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I tried asking my questions in the chat section but it was hard to keep up with all responses so I figured I'd make a topic here in the forum. Let me just say here at the beginning that any questions I have are just questions, not debate. Some people see me asking questions as me attempting to get them to question their faith and that is in no way what I'm doing. I'm just looking for guidance and advice from people who know the Bible better than I do, that's all. With that said, here is my story and questions...
My girlfriend and I recently broke up. She is a very good christian (which I encourage) and I have different beliefs. We had been together for a long time and I thought she would be the person I would spend the rest of my life with.
I have always believed the universe is a beautiful place that God created. I have tried to be the best person I can be morally and attempt to spread happiness into others lives. I'm not trying to justify my actions the way Job had justified himself instead of God, but I just wanted to give you some background into the kind of person I am. I believe God has blessed me for being a righteous person with good health, a great job, and what I had thought to be the girl of my dreams. Anything beyond this basic foundation of beliefs is where I begin to have a lack of faith.
I read the Bible but have a hard time having faith in it. It's not that I don't want to believe, I would love to have the certainty my ex-girlfriend has. People sometimes tell me "you just have to have faith and everything will be made clear". I have tried very hard to do this. But it always seems a much as I want to believe everything in the Bible is true, I always know deep down I am not fully accepting some of the things I've read. I don't enjoy or take pride in my questioning, it is just naturally in my heart.
People sometimes ask me, "what is it about the Bible that you question?". Well, there is a lot. I truly believe the universe is 13.5 billion years old and that was the point in time of God's creation. At least this is what the redshift of the galaxies seems to suggest. I believe that from that point in time everything was set in motion to create the Earth and all of the beauty of the universe to this day (like I said I am not trying to debate about this, I am only stating what is in my heart whether I like it or not). Believing this doesn't make me question the existence of God, yet strengthens my belief there is a God because of the complexity and beauty I see throughout the design. Throughout the history of the Earth, mankind has had many massively accepted religions ranging from the God's of ancient Greece to modern Christianity. Is it okay to question whether the Christian religion is yet another created amongst the thousands we have seen throughout the centuries? Those are the type of questions that weaken my faith in the Bible, but not in the belief that there is a gracious providing God.
My girlfriend had a hard time dealing with my lack of faith. I understand this. I have been doing some research online about what people think about Christians dating non-Christians and I quickly see that it is very one-sided in her defense for the amount of people who back her up on that decision. One verse I see over and over regarding this issue is 2 Corinthians 6:14-18:
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
I interpret this verse differently than some do. I believe this does not apply to relationships or marriage, because Paul had offered his advice on this issue since he said the Lord had not. Therefore, if the Lord directly had not advised this situation, does that not mean that 2 Corinthians 6:14 can not apply in terms of relationships or marriage? I believe the above verse is more specifically separating one self from the non-believers sin and not the person in general. "For what fellowship hath the righteousness with the unrighteousness?" The righteous according to Deut 6:25:
25 For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.’
If I obey these commandments of the Lord, even though I sometimes question, does that not make me righteous in the eyes of God?
Paul's writing on the matter of a Christian/non-Christian relationship is given in 1 Corinthians 7:13-16:
13 And if a Christian woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him. 14 For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy. 15 (But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the Christian husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.) 16 Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?
It seems here not only okay to have a relationship with a Christian/non-Christian but almost encouraged. "Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?" What better could come of a situation than your husband/wife becoming saved through your faith?
Sorry for such a long post on this issue, I know it's a lot of reading. I just had those questions and wanted to hear some guidance/advice from some of you on these verses. What are your opinions? Also personal advice is welcome. I've never cared for anyone like I care about my girlfriend who felt obligated by faith to break it off. We love each other but God comes first in her life, which I encourage. He also comes first in mine;however, it is not the same interpretation of God. I would never tempt her faith or have her question what she believes in, but I think that is what she is afraid of. Should I continue to pursue her or do my best to move on from the situation?
Thanks in advance for your help guys...
My girlfriend and I recently broke up. She is a very good christian (which I encourage) and I have different beliefs. We had been together for a long time and I thought she would be the person I would spend the rest of my life with.
I have always believed the universe is a beautiful place that God created. I have tried to be the best person I can be morally and attempt to spread happiness into others lives. I'm not trying to justify my actions the way Job had justified himself instead of God, but I just wanted to give you some background into the kind of person I am. I believe God has blessed me for being a righteous person with good health, a great job, and what I had thought to be the girl of my dreams. Anything beyond this basic foundation of beliefs is where I begin to have a lack of faith.
I read the Bible but have a hard time having faith in it. It's not that I don't want to believe, I would love to have the certainty my ex-girlfriend has. People sometimes tell me "you just have to have faith and everything will be made clear". I have tried very hard to do this. But it always seems a much as I want to believe everything in the Bible is true, I always know deep down I am not fully accepting some of the things I've read. I don't enjoy or take pride in my questioning, it is just naturally in my heart.
People sometimes ask me, "what is it about the Bible that you question?". Well, there is a lot. I truly believe the universe is 13.5 billion years old and that was the point in time of God's creation. At least this is what the redshift of the galaxies seems to suggest. I believe that from that point in time everything was set in motion to create the Earth and all of the beauty of the universe to this day (like I said I am not trying to debate about this, I am only stating what is in my heart whether I like it or not). Believing this doesn't make me question the existence of God, yet strengthens my belief there is a God because of the complexity and beauty I see throughout the design. Throughout the history of the Earth, mankind has had many massively accepted religions ranging from the God's of ancient Greece to modern Christianity. Is it okay to question whether the Christian religion is yet another created amongst the thousands we have seen throughout the centuries? Those are the type of questions that weaken my faith in the Bible, but not in the belief that there is a gracious providing God.
My girlfriend had a hard time dealing with my lack of faith. I understand this. I have been doing some research online about what people think about Christians dating non-Christians and I quickly see that it is very one-sided in her defense for the amount of people who back her up on that decision. One verse I see over and over regarding this issue is 2 Corinthians 6:14-18:
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
I interpret this verse differently than some do. I believe this does not apply to relationships or marriage, because Paul had offered his advice on this issue since he said the Lord had not. Therefore, if the Lord directly had not advised this situation, does that not mean that 2 Corinthians 6:14 can not apply in terms of relationships or marriage? I believe the above verse is more specifically separating one self from the non-believers sin and not the person in general. "For what fellowship hath the righteousness with the unrighteousness?" The righteous according to Deut 6:25:
25 For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.’
If I obey these commandments of the Lord, even though I sometimes question, does that not make me righteous in the eyes of God?
Paul's writing on the matter of a Christian/non-Christian relationship is given in 1 Corinthians 7:13-16:
13 And if a Christian woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him. 14 For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy. 15 (But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the Christian husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.) 16 Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?
It seems here not only okay to have a relationship with a Christian/non-Christian but almost encouraged. "Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?" What better could come of a situation than your husband/wife becoming saved through your faith?
Sorry for such a long post on this issue, I know it's a lot of reading. I just had those questions and wanted to hear some guidance/advice from some of you on these verses. What are your opinions? Also personal advice is welcome. I've never cared for anyone like I care about my girlfriend who felt obligated by faith to break it off. We love each other but God comes first in her life, which I encourage. He also comes first in mine;however, it is not the same interpretation of God. I would never tempt her faith or have her question what she believes in, but I think that is what she is afraid of. Should I continue to pursue her or do my best to move on from the situation?
Thanks in advance for your help guys...