Agnostic at heart

[aspen]

I tend to believe prophecies in the Bible are often written about events that are impending or have already happened - most apocalyptic writing is. The purpose of writing them is to give meaning to the event.

 

[FatalMoves]

I tend to believe prophecies in the Bible are often written about events that are impending or have already happened - most apocalyptic writing is. The purpose of writing them is to give meaning to the event.

What do you think about revelation, it has been picked to pieces for 2000 years and no ones come close to decoding it.

Maybe revelation is one possible future.

 

[aspen]

What do you think about revelation, it has been picked to pieces for 2000 years and no ones come close to decoding it.

Maybe revelation is one possible future.

The book?

 

[FatalMoves]

The book?

Yeah I think.

 

[aspen]

Yeah I think.

I think most of the book describes events that happened during the time of the early church. The tribulation happened during the reign of Nero (666) and we are now waiting for the return of Christ

 

[quietthinker]

Goodbyes are different now.

That one really got me. I’m scared and really don’t know what to say.

When you know Jesus, you know. There's no guess work or fear. There is the inner abiding peace that I am known by name.

My journey has not always been like this. At one point which lasted years I drifted ever so slowly away and didn't recognise it. It manifested in sin and sin is addictive. Sin begets more sin. I justified it all, never thinking that I had abandoned God, in fact, I thought I was on the right track but that inner peace was not there.

Sin will blind the best intentioned person, thats me. Relationship with God requires I come clean from a heart level. God is there when I am serious about getting sin out of my life. We have the history of Israel as witness and example.

 

[bbyrd009]

Who?

Well, imo anyone who ignores accusations against them?
not meaning to make a comment on "heresy" there, bc I don't know...does being flip qualify? Prolly

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Victory am I reading your post correctly? Are you struggling with your faith? I would like to talk with you about it

Yes. I’m struggling...mostly offended. I’m not comfortable with saying those broken and crying out, seeking God when they are at their lowest ...and they say God never answered...writing it off as He answered me in my brokenness. That seems like believing in a God that had compassion on one and not another. Or watching someone pray for family members and then seeing the wreckage of those family members left behind once that prayer warrior dies.

1 Corinthians 14:23-25
[23] If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? [24] But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: [25] And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

“...and report that God is in you of a truth.” Haven’t seen that happen.

 

[bbyrd009]

That's hard to say since most of our moral ideas are belief based, and impressed on us by our parents and society. There may be no objective morality, especially if we are constantly learning and evolving.

What you bless will be blessed, and what you curse will be cursed, iow?

 

[bbyrd009]

Yes. I’m struggling...mostly offended. I’m not comfortable with saying those broken and crying out, seeking God when they are at their lowest ...and they say God never answered...writing it off as He answered me in my brokenness. That seems like believing in a God that had compassion on one and not another. Or watching someone pray for family members and then seeing the wreackage of those family members left behind once that prayer warrior dies.

1 Corinthians 14:23-25
[23] If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? [24] But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: [25] And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

“...and report that God is in you of a truth.” Haven’t seen that happen.

i haven't read any of those, but I have before, and imo generally speaking God answered them load and clear, but it just wasn't the answer they were looking for

 

[bbyrd009]

“...and report that God is in you of a truth.” Haven’t seen that happen

Ha well how often have you seen someone unlearned immersed in a room full of prophets? Which I seriously doubt conform to our group definition of them, btw. So I bet you prolly have seen this, just not the scenario that that initially suggests to our minds. Iow it is 14:24 that we really don't have an analog for, right?

I have one, but prolly better to leave that pool clear for now I guess. Actually another has just come to mind that might serve, involving me with a "bad idea" about how to restore an engine making my idea known to a room full of mechanics lol. So iow I would look for more practical applications that maybe don't quite adhere to our literal definitions of say "sin" or even "prophesy."

Now one might easily argue that this was not in a "congregation" or church, and I could even agree, at least until we start examining the spiritual components of the transaction imo, and we learn that these guys were friends, not trying to make a profit, just giving honest reflections from their experience, and making quite accurate "prophecies" that likely kept me from blowing my motor up.

Imo most objections to this interp will fall under "not religious enough," essentially

 

[bbyrd009]

What do you think about revelation, it has been picked to pieces for 2000 years and no ones come close to decoding it.

Maybe revelation is one possible future.

I think most of the book describes events that happened during the time of the early church. The tribulation happened during the reign of Nero (666) and we are now waiting for the return of Christ

Fwiw where Christ is revealed becomes ones guide to how to read the Revelation imo, or iow the Revelation is a guide to what will happen in your walk, you can even gauge where you are by putting yourself in one of the "seven churches," and etc. You might also consider the state of "the Church" in your nation, for instance ours has likely "forgotten its first love," generally speaking

 

[bbyrd009]

We have the history of Israel as witness and example.

Hmm, seems like an anti-example?

 

[FatalMoves]

What you bless will be blessed, and what you curse will be cursed, iow?

 

[Nancy]

Was convinced it is God’s masterpiece.

It IS God's masterpiece Vic. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10
You are doing fine as long as your eyes are on Jesus. Don't allow Satan to steal any more of your joy...it is Satan who places doubt into the Christians thoughts...always with questions..."Did God really say..."?
Believe what God says about you, pray and watch Him work!
God Bless sister,
-nancy

 

[FatalMoves]

It IS God's masterpiece Vic. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10
You are doing fine as long as your eyes are on Jesus. Don't allow Satan to steal any more of your joy...it is Satan who places doubt into the Christians thoughts...always with questions..."Did God really say..."?
Believe what God says about you, pray and watch Him work!
God Bless sister,
-nancy

I could never get my head around why the God of the Bible needed our love and praise, and be complete in the same sense. Why does he need anything from us. If it is for him in some way then he lacks something. If it is for us, then is that not a bit selfish.

 

[quietthinker]

Yes. I’m struggling...mostly offended. I’m not comfortable with saying those broken and crying out, seeking God when they are at their lowest ...and they say God never answered...writing it off as He answered me in my brokenness. That seems like believing in a God that had compassion on one and not another. Or watching someone pray for family members and then seeing the wreckage of those family members left behind once that prayer warrior dies.

1 Corinthians 14:23-25
[23] If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? [24] But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: [25] And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

“...and report that God is in you of a truth.” Haven’t seen that happen.

I have found that there is more than meets the eye or what people let out about themselves. Human nature will justify itself as a matter of default. It will put itself in the best light possible particularly when that means omission or skewing of information is in their interest to appear vulnerable or having been dealt the short end of the stick. It is devious to the max and from an observers position of watching myself and hearing others I can testify that a truthful man/woman is a rarity.

God does not abandon a sincere seeker. Any report/testimony that claims abandonment by God has only told you a portion of their story the thrust of which makes them appear innocent of wrong doing. This is the lie.....it is not that God promises and doesn't deliver.

 

[aspen]

I have a spiritual director who helps me sort through doubt, depth, prayer, direction....I find her to be quite helpful.

 

[FatalMoves]

I have a spiritual director who helps me sort through doubt, depth, prayer, direction....I find her to be quite helpful.

I used to have one too, I called her my spirit mother. She died of a stroke before her family.

 

[ScottA]

I have never known if God is real or not, and I've never had an encounter with the great divine. I've tried my best to believe in Jesus years ago, but I never got closer to answering that question. I've read the bible many times, but still I have found nothing that proves or disproves God.

If you were born into a large room where no one had ever been outside or seen outside, no one inside could prove the existence of God, not scientists, not scholars, no one. In this same way the only way anyone can have proof or knowledge of God's existence, is if the information comes from the outside in (so to speak). That is what the Bible is. It is a written record and the witness of many who have heard directly from God, who know for certain of His existence.

I am such a witness.

We either hear their report and witness and believe it, or we do not. If we do, God then decides whether or not to add to that person the same personal encounter, or not. But rest assured, just as you have read, He esteems those who have not seen but believe greater than those whom have seen.

The real question though, is not whether or not there is a God. But rather, am I merely organic, or eternal? If eternal...then it is best to get to know Him by all means.