Why do you believe?

[Logan Phipps]

Hello everyone, I am a recent christian turned agnostic. (Please don't try to change my view points) but I would like to know why you believe what you believe? I personally let go of Christianity for many reasons, 1. because I am not intrested in following a god that has no business in helping me or trying to make me better, I have prayed,prayed, and prayed some more, but nothing not one speck of help from him. 2. I was happy when I was an unbeliever, and when I because a christian I was sad, depressed, anxiety ridden and ocd ridden all because if christianity, before this I was fine, but these past few months have been the worst of my life and after a year of faith, I am done. I have given up of the god of Christianity. 3. Too many rules, I have been troubled by soany rules in my life that I simply could not live without worrying about of I was sinning and I got sick of it ang gave it up. I still believe there could be a god, but that god is not knowable and not able to understand. I also do not believe in sin or salvation.

 

[OzSpen]

Fear in those scriptures mean to respect God in all He has done. Do you really think a loving God wants us to live a Christian life in fear of Him. It's only His enemies that need to fear Him for what He will do to them.

FHG,

What is Job’s response to this God?

See: Job 23:15-17 (NIRV):
15 That’s why I’m so terrified.
When I think about all of this, I’m afraid of him.
16 God has made my heart weak.
The Mighty One has filled me with terror.
17 But even the darkness of death won’t make me silent.
When the darkness of the grave covers my face, I won’t be quiet.​

Note Job's response to this God:

• “I am terrified”;

• “I'm afraid of him [God]”;

• 'God has made my heart weak';

• 'The Mighty One has filled me with terror'.

This hardly sounds like respect for God. It is the terror of the Lord because of all that God is in his demonstration of his attributes. See:

• The fear of God
• Blessings through the fear of God

Oz

 

[K2CHRIST]

That's the reason I believed back in 1973 because I didn't want to go to hell. That was my first step forward that brought me to the relationship I now have with Christ.

I love the post - It was not what brought me to the Lord but clearly we see in the Bible that God uses a fear of going to hell for bringing people to Him. It is indeed a great reason to turn and seek the Lord. Of course after finding Him we find there are so many many great reasons to listen and talk to Him.

 

[for_his_glory]

Please provide biblical evidence to support your claims. To this point, they are only your assertions, without biblical reference.

What I mean by respect where it says fear is in reverence of God like that in Hebrews 12:28, 29. Proverbs 1:7 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fear to the Christian just means having reverence or respect for God who is greater than us. We are not to be afraid of God as fearing Him in that sense, but to love and humble ourselves before Him.

 

[K2CHRIST]

I don't fear him I fear hell.

I respect God and His advice so I try to prove it everyday,some life experiences cause me to dislike Him.

I figure that at least I'm honest with Him about it.

There are many many "christians" that profess to love God yet they don't even respect Him or His advice.

They live as racists,fornicators,greed mongers etc...... I try to not do that and I think that He respects me for that.

I love your post Garion, it reminds me in a lot of ways. I always think I should fear Him more but my relationship with Him seems to more out of respect and liking His advice. And there indeed are "life experiences" that cause me to dislike Him, even though I know it really is not a correct response. Still, it is an honest response, and He knows how I feel, and I think He understands.

Still, I believe because I hear Him talking to me. I think the verse about faith coming from hearing has it right. The rest is more about my relationship with Him and why I turn to Him. The faith that He was there came from hearing from Him.

 

[for_his_glory]

Not to be argumentative but it sounds like you are putting faith in Scripture NOT God.

Do you know that Scripture can be twisted and turned in all directions to fit anyone's point of view?

It has been for thousands of years.

Some christians thought that God wanted them to torture and murder people in His name because they got that from Scripture....do you believe that God wants people tortured and murdered?

Garion, down in the corner of the box we type in there is a reply button you can click on as this allows others to know who you are replying to.

 

[for_his_glory]

I love the post - It was not what brought me to the Lord but clearly we see in the Bible that God uses a fear of going to hell for bringing people to Him. It is indeed a great reason to turn and seek the Lord. Of course after finding Him we find there are so many many great reasons to listen and talk to Him.

The joy of the Lord is in getting to know Him.

 

[for_his_glory]

FHG,

What is Job’s response to this God?

See: Job 23:15-17 (NIRV):
15 That’s why I’m so terrified.
When I think about all of this, I’m afraid of him.
16 God has made my heart weak.
The Mighty One has filled me with terror.
17 But even the darkness of death won’t make me silent.
When the darkness of the grave covers my face, I won’t be quiet.​

Note Job's response to this God:

• “I am terrified”;

• “I'm afraid of him [God]”;

• 'God has made my heart weak';

• 'The Mighty One has filled me with terror'.

This hardly sounds like respect for God. It is the terror of the Lord because of all that God is in his demonstration of his attributes. See:

• The fear of God
• Blessings through the fear of God

Oz

These were only what Job was feeling at the time as he says
Job 23:15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him. 16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: 17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

 

[K2CHRIST]

The joy of the Lord is in getting to know Him.

AMEN!!

I wish I could get everyone to really understand that!

 

[Garion]

While that may be true, without Scripture how do you know anything about God?

I digress, I should have stated from the beginning that I don't put absolute faith in Scripture but in God.

I know what I know about God because of what my mother taught me and she knows because of what her mother taught her which is as it should be.

There are so many "scholars" of Scripture that miss the point I guess because they lost focus.

They focus more on the learning and not the lesson.

 

[for_his_glory]

I digress, I should have stated from the beginning that I don't put absolute faith in Scripture but in God.

I know what I know about God because of what my mother taught me and she knows because of what her mother taught her which is as it should be.

There are so many "scholars" of Scripture that miss the point I guess because they lost focus.

They focus more on the learning and not the lesson.

Are you Spiritually born again according to what Jesus said?

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

I love the post - It was not what brought me to the Lord but clearly we see in the Bible that God uses a fear of going to hell for bringing people to Him. It is indeed a great reason to turn and seek the Lord. Of course after finding Him we find there are so many many great reasons to listen and talk to Him.

I really don't think that that should be the point though. The fear of going to Hell should not be the reason for turning to God. Especially if that's your only reason. Again, that's just only my opinion.

 

[Garion]

Are you Spiritually born again according to what Jesus said?

I believed in what Jesus said because my mother told me that His advice is just.

I am honestly not trying to be insulting or belittle your beliefs but I don't see any reason to be born again when I believed from the beginning because I trust my mother.

I was temporarily side tracked from Gods advice but it was a conscious willful spiteful act... I knew that how I was living was wrong.

 

[Kidron]

I already answered this question once, but, i thought id do it again...

I believe, because when i consider Jesus, and what He did for me on the Cross and beyond, then how can i not want to have Him in my life?
And also, because i need the kind of Love that Only God and Christ can give to me.
For me to be happy, to be content, to be satisfied in life, I need love that does not betray, does not turn away, and does not go away.
And in them, in God and Christ, i know that their love is constant, unconditional, and never ending.
And i personally need that, all the time.
I personally need to know that there is a God who is just like Jesus, and to know that He is, and to know that they love me
because they ARE LOVE, because Love exists only because THEY EXIST,...and want me to have their love,...and died to prove their love for me.....= is to me, a really good reason for me to believe.

 

[Butch5]

I digress, I should have stated from the beginning that I don't put absolute faith in Scripture but in God.

I know what I know about God because of what my mother taught me and she knows because of what her mother taught her which is as it should be.

There are so many "scholars" of Scripture that miss the point I guess because they lost focus.

They focus more on the learning and not the lesson.

My point is that you are still relying on someone interpreting the Scriptures. I agree that there are a lot of "Scholars" who get it wrong. However, if we follow this reasoning you shouldn't go to the doctor when you're sick because there are a lot of quacks out there. They get it wrong too.

 

[OzSpen]

Not to be argumentative but it sounds like you are putting faith in Scripture NOT God.

Do you know that Scripture can be twisted and turned in all directions to fit anyone's point of view?

It has been for thousands of years.

Some christians thought that God wanted them to torture and murder people in His name because they got that from Scripture....do you believe that God wants people tortured and murdered?

To whom are you addressing your comment? I do wish you would learn to back quote ALL of the time so I know if you are addressing my post or not.

Yes, I know Scripture can be twisted. Is this the pot calling the kettle black??

 

[OzSpen]

What I mean by respect where it says fear is in reverence of God like that in Hebrews 12:28, 29. Proverbs 1:7 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fear to the Christian just means having reverence or respect for God who is greater than us. We are not to be afraid of God as fearing Him in that sense, but to love and humble ourselves before Him.

That ignores the biblical evidence I provided.

 

[skyhigh]

Unfortunately yes.

Not just on the net but in real life,this absolute assurance allows them to slip and fall out of line with His advice.

Exactly but they are in denial because they've swallowed the whole "saved" paradigm. It's too late to back out. All or nothing no buts or maybes. it shows their theology is too rigid.

 

[OzSpen]

Exactly but they are in denial because they've swallowed the whole "saved" paradigm. It's too late to back out. All or nothing no buts or maybes. it shows their theology is too rigid.

So, how could their theology be changed from rigid to more acceptable by the populace and churches?

 

[brujaq]

Because the more I believe the more is added to me, even with signs that follow those who believe confirming, that we love God and brother from within our Spirit as it happens in our new created self from Jesus with the supernatural wonderful fear of God ..

 

[skyhigh]

So, how could their theology be changed from rigid to more acceptable by the populace and churches?

from a Catholics pov, sola scriptura is too rigid. we listen and access more than one source. Pope, Church fathers, Church hierarchy including catholic theologians. And there is the monastic tradition too which has an interesting monastic perspective. You want go broad, go catholic.