The Good News Cafe Forum

[Dichotomy Girl]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I went through hell to become a christian.

I can't comprehend how 'personal attacks' or 'mean people' could cause a person to lose faith in God.

Maybe it's just me? But God brought me out some SERIOUS darkness and 'tribulation'. My faith never did and never will depend on anyone's actions or lack thereof.

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

I have had my faith waiver on many things (people, church, etc), but never God Himself. Though admittedly, if I had gone two decades without having prayer answered as OEFM says I may have a different perspective. I don't want to pile on him.

There but by the grace of God go I.

Originally Posted by CC1

I did not come out of some SERIOUS darkness and "tribulation" as I ws raised in church and a good Christian home but I also can't comprehend how personal attacks or mean people could cause a person to lose faith in God.

Reminds me of how lame I thought it was when I read upon Steve Jobs death that he stopped being a Christian because he could not reconcile the pain and suffering in the world with God. Amazing that someone that smart could be that shallow. There are plenty of folks who could have explained that to him if he had reached out or even done a cursory search on the internet.

I think many times people use outward things as an excuse for an inward issue.

I go to church with a woman who lost her son in Iraq where he served as a Army medic. She has very tough days but the vast majority of the time keeps it all in perspective and always loves God and leans on him for strength in her weakness. I will put her grief up against "mean people" and "personal attacks" any day. The bottom line is that if one lets God's Spirit be the Comforter he said he would be then no matter what comes against us we can find the strength to handle it. It is when we stop turning to God for that strength and look to ourselves that we get bitter and turn against relationship with God.

I will say this....for myself....when I walked away from Christianity (I don't really think of it as walking away as much as putting it all on hold for future closer analysis). I had gotten to a place in my spiritual life, where I realized that either God was a cruel and capricious deity who I had no interest in serving, or that what I had been shown of God, was not an accurate portrayal of his character. (The third choice, of him not existing at all didn't occur to me until later).

So I can understand how experiences in your life can cause you to question, or even firmly decide that god cannot be real. (I've found faith to be a very fragile thing)