quote:

ORIGINAL: Nick_Drake



Desparate situations are how God teaches us to abandon the thing, whatever it is, that solicits such fear and desparation within us. You can't be controlled by God if you are controlled by something so powerful that you shrink before it in fear. Living under that power is completely contrary to the abundant life Jesus died to give you and will effectively dry it up.

quote:

ORIGINAL: terryjohn

You can get an impression that there is no god when you see a lack of goodness in this world. Seriously however, when scripture says, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, I see the truth. Literally god is dead to many people but He himself is not dead for His righteousness stands like a light in the darkness. I am continually amazed at the evil, sin and foolishness of men in business and even religion. But I am only amazed because of Christ. That is without Him all the foolishness that passes for the wisdom of men would be okay.

One man sees a child hung by the Nazi and says there is no God and yet I see that there is because I am outraged by such an injustice for Christ's righteousness sake. I guess as long as we mistakenly look for the perfect in an imperfect world we may conclude that the perfect does not exist but that would mean we would embrace the imperfect and that is something I fear. If it had not been for the perfect I would not have known I was lost.

Personally a healthy understanding/vision of the wickedness of men and the hopelessness of their efforts and lives makes the gospel of Christ so much more glorious.

Just done a bit of reading about the early history of the church and Islam and I am saddened by their foolishness and yet also comforted that God was able to raise amongst them faithful men and women to display his righteousness and wisdom. In fact despite all their sins the righteousness of God is contrasted in every act of foolishness and selfishness so in my mind every sin does proclaim the gospel and hope of Christ.

When I see the oppressed and poor I see great hope for them in Christ, sure some may see no hope and simply walk away.

To think there is no God is to be blind to the evil that surrounds us because of unbelief. We may doubt God because of the sins of men but that does not mean God does not exist for He says the same thing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ohioman1972

quote:

ORIGINAL: terryjohn

You can get an impression that there is no god when you see a lack of goodness in this world. Seriously however, when scripture says, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, I see the truth. Literally god is dead to many people but He himself is not dead for His righteousness stands like a light in the darkness. I am continually amazed at the evil, sin and foolishness of men in business and even religion. But I am only amazed because of Christ. That is without Him all the foolishness that passes for the wisdom of men would be okay.

One man sees a child hung by the Nazi and says there is no God and yet I see that there is because I am outraged by such an injustice for Christ's righteousness sake. I guess as long as we mistakenly look for the perfect in an imperfect world we may conclude that the perfect does not exist but that would mean we would embrace the imperfect and that is something I fear. If it had not been for the perfect I would not have known I was lost.

Personally a healthy understanding/vision of the wickedness of men and the hopelessness of their efforts and lives makes the gospel of Christ so much more glorious.

Just done a bit of reading about the early history of the church and Islam and I am saddened by their foolishness and yet also comforted that God was able to raise amongst them faithful men and women to display his righteousness and wisdom. In fact despite all their sins the righteousness of God is contrasted in every act of foolishness and selfishness so in my mind every sin does proclaim the gospel and hope of Christ.

When I see the oppressed and poor I see great hope for them in Christ, sure some may see no hope and simply walk away.

To think there is no God is to be blind to the evil that surrounds us because of unbelief. We may doubt God because of the sins of men but that does not mean God does not exist for He says the same thing.

My issue was a little different. After believing all my life, my brain just suddenly switched and couldn't comprehend it anymore. The capacity was just gone. I am still struggling, but it is better. It is hard to explain my issues exactly. I want the attacks to stop, but I know they won't. I know it is a lifelong war that takes place in our minds. Any way Satan can put any distance between God and ourselves is his goal. I pray more now than ever. I cannot live based on how I feel, but the feelings are a reflection of what is going on in my life. I am living my life as a Christian, praying, tithing, even witnessing. All the while the logic part of my brain is trying to tell me that God doesn't exist. That is my dilemma. Again, I am not at the same point I was when I first posted. Progress from there, but the feelings are still far from gone.

quote:

ORIGINAL: WanderingLamb

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ohioman1972

quote:

ORIGINAL: terryjohn

You can get an impression that there is no god when you see a lack of goodness in this world. Seriously however, when scripture says, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, I see the truth. Literally god is dead to many people but He himself is not dead for His righteousness stands like a light in the darkness. I am continually amazed at the evil, sin and foolishness of men in business and even religion. But I am only amazed because of Christ. That is without Him all the foolishness that passes for the wisdom of men would be okay.

One man sees a child hung by the Nazi and says there is no God and yet I see that there is because I am outraged by such an injustice for Christ's righteousness sake. I guess as long as we mistakenly look for the perfect in an imperfect world we may conclude that the perfect does not exist but that would mean we would embrace the imperfect and that is something I fear. If it had not been for the perfect I would not have known I was lost.

Personally a healthy understanding/vision of the wickedness of men and the hopelessness of their efforts and lives makes the gospel of Christ so much more glorious.

Just done a bit of reading about the early history of the church and Islam and I am saddened by their foolishness and yet also comforted that God was able to raise amongst them faithful men and women to display his righteousness and wisdom. In fact despite all their sins the righteousness of God is contrasted in every act of foolishness and selfishness so in my mind every sin does proclaim the gospel and hope of Christ.

When I see the oppressed and poor I see great hope for them in Christ, sure some may see no hope and simply walk away.

To think there is no God is to be blind to the evil that surrounds us because of unbelief. We may doubt God because of the sins of men but that does not mean God does not exist for He says the same thing.

My issue was a little different. After believing all my life, my brain just suddenly switched and couldn't comprehend it anymore. The capacity was just gone. I am still struggling, but it is better. It is hard to explain my issues exactly. I want the attacks to stop, but I know they won't. I know it is a lifelong war that takes place in our minds. Any way Satan can put any distance between God and ourselves is his goal. I pray more now than ever. I cannot live based on how I feel, but the feelings are a reflection of what is going on in my life. I am living my life as a Christian, praying, tithing, even witnessing. All the while the logic part of my brain is trying to tell me that God doesn't exist. That is my dilemma. Again, I am not at the same point I was when I first posted. Progress from there, but the feelings are still far from gone.

Hmm, must have had some faulty input in your brain.

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ORIGINAL: Ohioman1972

Plenty. Prodct of public schools.

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ORIGINAL: WanderingLamb

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ohioman1972

Plenty. Prodct of public schools.

I know where you're coming from!

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ohioman1972

I have been a Christian all my life. I was raised in the church. There has never been a time when I have not been a non-believer.

I recently had an episode where I thought I was going to die. It was a stress related panic attack, but at that moment, every doubt I ever had in my life grew in strength. I was able to sweep it under the rug for a couple months, but about 3 weeks ago, it came back really badly.

Since then, I have doubted everything I have ever believed. I don't want to doubt, but my mind is constantly thinking "What if there is no God and when you die, you just die?"

Now, I am living in a state of fear. This post is really just a summary of things, but I am tired of the fear. It seems the more I pray, the further away my faith goes. I have good times and times like now, but it is on my mind about 90% of the day, no exaggeration.

I have been an apologetic Christian all my life, BOLDLY debating atheists on their own turf. Maybe it started to get to me. Maybe the sins that I have fairly recently turned away from have just been a foothold for other things.

I know what the bible teaches. I am just really really confused because I have never been in this situation before. I have always been able to subdue my doubts with a prayer and audible rebuke. Now, it seems ineffective.

Any support, encouragement, prayer would be greatly appreciated.