Why?

[reformedfan]

Start in Genesis 1:1 & work your way through the OT. You'll understand the NT better, and the slaughter of any ancient peoples will be better understood in the proper context.
To start in the NT to understand the OT is a funny idea, & you might wrongly conclude that the OT has a different type of God, a bloodthirsty, barbaric one vs the NT nice, warm, marshmallow God. God is the same, y'day, today, tomorrow. The God that commanded many peoples wiped out is the same God sinners will stand before in judgement.
Whatever God does is just, no matter what we think of it, or how politically incorrect.

 

[Svt4Him]

But I am not a very strong Christian; barely one actually, though I long to believe and have great faith. Your anwser seems geared toward people who already have a good, strong understanding of God. I do not. It is hard for me to accept that the loving God I sing of in songs at worship and read of in the New Testament killed thousands of his children and sent them to Hell, to suffer eternally. It doesn't add up. Please help me, if you can.


EDIT: I wrote this reply before I saw all of yours. Thank you for the advice. I have actually been a struggling Christian for around three years, and still can't bring myself to commit and just believe. I am one of those "hands on" people. I need hard evidence. I hate it. Why can't I just take that leap of faith?!

P.S.: I don't want any pity or attention, just your prayers. Thanks.

Maybe I can answer a few. First off, we are not all God's children. Second, sin has a death sentance, God promised that from the beginning. Third, if it's a child that was killed I would actually think that was an act of mercy. Now this I have to explain. I believe children go to heaven when they die. If I was at home, and was killed for my sins by God, I would deserve that. I would not want my children growing up being mad at God. Finally when you say God sends them to hell, you are not understanding sin. I recommend listening to "Hell's best kept secret" online here

 

[theseed]

[/size]

Trust God to lead you to undestanding . . put this passage on the shelf for now . . later God will give you better understanding of it. . .




Peace in Him!

The Old Testament is full of "types" - foreshadows - of things in the New Testament . . but to understand the types, the foreshadows, you need to first get a basic understanding of the New Testament . . so reading the New Testament first I think is crucial . . a new Christian should not start trying to understand the Old Testament without first understanding the Gospel . .

That does not mean that it did not actually happen

 

[theseed]

But how can I not doubt? It is impossible for me to just "stop doubting".

I believe there's room for reasonable doubt. In Titus, Paul says "Test everything, keep the good"

This is why the Apostle Thomas was not wrong for doubting, and Jesus did not rebuke him.

 

[theseed]

In Titus, Paul says test everything and keep the good. So, the Apostle Paul was not wrong for testing Christ. He could have been a false Messiah, which Jesus warned against.


Here's some links
www.theskepticalchristian.com
www.theologyweb.com
www.mrrena.com/doubt.shmtl

 

[theseed]

I would also like to add that King David, in writing his Psalms, was completely honest with God, even when he was angry.

 

[SelahCrys]

Svt4him,

This is the scripture that justify's the idea that children are taken away to be spared from evil. I am assuming that by children you mean "innocents".

Isa 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

We [christians] sometimes do not really have the attitude of God towards death.

Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of Jehovah Is the death of his saints.

Ecc 7:1 A good name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.

And St. Paul, it is.... GAIN to die...

Death has no sting nor power over the Christian.

 

[Lyle]

A simple thought

We all know the passage in the Bible that says; "God is Love." Found in 1 John 4.... but even so, efore it states that god is Love, it first says God is light. Before one can enter into the love of god, they must first see their need to be forgiven, to have the "serchlight" of the spirit of God to shine into the lives, to show them their need.... the Bible says in Pslams that "God is good." Though the hebrew word means in appearence to those outside.. As if a stanger were to see a father give gifts to his children, he would see that father as good... Same context... Though you may read, yes God does send rain on the just and unjust (therefore he is merciful in those types of thinfs), and evening allowing them to live another day. But God is not "love" to those that are away from Him. He's only love to His children.
Like that saying; hate the sin, love the sinner. God has been far too mericiful in allowing us to continue, even now in our history He's being longsuffering as we turn away form Him.
But because he punishes and advenges, does that make Him evil... He's loving to His children..