Faith Struggle

[ExplorerDave]

I was raised in a Christian Home and was a Christian most of my life, but I also struggled with it for many years. 

One area I struggled with I am positive people here will identify with. I struggled greatly with a faith that taught God created all and loves all, yet most of humanity would burn in hell forever due to this loving God's wrath at them not believing in him, with no chance whatsoever of redemption.  For years I tried to love this god due to fear of burning in Hell myself if I didn't but I finally gave up fooling myself because I knew if God was all knowing he knew I just couldn't love the god I perceived him to be.  I could fear such a god but I couldn't love such a god.

A friend turned me onto Universal Christianity (UC), here I found a message that I quickly embraced with joy.  But that didn't last very long. 

The primary reason for that is that virtually every UC web site I came across held steadfastly to Biblical inherency. That I have a real hard time with.  Even just looking at UC's vs. other Christians all who claim the Bible is inherent yet believe it says very different things, without even looking at clear Biblical contradictions, etc.

I wrote a few years ago that I don't believe that God even wants the Bible to be viewed literally.  Why? Because when people take the Bible (or any spiritual book) too literally they tend to live by the letter rather than the Spirit.  Literal religion of all faiths, not just Christian, have brought and supported much evil and rigid thinking to the world in the name of God.  I still believe that, but I'm not really sure anymore what else I believe.

I'm not exactly sure how I went from believing that the Bible was not literal but WAS inspired by God, to questioning the whole idea of God period.  I know it had a lot to do with the suffering and injustice I see in the world, much of it caused by religion, and questioning how a loving God could allow that.   

I miss the comfort of believing in a personal loving God, but I'm not really sure I can embrace that anymore.

[WhiteWings]

Hi Dave,

I hope your exploration on this forum is fruitful  :thumbsup:

[shawn]

Good to have you here.  I think we all relate, and personally I have experienced everything you are talking about.  I remember being skeptical of questioning the translations.  But, I also remember my spirit instantly receiving UR and I just wept when I heard it.  Our God had revealed his nature to me but doctrine squashed it as a young Christian.  I could only ignore the obvious issues with ET for so long.  But, it wasn't long after when I began to question, but my mind got in the way.  And I really studied it out. 

Most UR's believe in the inerrancy of the scriptures in the original languages.  If the translations are also inspired, which one is inspired?  Depending on which one you pick up you can come up with different conclusions on a wide variety of topics.  A good place to start is with hell...gehenna, tartaroo, sheol, and hades.  Kolasis is another great place to start.  I think each person should look for themselves.  But, ultimately even from the english translations there is significant and strong scripture against ET doctrine.

Read around, many good discussions.  Glad you decided to join. 

[Molly]

We are living in an evil age.  The fact that you can recognize that means you are His,

Galatians 1:4
who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,


:welcome:

[Quaesitor]

Hi Dave,

I've been struggling a lot too over the years and I think I can say that I've reached a point of rest like never before when I decided it was time to destroy my theological house that had been built over the years by other men and build a new one from scratch.
The foundation must be Christ, Jesus Christ, too much christians have built their doctrinal houses on pillars of wood: hell, fear, need to please or not displease God, laws and rules, etc.

Jesus is the rock, the cornerstone, you can destroy the whole house and just keep your foundation and be well and nice. If certain parts of a doctrinal house cannot be destroyed without the whole falling, then your foundation is no Jesus Christ.

And I like where you are because that is exactly what is being done, you doubt everything and that's the way to destroy the house. Now get the foundation well in place and start building your house yourself, taken precious care to question all tools and materials so that they are all of the best quality.

Take different bible versions and read, study for yourself with the greek and hebrew, comparing what was said in the law and prophets about certain subject.
EX: We take for granted that gnashing of teeth is about suffering because that's what we've been told but comparing with all the other instances, we soon understand that it is a sign of deadly anger against someone.

Anyway, my advice, build your own house and you won't need to be ashamed before God that you've let other men build you a ruined house.

Peace

:HeartThrob:

[Miriam]

I think many if not all here can relate to what you say. Good to have you here, Dave.  :bigGrin: