Post by Admin on Dec 17, 2014 17:12:13 GMT -5
In talking with people fairly often, one thing that comes up sometimes is the "I want to believe" statements followed by...but. Many reasons are given why they don't believe, and I think that the necessity for addressing those "Buts" is paramount and forum discussions are ideal, because it is anonymous and people can talk freely.
Feel free to speak your mind, share your doubts, and the reasons why you have not turned to the Lord.
Many people I talk to have "grown up in a/the church," and feel they know enough about the Bible and Christ that their decision is justified, but if I can, I would just suggest that there are several factors that need to be addressed. First, are you certain that the perspective you have is correct? For example, your argument might be "Well I can't believe in a God that would put people in Hell." The problem with that is nowhere in Scripture do we see God putting people in Hell, this is a result of rejecting the revelation God has given to every man and woman, boy and girl...that has ever lived. Yes, I said that has ever lived. Maybe your argument is that you can't believe in Christianity because so many Christians you have known...were hypocrites. The fact is...everyone is a hypocrite at one point or another. That is just the weakness of man, not a weakness of Christianity. Maybe those hypocrites were your parents. Maybe a combination of their theology and their practice was enough for you to say "I don't want any parts of that."
But think for a minute, are you convinced that what you think Christianity is, as learned by people whose doctrine and practice you have rejected, is that Christianity presented in Scripture? My hope is for all who want to believe, but have something they feel keeps them from embracing the God of the Bible, that they will test and challenge the perspective they have that keeps them from getting to understand the God of the Bible, and the Bible...better.
Feel free to speak your mind, share your doubts, and the reasons why you have not turned to the Lord.
Many people I talk to have "grown up in a/the church," and feel they know enough about the Bible and Christ that their decision is justified, but if I can, I would just suggest that there are several factors that need to be addressed. First, are you certain that the perspective you have is correct? For example, your argument might be "Well I can't believe in a God that would put people in Hell." The problem with that is nowhere in Scripture do we see God putting people in Hell, this is a result of rejecting the revelation God has given to every man and woman, boy and girl...that has ever lived. Yes, I said that has ever lived. Maybe your argument is that you can't believe in Christianity because so many Christians you have known...were hypocrites. The fact is...everyone is a hypocrite at one point or another. That is just the weakness of man, not a weakness of Christianity. Maybe those hypocrites were your parents. Maybe a combination of their theology and their practice was enough for you to say "I don't want any parts of that."
But think for a minute, are you convinced that what you think Christianity is, as learned by people whose doctrine and practice you have rejected, is that Christianity presented in Scripture? My hope is for all who want to believe, but have something they feel keeps them from embracing the God of the Bible, that they will test and challenge the perspective they have that keeps them from getting to understand the God of the Bible, and the Bible...better.