Hello! =)

[shaun_nj]

Hello everyone. I'm Shaun from NJ. I'm currently a freshmen in college and I have been trying to "find faith" as of late. Growing up I went to a lot of different churches. I did go to a Catholic church on the regular bases for a few years, but I couldn't really connect with the church. After I left the church I began to read the bible and do research; I wasn't so sure about Christianity any more.

Lately I have been reading the bible more and trying to draw to some conclusions, and I have decided to try believing once again. It has become harder in some aspects but I am trying the best I can :shade:. I am hoping that being on a Christian message board could help me with this process.

 

[gismapper]

hey shaun! That's great that you're doing some digging. I'd say definitely stick to reading the Bible more, and the other "higher critics" less. The higher critics have already come to the conclusion that the Bible might "contain" truth, but it isn't necessarily 100% "Truth". They say it "contains" God's words, but they deny that it "is" God's Word. They accuse Bible-believing Christians of being short-sighted and narrow minded, but they're doing the exact same thing, from the opposite direction.

Just keep reading the Bible, and pray before you read it...simply ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you through His Word, and then dive in! He made you and He wrote the Bible, so He should know how to communicate it's truth to you, uniquely and personally.

Hebrews 11:6 says that if you're coming to God, you have to come to Him in faith, "for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that dilligently seek Him." Mercifully, God also gives us the faith we need to believe (Romans 12:3).

Feel free to pm me anytime!
mike

 

[ShieldFaith]

Shaun, Jesus says that He draws all peoples to Himself. John 12:32.
I recently heard a sermon on Isaiah 40:1-31 and I would like to share this breakdown with you. Please read these verses and know the awesome power of our God, the Great I AM.
The Bible (God's gift & instruction to humanity) is the infinate mind of God.
God is the creator
God is transcendent (above & beyond it all)
God is knowledgeable (there is nothing that He doesn't know)
God is Omnipotent (He is everywhere)
God gives strength to the weary. Your set of wings is your faith (IA 40:31)
God is a responder of our faith. You will sore above your problems when you give them to God and He gives you strength to overcome.
Sometimes it's the storms in our lives that God uses to build our faith, teaches us to trust Him.
I'm so glad that you are reading the Bible again, that is the best decision you can make right now with your life.
You are a precious child of God and He loves you and wants you to be with Him.

 

[shaun_nj]

Thank you very much . I'll be sure to continue reading the Bible. I think Revelation could be my favorite book.

 

[gismapper]

I hear ya...it was my favorite book too, for a long time after I got saved. I really like Hebrews now...the same way Revelation looks to the future, Hebrews looks to the past and shows how Jesus was everywhere in the Old Testament. Cool stuff!