down deep inside of him, there is still a longing for the things of the spirit, that is why he still hangs around people who talk about spiritual things.
he knows he lost something along the way and he is somehow trying to recuperate what he lost, but he does not know how.
Yeah, you nailed it. That's exactly it. I lost something (depression, disappointment, despair) and I'm trying to recuperate. I miss those days, when faith didn't do squat, when I wondered what I was doing wrong, when I thought about suicide all the time.
SMH.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Oh, what do I believe? I'm an agnostic. Further, I believe there is nothing after death. And I believe it's hogwash to claim that someone who doesn't believe in God (and that God has told us things) is evil, doesn't love truth, is a fool, etc. Utter hogwash.
I know of some Agnostics that are not sure if there is a God but they also will not say there is no God. They are still trying to figure things out. It's like being on a fence. You don't want to choose what is on the left and you don't want to choose what is on the right because you do not want to choose (or guess as you put it) the wrong side. Do you believe that God exists? That really is the first decision that needs to be made. If you are not sure that God exists then I can understand now why you have a problem with believing that the Bible is God's word and also not believing that God communicates with people and wants to have a relationship with them. You see if the Bible really is God's word and He really does want to have a relationship with us then that means there is someone that we need to be accountable to for the decisions that we make.
Other than calling yourself Agnostic...what do you believe in relation to God and who He is? Do you believe He exists or are you not sure that he exists (in this case are you seeking answers so you can know for sure)? What are your beliefs about Jesus? I'm assuming you do not believe he came to save the lost because if there is no afterlife then why bother? I'm not trying to disrespect you and I am not calling you evil. I really want to know and understand where you are coming from.
My apologies to Houston that this is off topic from the original post.
My apologies to other members if anything I am saying sounds argumentative. That is not my intention.
Yeah, you nailed it. That's exactly it. I lost something (depression, disappointment, despair) and I'm trying to recuperate. I miss those days, when faith didn't do squat, when I wondered what I was doing wrong, when I thought about suicide all the time.
SMH.
Timothy..first of all I am very sorry that something happened that led to all those feelings you experienced. So it appears that you are not really Agnostic.. you lost your faith. There is a difference. I think having faith...keeping faith...is something that we have to decide to do every day. Right now my husband and I are dealing with things that are so horrible that if we did not choose to keep believing God on a daily basis, I could see myself going down into a pit of despair. God does not promise to remove all of our difficulties in our lives.. but he does promise to not give us more than we can handle and that he will give us the strength to get through it. Yesterday I went and paid my property taxes (september 10). If I would not have paid them by the 12th we would have lost our home. I went through months of praying and seeking God that he would work things out. Some days I felt peace and other days I wondered if He was listening to me..so I kept praying. A few days ago my husband's family sent us what we needed to be able to keep our home. Am I grateful to them? absolutely..they are amazing and I am blessed to have them in my life. But I know it is God who deserves the praise for providing. Every day is a struggle since my husband lost his job but each day we choose to believe God will work things out.. each day we choose to do what needs to be done to get through it (looking for work, selling things on ebay if necessary, etc). Faith is a choice. Sometimes it is easy to believe and to be honest some days take a lot more prayer and seeking God to keep that faith. If it was not for my faith in God, I know I would not be able to deal with the stress we are going through. Again I am sorry for whatever you went through to cause you to lose your faith.
So, everyone should dialog with people who believe the same thing they do? Where's the fun in that?
Why not dialog with people of like-minded belief?
You state chatting with Christians is fun? You consider dialoging with Christians fun?
I am sure you have more exciting things to do rather than chatting on a forum with people who oppose your method of belief. What are you trying to accomplish by dialoging with “Christians?” What is it you seek here?
If you are agnostic, you should be on an agnostic forum reaffirming and strengthening your agnostic belief with other agnostic individuals.
Timothy..first of all I am very sorry that something happened that led to all those feelings you experienced. So it appears that you are not really Agnostic.. you lost your faith. There is a difference. I think having faith...keeping faith...is something that we have to decide to do every day. Right now my husband and I are dealing with things that are so horrible that if we did not choose to keep believing God on a daily basis, I could see myself going down into a pit of despair. God does not promise to remove all of our difficulties in our lives.. but he does promise to not give us more than we can handle and that he will give us the strength to get through it. Yesterday I went and paid my property taxes (september 10). If I would not have paid them by the 12th we would have lost our home. I went through months of praying and seeking God that he would work things out. Some days I felt peace and other days I wondered if He was listening to me..so I kept praying. A few days ago my husband's family sent us what we needed to be able to keep our home. Am I grateful to them? absolutely..they are amazing and I am blessed to have them in my life. But I know it is God who deserves the praise for providing. Every day is a struggle since my husband lost his job but each day we choose to believe God will work things out.. each day we choose to do what needs to be done to get through it (looking for work, selling things on ebay if necessary, etc). Faith is a choice. Sometimes it is easy to believe and to be honest some days take a lot more prayer and seeking God to keep that faith. If it was not for my faith in God, I know I would not be able to deal with the stress we are going through. Again I am sorry for whatever you went through to cause you to lose your faith.
__________________ "all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
~Declaration of Independence
we are, all of us, swimming in sin, anyway--American Christians particularly; and God comes to us (all) where we are at. It is easy to look down upon homosexuals in order to make oneself feel superior, and to a spiritually blind person who imagines that they have accepted Christ because they said some words in a church, it is (at best) the primary reason for even mentioning it. Their premises are revealed in this, and they are shown to be false believers.
Tell your friend that Christ does not condemn him, and suggest that he run from any other accusers, as they do not come from God. The answer to "Why is ________ a sin" is to stop dwelling on sin, and seek better things to contemplate. Let satan and his minions in the church seek out sin and accuse; and let God's purpose for yourself (friend) be manifest.
Yeah, you nailed it. That's exactly it. I lost something (depression, disappointment, despair) and I'm trying to recuperate. I miss those days, when faith didn't do squat, when I wondered what I was doing wrong, when I thought about suicide all the time.
SMH.
you never found Christ, Timmy; you found "church." Big diff.
You state chatting with Christians is fun? You consider dialoging with Christians fun?
I am sure you have more exciting things to do rather than chatting on a forum with people who oppose your method of belief. What are you trying to accomplish by dialoging with “Christians?” What is it you seek here?
If you are agnostic, you should be on an agnostic forum reaffirming and strengthening your agnostic belief with other agnostic individuals.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty