Hi all

I need to know if you will permit me to ask the many questions I have going on around in my head. I don't wish to seem rude by registering then suddenly asking things without contributing to your site so I will state my situation and then hopefully you can tell me if my being here is appropriate.

I am 32 and was raised as a Catholic until I was 18 when I made the decision to no longer participate in church activities however I never stopped believing in God. I lived the next few years as what I considered a normal male, fairly headonistic and inoffensive lifestyle but certainly what the bible would call sinful until I was 28 when I met a born-again Pentecostal Christian who introduced me to the Left Behind books.

I was immediately hooked on them, started attending her church and begin asking questions about Christianity. Questions questions questions! I had (and still have) loads of them as I'd always favoured science and logic thought patterns. It got to the point where I felt perhaps this was God calling me to Him. I sought a pentecostal church in my local area and started going, however I refrained from 'making the leap' as I still had unanswered questions. At the time perhaps the leadership of that church could have been better as no-one really seemed interestd in taking me to one side and listening to my questions. It just seemed to be a case of "hurry up and get saved and God will provide the answers to them".

So I prayed the prayer of salvation. The problem is I don't know if I truly meant it in my heart or whether the fear of being left behind (as I read in the books) was the motivating factor.

Anyway, for about a year I lived what I thought was a Christian life. I prayed, I read my bible, I attended church. In all honestly I truly believed I was genuine. But then I started to slip. After a few years I was more or less back to the person I'd always been. I began listening to scientific facts and theories debunking Christian teaching. Books like The Da Vinci Code further rocked my faith. I had no-one to answer the questions I needed solving in order to silence the voice of doubt in my head.

My life as it stands now, I download music illegally. I have broken traffic laws. I have fraudulently claimed government benefits. I swear. I view certain tv and internet content which would not be considered moral. When I recently worked in a bar I used to take money from the till. I am not proud of any of this in any way but I am telling you this to give you an idea of how my life has become and for you to be under no illusions as to the sort of person I am.

But I do not want this lifestyle. I want Christ. I want Christianity. I want rock-solid faith in the Bible. I want to be a shining example of a Christian.

The problem is I have the voice of doubt which continues to shout loud until I have so many questions answered. I really really want that voice silenced. Actually no, I don't want it silence. I want it destroyed. I want Christ to rule my life and heart.





Thank you for perservering while I rambled. I have many many things I want to ask. Some might be seen as awkward or challenging to Christianity - please, in my heart of hearts do not think I ask them disrespectfully. I want them answered so that voice will no longer trouble me.

Please will I be permitted to ask these questions. If I have overstepped the mark in any way I apologise.

Thank you for taking the time to sit and write all this down and entrusting us with some wisdom that we seek ourselves.
I would love to meet a perfect Christian, one who does not sin. Paul is a shining example of the struggles with sin Rom. 7, but he still keeps going. My husband is an engineer, he thinks like an engineer, all logic and making sense and he is a follower of Christ. My husband likes reading various intellecutal sites to enhance his own personal knowlege. my brain does not work like his as I am more on the emotional side but I am learning.
I started listening to apologetics and my favourite is Ravi Zacharias, I just can't get enough of his teachings.

http://www.rim.org
Evidence for God from Science
John Ankerburg too
Ankerberg Theological Research Institute, John Ankerberg Show - Christian Apologetics, Jesus, Bible & Christ

Please feel free to ask questions, it's one of the greatest tools we have to learn.
blessings,
Michele

oh and Ravi has a section where you can download his radio program, which I do and listen to them on my way to work.

"Ask and it shall be given you: seek and you will find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

Of what man is there of you who if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, will give him a serpent?

So if you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him" Matthew 7: 11

Hello Brother.....Welcome to 'talkjesus'

Reading your post, I see you have had many experiences, many discussions, many situations. And if feel that if the pair of us were to engage in discussion, it may be unfruitful. We cannot tell, but I sincerely would not want that to happen.

But I am not the only Christian here. So if you have questions, please go ahead. Just expressing my own thoughts.

I am concerned for you because you need to meet God.....you need to meet Jesus. Read the scripture verses at the start of this post.............

God says 'Ask'......God says 'Seek'.......God says 'Knock' If you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask of Him.

Ask the Master....these are His words. If you are sincere......how much more? Pray brother.....pray.....Give God a chance to answer the cry of your heart


I have just posted a thread in the 'Church' section entitled 'Reconciliation' In it I say that Christianity is distincly a religeon of Redemption Please read it.....it may be of help.

I'm close to tears. Thank you.

Thank you thank you thank you. I need this site. I wish I'd found it a long time ago. I can see I'm going to be spending a lot of time here.

Once again thanks for the replies and the links - the God From Science site looks like it's going to answer all my questions anyway. The problem is if I'm on a forum where people are discussing Christianity and some destructive athiest start wading in, I diving in trying to defend the bible - but usually they are better prepared than me and I end up have just more and more doubts. But that site looks like it'll plug all the gaps in my faith - brilliant :)

First hello and welcome to TJ and your post was honest and nothing was inappropriate. Having questions is good, I have one nearly everyday regarding the bible or something, I search the website or ask a more knowledgeable person.

I too have prayed this prayer, the first time I don't know if I really meant it either, because the salvation prayer is admitting that we are sinners, that Jesus died and rose again and paid the price for our sin, that we ask him to be Lord of our life and follow him in all of our ways. Well I knew I was a sinner that's for sure, and I knew that Jesus died for me, but to follow Him in all of my ways, to make Him Lord of my life. This is where in time I got a little rebellious. Anyhow its a long story, Finally, I reached a point that God showed me that I was a terrible example of a Christian, I was a hypocrite. I had got myself into a right heap of sinful stuff and I just fell on my knees, balling my eyes out, this time I confessed my sin and gave my WHOLE heart to the Lord. He now has me lock stock and barrel. And I feel secure in my salvation, as I am living the way He wants me to. I don't know if I was truly saved when I said that prayer the first time, some may argue I was. But I believe there is a sanctification process that we go through once we accept the Lord as our savior, fruits of the spirit will become evident in our lives. Things of the world that once were appetizing, loses its glitter and appeal and we want more and more of Christ, we search for Him, want Him desperately.
Maybe this is where you are right now, you realized you rebelled and its time to get serious. You want to talk the talk and walk the walk.
God Bless you and I hope you will be around TJ for a long time. Ask lots of questions, its ok. There are alot more qualified people than myself to answer some of your deeper questions. I like to give support and pray for others.

Calluna

One thing which has always caused me trouble - in my weaker moments I feel like Revelations is just a way to ensure we all 'stay on our toes' by saying what will happen, by saying Big J will return but not indicating when is almost a way of keeping people within Christianity.

How can I overcome this feeling?

Well actually it is a warning to us, to always be prepared, just like the 12 virgins with the oil for their lamps. God is being fair. To avoid feelings of "negativity" read Phillipians 4 where it talks about looking at the blessings and to think the right thoughts. Hope this helps.