Belief, trust, and loyalty towards God, Jesus, and the Christian religion.
-4
votes
0answers
35 views
How is Paul's hypothetical case in 1 Cor 15 (If the dead be not raised) intended to be understood? [closed]
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul famously writes:
1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also ...
0
votes
1answer
56 views
Do any major traditions have documented ways of dealing with self-doubt?
Many religions claim to be the only true religion, including most branches of Christianity. Among the major Christian traditions, are there any documented statements of faith that include the ...
10
votes
11answers
455 views
Why is faith so much more important than being a good person?
I recently had a debate with one of my friends in which he asked "Why would a good and just God not make salvation dependent on ethics, but rather on gullibility, as the Christian God has?" and I ...
10
votes
5answers
302 views
Why do Christians appeal to personal gain and inducing fear when attempting to “convert” people?
I have many times witnessed christians trying to convince or convert atheists or people of other religions to christianity as well as all sorts of arguments and quarrels regarding christianity. I'm ...
7
votes
3answers
118 views
“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani”?
In all Christian bibles the translators wrote this verse in the same language and translated it. ( Maybe its Hebrew which Í don't know) but why only Mark 15 vrs 34 in the whole, is it because when ...
3
votes
3answers
93 views
Do I Belong to Christianity? [closed]
I've recently started doing bible study with a good friend (a devoted Christian). I started at first out of curiosity about what Christianity really is about. However, as the study went on (half way ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
Is guessing a way to God? [closed]
If I 'guess' that there is a God and live accordingly, could I be considered a true believer? Can faith only be revealed? Is believing not a form of guessing?
6
votes
3answers
111 views
Reading “Mere Christianity” and having a hard time with book III, chapter 12
I am reading "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis and just finished Chapter 12 in the 3rd section. In this chapter he is discussing the idea that we need to realize we cannot fight sin ourselves, but we ...
0
votes
1answer
135 views
Is faith in The Holy Trinity a choice or a gift?
In the past and up till now, the majority of humans have believed in some form of deity. Now assume out of all those deities, only the The Holy Trinity is the only true God:
And this is eternal ...
10
votes
7answers
322 views
Good person going to hell simply for not believing?
The scenario is as follows:
Believer, average life, many mistakes/sins. Asks forgiveness and tries everyday to be better. Goes to heaven.
Non-believer, better life than the believer, fewer mistakes ...
4
votes
2answers
252 views
C.S. Lewis's petitionary prayer paradox
The problem i am submitting to you arises not about prayer in general but only about that kind of prayer which consists of request or petition.... I have no answer to my problem, though I have taken ...
0
votes
3answers
125 views
What in Christian faith lies behind subject of science? [closed]
Specifically:
Some Christians say that their faith is the source of moral values, but this is a subject of ethics.
Some say it is personal relationship with God, but personal relationship is a ...
6
votes
1answer
158 views
How did Pascal reconcile his wager with 2 Corinthians 9:7 and Psalms 50?
I'm not asking about a justification or an attack on Pascal's Wager.
I'm just curious how/if Blaise Pascal, being an intelligent and analytical fellow, reconciled his famous gambit with 2 Corinthians ...
3
votes
1answer
187 views
What does it mean for a priest 'to lose faith'?
In some movies, often comedies but sometimes not, they show a priest who is experiencing certain troubles/suffering because he 'has lost his faith'. It is possible, in the course of the movie, that ...
10
votes
4answers
292 views
Was Jesus' power limited relative to the belief of others?
Mark 6 4-6:
4 Then Jesus said to them, “People everywhere give honor to a prophet,
except in his own town, with his own people, or in his home.” 5 Jesus
was not able to do any miracles ...
-1
votes
2answers
94 views
Three Views on Salvation, Faith, and Works [closed]
Are the following three interpretations correct?
Salvation by Works:
You claim Jesus is Savior + Lord. Then you do works. When your works hit a certain level, you are saved.
Salvation by Faith:
...
2
votes
4answers
119 views
Should we have realistic unbelief? [closed]
Jesus makes it pretty clear that because of our unbelief we will not see miracles in our life (see below).
However, psychological experts warn against the dangers of unrealistic expectations.
See ...
7
votes
3answers
264 views
When Jesus gave Peter his name (rock) what is the significance that he then said upon a ‘different’ kind of rock he would build his church?
When Peter made his famous confession, Jesus responded by saying:
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (NIV ...
5
votes
3answers
143 views
Dying for Christ
Matthew 16:25
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and ...
5
votes
4answers
147 views
From whom does faith come?
I've heard both of these claims, and they seem to have irreconcilable differences:
God does his part (the call/invitation), now you do yours (respond in faith)
God not only gave his son for you, but ...
14
votes
8answers
843 views
Why has God never spoken to me?
I was born and raised in the Catholic religion. In the beginning I was, as far as I can judge, a good Christian.
But I never felt any connection to God while praying. It was like talking to myself. ...
6
votes
4answers
368 views
How do you explain the Christian Message to people who have no Christian vocabulary or context?
Original Question: Is it possible to give some brief description of Christian faith to non-believing listeners without exposing them to context requiring faith?
If yes, can you provide one? Any term ...
8
votes
7answers
494 views
Who are “Born again” Christians?
"Born again" is a term most often attributed to Christians. Yet what exactly does it mean, and what does the the use of the term encompass?
What is a "born again" Christian?
Are they of a specific ...
6
votes
2answers
178 views
Troubled people showing interest in reading the Bible: how to explain to them that faith is a lifestyle and not an “ATM”?
I get that often. I meet a lot of people who have some sort of troubles in their life and they show interest in reading the Bible to heal themselves.
However, the majority of these people just ...
0
votes
1answer
101 views
What's the source of “I can only give what I have”?
Right now, I'm reading When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson. I just came across this sentence: "If I am filled with anxiety in any given situation, it becomes hard for me to release ...
6
votes
3answers
172 views
Calvinist Regeneration, Interpreting Colossians 2:12
I am convinced that the scriptures teach of a God who is completely sovereign in salvation. I am a monergist. I can cite several passages that make me think this way. I think if you look at some of my ...
4
votes
2answers
121 views
Vacillating passion for Christ
Throughout a person's life they might experience some incredible highs in their relationship with Christ. They might receive answers to prayers and/or a bounty of unexpected blessings. A person might ...
2
votes
1answer
126 views
Open my eyes so I may see
2 Kings 6:15-17 (KJV)
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, ...
4
votes
2answers
126 views
How to contemplate without the urge to have to comprehend
What makes people feel they have to figure it all out? How can someone strengthen their spirituality through contemplation while avoiding a desire to try to understand everything?
2
votes
0answers
101 views
Are there any studies on why some doubters quit faith and others double-down on it? [closed]
Every person comes to moments when they question what they believe. For me, I was born into a fundamentalist Christian home, came to doubt that worldview, and after lots of soul searching and ...
2
votes
4answers
225 views
Christian Position on the meaning of Faith
We are told, 'The just (upright) shall live by faith.' So I have a question for the Christians here. How do you understand faith? This does not have to be strictly biblical (since the scripture does ...
4
votes
4answers
263 views
How should a Christian feel inside? [closed]
What does the Bible say about how a Christian should feel inside?
Should it be:
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world
giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be ...
5
votes
5answers
979 views
How should a Christian put a decision in God's hands if there is no logical answer?
Lets say a Christian is in a position where he must make a hard decision (assume it has to either be a yes or no by a deadline) and each one has it's negatives (more negatives than positives) how ...
8
votes
4answers
349 views
What is saving faith?
A common soteriological view among Evangelical Christians (such as myself) is that we are saved by grace, through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, this belief is usually accompanied by a ...
2
votes
2answers
216 views
Does Christianity solve personal problems?
If I pray and truly believe God will turn around a personal problem, does Christianity support that will help solve the issue?
Example:
What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye ...
4
votes
3answers
421 views
How do I have self confidence, self esteem and work hard if I am a true Christian?
In church we learn to not lean on ourselves. We learn we can do nothing with our own power. That we must completely let go of control and let God. That everything that happens is from God and that we ...
2
votes
1answer
260 views
How can we apply relying on Jesus in situations where it appears we have to rely on ourselves?
I ask the question for a real reason. I would like to make more money to support my family and live in better conditions. I feel I have to rely on myself to go back to school, work hard and then get a ...
3
votes
3answers
189 views
Is there a christian perspective on the matter of “delusion”?
What I mean by this is, in other communities of people, there may be certain ways to measure a delusion. An atheist may define it differently than a theist. The official DSM has a specific way to ...
9
votes
6answers
179 views
Could more miraculous works bring more persons to faith?
There are those who say that if they saw the miracles that happens in the time of Moses, or the disciples they would surely have faith.
What are the Biblical reasons for miracle? Is it to create ...
7
votes
3answers
221 views
Is belief a work into salvation?
Is the placing of one's faith in Christ for salvation, a work? - Can I produce faith on my own?
How does the Bible answer that question?
1
vote
1answer
120 views
Does God need/demand humans' faith for them to be saved? If so, why?
According to soteriologies (e.g. Arminianism) that require humans to make a decision to come to God, why is that the case? What does God gain from faith?
Put another way, why does he require a ...
7
votes
5answers
838 views
“How do I get more faith?” - how to understand Jesus' answer?
The question, "How do I get more faith?" has been posted here. When I read it, my mind went to the time the disciples and Jesus had a similar dialogue:
Luke 17:5-6
The apostles said to the ...
2
votes
2answers
274 views
Faith without reason? [closed]
Many people claim that religion is just the unwarranted belief in things without evidence or reason, or that faith is antithetical to reason. If we do believe in God based on evidence, what would be ...
12
votes
5answers
520 views
How is love greater than faith?
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Sola-fide states that faith alone brings salvation. In this oft-quoted ...
12
votes
7answers
469 views
Is there a significant difference between salvation by faith with works and salvation by faith and works?
I used to think that sola fide meant salvation by faith irrespective of works. Then I started reading about it and realized it means salvation by faith with works.
Works are necessary for ...
8
votes
2answers
162 views
How do “Sola Fide” adherents reconcile with the three aspects of faith?
Historical Protestantism (particularly in the Lutheran and Reformed traditions) have since the Magisterial Reformation held to two doctrines relating what is required of an individual for salvation.
...
10
votes
2answers
179 views
When do we as Christians draw the line on self-defense?
At what line do Christians stop at self defense? Take a look here:
Matthew 5:39
But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
...
10
votes
4answers
330 views
Can you be Christian while wishing death upon another?
As an American on 9/11 I wanted death to come to all who planned or contributed to the attacks. As a Christian, I felt conflicted. Should I be feeling this anger? Am I right in thinking that Osama bin ...
10
votes
5answers
581 views
What does it mean to be “weak in faith”?
There have been some questions and answers which discuss the strength of one's faith such as Why do OEC discount the literal interpretation of the book of Genesis?
There is also a question which asks ...
3
votes
0answers
116 views
Are more “extreme” Christians actually weaker in faith? [closed]
From my past experiences I've noticed a trend that, the more faith or belief a person has (or say they have) in their religion, the quicker they are to get angry when people challenge their beliefs. ...
