Ask a Christian! (woman, churches, believe, prayers)

[kaykay]

On the "ask an atheist" thread, I noticed that some people were actually asking Christians questions about their belief. So... I thought it might be appropriate to start a Christian thread where questions could be asked. These could be from non-believers or from believers who maybe have always had a question about something related to our faith. I certainly will not have all the answers but since this is a forum, we have many people who can bring collective knowledge and wisdom to the table. I would just ask that any questions posed be sincere ones, not questions designed to ridicule, bait or flame Christians.

[Padgett2]

Good Idea Kay. There are so many different paths. Some are too rocky for easy walking, but they are available for those that would profit by them. All paths are leading to the same goal.

[Mooseketeer]

How do you "know" there is a god ? I am not trying to flame anyone but I spent years in churches, and searching for god , praying to him/her and I never found him/her. I thought about it, researched various religions, read about it and spent a lot of time with an open mind with genuine believers. Nothing. At all. Ever. Not a twinge in my "soul", not a stirring , nothing. In a way I admire people who have faith because they seem able to believe without truly questioning and it seems a much easier way to live your life.

I question everything, am curious about everything and always want proof and answers to everything.

So how have you experienced god ? Is it just a feeling ? What certainty do you have ? I am just curious. Do you believe god would have found you if you had been raised in a completely different environment with different life-experiences ? Do you ever doubt god's existence and if you do have a crisis of faith how do you resolve it ?

Religion to me is fascinating because it is one of mankind's most primal urge to believe in something and yet god to me is just something we created to reassure ourselves about not being so insignificant in a vast universe.

[Padgett2]

Are you praying for God to DO something? Or are you praying to God to Thank Him for what he has already done for you?

Try looking around you and start counting your blessings. God is a lot more than just a Being that is there to answer your questions.

[THASPECIAL]

Originally Posted by kaykay

On the "ask an atheist" thread, I noticed that some people were actually asking Christians questions about their belief. So... I thought it might be appropriate to start a Christian thread where questions could be asked. These could be from non-believers or from believers who maybe have always had a question about something related to our faith. I certainly will not have all the answers but since this is a forum, we have many people who can bring collective knowledge and wisdom to the table. I would just ask that any questions posed be sincere ones, not questions designed to ridicule, bait or flame Christians.

I am a Christian and i am not trying to be funny here but i have a real question.......Is masturbation a sin?.......I just wander because i remember i first did it and it didnt feel unnatural but when i lusted after a woman while doing it and later on through the years and even right after that first time it did while lusting it did feel like a sin......So i am just asking if the act of it is a sin or is it natural to let fluids go out of the body?.....I just dont know where i would look for that answer in the Bible but i also know that if the Bible isnt around that i can usually tell if i am being disobedient or unclean in a situation......Thanx

[9/9]

I have an honest question. Why do you think that Christianity is the "true" religion, when others are not? Why is the Bible more valid than the Koran, or the writings of the Ancient Greeks.

I have always felt that, if I ever began to have theist feelings, I would be overwhelmed trying to choose a particular religion. This isn't even considering all of the possible denominations of Christianity, for that matter.

[aiangel_writer]

Originally Posted by Mooseketeer

How do you "know" there is a god ? I am not trying to flame anyone but I spent years in churches, and searching for god , praying to him/her and I never found him/her. I thought about it, researched various religions, read about it and spent a lot of time with an open mind with genuine believers. Nothing. At all. Ever. Not a twinge in my "soul", not a stirring , nothing. In a way I admire people who have faith because they seem able to believe without truly questioning and it seems a much easier way to live your life.


Oh belive me, I have had many questions, and still have questions. How do I know there is a God? The Holy Spirit resides within me, and I can feel it, and my life has changed dramatically since becoming a Christian. The old was put off, the new put on. Old ways of thinking disappeared, I don't have the urge to do things that are sinful as often or as strongly now, and when they do pop up, the Holy Spirit is right there guiding me on how to respond and if I respond sinfully, it surely lets me know! LOL.

I question everything, am curious about everything and always want proof and answers to everything.

If you seek proof too much, you will miss God. You have to open your heart and mind to Him and invite Him in, He seeks us out waiting for an invitation.


So how have you experienced god ? Is it just a feeling ? What certainty do you have ? I am just curious. Do you believe god would have found you if you had been raised in a completely different environment with different life-experiences ? Do you ever doubt god's existence and if you do have a crisis of faith how do you resolve it ?

I experience God as feelings, as a tiny voice inside my head and heart and through other Godly people. We've never been lost to God, He has always been right there for us, it is US that have lost God and must invite Him into our hearts. I don't know about the different environment, possibly so, but that is speculation on my part. Have I ever doubted? Yes, early in my walk in faith. When my prayers were not answered. They were, just not in the way I thought they would be, so I was looking for one thing and God gave me another. I missed out because I was looking for self gratification and did not look for Gods answer. I missed the boat many times...When I have a crisis in my life now, I hit my knees, knowing He will be right there, consoling me, giving me peace to go thru this difficult time....
Religion to me is fascinating because it is one of mankind's most primal urge to believe in something and yet god to me is just something we created to reassure ourselves about not being so insignificant in a vast universe.

\

This last statement puzzles me. I have always believed that man, with his pride and conceit put himself above everything and did not feel insignificant whatsoever. Most of the time, we do this and totally shut God out, because, We can handle anything that comes along...( said sarcastically). Man's nature is sinful, and he has to realize this first before seeking out our Heavenly Father.

[Miss Blue]

Aah, Moose, I would like nothing more right now to tell you how I know there is a God and that you would understand. I can't prove God to you or anyone else. It is something I can help you with, but ultimately you have to have a deep, unwavering need and desire to know there is a God. I don't think anything I tell you about the spirit part (our soul) of God that he put within all of us is also in you. That part of you is there, waiting for you to believe, waiting for you to ask for its guidance as your faith grows so will this spirit within you. You probably would make fun of my ignorance if I told you that in order for you to understand that, you first may have to earnestly pray that God will give you the spiritual understanding you desire and that he will awaken his spirit within you . Most of the time when I talk to athiests about religion, even though they ask a question of me, I have the feeling that they already have an answer that will shame me for my lack of wisdom of science and the philosophical arguements of wise well known athiests. Moose, none of us can zap or thump you into believing, but we all can pray that you will desire to earnestly seek God one day, and we can tell you that we will be here to help you, but you have to open the door, only you have that power.

[Mooseketeer]

Originally Posted by Padgett2

Are you praying for God to DO something? Or are you praying to God to Thank Him for what he has already done for you?

Try looking around you and start counting your blessings. God is a lot more than just a Being that is there to answer your questions.

Nope I was praying for guidance and to know he actually existed. Nothing at all.

[Mooseketeer]

Originally Posted by blue62

Aah, Moose, I would like nothing more right now to tell you how I know there is a God and that you would understand. I can't prove God to you or anyone else. It is something I can help you with, but ultimately you have to have a deep, unwavering need and desire to know there is a God. I don't think anything I tell you about the spirit part (our soul) of God that he put within all of us is also in you. That part of you is there, waiting for you to believe, waiting for you to ask for its guidance as your faith grows so will this spirit within you. You probably would make fun of my ignorance if I told you that in order for you to understand that, you first may have to earnestly pray that God will give you the spiritual understanding you desire and that he will awaken his spirit within you . Most of the time when I talk to athiests about religion, even though they ask a question of me, I have the feeling that they already have an answer that will shame me for my lack of wisdom of science and the philosophical arguements of wise well known athiests. Moose, none of us can zap or thump you into believing, but we all can pray that you will desire to earnestly seek God one day, and we can tell you that we will be here to help you, but you have to open the door, only you have that power.

Nope I genuinely had a desire to find god and did pray in a frank and open manner, he obviously couldn't be bothered with me though !