questions

January 6, 2011

I have had two ministers quit on me, and I have been banned from two christian sites for asking questions. I am not able to just think "on, okay, they say so, it must be true". I need answers and people seem to always feel that I am playing games. I am going to try one more time. If you think I am playing games, delete it and ban me, but I am being sincere and want answers.

In Ezekiel, there is a story about this guy who sees this thing come down from the heavens, a wheel within a wheel, with a bunch of arms and heads and eyeballs. am I to actually believe that literally?

They expect me to blindly accept that the planet is 6000 years old. That clearly isn't true. or that Adam and Eve were the first, only people. Yet they had two sons, God got mad and made one leave, and the son said "if I leave, others will kill me". what others. if they were the only people?

God said the Jews were his chosen people. Why didn't god like everybody else? Then even God got mad and tossed out the Jews and sent Jesus to save the others. That makes no sense to me.

God told Moses to ask pharaoh to let the Jews go.. Pharaoh said go, and God said "no, I am hardening his heart" and He did, and threw more bad stuff at them. why?

That story, was it Abraham? where god said to sacrifice his son. where was the mother? because I would have said no to a thing like that.

if I read it right, Satan tried to take over heaven, was thrown out, long before God created people. Why didn't god just lock Satan into hell before he made people? And then why make them and set them up to fail, with that forbidden tree, and letting Satan test them. I don't understand. If Jesus is coming back to get rid of Satan and the unsaved people and throw them into hell, why didn't God just do that in the first place before He made people?

And all that lambs and blood. God wanted to smell burning lambs and blood. That grosses me out. And communion, I can't do that.. I never have and never will. Drinking blood and body parts? to remember Him? I can't. But it seems to be a requirement.

Why was John the baptist out baptizing people, before Jesus came?

Why did Jesus save peter, who denied him, but not Judas?

These are just a few of the questions I have.

They told me to read the bible. Now they are mad that I did. and nobody to answer them. left to my own, all I can do is see it as, well, nonsense.

ayin jade · January 6, 2011

Hi,

It would help for me or anyone to answer your questions if I knew something about you. Are you a Christian? Whom do you say Jesus is? Knowing your basic foundation helps me at least in formulating answers.

January 6, 2011

I need answers and people seem to always feel that I am playing games.

What do you plan to do with the answers?

If you are just going to mock the answers and get all combative and stuff, there is no reason to answer. It would help to know a bit more about you and to get acquainted.

Believer112 · January 6, 2011

If your not a born again Christian, you will never understand the scripture no matter how many time it's explained. I would like to read the answers you received already.

nebula · January 6, 2011

I have had two ministers quit on me, and I have been banned from two christian sites for asking questions. I am not able to just think "on, okay, they say so, it must be true". I need answers and people seem to always feel that I am playing games. I am going to try one more time. If you think I am playing games, delete it and ban me, but I am being sincere and want answers.

Hey. The questions here are not ones that can be given pat answers to. All we can do is explain what we have learned, but to truly understand you will have to work through them yourself. But I hope these questions aren't hanging your faith up, as they are not central to the Gospel and your walk with the Lord.

In Ezekiel, there is a story about this guy who sees this thing come down from the heavens, a wheel within a wheel, with a bunch of arms and heads and eyeballs. am I to actually believe that literally?

I believe Ezekiel actually saw this. Now what "a wheel within a wheel" looks like, I can only guess. Keep in mind that he was given a vision, so it is difficult to say whether he was seeing what is actual versus what is symbolic. Visions are weird that way - just like dreams.

As for the creatures, compare their description here to the ones John sees before the Throne in Revelation 4.

They expect me to blindly accept that the planet is 6000 years old. That clearly isn't true. or that Adam and Eve were the first, only people. Yet they had two sons, God got mad and made one leave, and the son said "if I leave, others will kill me". what others. if they were the only people?

If you have time, I recommend you browse through what is written in The American Scientific Affiliation: A Network of Christians in Science concerning this.

Here's a place to start:

http://www.asa3.org/ASA/topics/Bible-Science/index.html

nebula · January 6, 2011

God said the Jews were his chosen people. Why didn't god like everybody else? Then even God got mad and tossed out the Jews and sent Jesus to save the others. That makes no sense to me.

Well, that isn't exactly how it went.

The Lord chose Abraham, making a covenant with him and his descendants through Isaac (and eventually Jacob). "The Jews" were actually created by God if you think about it.

It wasn't that God "didn't like" everyone else. The choosing was for a specific task - His plan to redeem mankind. And actually, that calling hasn't been easy on the Jews.

The reason God got mad was because the Israelites kept rebelling against Him and worshiping other gods.

Jesus came through the Jews, and the original followers of Jesus were all Jews. So I don't know where you got the "tossed out the Jews" concept from?

The salvation Jesus gives is "to the the Jew first, then to the Greek," (Romans 1:16) so I do not understand where you get the "to save the others" from?

God told Moses to ask pharaoh to let the Jews go.. Pharaoh said go, and God said "no, I am hardening his heart" and He did, and threw more bad stuff at them. why?

The best explanation I've heard was that the children of Israel were so infiltrated by the religion of the Egyptians that the Lord needed to demonstrate to them through the tribulations of Egypt that He is more powerful than the Egyptian gods. If you research the Egyptian gods, you will find that all 10 plagues attack what the Egyptians worship (the Nile, frogs, the Sun, the body, etc.).

nebula · January 6, 2011

That story, was it Abraham? where god said to sacrifice his son. where was the mother? because I would have said no to a thing like that.

All indications are that Abraham told no one what the Lord told him. So where was the mother, Sarah? Without a clue.

if I read it right, Satan tried to take over heaven, was thrown out, long before God created people. Why didn't god just lock Satan into hell before he made people? And then why make them and set them up to fail, with that forbidden tree, and letting Satan test them. I don't understand. If Jesus is coming back to get rid of Satan and the unsaved people and throw them into hell, why didn't God just do that in the first place before He made people?

This is a question that has been asked before on the Board in it's own thread, and that thread lasted for many, many pages. The point is that we can only speculate what is in the heart and mind of God with this.

The only thing I know for certain is that if not for the fall, God never would have become man, become one of us. The best you can do is chew on that one and its implications for a while.

And all that lambs and blood. God wanted to smell burning lambs and blood. That grosses me out.

The only way to teach man the seriousness of sin is to put us face to face with its severity. When tempted by sin, would you be less likely to commit that sin if you knew you would have to slay a lamb to pay for your redemption for that sin?

And communion, I can't do that.. I never have and never will. Drinking blood and body parts? to remember Him? I can't. But it seems to be a requirement.

It's just wine (or grape juice") and flat bread. You do not physically eat and drink flesh and blood. It's all symbolic.

To really understand communion, you need to understand the Passover Seder from which the elements of Communion were taken.

You can read about it here:

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/passover.html

"

nebula · January 6, 2011

Why was John the baptist out baptizing people, before Jesus came?

I am shaky on the details, but it stems from the ritualistic cleansing the Jews did as part of following Torah.

In fact, "baptize" is not the most appropriate translation for the word. "Immerse" is a more accurate description. The Israelites were commanded to immerse themselves in water for cleansing.

What John was doing stems from that.

Why did Jesus save peter, who denied him, but not Judas?

Peter repented. Judas did not.

Hope that helps!

January 6, 2011

I have had two ministers quit on me, and I have been banned from two Christian sites for asking questions. I am not able to just think "on, okay, they say so, it must be true". I need answers and people seem to always feel that I am playing games. I am going to try one more time. If you think I am playing games, delete it and ban me, but I am being sincere and want answers....

Honestly

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23

We Are Stinking Trash

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6

Whereas Our LORD God Creator

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Has An Offer Only A Gamester Would Pass Up

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18

>>>>>()<<<<<

Believe

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36

Pray In Jesus' Holy Name Choosing Him LORD

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

[And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:12-14

And Be Blessed Beloved

Love, Joe

January 6, 2011

Thanks to all who responded. It is late so I will read them in detail in the morning.

I am not a Christian, but have been searching for God for about a year. But I am not able to just toss out logic, science, anthropology, ect . The bible well, has some strange stuff. I can only say that I have felt I am being drawn, led, and want what I see in Christians. But I cannot make sense of the Bible, and have not been received well in asking, as if they feel I am out to try to say they are wrong. When what I want is to understand, have what they have.

I was asked who Jesus is to me. I cannot answer that question because I don't know. The Bible says He is God's son, but how can I know for sure?

I have been told have faith. But coming from a background of never having had anyone to trust, this does not come easily for me.

I feel like I am being pulled in half. Part of me wants to go forward at a church, accept Jesus, be baptized, while another part of me says no, they aren't real and will hurt you.

I love thinking that Jesus would love me, but as I said, trust is difficult for me, and to trust in what I cannot see or touch, is hard.

Then the churches I tried have all these demands. They have a class and you have to agree and sign a paper saying you will fulfill all these demands. I get overwhelmed, like, this is too new, please don't toss me into the deep end of the pool.

I cannot live up to their expectations. I listen to sermons on line, but it just isn't enough. I want to be there in person. But I cannot be perfect. They make demands, and it scares me because I will fail.

I will read the replies in detail tomorrow. thank you for answering.

eta - I think I read it in Hebrews, how if a person accepts Jesus, then fails, how much worse it will be for them. That scares me because I couldn't break a promise to God.

Edited January 6, 2011 by SDGS