Difficult Questions about Christianity

[ReggieJones]

This is inspired by discussions on mn and also in rl about Christianity. Jesus' death for us can sometimes seem like an easy thing to explain and those of us who've heard about it for many years can become a bit complacent. But I also often find it a really tricky thing to get my head around, despite believing iyswim. It would be interesting to hear what questions people have and also how we might be able to answer questions in a way that's humble and not personally offensive (although Jesus does say that people will be offended by the Gospel.

The God I know doesn't need to bother with forgiveness. His love and understanding are so great that it isn't necessary. His love teaches you that you are known and accepted as you are.

Why did God not want people to support gay relationships 100 years ago but now he does?
Understanding, like knowledge, evolves over time. Perhaps.

I'm not perfect yet but because of the forgiveness Jesus has won for me I can be admitted into God's perfect kingdom where I will be made perfect.

What I deserve is to be away from God and His goodness simply because I'm not good enough to be in his presence. If anything the emotional pain of being separated from God is worse than physical punishment.

So you do think you deserve physical and emotional torture because you are not perfect? And you think I deserve the same? At what point do we deserve it? As a baby? 12?

Again it's not for jesus to forgive you for stuff you did to someone else.

If you hurt me jesus can't forgive you on my behalf because it weren't him you hurt.

I don't think you deserve physical and emotional torture and would do what I could to stop someone doing it to you.

I don't think that God's views or standards change over time. One of the reassuring things about God is that the Bible says He doesn't change

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

MrsTwee does God love and accept everyone just as they are even when they do terrible things like hurting others, or does there have to be some element of justice and forgiveness.

Its difficult to put a finger on the exact cause of changes in behavior especially when we're on the outside looking in to someone elses life. But as an example. I've had a lot of anger towards a member of my family because they've made comments about me that I feel are hurtful. I've prayed about this a lot and I feel that God has helped me continue to be loving towards them, continue to invest in my relationship with them and realize that they're comments may come from ways in which they are hurting.

Reggie maybe you can help me. I used to go to church regularly (mainly because I was brought up to do so) and I never questioned it.

Why should I forgive anyone who does bad things to me or my family? I don't accept apologies from people as they shouldn't have done those things in the first place.

My church believes strongly in the power of prayer. Recently they were praying non-stop for a baby with leukaemia. Sadly she died, so their prayers didn't work and why did God let that little baby die?

I just feel there are too many things I don't believe in that I am unable to return to church any time soon

I don't think that gods views and standards change over time

But they have with all sorts of issues like slavery and animal sacrifice and LGBT issues? Or does God still approve/disapprove and you've got it wrong?

their comments may come from ways in which they are hurting

But I use the reasoning all the time. And how come you are able to use your sound reasoning to understand and appreciate how someone came to hurt you because of previous events in their life in a way that softens your heart so that you don't demand retribution, but you worship a God who doesn't possess that ability of logic.

In religion and psychology, offering forgiveness benefits you.

I don't go to church for many reasons, one being too many people behave as if they have the answers and speak on behalf of God.

We were given God's word, this was written by Man in another time and language.

Try bible gateway. Put in a chapter&verse it will give you various versions, so just two lines have been translated via time and language so many ways.

Personally I think you are as well off studying the bible yourself. Nobody has the answers only God does.

I look to the Bible for guidance
i look to prayer for reflection
I look around to fellow Christians for fellowship

Often in these discussions we talk about believing in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

But prayer is not cosmic ordering or wishes to be granted - prayers are a time to put your concerns and worries to God and often answers to prayers are sometimes not what you are expecting or wanting.

I have a big issue with healing ministries

i have a big issue with healing ministries

And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' 8"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9"Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts,…

Jesus didn't have a problem with healing, why would you?

but prayer is not cosmic ordering or wishes to be granted

and the Life
…12"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14"If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

If God is a loving God, but is going to throw anyone who doesn't believe in him into hell for all eternity, why doesn't he make it absolutely 100% clear that he definitely exists, rather than leaving people to guess. Since there are other explanations for anything people say is proof of God shouldn't He let us know more clearly and undeniably that He is real and clarify His rules where there are questions.

If God is a loving God, but is going to throw anyone who doesn't believe in him into hell for all eternity, why doesn't he make it absolutely 100% clear that he definitely exists, rather than leaving people to guess. Since there are other explanations for anything people say is proof of God shouldn't He let us know more clearly and undeniably that He is real and clarify His rules where there are questions.

headinhands I think that God is unchanging but sometimes Christians (or people who claim to be Christians) have got it very wrong and condoned things like slavery which is something that God Himself has never condoned. I'm not sure where you're getting the idea that God changes his mind from, whether its from the bible or another source. But people unfortunately do change their minds and get things wrong whereas God doesn't.

The Bible doesn't change. There are different translations, sure there need to be because we don't all speak the same language. But the fundamental message is the same. Jesus died for our sins, rising again and conquering death so that we can have eternal life with God. Bible gateway is a great resource and on the whole I don't find looking at different translations weakens my faith in fact I think often it helps to understand passages on a deeper level.

You're right Joan I absolutely need to be reading and studying my people and learning from other Christians, its what I've been doing this evening and do quite a lot but not as often as I should, its a lifelong thing.

Cherry your questions are tricky (which is fine) I don't have all the answers this video and the 'go deeper' section below is really helpful though.

Belinda I think if you wanted to you could still go to Church without believing (theres no-one on the door checking ). And I'm sure that you would find there were other people who weren't quite sure about what they believed either. We're all learning.

I think it can be really difficult for us to forgive other especially when they've deeply hurt us or our family. Remembering that we do things wrong and are in need of forgiveness to can help though and as a Christian I find that praying and asking God to help me forgive helps too.

Its really hard when someone dies and we don't understand why. I think trusting that a loving God will welcome that child into his loving Kingdom free from suffering is important. Suffering is such a tricky issue and I know I've harped on a lot about the Christianity Explored website but I think its videos including the one on suffering are really useful in finding out more about these difficult questions.

Its not that I don't know, its that I don't think I'm always very good at explaining myself and I don't know all the answers! I think that its good to have not just one person's view but the view of people who've really thought about all the areas that need to be covered when answering a particular question and have expressed it in a really clear way.

Its not that I don't know, its that I don't think I'm always very good at explaining myself and I don't know all the answers! I think that its good to have not just one person's view but the view of people who've really thought about all the areas that need to be covered when answering a particular question and have expressed it in a really clear way.

But to try and answer Cherrys question more fully and you can check the bible and or other Christians for verification.

God did once walk on the earth amongst people in the form of Jesus and even then people struggled to believe in him, even some of his closest friends (eg Peter and Thomas) and particularly those who killed him. So even if God was walking around on the earth today there would still be people who would struggle to believe in Him.

I think God does work in ways in people's lives that lead them to be very sure that He exists. So much so that they want to dedicate their lives to working for Him who even so much so that will loose their lives for Him. Recently there have been Christians in Syria who have been asked if they are Christians and when they say 'yes' they are being murdered. I just don't think they'd be saying 'yes' unless they were absolutely sure. Look up Andrew White if you want to know more about these situations (not because I'm fobbing you off with propaganda but because Christianity is so much bigger than what we see in the UK).

But why are not all absolutely sure all of the time? I don't know I'm afraid and I know we don't have to know all the answers, I believe we just have to trust Jesus.

Big, I am not going to bother with this thread either.