For all Christians out there, what are the hardest questions that you struggle with

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The mother of all questions:

If God is omniscience why did he create Satan if he knew Satan was going to fall, and then make man fall from grace? Then from there everything just goes down hill.

I mean... we could've avoided all this if He just didn't create Satan. So... why?

No one knows why God let the Fall happen. It’s something we won’t know until we get to heaven

To me that’s such a cop out. So much of Christianity requires blind faith. I just am not prepared to take core tenets of my religion on blind faith, especially when the primary text (the Bible) preaches so much hatred and intolerance. Not for me.

Not having the answers to things that are impossible to know about the complexity of God is not blind faith. You don’t need to have blind faith to understand the tenets of Christianity. The Bible doesn’t teach hate or intolerance, it teaches truth. And for some people it hurts, and they don’t want to accept it, not because they don’t believe it, but because it means that they can’t just do anything they feel like doing.

What the Bible says not to do isn’t intolerance. It’s a warning. If you want to disregard those warnings, then someday you will suffer the consequences for it. We don’t want people to suffer those consequences, that’s why we warn people in the first place

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just want to hear if anyone has something about Christianity or the Bible that they don’t get or confuses them

How did some random folks a couple thousand years ago managed to somehow write stuff we still discuss today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m having trouble forgiving

Yet there are things in my life I would like to forget and feel as though I’ve been forgiven

Anything that you regret can be forgiven by God. The first step is always to admit what you’ve done. This is the hardest part. But after that comes healing and the burden you carry will be lifted.

It is hard for us to forgive others, sometimes is seems so counterintuitive to forgive those who’ve wronged us. But like how you want to be forgiven, others do too and forgiveness is the only way we can resolve conflicts and have peace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to hear if anyone has something about Christianity or the Bible that they don’t get or confuses them

How did some random folks a couple thousand years ago managed to somehow write stuff we still discuss today?

God inspired the writers of the Bible, even though most didn’t know each other and never met each other. But all of what the writers wrote forms a coherent message that is called the Bible.

Because I believe the Bible is truth, we still discuss it and it is still practical, even though it was written thousands of years ago. The Bible itself declares that it cannot be destroyed and it’s message is everlasting. That’s why it’s been around for so long, even through all the attempts in history to destroy it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We are all born with a sin nature and suffer because of it, but there’s a reason for it. God uses it as a trial for us. Sin is always a choice, you can give in to your desires or not. Young boys from a REALLY early age may feel like their gay. But young boys also feel the desire to lie, cheat, fight other kids, and do other bad things. I would never blame a boy for feeling like he’s gay. Never. I would simply explain when they are old enough about how we are all tempted. No one’s born gay and doesn’t have a choice, but EVERYONE is born with a sin nature that wants to do bad things. It’s always our choice though. And we should never make fun of or shame or tease people who say they are gay wrong. That’s is very wrong.

I would simply tell him he's wrong about his sexual orientation; that it's against biblical authority and if he engages in homosexual acts, he will burn in hell for eternity. As a Christin, I owe it to him.

You know, I want nothing to do with a god who would create gay human beings and then tell them that they have to repress their sexuality and forbid them from ever having a true love relationship based on their desires. That sounds absolutely malicious and cruel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to hear if anyone has something about Christianity or the Bible that they don’t get or confuses them

How did some random folks a couple thousand years ago managed to somehow write stuff we still discuss today?

God inspired the writers of the Bible, even though most didn’t know each other and never met each other. But all of what the writers wrote forms a coherent message that is called the Bible.

Because I believe the Bible is truth, we still discuss it and it is still practical, even though it was written thousands of years ago. The Bible itself declares that it cannot be destroyed and it’s message is everlasting. That’s why it’s been around for so long, even through all the attempts in history to destroy it.

How do you know that the translations you are reading the bible in are actually conveying the exact same thing that was written in the original Hebrew and Aramaic? How do you know that the texts on the very first scrolls, which no longer today exist, didn't get changed over the course of the centuries as they were transcribed by one scribe after the next (like in the game of telephone)? The oldest texts in existence are only 2000 years old, so essentially from the time of Jesus, well after any of the Old Testament stuff happened. The oldest text from the Gospels dates to the 2nd century AD, so well after Jesus died. I don't get the blind following of texts that you haven't actually read in the original language. Translation can really get things wrong.

And why do you think that the old sacred texts that have been rejected from the biblical canon weren't also inspired by God? What about the Book of Enoch? What about the Gnostic Gospels? What about the book of Tobit or the other 6 Old Testament books accepted by Catholics but rejected by Protestants? Who gets to decide what is sacred?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to hear if anyone has something about Christianity or the Bible that they don’t get or confuses them

How did some random folks a couple thousand years ago managed to somehow write stuff we still discuss today?

God inspired the writers of the Bible, even though most didn’t know each other and never met each other. But all of what the writers wrote forms a coherent message that is called the Bible.

Because I believe the Bible is truth, we still discuss it and it is still practical, even though it was written thousands of years ago. The Bible itself declares that it cannot be destroyed and it’s message is everlasting. That’s why it’s been around for so long, even through all the attempts in history to destroy it.

How do you know that the translations you are reading the bible in are actually conveying the exact same thing that was written in the original Hebrew and Aramaic? How do you know that the texts on the very first scrolls, which no longer today exist, didn't get changed over the course of the centuries as they were transcribed by one scribe after the next (like in the game of telephone)? The oldest texts in existence are only 2000 years old, so essentially from the time of Jesus, well after any of the Old Testament stuff happened. The oldest text from the Gospels dates to the 2nd century AD, so well after Jesus died. I don't get the blind following of texts that you haven't actually read in the original language. Translation can really get things wrong.

And why do you think that the old sacred texts that have been rejected from the biblical canon weren't also inspired by God? What about the Book of Enoch? What about the Gnostic Gospels? What about the book of Tobit or the other 6 Old Testament books accepted by Catholics but rejected by Protestants? Who gets to decide what is sacred?

Lots of good questions. The stock Christian reply is "faith."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We are all born with a sin nature and suffer because of it, but there’s a reason for it. God uses it as a trial for us. Sin is always a choice, you can give in to your desires or not. Young boys from a REALLY early age may feel like their gay. But young boys also feel the desire to lie, cheat, fight other kids, and do other bad things. I would never blame a boy for feeling like he’s gay. Never. I would simply explain when they are old enough about how we are all tempted. No one’s born gay and doesn’t have a choice, but EVERYONE is born with a sin nature that wants to do bad things. It’s always our choice though. And we should never make fun of or shame or tease people who say they are gay wrong. That’s is very wrong.

I would simply tell him he's wrong about his sexual orientation; that it's against biblical authority and if he engages in homosexual acts, he will burn in hell for eternity. As a Christin, I owe it to him.

So I guess you are sinless so you can throw stones. I think you should be more reflective about judging people who are actually hurting people like Brock Turner. Brock Turner deserved to be condemned. This is why I am wondering where I fit as a Christian since harassing people who are in consensual adult relationships is not my thing.

If the Christian God would subject someone to the torture of burning in hell for eternity for not believing in him or being gay, it's not a God whom I would want to worship. I have to believe if there is a God out there, he's not a sadistic psychopath.

It’s not about being gay, it’s about sin

-Everyone has sinned. For example, everyone has told a lie at one point in their life. That’s sin
-Sin has a price, it’s called hell
-God doesn’t want anyone to go to hell, but he can’t just ignore your sin
-He sent Jesus to die on the cross, TO PAY FOR OUR SINS.
-ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS JUST ACCEPT HIS PAYMENT. It’ll take like two minutes. That’s it. Place your faith in Jesus and your set.
-You have no more sin debt so you don’t have to go to hell.

Homosexuality is a sin. Sin gets you hell. Jesus paid the price. Just accept it is all you have to do.

People are always complaining about why God sends people to hell, but they just totally ignore the part about how God will save you. Just accept the payment. If God was really a sadistic psychopath he wouldn’t have created a way for us to get to heaven in the first place.

well that worked out well didn't it because the next day after Jesus's death the world went on sinning. And has continued to do so ever since. This relates directly to the OP's question: how in the heck did Jesus's death "pay for our sins?" Never has made a lick of sense to me.

[Anonymous]

I struggle with the whole idea of miracles.

Why does God only cure certain types of disease (cancer for example) but never grows back a limb that was amputated? It's not like He couldn't do it. After all, there are animals out there that regenerate legs and tails that get cut off. It's almost like He's making a joke out of it that He would do it for an animal but not a human.

I guess I always just get bothered by people who attribute their loved one's recovery from cancer to a miracle of God when so many other types of affliction never receive a miracle that wipes them away. Like what about curing someone with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's? I know Jesus healed the blind in the Bible but that kind of miracle never seems to be performed anymore, only tumors vanishing.

So, that doesn't make sense to me. I'd rather believe in no miracles than to think God was picking and choosing like that.

[Anonymous]

I struggle with the fact that God keeps open wombs of murderesses instead of closing their wombs permanently. But than I am reminded that this life is a test and that they are being tested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why people quote the Old Testament. Jesus clearly came to get rid of the hateful teachings of the old testament.

Also how can people still quote Leviticus about homosexuality and eat shrimp.

Jesus came to fulfill the law, not get rid of it entirely. We still obey the 10 Commandemnts. That’s OT Mosaic Law. 1 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” ALL Scripture has a purpose.

Here is how a Jesus fulfilled the OT law:
-He removed the need for a physical temple, our bodies are the temple of God
-He became our intercessor to God, before people took their sins to the priest.
-He corrected the Jews’ wrong interpretation of an”eye for an eye”
-and there’s more but you get the gist of it

We aren’t bound by the OT law though because we are not a theocracy like Israel was. That’s why we don’t burn witches or homosexual people. But witchcraft and homosexuality are still wrong, that didn’t change with Jesus.

Leviticus was for the tribe of Levi. They were the priests. They had special rules for them that didn’t apply to anyone else. We don’t and have never been equired to follow those rules.

The OT still has a purpose even though we are not bound by it anymore. But we shouldn’t ignore what it says. Hope this helps.

Just more confusing.

Catholics still have churches and have confession.

You seem to pick and choose.. witchcraft and homosexuality wrong, shrimp good. What is that all about?

How is it Jesus embrassed thevsinber but Christian's cast them out.

I think you are more confused than me.

Simple answer: We read and quote the OT because it’s part of the Bible. Read the verse given above.

But you only quote the parts that serve your own interest and ignore the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We are all born with a sin nature and suffer because of it, but there’s a reason for it. God uses it as a trial for us. Sin is always a choice, you can give in to your desires or not. Young boys from a REALLY early age may feel like their gay. But young boys also feel the desire to lie, cheat, fight other kids, and do other bad things. I would never blame a boy for feeling like he’s gay. Never. I would simply explain when they are old enough about how we are all tempted. No one’s born gay and doesn’t have a choice, but EVERYONE is born with a sin nature that wants to do bad things. It’s always our choice though. And we should never make fun of or shame or tease people who say they are gay wrong. That’s is very wrong.

I would simply tell him he's wrong about his sexual orientation; that it's against biblical authority and if he engages in homosexual acts, he will burn in hell for eternity. As a Christin, I owe it to him.

You know, I want nothing to do with a god who would create gay human beings and then tell them that they have to repress their sexuality and forbid them from ever having a true love relationship based on their desires. That sounds absolutely malicious and cruel.

Like I said before, God doesn’t create gay people. I don’t know how many times I have to emphasize this. PEOPLE ARE BORN WITH A SIN NATURE. This sin nature tempts everyone to do sinful things. But we a choice whether to give in or not. In Christianity we call this the conflict between your flesh and your spirit. Your spirit wants to do good, but your flesh is weak and gives in easy. God doesn’t want us to repress our sexuality, but to enjoy it. It just had to be done in the right way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I struggle with the whole idea of miracles.

Why does God only cure certain types of disease (cancer for example) but never grows back a limb that was amputated? It's not like He couldn't do it. After all, there are animals out there that regenerate legs and tails that get cut off. It's almost like He's making a joke out of it that He would do it for an animal but not a human.

I guess I always just get bothered by people who attribute their loved one's recovery from cancer to a miracle of God when so many other types of affliction never receive a miracle that wipes them away. Like what about curing someone with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's? I know Jesus healed the blind in the Bible but that kind of miracle never seems to be performed anymore, only tumors vanishing.

So, that doesn't make sense to me. I'd rather believe in no miracles than to think God was picking and choosing like that.

Jesus couldn’t perform miracles in some towns because the people didn’t have enough faith. Part of the reason we don’t see miracles today like in Jesus’ day is because most people simply don’t believe in the power of the Holy Spirit anymore.

As for why God heals certain people are not others, it’s probably because He has a different plan for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just want to hear if anyone has something about Christianity or the Bible that they don’t get or confuses them

How did some random folks a couple thousand years ago managed to somehow write stuff we still discuss today?

God inspired the writers of the Bible, even though most didn’t know each other and never met each other. But all of what the writers wrote forms a coherent message that is called the Bible.

Because I believe the Bible is truth, we still discuss it and it is still practical, even though it was written thousands of years ago. The Bible itself declares that it cannot be destroyed and it’s message is everlasting. That’s why it’s been around for so long, even through all the attempts in history to destroy it.

How do you know that the translations you are reading the bible in are actually conveying the exact same thing that was written in the original Hebrew and Aramaic? How do you know that the texts on the very first scrolls, which no longer today exist, didn't get changed over the course of the centuries as they were transcribed by one scribe after the next (like in the game of telephone)? The oldest texts in existence are only 2000 years old, so essentially from the time of Jesus, well after any of the Old Testament stuff happened. The oldest text from the Gospels dates to the 2nd century AD, so well after Jesus died. I don't get the blind following of texts that you haven't actually read in the original language. Translation can really get things wrong.

And why do you think that the old sacred texts that have been rejected from the biblical canon weren't also inspired by God? What about the Book of Enoch? What about the Gnostic Gospels? What about the book of Tobit or the other 6 Old Testament books accepted by Catholics but rejected by Protestants? Who gets to decide what is sacred?

I read several different translations of a verse to get a good understanding of what the verse is trying to say. It’s good to consider different interpretations. And while each translation is different, the main themes are usually the same. Of course, there are some crap versions out there.

I don’t believe the Apocraphya should be in the Bible, because they contradict what’s already in the Bible. I don’t believe they’re inspired. I really wanted to, especially with the Book of Enoch. But I think that those books can still contain a lot of truth with some false ideas mixed in, that’s why I consider what is already canon as the supreme authority and always be cautious when reading the apocryphal texts. The Catholic Church rejects what was decided by the early church councils who put together the earliest 66 book Bible, that’s why they use the Apocrophya

[Anonymous]

^and if you believe in an all-powerful God, then I believe he can preserve his Word throughout history. So I don’t worry too much about translational errors, I trust in God’s handling. It’s pretty much a faith thing and I know a lot of people have a problem with that, but that’s the best answer I got