Why do I keep believing in Christianity?

[KingDesra]

Let me give you a little testimony of a christian,

I grew up with my christian mom since I could remember, we were poor and didn't have much. Was on welfare and lived in the projects. My mom would tell me christian stories all the time, listen to a teacher named Kay Arthur (my pretty aunt Kay lol). As a little kid, bout 4 years old, I would pray all the time with my mom, loved to hear about God, what Jesus did, all that stuff.
My mom got married again to a great man, my dad (stepdad but was dad to me), and we didn't get along for a while there. At the age of 7, I came to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour, my mom didn't force me or anything I wanted to, I didn't know anything really about Hell, this was done out of love for the God I grew to knew. Up until I was 11, christianity was the only thing I knew until I first heard evolution lol, that's when they showed me a picture of a dolphin with feet, now the first thing that popped into my mind was... what kind of joke is this?
What made sense to me is what I see all the time, 2 dogs make another dog and there was no real difference between the puppy and the grown dogs. So I spoke up and said dolphins never had feet, so she was talking on how long it took for them to turn into fins so the next question I thought of is why didn't they just stay in the water in the first place?
Well other then evolution, I began to be introduced to many other faiths and of course atheists. As a young kid, I was blessed with knowledge and witnessed to different people with my mom. Well when I first met my father, my birth father, I was thrilled and it wasn't long before he started trouble with my mom again and we were in court for 4 years. So I was to go to his house every other weekend. I would bring my bible with me, my father was not christian, he was agnostic and didn't believe in the bible so I, of course, wanted God to use me to witness to him.
Well, it didn't go well for me lol. They would laugh at me when I would pray or tell them something about God. I was about 12 or 13 now and I had gotten depressed and stopped reading my bible, praying, basically I had backslidden in my faith. My father had gotten me into pornography at this point and tried every way for me to destory the innocence I hadwhen it came to girls. I started to question my faith and looked for other "answers". For a while there, I had no real regard for my faith.
But it would bother me every night, I knew I was wrong for this but I persisted and ignored it. Then I met a guy named Kevin, a performing arts director so I got to join his team with several of my friends. So we did a few shows and every tour we went on something wrong happened. This one time, out near St.Louis, our bus was malfunctioning. AC died then our engine died and it was over 90 degrees that night so we had to stop near a truck depot, got some snacks and sat outside waitin for the mechanic to fix it. Well, he couldn't find a problem with it. So my friends wanted to pray for it, so I was like w/e and we prayed. The second the last person was done, the bus lit up again, the AC blew in cool air again and we were ready to get on a move.
Mechanic was like ???? lol it was awesome. I said to myself, "God is still taking care of us..."
But throughout my life I experienced spiritual things, from a being in my room speaking to me (dunno what he said I was too scared lol), to simple things like fixing the bus, or seeing a difference God did by using me or someone else to help someone. For instance this one time, I was playing the part of Satan, gotta say it was fun lol, and this girl asked what's so terrible about Satan. So God used me again to show how terrible he really was, although it would never compare to the actual satan but God helped me do a good job at it. The whole play was about Jesus' triumph over Satan at the Cross.I would come out with my black clothes, makeup, and rolling my eyes up in my head so they would appear white and just act evil lol.
Well afterward she came up to me and thanked me for it saying it really showed her what was so terrible to being enslaved to him. God used our group to show how God works, how one can be saved, that evil is really out there and how to defeat it and afterward we would witness. Now, I wasn't on the right path yet, but I was again feeling God's presence and I wanted to get back right with Him. We would visit the homeless shelters, outside shows, shows at churches and youth centers. Everytime, incredible things were being done by God through us.
When I was 17, I decided to reveal my secret sin to my friend/director Kevin who was highly supportive and I repented of my sins to God. God again was speaking to me. Wasn't long before my mom knew and although she was upset greatly she showed me love and help me get rid of that horrid addiction. Its still hard to resist it but God indeed helps me stay away from it, when you can actually hear God and see what He can do its an awesome thing.
Alot of other things not really relevant to this I experienced, seeing a little in the spirit realm, demonic beings playing with the mind and such. But one of the greatest things is how God stopped my father from doing what he was doing and our prayers was answered when we asked God for a new judge that would listen to reason, He provided one. Court ended and my father was found to be the liar. Sad but relieving not to have him mess with us anymore.
I learned many things but one thing stood out, I would never again turn my back on God because of a few people laughing or mocking my faith even if they tried to hurt me over it I will never again turn my back because God has shown me so much mercy and kindness throughout my life, gave me things that I really didn't deserve. Although many people may deny God, disbelieve what I have said, you know what it don't matter because like me, God is going to have to deal with those people and after I have shared the truth all I can do is keep you all in prayer and hope you hear God speaking to you as well.
I read posts saying I left my faith and stuff, but as I read I realize two things, these people haven't accepted God truly, many people say they believe but yet they do not live their life for Him. Your life will reflect if you actually believe or not. Naw, no christian is perfect, we all have our flaws but that's no excuse not to be saved. Even now, I may doubt some things but God always provides me an answer and the things I may never know I am content till I die and I'll ask Him then.
I heard, try being an atheist... lol I did but God didn't allow me to stray too far to the left. Stuff that go against my faith now makes me stronger and makes me try harder to help people know because believe it or not we are living in the last days and Christ is coming really soon, the events of today shows it. I will continue to share my faith with those who do not know Him and is also trying to teach my little brother about Him so that he will grow even stronger then me.
Many people want their own way, but I came to realize it don't work that way whether you believe in God, go to work, rule a country, w/e you are under authority and even more you are under God's authority whether you believe or not. So I find it impossible to not believe in a God. I have also debated people from this group Rational Response Squad and they are stumped. There are agnostics, but no atheists because its safe to say they do not know if God exists or not no evidence to say He doesn't and they don't look at the evidence that say He does. But the greatest evidence is the one I have experienced, repentence and belief in Jesus and He will show you what you need.

[Dayman]

At the age of 7, I came to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour, my mom didn't force me or anything I wanted to, I didn't know anything really about Hell, this was done out of love for the God I grew to knew.

Children can not understand things like that at such a young age. They can only regurgitate mentally what they're told. I didn't have that kind of thought when I was that young.

But throughout my life I experienced spiritual things, from a being in my room speaking to me (dunno what he said I was too scared lol), to simple things like fixing the bus, or seeing a difference God did by using me or someone else to help someone.

I doubt that was god. Perhaps a CAT scan was in order.

Everytime, incredible things were being done by God through us.

Actually, that was just you guys. God had no part in it.

When I was 17, I decided to reveal my secret sin to my friend/director Kevin who was highly supportive and I repented of my sins to God. God again was speaking to me. Wasn't long before my mom knew and although she was upset greatly she showed me love and help me get rid of that horrid addiction. Its still hard to resist it but God indeed helps me stay away from it, when you can actually hear God and see what He can do its an awesome thing.

No, your mind makes you think it's god talking. It's not God.

Alot of other things not really relevant to this I experienced, seeing a little in the spirit realm, demonic beings playing with the mind and such.

No such thing as demons.

I heard, try being an atheist... lol I did but God didn't allow me to stray too far to the left.

Wait...you think that atheism is equated to being a liberal?

No way, and you'll have to explain me, since I'm Republican.

Stuff that go against my faith now makes me stronger and makes me try harder to help people know because believe it or not we are living in the last days and Christ is coming really soon, the events of today shows it. I will continue to share my faith with those who do not know Him and is also trying to teach my little brother about Him so that he will grow even stronger then me.

The last days have been coming soon forever. And it's despicable that you're indoctrinating your little brother, instead of letting his mind develop normally, and let him decide on his own. It's things like that that make me sick in the stomach. Tty and teach him when he's 20, and decided on his own. And if he rejects you, than so be it.

But the greatest evidence is the one I have experienced, repentence and belief in Jesus and He will show you what you need.

Unfortunately, arguments from personal experience don't amount for much.

Now, I read your story, and I'd advise you to break it into paragraphs for easy reading.

[Syron]

I hope this isn't serious.

Sounds like a cut-n-paste job anyway.

[KingDesra]

I expected this lol but nope this was all truly part of my life, up to you to decide if its true or not but this is my personal experience, so you say one thing is not true but I experienced it for myself so I say it is and billions of people from vast amounts of time would say the same, even in the secular age that we live in. And a few say well there is no god, demons, angels, etc. Well that's something you have yet to see, because they are around you always. But no cut and paste, I took the time to recall the events. I did understand it at the age of 7, gotta love how people tell you what you do know and don't

We didn't do anything but pray to God for the answer and we recieved it. I don't think I said anything about atheistism = being a liberal. I didn't have to tell my bro there's a God he figured that on his own. And as for the thinking that God spoke lol love psychiarichry (however its spelled) and psychology saying, well it didn't really happen you just think it did, now that's classic. I am not arguing over anything I am showing other people why I think this is from my personal point of view since they give their own personal POV on why they don't believe only fair

[Gary88]

you have heard voices and had other similar experiences, you equate them to God therefore that proves God exists because the experiences you personally decided were caused by god were caused by god...

[KingDesra]

Guess you can say the same with other people, they don't see things happen like they think should happen therefore no God. If you can't feel, see, touch , hear or smell him then he's not really there... hmm personally I know God and I am not alone in that. Now you may say I thought things up well I'd say that's your stubborn disbelief not reality because you have never tried it you know?
Well it may make you seem less of an atheist doing it? no it just makes you somewhat smarter in taking that chance. I am sure no one is going to care whether your intellectual or not, won't stop you from getting a job or something lol. It seems the more materialistic a person is the less they seem to desire God but the poorer you are the more you believe. Easily seen between our country America for example and Africa lol
You may say they are disllusional but I say they have experienced God first hand. When you have your own gods in your life it makes it harder to accept the real thing. Well you are not dead yet so I'll keep you all in prayer.

[hellheaven1987]

May be you should visit Jerusalm, I suppose??

Oh wait, eastern Congo is another good choice too.

[Romano B.]

KingDesra, that was a good testimony. From what I read, you have a great personal relationship with God, thats good, something quite many Christians lack.

It seems the more materialistic a person is the less they seem to desire God but the poorer you are the more you believe.

This is true for the most part. Most people who are wealthy, and live an easy lifestyle feel that they have little need for faith, as they think they have every great thing life could offer, this could be considered pride. When a man dies, however, he has nothing, absolutely nothing, all of his earthly posessions decay, rot, and fall apart over time.

[Dayman]

Do try to ignore the comments which are directed at attacking your faith.

No, he should answer those questions and comments and seriously consider them.

[Templar Knight]

No, he should answer those questions and comments and seriously consider them.

do you seriously consider what religious people claim about there beliefs?

[Dayman]

do you seriously consider what religious people claim about there beliefs?

My mind listens to what they say, evaluates it, and then determines what I think about it. Most of the time, hardcore fundie statements fail my assessment, whereas a deist statement has far more credibility.

[Otherside]

Reminds me of what a Christian said who came to our college for a talk one day he was asked in with many people from other religions buddism, Islam etc to help us understand them.

anyway everyone did there speech thing and everything was fine then he did his one, now to fair he was just asked in as a Christian not someone who really studied it so he began telling us about it then he mentioned how and why he came to believe i cant remeber the exact details but hte jist of it was he went up to his room one day too think about it prayed for abit then had a load of visions and now hes a christian....

Not to anyones surprise no-one was convinced and a few laughed everyone was just left with a kind of confused look.

weirdly Sikhism was the one everyone found most interesting :S.

[Oldgamer]

KingDesra, that was a good testimony. From what I read, you have a great personal relationship with God, thats good, something quite many Christians lack.

I agree with that. I'm assuming that KingDesra is a young man, and has a lot to learn about the world ... and posting on secular websites! But I don't doubt his testimony. I'm giving him some rep!

This is true for the most part. Most people who are wealthy, and live an easy lifestyle feel that they have little need for faith, as they think they have every great thing life could offer, this could be considered pride. When a man dies, however, he has nothing, absolutely nothing, all of his earthly posessions decay, rot, and fall apart over time.

In the Holy Scriptures, Jesus talks about how hard it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He likens it to a camel passing through the eye of the needle.

Most people assume that the "needle", in this case, is a sewing needle, and so that it is impossible for a camel to pass through it, therefore, impossible for a rich man to enter the Kingdom. However, that's not what Christ meant.

Archaeological evidence has confirmed that Jerusalem had a gate which was called "The Eye of the Needle". When the main gates of the city were closed, at night, this gate remained open, to accommodate the caravan trade. However, to make sure that enemy cavalry could not charge into the city, this entrance was very low. A camel could enter, but had to be lowered by its handler to its knees, and walked into the city in that manner.

Not impossible, but difficult ...

Zondervan's Pictorial Bible Dictionary shows such a gate, about 4 feet high, and states that they were common throughout the Biblical world, and are to be found in other cities in the Middle East.

Christ also said that where a man's heart is, that is where his treasure will be. It's more difficult for the wealthy to "treasure" the things of God, because they have so much of the world's wealth.

To our skeptical friends, I realize that some people say that the "eye of the needle" reference above is based upon a mistranslation of the Greek, and that "camel" should be correctly stated as "cable". But the application of Christ's Words are essentially the same.

[KingDesra]

The Resurrection:
Does Circumstantial Evidence Confirm It?
Timothy McVeigh, the man behind the Oklahoma City bombing, has a date with death. He’ll receive a lethal injection for killing 168 innocent people, even though no one saw him commit this heinous crime. All the evidence against McVeigh was circumstantial. Indirect testimony: That’s what circumstantial evidence is. It’s an accumulation of facts from which one can draw intelligent conclusions.
As a newspaper reporter covering the courts, former journalist Lee Strobel saw how circumstantial evidence is used to expose what really happened during a crime. So, in the midst of a spiritual quest, Strobel began to wonder: Could circumstantial evidence verify that the resurrection of Christ really happened?
Well, he took his question to philosopher J. P. Moreland. In a challenging voice, Strobel asked Moreland: “Can you give me five pieces of solid circumstantial evidence that convince you Jesus rose from the dead?” Certainly, Moreland responded. First, there’s the evidence of the skeptics. Some of those who were most hostile to Jesus prior to his death became his most ardent supporters afterwards.
Second, the ancient Jews had a number of immensely important religious rituals. These included the offering of animal sacrifices, obeying the Mosaic law, and keeping the Sabbath. But within five weeks of Jesus’ death, more than 10,000 Jews had suddenly altered or abandoned these rituals. Moreland asked: Why would they relinquish rites that had long given them their national identity? The implication is that something enormously significant had occurred.
Third, we see the emergence of new rituals: the sacraments of Communion and Baptism. The early Jews baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, “which,” Moreland said, “meant they had elevated Jesus to the full status of God.”
Fourth, we see the rapid rise of a new church, beginning shortly after the death of Jesus. Within twenty years this new church (begun by the companions of a dead carpenter) had reached Caesar’s palace in Rome, and eventually spread throughout the Roman empire.
And fifth, Moreland said, there’s the most convincing circumstantial evidence of all: the fact that every one of Jesus’ disciples was willing to suffer and die for his beliefs. These men spent the rest of their lives witnessing about Christ. They frequently went without food; they were mocked, beaten, and thrown into prison. In the end, all but one died a painful martyr’s death. Would they have done this for a lie? Of course not. They did it because they were convinced beyond a doubt that they had seen the risen Christ.
Even if we doubted 2,000-year-old evidence, we have all the circumstantial evidence we could possibly want—right in front of us. It is, Moreland said, “the ongoing encounter with the resurrected Christ that happens all over the world, in every culture, to people from all kinds of back-grounds and personalities. They all will testify that more than any single thing in their lives, Jesus Christ has changed them.”
Circumstantial evidence earned Timothy McVeigh a death sentence. But sacred circumstantial evidence about the resurrection of Jesus Christ can lead all of us, including McVeigh, to a much better verdict: everlasting life in the presence of God.

[Roman Knight]

The Resurrection:
Does Circumstantial Evidence Confirm It?
Timothy McVeigh, the man behind the Oklahoma City bombing, has a date with death. He’ll receive a lethal injection for killing 168 innocent people, even though no one saw him commit this heinous crime. All the evidence against McVeigh was circumstantial. Indirect testimony: That’s what circumstantial evidence is. It’s an accumulation of facts from which one can draw intelligent conclusions.
As a newspaper reporter covering the courts, former journalist Lee Strobel saw how circumstantial evidence is used to expose what really happened during a crime. So, in the midst of a spiritual quest, Strobel began to wonder: Could circumstantial evidence verify that the resurrection of Christ really happened?
Well, he took his question to philosopher J. P. Moreland. In a challenging voice, Strobel asked Moreland: “Can you give me five pieces of solid circumstantial evidence that convince you Jesus rose from the dead?” Certainly, Moreland responded. First, there’s the evidence of the skeptics. Some of those who were most hostile to Jesus prior to his death became his most ardent supporters afterwards.
Second, the ancient Jews had a number of immensely important religious rituals. These included the offering of animal sacrifices, obeying the Mosaic law, and keeping the Sabbath. But within five weeks of Jesus’ death, more than 10,000 Jews had suddenly altered or abandoned these rituals. Moreland asked: Why would they relinquish rites that had long given them their national identity? The implication is that something enormously significant had occurred.
Third, we see the emergence of new rituals: the sacraments of Communion and Baptism. The early Jews baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, “which,” Moreland said, “meant they had elevated Jesus to the full status of God.”
Fourth, we see the rapid rise of a new church, beginning shortly after the death of Jesus. Within twenty years this new church (begun by the companions of a dead carpenter) had reached Caesar’s palace in Rome, and eventually spread throughout the Roman empire.
And fifth, Moreland said, there’s the most convincing circumstantial evidence of all: the fact that every one of Jesus’ disciples was willing to suffer and die for his beliefs. These men spent the rest of their lives witnessing about Christ. They frequently went without food; they were mocked, beaten, and thrown into prison. In the end, all but one died a painful martyr’s death. Would they have done this for a lie? Of course not. They did it because they were convinced beyond a doubt that they had seen the risen Christ.
Even if we doubted 2,000-year-old evidence, we have all the circumstantial evidence we could possibly want—right in front of us. It is, Moreland said, “the ongoing encounter with the resurrected Christ that happens all over the world, in every culture, to people from all kinds of back-grounds and personalities. They all will testify that more than any single thing in their lives, Jesus Christ has changed them.”
Circumstantial evidence earned Timothy McVeigh a death sentence. But sacred circumstantial evidence about the resurrection of Jesus Christ can lead all of us, including McVeigh, to a much better verdict: everlasting life in the presence of God.

To summarise this Moreland the fundy says that Christianity proves Christianity.:hmmm:

[Gwendylyn]

lol I did but God didn't allow me to stray too far to the left.

Are you talking about the political left? Are you that much of a fundamentalist that everyone to the left of neocon is an atheist?

[Gary88]

From what I read, you have a great personal relationship with God

yes indeed, many christians are dieing (sp) all over the world but God always seems willing to take time out of his busy schedule to fix someones aircon or rustle someones curtains in suburban america.

[Exarch]

let me put it simply:
u believe in christianity because

1) u've been mesmerized by a charismatic preacher,

2) ur confusing a natural human instinct to feel spiritual with 'having the power of the lord inside of me'-a biological phenomenon which ur church officials have undoubtedly taken full advantage of.

3) christianity employs a lot of fear so it could be argued that u believe in christianity because of Pascal's Wager

4) pop culture reinforcing christian mythology ie angels and demons and merovingians.

5) u identify with christianity's masochistic tendencies for martyrdom which a lot of missionaries actually invite. eg the born again christian who says somethign akin to 'if u cant accept me for being christian (translation: if you dont convert), then we cant be friends'.

[Dracula]

2) ur confusing a natural human instinct to feel spiritual with 'having the power of the lord inside of me'-a biological phenomenon which ur church officials have undoubtedly taken full advantage of.

I never heard of such natural instinct ?! Do you care to expand on this ?

@King Desra - I do believe you must visit an orthodox monastery .

[Gary88]

Archaeological evidence has confirmed that Jerusalem had a gate which was called "The Eye of the Needle". When the main gates of the city were closed, at night, this gate remained open, to accommodate the caravan trade. However, to make sure that enemy cavalry could not charge into the city, this entrance was very low. A camel could enter, but had to be lowered by its handler to its knees, and walked into the city in that manner.

its a nice idea but completely untrue, there is a suggestion camel is a mistranslation from hebrew and actually it should be 'rope' but we can't know for sure. either way there was no gate.