the pen is red. If belief is your choice, you should have no problem believing the pen is red.

 

[pletho]

"Not believing is a choice not to believe, it's believing negatively, it's unbelief, He had stated that believing wasn't a choice, or that was his excuse, because it was not a choice."

Go get a blue pen. Now convince yourself that the pen is red. If belief is your choice, you should have no problem believing the pen is red.

but it's not red it's blue and There is a God and to say you want God to reveal himself to you when you do not believe itaht there is a God is Hypocrisy, it's not honest, it's contradictory.

 

[*Rob*]

a lot of the time for me, God has answered my prayers in his own time, which would suit me best.

I suggest you wait, i promise you God will answer your prayer