Ignorant believer of God needs help to understand further

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Ozmono

Junior Member
#1
Jul 20, 2010
17
1
3
#1
Hello,
I am seeking to understand God and I want some help hence I am posting here. In order to help you will probably need to know a little about me which is fitting for my first post here anyway. So a brief rundown of my history, my beliefs up to now and what I am looking for will follow.


I was raised in Catholic schools but they never rammed it down my throat like many people older than myself would recall from strict Catholic schools. As a child I had no serious independent beliefs that I recall nor did I adhere to any Christian doctrine including Catholicism which I was baptized into. As I got older the question of God started to gain importance to me and since than I have been flirting with Christianity. I have believed in Christ as the incarnation of God at times but they generally didn't last long.


What has been a constant belief for the last few years is that there is a creator to the world and that it loves me. I count myself too fortunate and the world too miraculous too believe anything different. I'm not sure if others received the chances and kind of love that I think I have been blessed with in several ways on atleast several different occasions but that is a different story.


Now with this belief in hand I seek to understand my duties. By that I mean I want to know how I can repay my blessings but I need to understand the origin of them first. That is to say I need to understand God. That brings me to Christianity and subsequently to this forum right here, right now. As I said I grew up at Catholic schools so I know the basic rules. I know the ten commandments or the summarized two that Jesus brang with him. Although I love the ideology to the extent that I am here right now asking Christians for advise rather than people of a different belief I still need advise as to how to proceed.


I have too short attention span to read the bible from start to finish and I'm not sure that would be the best starting point for me anyway. I like Christian music but I don't know any that is very educational. I'm also unsure about what are other good media sources. So with this and everything else that I mentioned in mind how would you recommend I go about learning more about God?

Thanks for reading this and I thank you in advance if you reply to it with advise.
 
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GreenNnice

Guest
#2
#2
Go to pandora.com and set up an account and put in Christian worship songs for praise songs of God, or, put in 'Christian contemporary' for songs that tell stories of Christ. And, that is what I would do, I would do that GreatOz, I would go to place like pandora or youtube or even HEY, I forgot, but, christianchat.com , right HERE, has a christian music forum, go there and soak into the music and words there. Pray first, the Lord leads, God bless you, bro.

Also, I suggest reading the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and, have a halley's bible handbook next to you, too, and, I recommend bible sites online too, again, christianchat.com is a good place, and, here is a bible study too, that can be a good place to ask questions and learn too, think it's tuesday nights usually 6pm PST. :)
 
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GreenNnice

Guest
#3
#3
You are here now, too, so God does draw us to places, you are seeking Him, and, Scripture notes that He chooses us, so, He is choosing you right now, you are at a site on the internet that is a good site, with people that DO disagree in doctrine and things that may make you think lesser of Christians, but, pray about it, because the Lord will lead you to understand what it is He wants you to know through His Word you read and your faith going forth and reading your bible and dedicating more time to positive environments, like christianchat.com and so a little more here, you can PM (private mesage) me if you want to talk about getting to know the Lord more. The peace of putting Christ in your life, my friend, Oz, is joy unspeakable, a feeling that cannot be explained with words but only by power as He will bring you to great and unspeakable good things as you follow (have faith ! ) Him. :)

I pray you read John 3:16 before you go any further, this verse IS 'the gospel,' read it over and over, may He bless you in your searching for Him, seeking Him, with all your heart. Don't worry, you do 'this' and you will find Him :) Jeremiah 29:13
 
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loveme1

Senior Member
#4
Oct 30, 2011
8,083
190
63
#4
Push past the short attention span and read the Bible start to finish my friend.

Some times i would be hooked page for page other times i was unable to stay awake so took some rest.

Enjoy reading the Bible if you feel tired take a rest.

You know when i approached the end i did not want it to end :)

My Spirit had highs and lows... i felt like i had taken the journey with them.

Truly amazing.

Why didn't i read it sooner i thought.. all in good time.









May it enlighten you.
 
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Ariel82

Guest
#5
#5
I would find a Bible study group that is studying the Bible from start to finish and work together with others to read through the Bible. even if you start in the middle it is helpful to have others reading with you. it might take a few years but it would be great.

If you like you can talk to some people on chat about various scriptures and there are alot of online sermons you can listen to. :) I'll send you a pm.
 
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Theophane

Guest
#6
#6
Ozmono:

Reading the Bible cover-to-cover in one sitting is unrealistic for anyone. Read Scripture in 1 year with a reading schedule from biblegateway.com.
 
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Ozmono

Junior Member
#7
Jul 20, 2010
17
1
3
#7
Thanks everyone. I appreciate the advise.
 
homwardbound

homwardbound

Senior Member
#8
Oct 24, 2012
15,023
106
63
#8
just stay with belief and in that no matter where you are led for you will be led as you already are, just seek to learn from any and all occurences in life and you will grow in this new life that you have decided to take on.
 
Tommy4Christ

Tommy4Christ

Banned
#9
Feb 11, 2012
1,358
8
0
#9
Ozmono said:
Hello,
I am seeking to understand God and I want some help hence I am posting here. In order to help you will probably need to know a little about me which is fitting for my first post here anyway. So a brief rundown of my history, my beliefs up to now and what I am looking for will follow.


I was raised in Catholic schools but they never rammed it down my throat like many people older than myself would recall from strict Catholic schools. As a child I had no serious independent beliefs that I recall nor did I adhere to any Christian doctrine including Catholicism which I was baptized into. As I got older the question of God started to gain importance to me and since than I have been flirting with Christianity. I have believed in Christ as the incarnation of God at times but they generally didn't last long.


What has been a constant belief for the last few years is that there is a creator to the world and that it loves me. I count myself too fortunate and the world too miraculous too believe anything different. I'm not sure if others received the chances and kind of love that I think I have been blessed with in several ways on atleast several different occasions but that is a different story.


Now with this belief in hand I seek to understand my duties. By that I mean I want to know how I can repay my blessings but I need to understand the origin of them first. That is to say I need to understand God. That brings me to Christianity and subsequently to this forum right here, right now. As I said I grew up at Catholic schools so I know the basic rules. I know the ten commandments or the summarized two that Jesus brang with him. Although I love the ideology to the extent that I am here right now asking Christians for advise rather than people of a different belief I still need advise as to how to proceed.


I have too short attention span to read the bible from start to finish and I'm not sure that would be the best starting point for me anyway. I like Christian music but I don't know any that is very educational. I'm also unsure about what are other good media sources. So with this and everything else that I mentioned in mind how would you recommend I go about learning more about God?

Thanks for reading this and I thank you in advance if you reply to it with advise.
Click to expand...

Stay out of the organized churches that promote the Billy Graham sinners prayer, and promote original sin, substitution, osas, etc, you need to come clean before God in real repentance and faith, before His word makes any sense to you!

Jas 1:20 For the wrath of man does not work out the righteousness of God.
Jas 1:21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and overflowing of evil, receive in meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Without repentance, and a working faith, your faith isnt real, and dynamic, and you will be led into many false ways!
 
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crossnote

crossnote

Senior Member
#10
Nov 24, 2012
30,706
3,650
113
#10
Ozmono you wrote ''There is a creator to the world and that it loves me''

This is somewhat revealing.The Creator truly loves you but 'it' does not. The Creator is a Personal Being who has blessed you with daily provisions as well as sending His Son to DIE (its don't die) for your sins. His asking in return? Start with thanking Him. See, it's a personal relationship not a religion.
 
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Tintin

Guest
#11
#11
Oz, my advice to you is to find a good audio Bible (there are some free options). First listen to the gospel of John, then the book of Romans. They're an excellent starting point for understanding God and the Christian faith. The Bible is unlike any other book, it may be read from beginning to end (if you can manage that, great. If not, that's normal and nothing to be ashamed of). But you need to aim to eventually read the whole Bible - even if that means listening to several books of the OT, then one of the NT and continuing in that pattern. Take your time, think things through, pray over them, by yourself and with others. Question, discuss, listen some more. Always be open to learning from his Word. There's a lot in there but please don't use the excuse that you have a short-attention span as a reason to not read the Bible. God be with you, fellow Aussie!
 
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Ozmono

Junior Member
#12
Jul 20, 2010
17
1
3
#12
Tommy4Christ said:

Stay out of the organized churches that promote the Billy Graham sinners prayer, and promote original sin, substitution, osas, etc, you need to come clean before God in real repentance and faith, before His word makes any sense to you!

Jas 1:20 For the wrath of man does not work out the righteousness of God.
Jas 1:21 Therefore putting aside all filthiness and overflowing of evil, receive in meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Without repentance, and a working faith, your faith isnt real, and dynamic, and you will be led into many false ways!
Click to expand...
I am willing to accept that I should love my neighbor as myself and that I should love God with all of my heart. I am also willing to accept that I act contrary to these two ideals alot of the time and that I should constantly work on that. What I am not willing to do is to pretend I know who or what God is and what his words are when I don't. Wouldn't I first need to read the words? Now I am willing to try and understand what some people think is Gods word and it is out of respect for Christ and not belief in Christ as my savior that I will attempt to do so with Christians first and foremost.
 
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Ozmono

Junior Member
#13
Jul 20, 2010
17
1
3
#13
crossnote said:
Ozmono you wrote ''There is a creator to the world and that it loves me''

This is somewhat revealing.The Creator truly loves you but 'it' does not. The Creator is a Personal Being who has blessed you with daily provisions as well as sending His Son to DIE (its don't die) for your sins. His asking in return? Start with thanking Him. See, it's a personal relationship not a religion.
Click to expand...
It was intended to be revealing. As I said in my first post and my post above this, I don't know God. I believe in God and that God would know me but to suggest that there is a personal relationship beyond that would be to lie. The relationship is totally one sided and I hope to remedy that by learning about the other member in this relationship.
 
O

Ozmono

Junior Member
#14
Jul 20, 2010
17
1
3
#14
Tintin said:
Oz, my advice to you is to find a good audio Bible (there are some free options). First listen to the gospel of John, then the book of Romans. They're an excellent starting point for understanding God and the Christian faith. The Bible is unlike any other book, it may be read from beginning to end (if you can manage that, great. If not, that's normal and nothing to be ashamed of). But you need to aim to eventually read the whole Bible - even if that means listening to several books of the OT, then one of the NT and continuing in that pattern. Take your time, think things through, pray over them, by yourself and with others. Question, discuss, listen some more. Always be open to learning from his Word. There's a lot in there but please don't use the excuse that you have a short-attention span as a reason to not read the Bible. God be with you, fellow Aussie!
Click to expand...
Thanks, that sounds like good advise. I am trying to start at Genesis at the moment and I will make the effort to push through it as was suggested. I am running into difficulties as I would expect from my limited knowledge of the old testament. The gospels were much more helpful as a starting point so maybe I will read Romans before I start from the beginning to the end. Than again I suppose I could be accused of cherry picking if I did that.
 
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Tintin

Guest
#15
#15
No worries, mate. Cherry-picking is different. It's taking verses and reading them out of context, trying to find meaning without consulting the Holy Spirit. Almost akin to divination (witchcraft). Scary stuff! What you'd be doing (by reading the books in different order isn't cherry-picking. Like I said, try starting with the gospel of John, then the book of Romans. God Bless you in your journey with Him.
 
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Live4Yeshua

Guest
#16
#16
I too come from a Catholic background. Was raised knowing the basics and found myself in a nondenominational christian church. My suggestion is start reading the bible from John. People can tell you who jesus is and what he requires from you but you need to hear it directly from Jesus. If you Go to a person all they're going to tell you is what they've read themselves from the bible. The bible is the #1 source. Why go to the second source when you have access to the first Source? when you do read it pray that the spirit of God guides you through it. Also, I recommend "purpose driven life" by Rick Warren. This book helped me alot and I recommend it all the time.

Blessings Brother and I pray God guides you in Jesus name!
 
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