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Argenta
Pit Bull
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 372
Location: UK
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 Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:36 am Post subject: Please help |
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Hello everyone
I was not raised in a religious family but I've been thinking about becoming a Christian for quite a while now. My problem is that everything I've read is just getting me more and more confused!
Many people say I just have to invite Jesus into my life and I'm willing to try that but I'm sure I have to be completely convinced that God really exists first! I just don't want to take this step until I'm sure in case my doubts prevent me from having the relationship I'm looking for.
I thought I would ask people who are already there! So please, what would help me is to hear your one or two most important reasons why you are sure that God exists. You don't need to write pages or get too philosophical please just give me the gist of your most compelling reasons.
I feel sure that would help me on my journey and I would appreciate it so much. I'd love to get a lot of replies so I can find something that really convinces me. Then I'll be ready to take the most important step!!
Thank you so much for your help. |
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MoJo
Moderator
Joined: 31 Jul 2003
Posts: 3292
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Argenta. Welcome to the board. 
I don't know how much help I can be as there was never a time in my life when I didn't believe in a God. However, that belief was pretty passive until a few years ago.
One of the simplest things I can say is this; those who believe and put their faith in God have hope in this life and the next. Those who don't believe may have some very temporal hopes in this life, like good health, a better job or a bigger house etc., and none in the next.
So what condition do you think it is better for the human heart and mind to be in? Hope or no hope?
_________________
matt 6: 34 "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." |
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FFT
Emperor of the Universe
Joined: 26 Mar 2005
Posts: 6271
Location: Memphis
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Argenta wrote: | | I was not raised in a religious family but I've been thinking about becoming a Christian for quite a while now. |
I would suggest figuring out why you want to be a Christian, first.
_________________
When Science was in its crib, Religion tried to strangle it. When Science was in its infancy, Religion tried to abuse it. Now that Science is grown up, Religion wants to be in its good graces.
Theology is philosophy/ethics for people who already know what conclusion they want to come to. |
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Ana
King of the Jungle
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 1560
Location: BC
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Argenta and welcome to the board!
I can't really help you with your plight, but I am interested in seeing what responses you may receive.
Mojo, I think Argenta already has the hope part down, and is looking to convince her brain of what of her heart already yearns to feel... am I close, Argenta? By the way, if you're not a 'she', I'm sorry - I needed a gender for grammar purposes only.
| Mojo wrote: | | Those who don't believe may have some very temporal hopes in this life, like good health, a better job or a bigger house etc., and none in the next. |
From the perspective of one who doesn't believe, let me tell you, if there is a next life, it will be more than I can hope for (even if I am doomed to a lake of lava  ). I have all the same kinds of temporal hopes in this life that you or any other being can hope for, and while I can hope there's another life after this one, I don't actually believe there is one.
_________________
Truth doesn't care about theology, and theology doesn't care about truth. |
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MoJo
Moderator
Joined: 31 Jul 2003
Posts: 3292
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Ana wrote: | | and while I can hope there's another life after this one, I don't actually believe there is one. |
Hi Ana. If you have any tiny little spark of hope that there is a next life, then you must also have one tiny little seed of doubt that you could be wrong in believing there is no God.
Perhaps as you grow toward the age when your asking "what's it all been about Alfie," you might reconsider. When you ask yourself, where have all the years gone and they seem like a vapour that's disappeared in a moment.......................
_________________
matt 6: 34 "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." |
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Argenta
Pit Bull
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 372
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for your responses. I just feel there is a gap in my life but please don't think I'm a sad case--I'm NOT! But I have read accounts from people who have accepted Jesus and feel that might be what I'm missing.
Ana is right though, I need to get my head in the right place before my heart will follow. That's just the way I am.
So I still hope some kind folk will give me their reasons for belief in God. |
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Ana
King of the Jungle
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Posts: 1560
Location: BC
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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| MoJo wrote: | | Ana wrote: | | and while I can hope there's another life after this one, I don't actually believe there is one. |
Hi Ana. If you have any tiny little spark of hope that there is a next life, then you must also have one tiny little seed of doubt that you could be wrong in believing there is no God.
Perhaps as you grow toward the age when your asking "what's it all been about Alfie," you might reconsider. When you ask yourself, where have all the years gone and they seem like a vapour that's disappeared in a moment.......................
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Well, no, I also hope that I'll just live forever, that I'll go to Mars, and that one day I'll gain superpowers. I don't think any of these things will happen - it's all wishful thinking, but I can still hope.
Here's the thing: I'm an agnostic atheist. I believe that we cannot know that there is a god unless it reveals itself to us. That said, I think that it is most plausible that all gods are made up, all the while keeping in mind that I could be wrong about that and that I will never know unless one chooses to correct me. Until then, I have absolutely no reason to believe that any do exist.
When I'm old, I don't think I will regret being unreligious, since now that I am of the mind that this life is all I get, I'm making it count. If I had remained Christian, I may have, at the end of my life, had thoughts along the lines of, "what if I missed out on the rainbow by looking forward to the pot of gold at the end? What if there is no pot of gold?"
Argenta, I know this doesn't answer your question at all, but maybe at least it can provide some balancing perspective, so that you can look at it from more angles before making your decision (although it doesn't sound like you're really deciding - like me, you seem to understand that belief isn't something you choose).
_________________
Truth doesn't care about theology, and theology doesn't care about truth. |
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theseldomscene
Banned
Joined: 17 Mar 2005
Posts: 7817
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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, | argenta wrote: | | I need to get my head in the right place before my heart will follow. That's just the way I am. |
it doesn't matter about your head...for you must lose it...
| argenta wrote: | | So I still hope some kind folk will give me their reasons for belief in God. |
i am sure someone prolly will ...
ps...welcome to the boards...
................................
| ana wrote: | | belief isn't something you choose). |
amen.... ... |
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Argenta
Pit Bull
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 372
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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| theseldomscene wrote: | , | argenta wrote: | | I need to get my head in the right place before my heart will follow. That's just the way I am. |
it doesn't matter about your head...for you must lose it... |
theseldomscene, I really want to understand this, so please, no riddles. I'm sure you don't mean lose my head as in decapitation! Do you mean I shouldn't use my brain? I hope not: that would be intellectual decapitation!
Please clarify your point.
Thank you. |
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theseldomscene
Banned
Joined: 17 Mar 2005
Posts: 7817
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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| argenta wrote: | | theseldomscene, I really want to understand this, so please, no riddles. |
don't order me around...you're not my boss  ...
| Quote: | | Please clarify your point. |
what?...you think it is in my power to give ears to hear?....
eyes to see?......
in this moment...
maybe....
col. 1:18...
 ... |
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theseldomscene
Banned
Joined: 17 Mar 2005
Posts: 7817
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Argenta
Pit Bull
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 372
Location: UK
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| theseldomscene wrote: | | argenta wrote: | | theseldomscene, I really want to understand this, so please, no riddles. |
don't order me around...you're not my boss ...
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How do you know?
| theseldomscene wrote: | | argenta wrote: | | Please clarify your point. |
what?...you think it is in my power to give ears to hear?....
eyes to see?......
in this moment...
maybe....
col. 1:18...
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Riddles really do not help me at all  . Thanks for trying theseldomscene but perhaps someone else will help me with my original question? |
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theseldomscene
Banned
Joined: 17 Mar 2005
Posts: 7817
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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col1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
| argenta wrote: | | How do you know? |
good question...  ...are you either a....
short, stocky, bald, tatooed, bearded biker?...
or a...
tall, stocky, hairy, untatooed, jewish bearded biker?...
if the answer to either of these questions is yes...then please note i used the word 'stocky' instead of fat... |
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MoJo
Moderator
Joined: 31 Jul 2003
Posts: 3292
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Ana wrote: | | Here's the thing: I'm an agnostic atheist. I believe that we cannot know that there is a god unless it reveals itself to us. That said, I think that it is most plausible that all gods are made up, all the while keeping in mind that I could be wrong about that and that I will never know unless one chooses to correct me. Until then, I have absolutely no reason to believe that any do exist. |
| tss wrote: | ana wrote:
belief isn't something you choose).
amen.... ... |
When I first read this, and then tss's amen, I thought, that's right, Ana's pretty smart and tss sees it and so I just moved on. But it started bugging me and I realized this isn't right at all.
You see, it sounds good and it even sounds biblical, but it's not right. It is true that no one can come to belief without the help of God, but it isn't true that an unbeliever has **no** knowledge of Him.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
IOW, God **has** revealed himself in His creation. I know you're probably not familiar with the bible, but I can't think of a case where the Lord perpetrated an evil in which He did not first give warning to the recipient to turn back from there evil ways.
Whether a person understands the warnings or signs is another matter. The gospel is both good news and a warning.
Act 3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did [it], as [did] also your rulers.
Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
_________________
matt 6: 34 "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." |
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theseldomscene
Banned
Joined: 17 Mar 2005
Posts: 7817
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| Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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| mojo wrote: | | It is true that no one can come to belief without the help of God, but it isn't true that an unbeliever has **no** knowledge of Him. |
who said otherwise?...the conversation is about GOD...but CHRISTianity in particular...
JESUS is not a rubber ducky with a number on his belly ...
yes, men are without excuse and have chosen not to retain GOD in their thinking...but not all men...some still believed in and sought GOD...but it was not up to their search...for many looked at HIS face and rejected HIM like the pharisee's...some like herod...wanted to see HIM...looked in HIS face and spoke to HIM...even asked HIM questions....but never heard HIS voice...
Last edited by theseldomscene on Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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