Do you choose what you believe in?

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

Well, I guess 10 people can give you 10 different definitions. And even the same person could give you different definitions, depening on the situational context being discussed...

But in a nutshell, I primarily think of faith on 2 levels.
Faith that there is a God up there to begin with.
And Faith IN God, (That is, faith that God will provide, as the Bible says... faith that God is just and will always do the right thing by me, etc)

You've given a definition of what faith does but I'm interested on what faith is.....

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

I think the biggest question is, why would you choose not to believe?

CNE, that is a beautiful question, if I may say so. Simple and direct, it cuts to the root of the issue.

Questioner, I'm intrigued by that. What would make you choose not to believe?

Or, if I can pose a similar but slightly different question: What experiences/thoughts/ideas have brought you from "there" to "here"?

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

You've given a definition of what faith does but I'm interested on what faith is.....

Sorry, bud.
I don't know what other answer to give you.

You asked me how I defined faith.
I thought my meaning was fairly clear from that last post.

To me , faith is 1... believing that God exists.
And 2... faith is believing that God is who He said He is, and that He'll do the things He said in His word that he'll do.

Maybe someone else can define it better for you.
But thats really all I've got.

[Jermyn Davidson]

faith is a lifestyle.

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

Sorry, bud.
I don't know what other answer to give you.

You asked me how I defined faith.
I thought my meaning was fairly clear from that last post.

To me , faith is 1... believing that God exists.
And 2... faith is believing that God is who He said He is, and that He'll do the things He said in His word that he'll do.

Maybe someone else can define it better for you.
But thats really all I've got.

Many describe it as a form of irrationality...a leap into the unknown.....

[Falla39]

To me, faith is taking hold of that which we do NOT see, and holding on to
that which we do NOT see, UNTIL, that which we do NOT see, we DO SEE!
We hold on to faith (don't see) by HOPE, UNTIL we SEE that which we have
been believing for. When it appears, we no longer need Faith. The substance
of things hoped for, has appeared or been made manifest!

Heb.11th chapter, was a favorite that was introduced to we older siblings, as
small children. My eldest brother could quote the entire chapter at about 9 or
10 yrs. of age. I could quote some but not all, at around 8 yrs. old. Faith comes
by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Jesus told his disciples, "The words
that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life (lifegiving). Today His words
still give us instruction, inspiration, correction, to mature us, to throughly prepare
us for all good works.

Blessings,

Falla39

[TRFrance]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

You've given a definition of what faith does but I'm interested on what faith is.....

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

Many describe it as a form of irrationality...a leap into the unknown.....

I guess I can see why some would say that.

As Christians worship a God we've never seen, and are trying to get a heaven we've never seen, and avoid a hell we've never seen either.

Still, the Bible tells us that "without faith it is impossible to please God".

Those who don't believe now will believe eventually...Those who choose not to serve God they cant see will eventually see him on judgment day. But then it'll be a bit too late. That's going to be a sad day.

[Questioner]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

CNE, that is a beautiful question, if I may say so. Simple and direct, it cuts to the root of the issue.

Questioner, I'm intrigued by that. What would make you choose not to believe?

Or, if I can pose a similar but slightly different question: What experiences/thoughts/ideas have brought you from "there" to "here"?

I'm at a loss as to how to answer that since I stated in the first post that I don't believe I have chosen whether to believe or whether not to believe... that is like asking whether you like chocolate ice cream or not. If you do like chocolate ice cream, why did you choose to like it?

I will say... carefully... that I do not feel that religion or spirituality has anything to offer me, and do not feel that ministers or being subjected to a minister would benefit me in any way. Being raised in a preacher's home, I was usually annoyed by those people who would come to the preacher for everything and could never figure out why they could not make any decisions on their own, etc. I also found that it was easier to use shows like "Leave it to Beaver" or "Andy Griffith" as a litmus test for normalcy because I felt my Pentecostal upbringing was anything but normal. And no, I didn't have a television growing up... my close friends find it odd that I would try to apply a template from a tv show as my litmus test for normalcy... I didn't even realize it was odd until they pointed it out.

I'm usually able to make the right decisions on my own without having to go to someone else for assistance in making those decisions. If for some reason I make the wrong decision, I accept responsibility for the wrong decision and try to correct the behavior as needed.

I may also be a Deist or Humanist... I'm really not clear enough on the differences of all the different terms to know which label fits, or if I am some hybrid of several labels.

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by Questioner

I'm at a loss as to how to answer that since I stated in the first post that I don't believe I have chosen whether to believe or whether not to believe... that is like asking whether you like chocolate ice cream or not. If you do like chocolate ice cream, why did you choose to like it?

I will say... carefully... that I do not feel that religion or spirituality has anything to offer me, and do not feel that ministers or being subjected to a minister would benefit me in any way. Being raised in a preacher's home, I was usually annoyed by those people who would come to the preacher for everything and could never figure out why they could not make any decisions on their own, etc.

I'm usually able to make the right decisions on my own without having to go to someone else for assistance in making those decisions. I may also be a Deist or Humanist... I'm really not clear enough on the differences of all the different terms to know which label fits, or if I am some hybrid of several labels.

Questioner...how seriously do you want to discuss this? I won't openly...I just won't put myself out there like that. But I'm willing to PM or email.

[Questioner]

Originally Posted by nahkoe

Questioner...how seriously do you want to discuss this? I won't openly...I just won't put myself out there like that. But I'm willing to PM or email.

I'm not sure yet... I feel exposed already just from what I have already shared. I will think about it. Thanks for taking the time to correspond.