Welcome to Gaia! ::

Yes!
The Word says that we walk by faith, and not by sight. I would never tell you that you are going to Hell, especiallly just b/c you're going through what I think just about every Christian goes through. One thing that sets us apart from other religions, is that our God raised from the dead! Buddha and Muhammed are still in the grave. Also don't think of Christianity as religion, but as relationship. If you want to talk more, PM me.

technicly buddha is still alive, in acordance wiht thier beliefs, the dali llama is a reincarnation of buddah.

But yeah, every one goes through this at some point, i'm there off and oin a lot lately. but i'm here if you need me.

DOUBT. It is my greatest struggle that holds me back from growing closer to God... I constantly doubt... Am I REALLY saved? Did God REALLY love me THAT much, that He gave His son, even though I'm SO terrible? Did I REALLY mean what I said when I asked Christ into my heart? With all the other religions out there, how can I be sure that THIS particular one is correct?

I'm a very annalytical person, and so I thought logicially, out of all the religions, which is the odd one out? if there's only ONE way, then it has to be unique, right? well, when I thought about it, Christianity was the odd one out. why? Think about it... with all other religions... a person relys on their OWN power to get to heaven... By my own power, I have to be a good person by my own ways... I have to do some different rituals on my own power to get to heaven... or I'd have to sacrafice things to obtain salvation... but Christianity is different... I don't have to do ANYTHING of my own power... my salvation is a gift... because I -COULDN'T- do it on my own... It wasn't possible by my own power... it was possible through Jesus' power... His sacrafice... His deeds... I didn't have to do a thing! it's the odd one out, and one that has a solid base, with the Bible as it's foundation... it's the only one that made sense to me, and the only one that gives me what I need to survive and not go insane in this world...

Despite this, I'm still very much a doubting Thomas... it's a constant battle... (mainly on the issue of 'am I REALLY saved?' -I'm frickin' terrified of going to hell! thus the devil continually attacks my assurance of goign to heaven) but God is helping me... Remember, Satan uses doubts, fear, and guilt... but God uses a gentle prodding... that's what helps me...

that is exacty what satian wants you to thing, and sometimes we can't help but think those things

It's the thing, can you see, smell, or hear the wind? then it must not be there, can you see, smell, or hear gravity? but it must be there. it's like that, you can hear the effects, you can feel the effects so He must be there. Also you can feel his presence.

There is this story, No Brain, i don't have it on hand, but i hope to post it here on this forum soon. just to be aware.

Just a qick thought, but...

from what I've learned of Buddhism, the point of being a Buddha was that you didn't have to be reincarnated...

Anywho.

Yes, I've been struggling with alot of doubt, myself. I agree with all of them, and I'll pray for you, ja? ^^

This is definitly a common problem, I said something to the point what if Christianity isn't real in my Youth Group, And the answer I got was "That is a question aof very little faith,"

And for years I was so very mad that my thoughts could cause me to be a girl of little faith! And then one day I was chatting with a girl in Church passing notes, We were talking about how we both wanted to bring our non-christian friends to church, and help them out,

and all of a sudden I felt overwhelmed, or, the opposite of overwelmed,
I felt like the ONLY thing I would ever have to do in life was serve God, And I would be okay,

then all of a sudden Christen [The friend] says "I have this really cool feeling, Aj, like I can just serve God and no one is going to make fun of me! I just WANT to serve God!

And I realized God was working in our lifes together to weave us together to be better Christians,

This feeling I had was amazing. And if you ask me now I would tell you that it felt like God and Jesus had taken the time to come to THAT Church session and sit behind me and Christen, It was trly amazing.

After that we started to be better friends, We hung out at church and at Youth Group and Sunday School, we had the same exact schedule at school, and we hung out all the time, Soon we were best friends, I was a little dissapointed, because she WASN'T serving God in front of people, and letting them KNOW she was Christian, But I did, I hung Bible Verses in my locker, and in my speech in front of the entire class, with the popular girls there and everything, I SAID, "I am very much Christian, and I expect you all to accept the fact that I am," or whatever,

And I looked at Christen was grinning from ear to ear, she started actually talking about it! And then she went to Alaska for the Summer,

One day before she got back she said she was moving, I didn't act sad at all I said things like "Well at least you will be living with your Dad again"

I kept waiting for her to say, "I GOT YOU SOOO GOOD, I am just kidding!" She never did,

And I realized her two "Best Friends" didn't seem to care! And they had become Bestfriends since she was gone, so they got in this fight, and one of the girls Kira, says; You know, we ALL THREE talked about Aj,
And now you just DITCH me and Akasia [the other girl] to be BEST FRIENDS with her!?!?!?!

And Christen said, "Your right, I did, I was tired of living my life how I was, I wanted to be a Christian, and Annie was a Christian, and well, I wanted to live a Christian life and you and Akasia aren't exactly Christian"


I was amazed, She stuck for me and Jesus to her Best Friend! AND one of the most popular girls in the school.


And you know what? That Youth pastor at youth group was wrong,
This question wasn't a lack of Faith!!

It was a question of God not having come PERSONALLY into my life and told me, the right answer to this question!

heart Aj