I'm in a period of my life where I'm seeking the truth. I believe I found that in Christianity and I've been reading a lot in the bible lately.
I've always had a lot of scepticism and critical Questions regarding the Christian faith and me and my dad have had countless of discussions on the matter.
But I've reached to the point where those questions don't matter any more, at least to the point where I can find peace.

I have a few questions that I was hoping some would take the time to explain.

Holy Trinity- The father, son and holy spirit.
This is really hard for me to understand even though I read about it and discussed it with my dad.
They all have the same will and goals? Are they like three personalities of God? Do they all come from One divine thing, that shows itself in these three forms? When I pray, who should I worship? etc.
My Muslim friends believe Christian worship 3 Gods and think of Christianity as a polytheistic religion. It was hard for me to try and explain them the true meaning of God as One.

Salvation
Is that only through Jesus that we are saved? Muslims, Jehovah witnesses and other cults believe that they get the blessing of God by doing good deeds etc. So good human beings like.. Gandhi cannot find he's way to heaven?
I'm beginning to understand the concept of Jesus and his death. That God had foreseen the fall from the very beginning and planned the sacrifice of Jesus to save us.
But when I'm talking to friends about this their question is always, ''So what you're saying is, I'm going to hell because I don't necessarily believe in Jesus? And that is just hard to admit and does it have to be that way?

Catholicism
Catholics worship God. But they prey to saints for guidance and help in their personal life. Is this wrong, and what exactly is the difference between Catholicism and Christianity. Are Catholics saved?

Question regarding laws to follow.
I understand the reason for intimacy to be between married people. Because of Love. That we shouldn't be controlled by lust and desire.
But the bible also states that women shouldn't be teaching the Gospels? No? And a couple other things that we in our modern society has moved away from because of new ethical principles.
So is intimacy between two people that love each other 'okay'? Lately I've rejected women that showed interest in me, because I knew what would happen. And since I didn't love them or wanted a relationship going on I was aware that was the right choice.
But what if I'm in love with somebody and she loves me back? When lust and desire is not the part that controls me but feelings and love towards the other?

That's the questions I have for now. I hope someone would take their time to explain a few things and maybe bring up some good bible verses that is inspiring

-Mathias

This post was edited by LazyDazy on Dec 10 2014 02:24pm

I forgot to mention homosexuality. The message I get form the bible is that we should be respectful to each other, be loving and caring, and just be an good example.
Is homosexuality necessarily a sin? And like sex before marriage perhaps an ethical part of the society of the time? Family was everything doing that time, and the father needed a son to bring the family forward for generation and generation.
Doing the time it was okay to have more than one wife, nowadays it's not. Things change, so I question these things.
I believe that huge part of the bible is inspired by God who tells us how to live, but could there be a lot of it that is inspired by man and the society?

Also just to bring up some of my old scepticism: It's hard to unite Christian theology together with modern science. How literate should I take the bible? I researched that the Greek word for 'day' can also be translated to period.
So instead of ''God created the world in 7 days'' it could be in 7 periods, which allows a much wider time line for the whole creation. Adam and Eve before they sinned lived an eternal life with God in the Garden of Eden, so they could have wandered for millions of years before their first sin?
The story/myth about Noah, should it be taken as literate as it seems that the whole world was flooded? Or perhaps just the area they lived at? I hear that there's many similar myths about floods in the area fx the Babylonian one.

And once again, I hope someone can clear up my mind a bit.

This post was edited by LazyDazy on Dec 10 2014 03:10pm

I skimmed through a bit.....

First of all, not all "christians" are saved... and "churches" are of man, not of GOD, they are corrupt and untruthful. The real church, is the body and bride of christ (true believers).
2nd, pray to the son or the father. NOT the holy spirit it speaks against that in the bible
Third, yes... Salvation comes through Jesus, and not of ourselves, it is a gift. NOT of works (like the catholics believe), lest any man should boast


here's another good verse

For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.



The bible talks about "the elect" "chosen" "ordained"... it's not up to us to be saved or not, it's up to GODs/Jesus's will.. Who THEY chose. None of this "accepting Jesus into your heart bullcrap"




I was saved when I was 17, (born again: of the spirit of GOD)... as far as ur holy trinity question, it's a hard question to explain, but if ye be born again, you will understand it


When I was 17, I begged GOD to forgive me of my sins and to save me and to do his will.... and I was praying along with the verses I was reading at the time for understanding etc (the gospels)... So GOD saved me....but mmm Good luck!
also... I've met only a small handful of true believers (those who are saved) in real life... not very many

Holy Trinity-
It is true that the word Trinity is never used in the Bible, but the three parts of the Trinity are mentioned separately, and sometimes together, and it was a widely accepted doctrine in the first church.
The best analogy I've heard used to explain the Trinity is that of sunlight. You have the sun itself (the Father) which is the source. Then you have the light which the sun produces, by which you can see the sun. This represents Jesus, for it is by him that we can see the Father. Third you have the warmth felt by the sun. This represents the Spirit, because we feel the Spirit, it guides us from within. All three of these things are the sun, but they are the different purposes which the sun serves. In the same way each part of the Trinity is God, just each serving a different purpose.

Salvation-
Yes it is only through Jesus' sacrifice and the grace of God that we are saved. John 14:6 "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
It is difficult to accept this as it does mean those who do not accept that grace and live by God's word are not going to heaven. All you can do is pray for your friends, love them, and continue to reach out to them, and trust God to work in their hearts.

Catholicism-
Catholics believe a lot of things that are not in the Bible, it is not up to me to say whether or not they are saved, it is up to God. Although some of the things they teach, do, and believe conflict with what I believe the Bible says about salvation.

Question regarding laws to follow-
Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
Jesus explicitly teaches against impurity and immorality, as well as numerous other things. Regardless of the "changing of the times" we are to follow Jesus' words, as they will never pass away. This means that unless it is a marriage union, we as Christians are to abstain from sex, or "intimacy" as you put it.

Paul does state that women are not to teach or hold authority over men. You're right in saying that we as a society have moved away from this, but I believe that churches which allow women in pastoral roles are wrong to do so, as it goes against the Bible. This does not mean that I believe women are inept or incapable of teaching, but that I believe Paul had a reason for saying this. I believe that God made men and women to have different roles, and to be good at different things. This does not mean that men are better than women, indeed we need them, and the church needs them. We each have a part to play in the body of Christ.



1 Corinthians 12:12-31

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.



Romans 12:3-8

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.



Homosexuality is a sin, Paul says so in 1 Corinthians 6. I don't believe gay people should be discriminated against in any way, as we all have sins that we struggle with, but a practicing homosexual can no more be a Christian than a man who practices sex before marriage, or a man who practices drunkenness, etc. Belief in Jesus is not enough to be considered a Christian, as ferf said, "not all 'Christians' are saved.".

Jesus said in John 15:13-14

13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

Jesus laid down his life for his friends, and his friends are those who do what he commanded. Meaning only those who strive to follow his commands are covered by the blood of Christ.

As far as how literally you should take the Bible, there are definitely parts of the Bible which are poetic and not meant to have doctrine based on them. I personally do not believe that God created the earth in 7 literal days. When you look at it like this the Bible and modern-day science can live together in harmony. Although there are definitely certain scientific theories which I do not believe to be altogether correct either.

Also the word "day" in Genesis would have originally been written in Hebrew, not Greek. The Hebrew word used is yowm, and could also be considered a period of time.
Here is a good resource to use if you want to research the Hebrew/Greek. http://www.blueletterbible.org/

As far as Noah, "the whole earth" could be considered the known/inhabited world. It doesn't really make sense to think that the entire globe was flooded, although I'm not going to put anything past God.

Hopefully this has been helpful, feel free to PM me if you have any other questions!

This post was edited by DiS505 on Dec 11 2014 09:58am

I had a response to this, my browser crashed so I will try again:
"the elect" "chosen" "ordained"... Everyone is the elect and chosen right? But it's up to each person to accept this gift and say yes?
I'm probably not born again then, since I have so many unanswered questions etc. But I am inspired lately to take actions in my life. I do drink alcohol, in fact almost every weekend. But is this indeed an sinful act if I'm capable to control myself and behave?
I do pray and talk to God that he may guide me and tell me truthful acts from wrong. So I hope that I will one day be strong enough to make the right decisions in life. And I'm trying to understand which one is and not.
But what about the thief that died with Jesus? Didn't Jesus tell him he was coming with him into paradise? He had lived a sinful life and done bad things, but in the last movement he showed faith? But you're saying faith alone is not good enough, that we have to live an absolute pure life in order to be saved?
What If I have good conversation regarding the Christian faith when I'm at bars and together with my friends when we drink? I just.. Have many hard decisions to make by the sound of it if I'm ever going to get saved and be a true believer. But can't you be a true believer and still have trouble making the right decisions? But my acts such as drinking and questioning sex with someone you love is making me the opposite of a true believer?



I do have this stressful feeling inside me. Like I'm not doing exactly what I wish I would do. So that might be the Holy Spirit trying to tell me that I'm in going in a wrong path? Or just some natural thing going on? I'm trying to ask God for guidance almost everyday and I have changed my way of thinking quite a lot lately, but there's also some things that's holding me back. Like drinking alcohol with friends, and not being capable of doing enough for other people.

Question regarding laws to follow- Does Jesus warn against sex before marriage as an impurity? I've come to accept and understand that hooking up with some girl I just met in a bar is wrong. That would be my lust and desire for sex that would take control of my actions. But what if love is the reason? Love inspired actions is what I'm trying to do and I question the sex before marriage part as an old ethical law of that time. We shouldn't be eating meat with blood in it as well if we were to follow the bible right? Or fat? And we would have to sacrifice the fat to God as well? And the reason Paul says these things about women and what not, are you sure that's not because of the time alone he lived that was the ethical reason behind?
Would having sex with someone I love and one who loves me back be such an sinful act, that any chance of forgiveness is forever gone?

I just got to the point where I thought love inspired actions and doing good for others were the most important part.

But thanks a lot for response, it gives a new perspective to my thinking. And I hope to find the truth and live a life that I can be proud of and hopefully have forgiveness for all my sins.

It's a new journey for me, so I have much to learn and I have faith that my relation to God will mature over time.

-Mathias

This post was edited by LazyDazy on Dec 11 2014 04:18pm

it's a gift to whom he chooses to give it to, it's not our choice to "accept" it....

And what are the criteria for receiving this gift? Seems kinda unfair that only some are the few selected, no?

From this site: http://njministries.org/1TrueTest/true_test_part1.html



You guys make it sound like to be a true believer, to be saved, you must live the perfect life. While others seem to think that believing in Jesus as our saviour with all of our heart is enough? Even with all of our personal struggles in our private lives.
So a homosexual who truly believe in Jesus as our saviour, can't be saved? From what I understand, nothing except faith alone in Jesus as our saviour saves us. Or am I totally wrong? 1 Sin is enough to set us a part from God, but Jesus took away all of our sins.
But not all sins?

This post was edited by LazyDazy on Dec 12 2014 02:31am

Anyone can be saved.... as far as being perfect:

also:

We should thrive to be perfec through GOD, but no1 will be perfect... perfect is talking about maturing, coming closer to GOD, farther away from sin.


also as far as believing being enough:






So, it's not b/c you are perfect that you are saved... Only thru GOD can you be saved, not of works lest any man should boast... not of yourselves, it is a gift... For those who are chosen.... and again, like I said, anyone can be saved..... although with being saved comes repentance and if not repentance punishment.

"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

I see this different (not the "only who'se the receiver of Jesus's mercy/compassion will XY").. I rather see this as a basic law - we have to give mercy to whom we want to give mercy, and not to whom earns mercy. We have to give compassion to whomever, and not to those who are worthy. BECAUSE, if only those people received mercy or compassion that are worthy - NOONE would receive any compassion or mercy at all who really needs it.

Those who are WORTHY, don't NEED it.

Those who are UNWORTHY, they need it.

Compassion is not something that you give to someone being "worthy", it is a CHOICE you make - not depentend on the receiver, but only on the giver - because the very act of giving mercy and compassion IS the key.

If you'd only give mercy and compassion to those who are worthy - i tell you, noone would ever receive it. Compassion and mercy is not for the receiver, its for the gifter. It's not that I or Jesus gives you mercy and compassion and you are healed/free'd/safed or whatever. It's open up yourself to anyone, and compassion and mercy is the intrument to do that.

If I forgive someone, that changes ME, and not the one I have forgiven. Same with mercy, compassion etc.

I think many things in christianity are misunderstood (and in church anyway). E.g. that Jesus or God is a form of authority (this misunderstanding actually made the institution "church" even possible).

What Jesus imo. points onto is that possibilities within EVERY one of us, not just himself. He is the gate and he shows the keys for it. Now it's up to everyone to do the same.

"Heaven on earth" is in my book a society made by human beings who've utilized, maxed out all their potential (as Jesus did).

Now believing that Jesus was the only human being capable of this or anything else (compassion, mercy, having these visions, having connection to God while for most God is only an IDEA, a CONCEPT - when they say "God is one", then how can WE SEPERATE OURSELVES as "christians, hindus.." or "americans, africans, europeans"... when WE are god and GOD is us, since GOD is ONE and everything?".

You know we can play around with abstract WORDS (who are in core death without the correct associated meaning), disregarding the ACTUAL thing it points to.

Christians use words to point to god. So does every other Religion. Even Buddhismus points to that "all is one".

We better move away from the words themselves and move over to the actual thing it points to - I believe this is what Jesus wanted us to do.. and not only him, really.

And
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."

Faith is ONLY worth something, if the things you BELIEVE in (which is not knowing, which is theory, which is ideas, which are words and not the actual thing, which is the description but not the DESCRIBED) actually make you want to FIND OUT.

FAITH is only a spring-board, it's not the final destination. To say "I've found my faith in Jesus or God" or whatever is like saying "I've ACCEPTED anything without knowing". It's the same as all richards dawkings who "believe" in "no god", in "evolution".. FAITH is only GOOD if it encourages FINDING OUT, which will transform faith logically.

Faith can be as distructive as it can be healthy. Healthy faith is "trust", but only trusting without anything else is blind belief, and this is the most destructive thing in the world. Blind belief is most destructive, no matter what you blindly believe.

Peace all.

This post was edited by TheeWanderer on Dec 25 2014 05:15am