I don’t know if anyone can answer that honestly from a position of authority.

I know that the bible states that God has been revealed in nature – Romans 1:18-21, and states clearly no-one has an excuse for not believing.. however there is not a lot said about in what capacity people should believe. As dwill58 stated above, we need to avoid legalism. After all, much of the doctrine built up in Western churches around God and his son could be classed as unnecessary perhaps even wrong.

Can I still be a Christian if I don’t celebrate Christmas? Can still be one if I don’t believe in modern day miracles? What if I refer to God as Jehova rather than his other names?

“a person that is born and dies before she hears the good news in India, would be condemned for believing in Shiva and not your God, right? i don’t see the justice in that.”

Nick, absolutely not! I think it may be legalism, which is of man’s religious dogma, that is holding you back from God and His truth and love. Jesus, the Christ, died for all humanity, not just a few! The Word tells us that, in the end, “God, will draw all men to Himself.” God, is sovereign and just and loving, that is why He allowed His Son to be condemned, “once and for all” of us! If most of humanity is going to be condemned to a living-torturous place called, “Hell,” then God is not sovereign and Christ died in vain! This is a great manipulation and lie, which was perpetrated by the organization of Christendom when the bible was canonized. Our belief in God must be founded on the Word, but we will be led into all truth through the Spirit of God, not a priest, minister, bishop or pope. as the Word tells us!

For God so loved the world (His creation)…” Man has taken much of the grace and love, which Jesus died to give us, out of the Word of God and replaced it with a manipulative and legalistic doctrine to keep people under the control of a contrary-to-God clergy/laity system. It sounds to me like you have judged God by those whom God may not have appointed to speak for Him!

Pray to God, read the bible and ask us and others, who you trust as believers, to share the word of God with you. Don’t make this judgment based on religious doctrine and dogma, because God deserves something better! Check out this site, below, and read, when you have time, Pagan Christianity, which was written by the blogger, Frank Viola!

http://frankviola.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/mike-morrell-is-blogging-plus-five-other-great-bloggers-my-two-cents-on-the-election-and-thoughts-on-the-current-move-of-god/

If you like, the Shrink will email you my email address, and we can converse. I know you don’t know me, but I was once also confused about God and His truth. I care what happens to you. I hope you believe that!

Dave

Each time I question the bible, God, events or my experience, I find simple reasons to walk away from it all.. which is a problem for me, it’s too simple. Christianity is complex and causes a serious enquirer such as myself to think. On the other hand, as an atheist (11 years ago) I never really had much to consider.

There are places in the bible where God intervenes which makes him appear unmerciful, angry even. Once again this indicates that God is a rational being, not just a one-dimensional character-piece in a made up religion.

Nick, I can see you are wrestling with some deep-seated theological questions. May I suggest you read CS Lewis – The Problem of Pain. Also I find the bible itself lends a hand when it comes to understanding Gods mercy – Romans 9:22.

In the UK here we have just had a horrific case of child abuse that has hit the headlines. If we accept that God can see the future and destinies of all people, would it be fair for God to intervene before the abuse happened (eg. prevented the child from being born in order to spare it). For God to then strike down the adults involved before the child was born, punish them before society was even aware of their evil nature?

Perhaps, and we can’t say for certain whether this is already happening since we only have the benefit of hindsight and not the ability to predict destinies.

However, the very existence of evil in this world is an indication of Gods patience and mercy. If one examines the old testament, one sees that when God planned to wipe out a city or a tribe, he always revealed his plans to his prophets first, or he would make his people agents in the destruction. Since God is God, and can destroy as easily as bring to life, why would he approach his people beforehand, or even request they carry out these actions?

Perhaps it is easier to frame it in terms of modern law. Say I was caught speeding, but when I was pulled over the officer can see I have my pregnant wife in the car who is in labour and needs to get to the hospital. What police officer will hold me up, read out my rights and issue me with a ticket whilst my wifes contractions get shorter and shorter in the seat next to me.

I have broken traffic law by speeding, for sure, but any reasonable police officer is going to make a decision to allow the law-break in this instance. Even if some jobsworth officer still decides to issue a ticket.. it’s likely a judge would cancel it on appeal – despite the law, as set by government, being broken.

Laws make society work, but they are never meant to be nor should be used to totalitarian effect. A government that becomes totalitarian in application of its laws will lose the support of its people and risk uprising or rebellion.

In the same way, God made laws for his people, and offered them the choice to live by them or not. When they chose to live by them, and signed the contract, then the law had to be obeyed. But God, rather than simply enforce the law with impunity, instead entrusted the enforcement to his people, continually involving them in his plans to carry out the actions and punishment related to the laws being broken.

So again we must ask, why would God approach prophets before carrying out punishment; Why does the government employ judges to effect it’s laws (considering where the concept of ‘judges’ was taken from)?

My belief is this: God was not looking for people to carry out his wrath, he was looking for intercessors, perhaps even people to debate with him and refuse to carry out wrath.

How would we know mercy, if there were no laws, no righteousness or ultimate authority to ensure they were carried out.

And how would God reveal his mercy without giving power to judge and carry out punishment, to his creation?

“I am the way, truth and life…”

“I came that they may have life and that abundantly.”

“Come to me all who are heavily burdened and I will give you rest, for my burden is easy and my yoke is light.”

A long time ago, I, too, couldn’t believe and was miserable in that state! It would take the knowledge of my own failures, as a human being, to drive me back into the waiting arms of God. I wasn’t a pretty picture, believe me, and if God was waiting for me with open arms, then He most assuredly is waiting for you! Just turn, as the Shrink suggested, and he will be there for you. God, loves you! Believe it!!