You Said You Were Ready

Theology
1

So when I first came here, I asked if someone was willing to let me ask some tough questions.

Well, I have my first set of tough questions… I need the listening ear.

I wish to come with a disclaimer. I am not seeking placation or superficial, canned, regurgitated answers. I’m seeking thoughtful and honest viewpoints that challenge what I see.

I want to be a Christian. I think that I am. But I will never be seen subscribing to an ideal, and more importantly, telling others that I believe they should themselves, without knowing what it is I’m doing, and why and being able to back up my claim with all of whatever it is that makes me.

That’s what I’m trying to do with my tough questions. Not challenge anyone’s faith or beliefs. I’m trying to strengthen my own, and my ability to share it with others.

That’s the long way of saying that if you’re easily offended or your faith is based on unsubstantiated belief and nothing more (not implying anything wrong with that) then you are not likely the person who is best suited to help me answer my questions. Although I am not opposed to the input of anyone. Everyone alive knows something I do not, and I have something to learn from everyone. Some of you just may feel a certain way by the things that my questions conjure. And I don’t want anyone to feel bad. I want us all to feel better. I promise.

Are you ready? Let’s go.

2

May I suggest that you do a series of posts, one question per post.
Then people can post answers to each question without the risk of answers clashing with questions.

I have my own question for you.

What do you say Christianity is?

3

@Who-me – high five. Thanks for the reply. Means a lot to me.

I can definitely do one per post. It would easily get convoluted any other way. Thank the seahorses’ saddlebags that my new bible has margins to write in. Haha!

As for your question:

There’s a dichotomy sitting in this space.

One version of my answer is pretty simple, a broad white brush stroke – Christianity is the body of the believers and followers of Jesus Christ.

My other answer is perhaps more colorful, more heartfelt, but much less concise. I’m going to quote an artist, because his words seem to fit right in here to help convey my thought into somewhat coherent words, even if not my own:

“And you know me, my will is eternal
And you know me, you’ve met me before
Face-to-face with a beast, I will rise from the east
And I’ll settle on the ocean floor
And I go by many names also
Some people know me as “hope”
Some people know me as the voice that you hear
When you loosen the noose on the rope…”
Hi Ren - by Ren

And okay, so maybe there is more than just two sides. Because there is a third part that wants to reply by saying that I really don’t know. This part thinks that we’re dealing with something that completely and totally transcends the comprehension of the human mind… That the stories told in the texts were the most reasonable and realistic shot we had at having some semblance of understanding, not a verbatim play-by-play record. (I could get too into this thought, so we’re going to pin this right here.)

So I guess it depends on which answer you want. The one from my brain, or the one from my heart.

I hope we get to have some more dialogue. And thank you again.

Love & Respect,
F

4

There are two lines of enquiry.
1/, Is the bible true?
2, did jesus really rise from the dead?

5

Great questions!

#1 is tough to answer. I feel like the answer the collective is looking for is a resounding and enthusiastic “Yes!”

But if I answered that way, at least without some context, I would not be answering honestly.

I know that’s not concise or direct, and this will only act as a catalyst to confusion, BUT… That doesn’t mean I’m saying, “No.” either.

Maybe one would argue that it’s black or white. Yes or no. And I would respect that perspective. From my experience learning and gathering with people I know to be learned Christians, and from my own experience studying the texts, to be able to call myself a Christian means that I should be able to say that “Yes, I believe the Bible to be ‘true’.”, and that anything else is considered non-belief.

BUT… I don’t think it’s as simple as that. The reason that Jesus spoke in parables was because He was conveying a message that was, more or less, too complex to be understood when conveyed in it’s naked form. His message was imperative, so He implemented what was necessary to get the message to the people in the place it could work cohesively.

It’s well understood that as a species, we have used story telling and myth in crucial and meaningful ways for… Forever, really, in order to help one another understand and to be understood.

And I believe that God – just the IDEA of God – FAR and large transcends the outer limits of human comprehension. By a long shot. That even trying to wrap our heads around the basic concept of God in a literal way would do nothing short of cause our heads to explode.

But having whatever semblance of understanding IS possible was an absolute MUST.

So I think of it like watching a solar eclipse. If we looked right at it, it’s magnificence would quickly fry our eyeballs like scrambled eggs and we would lose our ability to see altogether. Not helpful. But with these special glasses, carefully and intentionally designed for this purpose, we get an opportunity to observe the phenomenal and awesome thing, not with our naked eye, but with as close to it as we can get. We can see it this way as well as we are able and our heads don’t explode nor our eyes fry in their sockets.

So, do I think solar eclipses are true? You best believe I do. But am I seeing the the absolute raw, real thing? No, I’m not. (And I’m better for it. I LOVE being able to see!) But I’m as close as I can get. And that’s substantiative.

I understand that was Hemingway when you probably wanted Dickinson. But a man who’s words and articulation truly opened my eyes said, “Silence, when you have something to say, IS A LIE.” (It was Dr. Jordan Peterson. My name is Faeryn and I LOVE that man.)

The answer to #2 is woven into my answer to #1.

Love & Respect,

F

6

Bring it.
Sounds fun.

1 Like
7

Excellent questions.

Now let me ask a few questions.

  1. Does answering “no” make someone unworthy of your respectful behavior?

  2. Does answering “no” make someone unworthy of your due diligence to show the Love of God?

  3. Does answering “yes” make someone a Christian?

1 Like
8

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.” (NET)

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (NRSVUE)

Next question…

9

Have you investigated whether the bible is accurate?
https://www.christianpublishers.org/post/how-can-we-be-sure-of-the-absolute-accuracy-of-luke-in-the-gospel-of-luke-and-the-book-of-acts.
Is a link to a scholarly review of lukes gospel and the book of acts.
Then there is Sir William Ramsay’s discoveries as told by coldczsechristianity:-A Brief Sample of Archaeology Corroborating the Claims of the New Testament | Cold Case Christianity
Do look into coldcasechristianity. A web site set up by a detective who investigated the bible as if it were a crime scene. He ended up convinced it was true and a Christian.

From coldcasechristianity articles on the resurection:-

I keep posting that there is no sin in having doubts or questions.
The sin is in not looking for or accepting answers.

1 Like
10

Thank you again for your meaningful and well-thought reply. It means a lot to me to have dialogue with you, and others. Because it’s from learning and experiencing with real people that I best understand.

In a loving, and light hearted way, like a girl would to her big brother, with whom she knew she was safe to be herself, I say:

… Silly. Why do you think I’m here?

If I felt safe to accept the Bible as I feel inside me and believe in my heart it was meant to be interpreted, no offense, ya’ll, but I wouldn’t be here.

But it doesn’t. Because although just an eighth grade drop-out, I’m far from nincompoop status. I wouldn’t shoot first and ask questions later. I’m asking the questions first because I want to go shoot! (You see, that’s satire, a first cousin of the parable. Both are intended to convey something without having to spell it out. The difference being one is immature and uses humor inappropriately and the other makes the ear work a little bit for the teller’s prize.)

And I am familiar with Sir Ramsay’s work. I’m not here because I lack the ability or wherewithal to execute a rudimentary Google search or check out a few books from my town’s quaint, silly little library. I’m here because talking to you or that guy or that woman or these people means a magnificent amount more to me than someone’s testimony that was offered in exchange for money. I don’t mean to pick on him, nor is it an attempt to discredit his work, to each their own. I also understand that everyone needs to put food on their table and will do whatever it is they choose to do in order to get it there. I’m also not saying I wouldn’t jump like a flea on a pretty Persian kitty to get my name and silly face on the cover and dust jacket flap of some real life book if I had the chance. I’m not finding fault in the guy. I just don’t trust him. I know, first hand, from reading them myself –
hundreds of works of fiction. And plenty of them could pass as historical literature to anyone naive enough.

You’re onto something crucial. If I can find the answer to this question, maybe I can let go of the rest.

But if that happens, what will the still empty margins of my Bible get filled with? :slight_smile:

Love & Respect,
F

11

I’m going to level with you. I need to go to my sit spot and think about this for a bit. The only interruptions I have in my sit spot are the orchestra of frogs in the bed of the creek. But you shouldn’t underestimate their volume. It’s something to behold.

Thank you for your reply. It means a lot to me.

L&R,
F

12

I don’t think you are naive enough, your questions show that.

May I suggest that you see if any churches in your area are running courses like Alpha or Christianityexplored?
They give one a chance to meet in a neutral place and to discuss issues about Christianity, an opportunity to ask questions, raise issues even to argue and as its face to face the responses are far faster than via a forum..

13

Hi,
If you are serious about wanting to be a believer fantasticfaeryn, I can Scripturally take you through the reasoning , and the sinner’s prayer. But I want you to understand what what being a Christian ( a believer in Jesus ) is.

  1. All have sinned.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

  1. We have no righteousness within ourselves.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

  1. Unforgiven sin leads to death.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  1. God provides a way for us, through His Son Jesus Christ, to have our sins forgiven, and have everlasting life. (Salvation)

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

  1. Jesus will provide forgiveness, and salvation, if we receive Him into our lives.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

  1. When Jesus enters our lives, He cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

  1. Once we are cleansed, we are, in Christ, new creatures.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

How do we get there? If we are truly repentant, here is a simple prayer asking for forgiveness.

Jesus, I know that I am not where I should be with You. I repent of my sins, and ask You come into my life; and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Congratulations, and welcome to the family.
If we have done this, we have become new creatures. Now you need to read about what has happened. I recommend two books in the Bible from which to start. The gospel of John to begin to understand who Jesus is. I also recommend reading 1 John to understand what being a believer means. There is also another benefit for reading 1 John.

1 John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

And who doesn’t want their joy to be full?

Blessings