As a Christian, how can you be so sure?

[paulo75]

I'm Christian, but I must admit, I do have times doubts. What I'd like to know from the community is:

How can you be so sure?

We live in a very multicultural world that shares a variety of different faiths and beliefs. We also have many other books outside the Bible, with the Qur'an probably being the most prolific.

I guess where I'm coming from is that Christians are steadfast in their beliefs... well, other religions are just as steadfast. Maybe I can break it down like this:

- why did you choose Christianity?
- would you still be a Christian if you were born and raised a Muslim?
- can you explain why you believe without using the Bible?

Looking forward to answers.

 

[GraceBwithU]

I'm Christian, but I must admit, I do have times doubts. What I'd like to know from the community is:

How can you be so sure?

We live in a very multicultural world that shares a variety of different faiths and beliefs. We also have many other books outside the Bible, with the Qur'an probably being the most prolific.

I guess where I'm coming from is that Christians are steadfast in their beliefs... well, other religions are just as steadfast. Maybe I can break it down like this:

- why did you choose Christianity?
- would you still be a Christian if you were born and raised a Muslim?
- can you explain why you believe without using the Bible?

Looking forward to answers.

You have asked questions to this forum that you should be asking God in prayer, on your knees. If you have these doubts, it is because you are still too connected to the world. Seek these answers from God. You will see and know.

Any answer I would give you would not understand and still doubt. The answer that God gives you, you will not doubt.

Matt 5:6
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
KJV

 

[A-Christian]

I don't have much time to go into it right now but, one thing is that the NT has a much differnet message and teachings than the Quran and that is very telling. Do some research on Mohammed.
Secondly, just look around and see who is killing who? Look around and see who acts with compassion and mercy. Also, look at history. While looking at history, keep in mind the mercy and compassion factor. I also suggest that you fully understand Christianity before writing it off for some other religion.

Peace

 

[cyberjosh]

You ask a good question. And to properly answer it I would need more time that I have right now (I have to go to class right now). I will try to answer this as best I can later. One thing that makes Christianity and Judaism mostly unique though is that compared to other religions they are considered Historical Religions, meaning in large part they show the tenants of their beliefs and actions, and interactions (with God primarily) as revealed in historical situations (which also puts them in the necessary category of being "Religions of the Book", which Islam falls into also). Islam is somewhat similar to such Historical Religions but not too much (very little historical references are in the Quran), and yet other religions are more philosophical/spiritual in nature: Hinduism, Bhuddism, most eastern religions. The historical aspect adds a bit of significance which I can explain later, but that should atleast narrow the category of "significance" down for you a little, and why it may aid in the authenticity and expression of the said religion. But that's only one of many reasons, faith being substantiated (Hebrews 11:1) is even more core to the reasons behind belief in a religions authenticity (I of course will argue for Christianity's authenticity), but for the sake of generalizing and then making specific I'll try to explain things in broad terms at first.

Be back later.

God Bless,

~Josh

 

[mutzrein]

I'm Christian, but I must admit, I do have times doubts. What I'd like to know from the community is:

How can you be so sure?
Coz I've been given life

We live in a very multicultural world that shares a variety of different faiths and beliefs. We also have many other books outside the Bible, with the Qur'an probably being the most prolific.

I guess where I'm coming from is that Christians are steadfast in their beliefs... well, other religions are just as steadfast. Maybe I can break it down like this:

- why did you choose Christianity?
I didn't. God chose me.
- would you still be a Christian if you were born and raised a Muslim?
Yes - since my name has been written in the book of life long before Muslims were around.
- can you explain why you believe without using the Bible?
Sure can.

Looking forward to answers.

 

[faithtransforms]

When I came to faith in Christ, I had studied pretty much all the religions that exist, including new age. But none of them filled the whole that was in my heart. Finally, suicidal and ready to end it all, I was desperate enough to try Jesus, whom I had written off as just a teacher, not God. To my great surprise God revealed Himself to me in a way so profound that I had no doubt I had found the true God. In His presence, you just know. I would encourage you to seek God in prayer and through praise and worship...sing to Him even if you can't carry a tune, for the bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people. Ask Him to reveal Himself through the Holy Spirit. Romans 8 says "The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God." Ask God for this experience. Tell Him you want to know Him intimately. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, union with Him is our right and privelege.

In response to the muslim question, I suggest you read Miracle of Miracles by Mina Nevisa. She is a lebanese muslim who came to faith in Christ. The book chronicles her amazing journey.

 

[cyberjosh]

Alright, to finish my thought the importance of Christianity being a Historical Religion is the repeated occurance of God's revelation to mankind throughout the centuries, whose witnesses and recipients testified to time and time again in the Bible (and even things that survived outside of the Bible in Jewish and Christian oral tradition). Through archeology, science, history, and other man-made approaches of analysis, certian aspects of these historical stories can be brought to light and verified, but the underlying power of it lies in its consistancy of revelation over time. And that consistancy remains to this day in the preaching of the Gospel which preaches the Christ (God Himself), come once and for all in the flesh to forgive sins, that we might believe in Him and have a relationship with Him. That is primarily where faith comes in, and the power of it being substantiated and witnessed in the person's life (which I have experienced more than once).

To contrast Christianity (and even Judaism) with other religions, particuallarly Islam, is a large task but if one wants to dig for truth in the open testimony of the authenticity of Christianity one can find it in early writings of Church Fathers and the explosion of Christianity all over the Roman Empire. It can be contrasted to the later view (and reaction) of Islam to Judeo-Christian beliefs (possibly revolting to a heretical sect of Christianity which believed Mary was part of the Trinity - since it goes to lengths in the Quran to explicitly state that this is not true, etc. ) and one can examine merely historically how the testimonies of the two religions differed. Now Christianity was not without its problems early on, as heretical sects such as the Gnostics cropped up fairly early to taint the good name of Christianity (and for the Muslims it did), thus one has to excercise discernment in these issues.

On account of that necessary discernment there has been recently in the last 50 years an enourmous rise in Biblical Scholarship and Apologetics to defend the faith. Great books such as Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell, A Case for [Christ, Creation, Faith, etc. the whole series] by Lee Strobel, several apologetics books by Dr. James Kennedy (including the one that got me interested in apologetics in the first place: Why I believe... - which covers an answer to your prophecy question on Tyre in another thread BTW), Hershel Shanks (founder of the Biblical Archeology Society and editor of BAR magazine), and many many others put forth great effort to defend the integrity of the Bible, early Christianity, ancient Judaism, and shed a great amount of light on scholarly things that defend (apologia) the faith.

I hope that helps you somewhat in your quest for truth. I personally went through the same stage where I needed to investigate for myself (and I actually never got past it - I still love studying apologetics and particularly ancient hebrew/Greek linguistics and biblical archaeology). In High School and College almost any paper that I was given freedom on the topic to write about I wrote on the historical reliability of the Bible: a 15 page paper in HS, and a 5 page paper in College - funny you'd think it would be the other way around, but I got a little zealous on being comprehensive on the HS paper even though we were only told to write 4-5 pages. :D If you would like to see that paper I adapted it to web format and added some pictures on my web site (actually its a hosted web site like my space is - so very small) biblewarrior.piczo.com (a link to it is also in my public profile if you click on my screen name), and go to the Bible studies link.

Good luck in search of the truth.

God Bless,

~Josh

 

[cyberjosh]

Aw shoot, something happened to all the pictures on my site! I really got to get some new web space. You can still read the Bible Study report I wrote though.

 

[Drew]

I think that my answer may bear some relation to that of CS 5886 (I still wonder what happened to the first 5885....)

Let me first start with a "negative". I do not believe in Christianity because of the content of "experiences" I have. I know that some Christians report a sense of the "immediate" presence of God - some kind of experience where they "feel" the reality of God.

I do not have such experiences and frankly am somewhat skeptical of the reality of any such claims. I tend to believe that God would not interact deeply and "perceptibly" with one person all the time and never with another.

My apologetic for the Christian faith would focus on the coherence and unity of story of how God has worked in history to redeem mankind. In this sense, my argument is largely "historical" but it also appeals to the nature of what I see as a truly marvellous plan of redemption, sophisticated and brilliant on the part of God to rescue his world from the power of sin. In other words, if you stand back and look at the plan, you cannot help but be struck by its elegance, sophistication, and "beauty". This does not "prove" the truthfulness of Christianity, but it is compelling. Some relevant highlights as I see it (my views are partly influenced by theologian NT Wright).

1. Adam sins and the very fabric of the cosmos is damaged. Death is introduced into the world and the power of sin - which I take to be a "real" power dominates the world.

2. God devises a plan to rescue his creation from death and sin. His plan takes the form of a covenant that He enters into with Abraham - establishing the nation of Israel and promising him a worldwide family.

3. God makes all sorts of promises to the Jews as part of the covenant. To the Jew, these promises take the form of promises of national vindication and return from exile to the promised land of Palestine. However, as the redemptive story unfolds we find that the promises meant something else altogether.

4. Israel is given the Torah - a set of laws and practices that demarcate her from the pagans. "Follow Torah and live", Israel is told.

5. Israel is in exile, politically if not geographically, when Jesus is born. The Jews expect a national deliverer. They get something very different - Jesus dies on the Cross. The king of the Jews seems to have failed to accomplish God's purposes.

6. The resurrection is, arguably, the climax of the long covenant stretching back thousands of years to Abraham. It is Paul who puts the pieces together and sees how Jesus, far from failing, has actually fulfilled God's plan to redeem mankind.

7. Paul re-interprets 2 main pillars of Jewish covenantal thought - monotheism and election. He sees Jesus as the personification of God and he grasps that it is not "national Israel" after all that is the true people of God, but rather those who exhibit the kind of faith that Abraham has shown.

8. Through the lens of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, Paul comes to the following startling conclusions:

a. the purpose of the covenant was to solve the Adamic sin problem;

b. Isreal cannot fulfill the covenant since she too is "in Adam"

c. Has the covenant failed? No. God sticks with his plan to use Israel to solve the Adam problem. How can this happen? In the midst of a faithless nation of Israel, God produces a faithful Israelite - Jesus.

d. Israel's national destiny has been passed onto Jesus who acts as her faithful Messianic representative.

e. National Israel's "election" is not that she will be the "great nation" but is something far darker. Through the action of the Torah, Israel is the place where the sin of the world is magnified and, ironically, made stronger. That which was supposed to give life (Torah) has yielded death instead;

f. The sin of the whole world that has accumulated in national Israel by the strange action of Torah is then transferred to a single person. Israel has been narrowed down to a point - Jesus of Nazareth.

g. Jesus goes to the cross and God condemns the sin of the world in the flesh of Jesus.

h. The resurrection of Jesus is interpreted by Paul as follows - the national vindication / justification promised to national Israel has been realized in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The stunning insight: the covenant promise of rescue from political exile for Israel has turned out to be rescue from death for the faithful Israelite - and through Him for all who beleive in Him. The promised land is not just Palestine, it is a restored cosmos.

i. The covenant has been fulfilled in a way that the Jews did not expect. The problem of death and sin has been solved. What God had promised for Israel at the end of history, God has done for Jesus in the middle of history.

j. We now await the final step - the final restoration of mankind and all of creation to its "pre-fall" state.

 

[Vic C.]

Just in passing...

I do not have such experiences and frankly am somewhat skeptical of the reality of any such claims. I tend to believe that God would not interact deeply and "perceptibly" with one person all the time and never with another.

I can't comment one way or another about those who claim an "all the time" interaction, but...

I can claim, er, shout about the immediate presence which is felt at the time of conversion. I had one such conversion the day I was saved. It is almost indescribable and something I will remember all the days of my life here on earth. It was my personal conviction that there is a Holy Spirit that dwells within us. :angel:

 

[Bick]

I'm Christian, but I must admit, I do have times doubts. What I'd like to know from the community is:

How can you be so sure?

We live in a very multicultural world that shares a variety of different faiths and beliefs. We also have many other books outside the Bible, with the Qur'an probably being the most prolific.

I guess where I'm coming from is that Christians are steadfast in their beliefs... well, other religions are just as steadfast. Maybe I can break it down like this:

- why did you choose Christianity?
- would you still be a Christian if you were born and raised a Muslim?
- can you explain why you believe without using the Bible?

Looking forward to answers.

MY COMMENTS: First of all, many of us have doubts. Oh, it may be a passing thought such as, "Is there really a God who created the universe?" Doubts come, in my opinion, from the devil or his messengers. Know the Word of God.

The key to being assured of your salvation comes from reading and studying the Bible. It is the Truth and all other writings will be shown as weak or false.

My suggestion is start with Romans. As you come to chapter 5, read it and re-read it, for it starts, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

There are a number of excellent posts pointing out the historicity of Judaism and Christianity.
Our faith is not "blind faith". It is based upon provable, reliable, historical facts.

 

[Imagican]

An interesting topic.

The 'best' advice that I could offer to ANYONE with such doubts is OPEN YOUR HEART. Subject yourself to that which lies DEEP inside, (outside of what we call the conciousness. That deep down 'part of us' that we call the 'subconcious'). Be HONEST with oneself and it is NOT that difficult to COME to an understanding of LOVE. And a realization that we are INCOMPLETE without an understanding of and relationship WITH our Creator.

For there IS assurance once one is ABLE to open up their hearts to God. God KNOWS that we stumble and are tempted continuously to 'doubt Him'. But He IS able to offer assurance that will literally disolve such doubts. But one MUST adhere to the teaching that we have been offered and CONTINUE in their LOVE for HIM. Otherwise, it IS easy to have continuing doubts.

MEC

 

[JayR]

I was horribly and hopelessly addicted to pornography for 7 years of my life. I tried many, many times to stop, because it was destroying me. I had no idea what integrity was, or strength. Every single woman I saw I thought horrible dirty thoughts about, and undressed with my eyes. I thought I had a depression issue, and thought that it was some kind of mental disorder, when in reality I was just a disgusting pervert suffering the natural consequence of my perversion. So they put me on drugs that destroyed me further. I abused them of course, and mixed them with other prescription and recreational drugs to see how high I could get. I tried to make drugs and mix and match them so I could formulate the perfect high. I was a disgusting pathetic worm not worthy of stepping on. I was hopelessly enslaved to my sin, and no matter how hard I tried or what I did I couldn't free myself. I ended up getting arrested after I assaulted a female security guard at a high school football game when I was plastered on vodka and various pills. I ended up dropping out of school because my grades were dropping so bad, and for a period of about two months I sat at my house doing literally absolutely nothing. My dad knew I was just sitting around doing nothing, so he took away all of the electrical enterainment and I literally sat there like a worthless piece of trash. I eventually got a job at a restaraunt.

One day I saw a book called "Jesus Among Other Gods". I picked it up and started reading it. After that I started reading the Bible a little bit. One day when my dad who is a Christian noticed that I was reading my Bible, he introduced me to a ministry called The Way of the Master. They witness the Gospel on the streets to strangers. They talk a lot about the Ten Commandments and use them to bring the knowledge of sin. When I heard the Ten Commandments, I realized by the grace of God that I had broken every single one of them. I had dishonored God, created a false god in my mind who I thought I belonged to because three times I asked him into my heart, and he never changed me. I used God's name in worse ways than I used curse words. I horribly dishonored my parents to the point of getting extremely violent with them and even ramming my dad's head into the wall. I didn't kill anyone, but I had desired to. I was filled with hatred, which is murder in God's eyes. I was horribly and disgustingly sexually immoral, I was a perverted little sewer rat. I lied regularly, sometimes just for the fun of it. I desired other people's things all the time as well. Then by the grace of the One true omnipotent God, I began to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, repent, and follow Him. I began to hate the evil I once indulged in, and began to love the righteousness I once hated. He put His Spirit within me and caused me to walk in His statutes and be careful to observe His ordinances. He put His fear within me for my own good so that I wouldn't turn away from Him. He has been conforming me to the image of Christ. He has been causing me to keep His commandments. He has cleansed me of all my filthiness and all my idols, and He continues to do so to this day. He has regenerated a filthy sewer rat into a follower of Christ and son of Almighty God, and nothing anybody could possibly think, say, or do, could ever possibly change that, because He keeps me, and the Father has commanded the Son not to lose any whom He has given to Him, and the omnipotent Lord Jesus is more than capable of accomplishing His Father's will. Glory to my Lord Jesus Christ, who makes filthy sewer rat's into His little brothers. Glory to Jesus, my God and Savior, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Glory to the Lord of all, my God Jesus Christ. Praise His awesome name forever. Honor and glory to His name forever and ever. His blood has cleansed me, and He has drank the wrath of God that I deserved. There is none left. He drank it all on the cross. Glory to Christ, who drank the wrath of God for every man and rose again. He lives in me, and I in Him, forevermore. He keeps me in the shadow of His glorious wings. Praise Him. Oh praise Him forever and ever. Glory to the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Wisdom, and honor, and blessing, and power, and all that is good, to God forever and ever. So be it.

 

[wavy]

Secondly, just look around and see who is killing who? Look around and see who acts with compassion and mercy. Also, look at history. While looking at history, keep in mind the mercy and compassion factor. I also suggest that you fully understand Christianity before writing it off for some other religion.

lol, i think you need to review ecclesiastical history. it's not a tip-toe through the tulips.


~eric

 

[wavy]

to the op:

when it comes down to it, nothing in the world can prove christianity: nothing from history, nothing from science, nothing from 'prophecy'...nothing. it must be accepted on faith. like others have said here, they feel it. they've done the prayer, etc., but it all lacks tangibility. i used to feel those same feelings. but over the years, christianity has done nothing for me and there is no rational reason to hold it as 'true' above any other religion. it's also internally inconsistent amonst itself. many views, many interpretations, many denominations. they all 'feel' it too. i know for a fact, as i've encountered and believed several.

just my thoughts for what they're worth.


~eric

 

[mondar]

to the op:

when it comes down to it, nothing in the world can prove christianity: nothing from history, nothing from science, nothing from 'prophecy'...nothing. it must be accepted on faith. like others have said here, they feel it. they've done the prayer, etc., but it all lacks tangibility. i used to feel those same feelings. but over the years, christianity has done nothing for me and there is no rational reason to hold it as 'true' above any other religion. it's also internally inconsistent amonst itself. many views, many interpretations, many denominations. they all 'feel' it too. i know for a fact, as i've encountered and believed several.

just my thoughts for what they're worth.


~eric

What would you accept as proof that christianity is true?

 

[wavy]

What would you accept as proof that christianity is true?

i'd consider an angel appearing and telling me it was as proof, or witnessing a healing, like an amputated leg, in the name of jesus/christianity as proof. or if jesus appeared and talked to me, or if i developed a time machine and could travel back in time and see the claims of christianity happen myself.

these are the types of things i would consider proof beyond a reasonable doubt.


~eric

 

[GraceBwithU]

What would you accept as proof that christianity is true?

i'd consider an angel appearing and telling me it was as proof, or witnessing a healing, like an amputated leg, in the name of jesus/christianity as proof. or if jesus appeared and talked to me, or if i developed a time machine and could travel back in time and see the claims of christianity happen myself.

these are the types of things i would consider proof beyond a reasonable doubt.


~eric

Therefore you will not believe. Faith is not something that is provable in the way that you have mentioned. Even the atheist that has faith in evolution can't prove it in the way that would stand up in a human court anywhere, beyond a reasonable doubt.

John 10:26
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

 

[Vic C.]

Mark 8:11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
Mark 8:12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

1 Cor 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

Jesus said there would be false messiahs and prophets showing us great signs and wonders; why would you believe them if they were to happen now?

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

But Jesus knew better:

Luke 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.