Really struggling with doubt

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S

SuperPleb

New member
#1
Jul 7, 2020
7
3
3
#1
Hi all,

I'm new here, but I would appreciate prayer because I've really been struggling with doubt over the last few weeks. It's been brought on by reading things from Bart Ehrman and the like. Any wisdom appreciated.

Please pray that I trust in Jesus, and don't walk from him who has been so good to me. Please pray that he reminds me he is there all the time and I trust in Him.
 
Mattathias

Mattathias

Banned
#2
Jun 6, 2020
399
41
28
#2
SuperPleb said:
Hi all,

I'm new here, but I would appreciate prayer because I've really been struggling with doubt over the last few weeks. It's been brought on by reading things from Bart Ehrman and the like. Any wisdom appreciated.

Please pray that I trust in Jesus, and don't walk from him who has been so good to me. Please pray that he reminds me he is there all the time and I trust in Him.
Click to expand...
I will pray for you.

As for wisdom, I once purchased a book online from a Jewish bookseller. When the book arrived, there was a yellow Post-it note attached inside the front cover. The bookseller had written a personal note to me. The note read, “As with everything you read, eat the meat and spit out the bones.”

I’ve read Ehrman. I’ve found in his writing some things which strengthened my faith, some things which didn’t.

My advice: Put Ehrman “and the like” down for a while. Pick up the Bible and read it daily. Your faith will be strengthened. You can always wrestle with Ehrman “and the like” later.
 
Bingo

Bingo

Well-known member
#3
Feb 9, 2019
9,219
4,755
113
#3
"I pray you and many others use extreme caution in what you read and
hear from the intellectual community, being reminded that for the sake of
recognition and money, untold deception is spewed from many. Is there no
wonder that there is so much confusion and bewilderment. Let us pray to
understand that many are called, few are chosen. I pray your doubt is reinforced
by spiritual truth, and not by intellectual imagination and illusions. Not knowing
what you have read, but just for you to know that I hope you use caution, as the
world can be an unfriendly place of much deception."
'Praise God'

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SuperPleb

New member
#4
Jul 7, 2020
7
3
3
#4
Mattathias said:
I will pray for you.

As for wisdom, I once purchased a book online from a Jewish bookseller. When the book arrived, there was a yellow Post-it note attached inside the front cover. The bookseller had written a personal note to me. The note read, “As with everything you read, eat the meat and spit out the bones.”

I’ve read Ehrman. I’ve found in his writing some things which strengthened my faith, some things which didn’t.

My advice: Put Ehrman “and the like” down for a while. Pick up the Bible and read it daily. Your faith will be strengthened. You can always wrestle with Ehrman “and the like” later.
Click to expand...
Thank you!
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#6
Jul 3, 2015
60,182
29,486
113
#6
Bart Ehrman is an atheist who specializes in tearing down Christianity. Why would you read anything he writes?
 
S

SuperPleb

New member
#7
Jul 7, 2020
7
3
3
#7
Bingo said:
"I pray you and many others use extreme caution in what you read and
hear from the intellectual community, being reminded that for the sake of
recognition and money, untold deception is spewed from many. Is there no
wonder that there is so much confusion and bewilderment. Let us pray to
understand that many are called, few are chosen. I pray your doubt is reinforced
by spiritual truth, and not by intellectual imagination and illusions. Not knowing
what you have read, but just for you to know that I hope you use caution, as the
world can be an unfriendly place of much deception."
'Praise God'

View attachment 218718 View attachment 218719
Click to expand...
Thank you. I think I thought I could pretty much conclusively prove the Christian faith, but discovered that isn't the case. But that's because God doesn't want to prove his existence in the way a scientist would as he wants to leave room for faith. Perhaps he only wants to be known by those who truly seek Him?
 
S

SuperPleb

New member
#8
Jul 7, 2020
7
3
3
#8
Magenta said:
Bart Ehrman is an atheist who specializes in tearing down Christianity. Why would you read anything he writes?
Click to expand...
Honestly? Because I wanted to be objective and honest and consider all sides of the argument.
 
Roughsoul1991

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
#9
Sep 17, 2016
8,855
4,507
113
#9
SuperPleb said:
Hi all,

I'm new here, but I would appreciate prayer because I've really been struggling with doubt over the last few weeks. It's been brought on by reading things from Bart Ehrman and the like. Any wisdom appreciated.

Please pray that I trust in Jesus, and don't walk from him who has been so good to me. Please pray that he reminds me he is there all the time and I trust in Him.
Click to expand...
Ehrman has said nothing new that hasn't been answered or explained. There are many apologist and scholars who have spoken against his works. Gary Habermas being a leading scholar to do so. If you study the agnostic or atheists claims then you must counter research those claims.
 
S

SuperPleb

New member
#10
Jul 7, 2020
7
3
3
#10
Roughsoul1991 said:
Ehrman has said nothing new that hasn't been answered or explained. There are many apologist and scholars who have spoken against his works. Gary Habermas being a leading scholar to do so. If you study the agnostic or atheists claims then you must counter research those claims.
Click to expand...
Yes, thank you. I think I have a tendency to run away with thoughts and idea quite quickly.
 
Roughsoul1991

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
#11
Sep 17, 2016
8,855
4,507
113
#11
SuperPleb said:
Yes, thank you. I think I have a tendency to run away with thoughts and idea quite quickly.
Click to expand...
Your only human. We have a tendency for emotions to grip us before we actually think logically through the thoughts or counter research the thoughts.
 
PennEd

PennEd

Senior Member
#12
Apr 22, 2013
13,584
9,104
113
#12
SuperPleb said:
Honestly? Because I wanted to be objective and honest and consider all sides of the argument.
Click to expand...
What argument? You are either born again or you are not.

Do you know the Gospel unto Salvation?
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#13
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,974
113
#13
Penn,
are you all still in touch with Lynn and John??? is your 'church' still ministering to them and do you
know how they are getting along???
would love to hear a blessed witness of you and your 'church' taking care of their many needs that
were expressed many months ago???
 
levi85

levi85

Senior Member
#14
Jul 2, 2013
8,578
2,182
113
#14
Lord bless, SuperPleb, and this prayer request, Lord help SuperPleb, to abide in you, and bless SuperPleb's faith upon you, to remain strong. Lord bless this prayer request, inJesus loving name, Amen!
 
PennEd

PennEd

Senior Member
#15
Apr 22, 2013
13,584
9,104
113
#15
oldethennew said:
Penn,
are you all still in touch with Lynn and John??? is your 'church' still ministering to them and do you
know how they are getting along???
would love to hear a blessed witness of you and your 'church' taking care of their many needs that
were expressed many months ago???
Click to expand...
Thank you for asking.

I have been in touch with Lynn several times over the past couple of yrs. Her and John are doing relatively well, all things considered in these troubling times.

Quick story to GLORIFY GOD, not any man. This is always a tricky feat to talk about this stuff and not have your OWN ego stroked. I'm just relaying this to show how awesome, and faithful our God is, and since you asked.

So as you may know, our men's group did some work on Lynn's house 3 + yrs ago. We were able to not only help her and John, but said prayers with a bunch of her neighbors. All were blessed, and Spiritually uplifted by helping Brothers and Sisters in the Lord.

A few yrs after that, Lynn sent me an email that her father had passed away, and she came into a small inheritance. She wanted to donate $1000 to our group. At first, we were like, NO! we don't want any money. Then we thought, who were WE to deny someone an opportunity to Bless others?

So we used some of it on various smaller projects. The remainder we added to funds we collected to send as food aid to brothers and sisters abroad we knew of that needed it.

Just to see how the Lord continually blesses, I recently told Lynn about it, and I believe it Spiritually refreshed her as well. Blessing to you as well.
 
S

SuperPleb

New member
#16
Jul 7, 2020
7
3
3
#16
Thank you all for your support and prayers, it really does mean a huge amount. I think by God's grace I am coming out of this doubt. Pray for my continued relationship with Him. Thank you so much.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#17
Jul 3, 2015
60,182
29,486
113
#17
SuperPleb said:
Honestly? Because I wanted to be objective and honest and consider all sides of the argument.
Click to expand...
Do you not know/understand your own self as a lost person well enough?
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#18
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,974
113
#18
PennEd said:
Thank you for asking.

I have been in touch with Lynn several times over the past couple of yrs. Her and John are doing relatively well, all things considered in these troubling times.

Quick story to GLORIFY GOD, not any man. This is always a tricky feat to talk about this stuff and not have your OWN ego stroked. I'm just relaying this to show how awesome, and faithful our God is, and since you asked.

So as you may know, our men's group did some work on Lynn's house 3 + yrs ago. We were able to not only help her and John, but said prayers with a bunch of her neighbors. All were blessed, and Spiritually uplifted by helping Brothers and Sisters in the Lord.

A few yrs after that, Lynn sent me an email that her father had passed away, and she came into a small inheritance. She wanted to donate $1000 to our group. At first, we were like, NO! we don't want any money. Then we thought, who were WE to deny someone an opportunity to Bless others?

So we used some of it on various smaller projects. The remainder we added to funds we collected to send as food aid to brothers and sisters abroad we knew of that needed it.

Just to see how the Lord continually blesses, I recently told Lynn about it, and I believe it Spiritually refreshed her as well. Blessing to you as well.
Click to expand...
============================
it's nice to hear Penn that they 'donated' their own personal $$$ - how fitting for Lynn and John!!!
what I was wondering about was had you all, your church', continued to go to their house and FINISH
what you all knew had to be done for their 'comfort and well-being in their house and put it in
God's Holy Order in order for them to be at 'peace' and not have to 'worry' about tomorrow???
you will never know how much hub and I LOVE you ALL for 'stepping-up', without expecting
any reward - what a blessed 'lesson' for the masses of 'christians' that YOU have set an example for...
 
Billyd

Billyd

Senior Member
#19
May 8, 2014
5,230
1,636
113
#19
PennEd said:
Thank you for asking.

I have been in touch with Lynn several times over the past couple of yrs. Her and John are doing relatively well, all things considered in these troubling times.

Quick story to GLORIFY GOD, not any man. This is always a tricky feat to talk about this stuff and not have your OWN ego stroked. I'm just relaying this to show how awesome, and faithful our God is, and since you asked.

So as you may know, our men's group did some work on Lynn's house 3 + yrs ago. We were able to not only help her and John, but said prayers with a bunch of her neighbors. All were blessed, and Spiritually uplifted by helping Brothers and Sisters in the Lord.

A few yrs after that, Lynn sent me an email that her father had passed away, and she came into a small inheritance. She wanted to donate $1000 to our group. At first, we were like, NO! we don't want any money. Then we thought, who were WE to deny someone an opportunity to Bless others?

So we used some of it on various smaller projects. The remainder we added to funds we collected to send as food aid to brothers and sisters abroad we knew of that needed it.

Just to see how the Lord continually blesses, I recently told Lynn about it, and I believe it Spiritually refreshed her as well. Blessing to you as well.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the update. God bless you and your ministry.
 
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