Certainity

[Ernie]

Hello all
I have considered myself a Christian pretty much my whole life. One of my favorite apologists Michael licona made a video and seems to be wired identical to me. He says he is an obsessive analytical person, he also says for that person(and many others) complete certainity is near impossible. I find my belief in my mind very much more "hope" related then "knowing" related. I do know hope and faith are closely aligned as well. I also struggle with the sides of Christianity that adamantly claim the way they feel is right, while the others are very much wrong, and I think the general opposition is a struggle to me as well because "how do we know"...

I would love to find certainity. Ive dealt with anxiety a large portion of my life and feel if I "knew" for a fact what happened on the other side, a large amount of my anxiety would disappear.

I know the common answer is reading the scriptures, prayer, etc ...but does anyone have any other tips, or am I hopeless in finding that certainity because honestly with my wiring I feel the only way it would come to fruition is if divine intervention happened. Thanks for reading.

 

[Bob]

Thank you for your post and sharing a common anxiety.

Some possibly helpful basics: does it not seem certain the universe had a creator? Does it seem reasonable the creator would love all of His creation, including you? Does it seem reasonable that God‘s will was necessary for the first life on our planet (scientists even now cannot explain how chemistry and just the right environment were sufficient).

Can you think of times when you asked God for help or inspiration, and one or both were supplied? (If not, He is ready to help you, if you will ask.)

Blessings.

 

[MatthewG]

You'll not find certainty in Christianity. It's a faith based admission. There is the aspect of faith, hope and love that encompasses around faith itself. Not much I can really tell you.

Hebrews 11:1-3
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

 

[Matthias]

Hello all
I have considered myself a Christian pretty much my whole life. One of my favorite apologists Michael licona made a video and seems to be wired identical to me. He says he is an obsessive analytical person, he also says for that person(and many others) complete certainity is near impossible. I find my belief in my mind very much more "hope" related then "knowing" related. I do know hope and faith are closely aligned as well. I also struggle with the sides of Christianity that adamantly claim the way they feel is right, while the others are very much wrong, and I think the general opposition is a struggle to me as well because "how do we know"...

I would love to find certainity. Ive dealt with anxiety a large portion of my life and feel if I "knew" for a fact what happened on the other side, a large amount of my anxiety would disappear.

I know the common answer is reading the scriptures, prayer, etc ...but does anyone have any other tips, or am I hopeless in finding that certainity because honestly with my wiring I feel the only way it would come to fruition is if divine intervention happened. Thanks for reading.

Welcome to the forum.

How deep and how wide is the issue for you? Are you certain about anything in Christianity?

What is your occupation? Among other things before I retired, I was a civil engineer - a highly analytical profession. There is a great deal of certainty in engineering but there is also some uncertainty.

 

[marks]

Hello all
I have considered myself a Christian pretty much my whole life. One of my favorite apologists Michael licona made a video and seems to be wired identical to me. He says he is an obsessive analytical person, he also says for that person(and many others) complete certainity is near impossible. I find my belief in my mind very much more "hope" related then "knowing" related. I do know hope and faith are closely aligned as well. I also struggle with the sides of Christianity that adamantly claim the way they feel is right, while the others are very much wrong, and I think the general opposition is a struggle to me as well because "how do we know"...

I would love to find certainity. Ive dealt with anxiety a large portion of my life and feel if I "knew" for a fact what happened on the other side, a large amount of my anxiety would disappear.

I know the common answer is reading the scriptures, prayer, etc ...but does anyone have any other tips, or am I hopeless in finding that certainity because honestly with my wiring I feel the only way it would come to fruition is if divine intervention happened. Thanks for reading.

Hi Ernie,

Are you an "SPS" person?

The Highly Sensitive Person

The Highly Sensitive Person: Books, Information, Self-tests, Events and Research

hsperson.com

Much love!

 

[Ernie]

Hi Ernie,

Are you an "SPS" person?

The Highly Sensitive Person

The Highly Sensitive Person: Books, Information, Self-tests, Events and Research

hsperson.com

Much love

Sensory person? I will have to read about it, and what it entails.

 

[Ernie]

Welcome to the forum.

How deep and how wide is the issue for you? Are you certain about anything in Christianity?

What is your occupation? Among other things before I retired, I was a civil engineer - a highly analytical profession. There is a great deal of certainty in engineering but there is also some uncertainty.

I am somewhat who as said is analytical but also generally a deep thinker and introspective. I would say I contemplate it often especially when in some kind of anxiety season. I remember Michael Licona also saying he can hear something and say that makes sense, but then quickly lose it(I'm paraphrasing)...

 

[marks]

I would love to find certainity. Ive dealt with anxiety a large portion of my life and feel if I "knew" for a fact what happened on the other side, a large amount of my anxiety would disappear.

To answer your question more directly, my initial certainty was derived from fulfilled prophecies. I'd read a lot of books from various religions, philosophies, and the like. I'd read a lot of prophecy. But when I came to the Bible, it's prophecies were detailed and specific, unlike the others. And they have been and are being fulfilled.

Everything the Bible says, I've found to be true. And I have a further certainty now derived from God's presence in my life during some extremely difficult times. I can see from how He works with me that He truly does love me, and is working in me for my good.

Much love!

 

[Matthias]

I am somewhat who as said is analytical but also generally a deep thinker and introspective.

That should produce confidence and a great degree of certainty for a Christian.

I would say I contemplate it often especially when in some kind of anxiety season. I remember Michael Licona also saying he can hear something and say that makes sense, but then quickly lose it(I'm paraphrasing)...

Why are you experienceing seasons of anxiety? Christians should be most confident and certain when the going gets tough. You aren’t facing it alone, nor with your own power. This is the lesson of the martyrs.

 

[Matthias]

@Ernie the prophet Elijah asked the question: “Why do you hesitate between two opinions?”

People often hesitate when they don’t know what is true and what is false; what is right and what is wrong.

You’re a deep thinker. Deep thinkers sometimes experience difficulty making a commitment. It isn’t (or may not be) from lack of information. It’s from lack of confidence - doubt and fear.

 

[Matthias]

I also struggle with the sides of Christianity that adamantly claim the way they feel is right, while the others are very much wrong, and I think the general opposition is a struggle to me as well because "how do we know"...

I think what you’re saying is that the certainty of others which divides them is causing uncertainty in you and you’re not sure how to manage it. Is that an accurate restatement of the issue? If it is, then I think we can look for possible solutions by breaking it into two stages.

 

[Lambano]

I would love to find certainity. Ive dealt with anxiety a large portion of my life and feel if I "knew" for a fact what happened on the other side, a large amount of my anxiety would disappear.

What would it take to say, "Yes, I am certain this is true"? In Thomas's case, it took sticking his fingers in Jesus's crucifixion wounds. For Paul, it took a light from the sky and a booming voice saying, "It's hard for you to kick against the pricks." Is something like that what you're looking for?

If you can't find certainty, can you find TRUST?

 

[Lambano]

 

[Jericho]

I consider myself to be analytical and prone to anxiety as well (overthinking tends to do that). I have opined before about how much of a curse ignorance is and how we are all living in a state of ignorance to some degree (some more than others). All we see is this little slice of reality. I wish I could offer certainties, but few things in life are certain (except death and taxes). God has seen fit that this world of ours should be governed by faith. As such, we just have to choose to accept something on faith or not.

It doesn't sound like you doubt the existence of God or the afterlife but perhaps have anxiety about dying. I can understand that. Even as a believer, I would be lying if I said I'm not afraid of dying. I think it's mostly to do with fear of the unknown. We only see one side of death, but there's another side that can't be seen. I have listened to many NDEs (near-death experiences), and that has brought a degree of comfort (assuming you go to heaven).

 

[marks]

God has seen fit that this world of ours should be governed by faith. As such, we just have to choose to accept something on faith or not.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 KJV
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

God made it that way in particular.

Much love!

 

[Matthias]

“Know what you know, and, knowing it cling to it. Hold fast the form of sound words. Do not be as some are, of doubtful mind, who know nothing, and even dare to say that nothing can be known.” - C.H. Spurgeon

 

[MatthewG]

there is no certainty in Christianity.

we don't know if God exist or not.
We hope so faithfully.

anyone suggesting certainty is there its untrue.

It's more of a reaching out in faith, trusting God to help. The answer to oneself whether you believe God helps you are not, is just up in the air. He does or he doesn't and I do believe he can help by the spirit, if you ask him but that is up to you - to ask him.

 

[Matthias]

“Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.”

(Romans 14:5)

“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them.”

(2 Timothy 3:14)

 

[MatthewG]

“Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.”

(Romans 14:5)

“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them.”

(2 Timothy 3:14)

That doesn't mean I'm certain to go into the heavenly kingdom. I hope so, but if its a probability I don't know. I just hope so.

That is why faith, hope and love are all part of the process. You can quote these passages but they don't help really.

Sorry bud!

 

[MatthewG]

Anyone teaching certainty can be dangerous!

I'm certain if we pray for you your back will be healed!
I'm certain if we pray for you your eye sight will return?
I'm certain if we pray for you and your legs to work right, you will get out that wheel chair!

False.