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Why Do You Believe? - 7/28/2010 9:11:26 AM
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EuphoriaAlice
Posts: 104
Joined: 7/26/2010
From: UK
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Hi everyone, quick questions really, but the more in-depth answers, the better!
Why do YOU believe? Why the Christian faith specifically?
What made you believe and why?
Peace.
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/28/2010 9:44:08 AM
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jm3107
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In God I found someone I can talk to whatever I like; if I am happy I can be thankful; if I am sad, I can ask for a solution.
And finally: only in God I get eternal salvation; all my sins are washed away
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/28/2010 10:11:22 AM
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AmazingLife86
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Jesus is just, honest, righteous, powerful but most of all he's loving. I think most people in the world (Christian or not) would agree that you don't find true love, it finds you and it is very contagious. When love has found you, you can run away from it but you can't deny it. I think that is why even a non believer will know John 3:16 because even though that is an unfathomable kind of love that is hard to wrap your mind around, the power of those words stick with you. The fact that God has all the power of the universe to control our lives if he wanted but he has given us free will and has chosen to love us into submission. No matter what we look like, no matter our socioeconomic status, no matter what mistakes we have made in our lives, he is still there with open arms. I think no matter who you are or what you believe in, most people want to be loved. His love is incomparable to anything on this earth. He is the source of love and happiness and those are things that are top priority to me in life. So, I figure, instead of settling for a knockoff, why not work a little harder to achieve the real thing.
I don't know that there is a specific "thing" that made me believe. It's like the last piece to the puzzle. All the other pieces you may have had to search and guess which one is gonna fit the best, but once you get to that last piece, there is no guessing. It is the only one that fits. There was no question in my mind when I came upon the love of Christ. It just feels right. Its early and I'm not at 100% and really, there are no word to accurately describe my love for him.
Christianity is the voice of reason. It's not the one that that is loud and obnoxious or attention seeking. It's also not the one in the corner that is inaudible. It is the one that, once heard, has a ring of truth like no other. In short, that's why I believe.. 
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/28/2010 12:30:13 PM
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MrFribbles
Posts: 2488
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From: Hawaii, but I've moved around since then
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quote:
Why do YOU believe?
There's a number of reasons. In no particular order -
It makes the most sense to me. Christianity explains where we came from, why we're here, who we are, why we suffer, and where we go after death, and it does so in a consistent manner. I've studied Christianity on an undergraduate level at accredited institutions of higher learning for the past five years (some interesting credit juggling during a transfer added an extra year to my college experience) and recently graduated summa with a BA in religion, so understand that when I say that I've looked into Christianity and found it consistent and able to answer all of my questions (or at least, the ones that matter), I'm not speaking on a surface level.
Also - I've seen evidence, and heard even more first-or-second hand. Some of this evidence has been in changed lives - people coming to Christ and experiencing radical transformations for the better. Some of it has been miracles - people being led together for a purpose, resources being provided from inexplicable sources at just the right time, even occurrences in nature, such as a rainstorm in a drought-ridden land (that was one of the 2nd-hand pieces I heard, though). Some of it has been encounters with supernatural baddies. I don't think I've ever had this myself - at least not in a way that's been overtly manifested - but I've heard first-hand accounts from people I know and trust where they've clearly been visited by spiritual forces that meant them ill. Incidentally, by relying on the power of God and not themselves, these forces were rendered powerless.
Also also - there's the experience of my own life. By following what I read from the Bible, I've found my life to have genuine meaning, purpose and joy. Not that every day is sunshine and rainbows, but rather that every day, no matter what the circumstances, I have peace because I know I am on God's side, I am his son, and he won't abandon me. This isn't some "close my eyes and shut out the world, la-la-la everything's OK" belief. I've gone through hard times, I am going through hard times now, and I'm not trying to fool myself by repeating "It'll be OK, it'll be OK, it'll be OK" over and over. Rather, I am relying on the faith I have placed in God; not a blind faith, but a faith based on the God who has revealed himself to me time and time again in my life.
Also - welcome to the forums!
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/28/2010 12:48:02 PM
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jn1010lf
Posts: 704
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Hello EuphoriaAlice
While reading our devotionals this morning, I suddenly realized that Christianity is different than all the others. We are told, by politically correct folks, that all religions point to God. While that may be true to some extent, only though Christianity can anyone develop a relationship with one's Creator, God the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. That says it all, to me.
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/28/2010 1:17:51 PM
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deermousie
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I had no choice.
God is God and I am a fallen creature. He made me highly aware of the second part of that all my life, and led me to Himself through the cross and empty tomb and overwhelmed me with the first part. Where else could I go? What else could I do but fall down and worship?
I love Him because He first loved me.
It's a shame He had to hunt me down and trap me like a wild horse, but that's how it is with sinners, and I'm so glad He didn't leave me in the false freedom of my sin. Now I am forgiven and His - how incredible is that?!
_____________________________
People died to give you the Bible in your language.
Read it. Eat it. Dwell in it. Rightly divide it. Live it.
Laugh, dance, praise your God, and go read some more. And God bless you.
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/28/2010 1:18:19 PM
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Coffee_Drinker
Posts: 175
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Hope... I've seen a lot of ugly. I wanted some kind of hope and I found it in Jesus Christ.
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/28/2010 2:42:44 PM
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wkklein722
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Being a Calvinist as wellm I believe that I am of the chosen. That being said I came to accept that call when I was going through some tought times. As the Lord Jesus Christ said, ""Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." This is what I've done since.
That also being said, I am huge apologetics buff. On an intellectual level, I can't not believe.....even if I wanted to.
_____________________________
If man created God, why did he create Him so holy?
-R.C. Sproul
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/28/2010 5:38:05 PM
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Silas_Barnaby
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quote:
ORIGINAL: EuphoriaAlice
Hi everyone, quick questions really, but the more in-depth answers, the better!
Why do YOU believe? Why the Christian faith specifically?
What made you believe and why?
Peace.
Good question - something everybody should be clear about. Ironically I don't think I have a "good answer" except maybe here
< Message edited by Silas_Barnaby -- 7/28/2010 5:44:10 PM >
_____________________________
...it is possible to be perfectly right on a superficial level, and wrong in the things that matter most in life
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/28/2010 10:23:45 PM
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Walker311
Posts: 837
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quote:
Why do YOU believe? Why the Christian faith specifically?
1)Because God made me believe. I could not or would not on my own have chosen to accept Jesus as God's only son and given my life to Him.
2)Because God placed me with Christian parents.
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/28/2010 10:29:19 PM
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19ramman85
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Because no man, nor any other spiritual being could do the things that Christ did for us ............ Not even close by even an astronomically insane 10 trillion, trillion, trillion, light years!
-charles
_____________________________
Please visit my new poll and vote, and comment if ya want!
http://faithcommunitynetwork.com/m_4970403/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#4970403
Thanx!
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/29/2010 12:32:53 AM
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LCannon
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From: Lebanon, OR
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In the simplest terms:
Admit-“[Jesus] proved He had a valid claim [to His Deity] but His own rejected His claim yet as many as receives His message; to them he claimed the right to become redeemed of God and appropriate His Name.“ John 1:11,12
Believe-“[you can be] freed from the arrogance that enslaves you [and] come into His obedience resulting in purification and Eternal Life. For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of is Eternal Life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 3:22,23
Confess-“[His message] is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching that if you confess [obedience to] Jesus as Lord with your mouth and you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes resulting in righteousness and with his mouth he confesses resulting in [obedience].” Romans 10:8-10
These are the ABC's of Faith-Recognition of Need, Repentance of that Need and obedience/appropriation/Victory to that Need. We can deal with theology later.
_____________________________
'No man can do a great and enduring work for God who is not a man of prayer and
no man can be a man of prayer who doesn't give much time to praying.' E.M. Bounds
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/29/2010 6:37:15 AM
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makarizo
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When I was young, Christ revealed Himself to me. Showed me His love, His presence, and called me..... it was easy to believe.
_____________________________
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/29/2010 9:00:37 AM
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timf
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quote:
Why do YOU believe? Why the Christian faith specifically?
2Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Believed = PISTEUO "to believe," also "to be persuaded of," and hence, "to place confidence in, to trust," signifies, in this sense of the word, reliance upon, not mere credence. It is most frequent in the writings of the Apostle John, especially the Gospel. See COMMIT, INTRUST, TRUST.
Persuaded = PEITHO "to persuade," in the Middle and Passive Voices signifies "to suffer oneself to be persuaded". See AGREE, ASSURE, OBEY, PERSUADE, TRUST, YIELD.
There is a relationship between faith and persuasion.
First the Father draws us.
Jesus is called the author and finisher of faith.
Faith comes from hearing the Bible.
We know the Bible is foolishness to those that are perishing.
I see that with no merit of my own, God gave me a desire to know truth. This desire can only be satisfied in Jesus and His word as they are truth. When I hear the Bible or read about Jesus, I recognize (hear His voice) the truth and am drawn to it despite any worldly consideration.
If I read about Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or other religions, I do not see truth and am not drawn to them. In fact even many "Christian" denominations and churches have made themselves so distant from truth that those drawn by God may find little to attract them there.
A Christian led by God does not plant his "flag" of dedication (trust) in a church, denomination, or statement of faith. He plants it on the solid rock, Jesus. Like Paul says, "I KNOW WHOM".
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/29/2010 2:06:49 PM
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ForgivenGrace
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I could give you a long story. About how because of mt Learning Disability/Difference I was mistreated, ignored, and rejected in school. About how all this made me feel like a stupid, ugly, freak.
However it comes down to one verse in Luke 23:34 "Jesus said "Father forgive them for they do not know what they do."
Forgiveness while up on the cross.
_____________________________
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. ~Dr. Seuss
Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/29/2010 11:29:14 PM
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sunshine4God
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ForgivenGrace
I could give you a long story. About how because of mt Learning Disability/Difference I was mistreated, ignored, and rejected in school. About how all this made me feel like a stupid, ugly, freak.
Me too.I have several learning disabilities and also was tormented throughout school. However the Love of God in me allowed me to
even see the good in those bullying me,and to be nice to them instead of retaliating.
_____________________________
Matthew 5:16.
"Let your light so shine before men that they will see
your good deeds and glorify your Lord".
http://www.facebook.com/nickyjoy?ref=name
my facebook page
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/30/2010 9:39:59 PM
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ColoradoLady38
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Why do I believe? That's a good question. I believe because over the course of my life from my childhood to my adulthood God has pursued me. He has made his presence 'known' by the use of all of my sense, to include my intuition. I ran for many years from God, and he never left me. He always found some way to show me that he was there still waiting on me with his hand outstretched. Sometimes it was a particular smell that was out of the norm. Like the smell of honey, when I was having my van repaired. Other times it was a song that was playing, even though it wasn't me that was playing it. I saw crosses in the clouds, as well as other things. God has always loved me, even when I didn't love myself. As a child, I too was tortured because I was different. I was slower than most in many aspects, but God loved me because of those differences and he showed me how to use what he did give me to my benefit. Through that I was able to 'catch up' in many ways. God sent his Holy Spirit to convict me when I was doing wrong. Even when I chose to do those things anyways, God still showed me his grace. He kept me strong through my life, showed me his loving tenderness when I was down and out, and gave me a strong kick in the rear when I needed that too. He has protected me from automobile accidents, by my van not cranking, or just a nagging feeling that I shouldn't be taking that particular route that morning. A few minutes later to hear on the radio how an accident had occurred, and had I gone at the right time, it could have been me that was in it. He kept me strong through my divorce, when I wanted to jump off of a bridge because I was so grief stricken. But he caused me to stop in the midst of my grief by bringing to my memory the very things that are most important to me. I feel his precious spirit when I am praying hard, I feel his comforting hands when I feel I can't take anymore of this life. Often he will send me a song, or a message on Facebook, or even a note in the mail from someone that I wasn't expecting and it came at just the right time. I can't honestly pinpoint only one thing as the reason that I believe, but I do. My entire life is a testament to God's grace. Through him I was able to break generational curses of alcoholism, amongst other things. So yeah, there's many reasons that I believe. I am just so thankful that he believes in me too....
_____________________________
God loves me even though....
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/30/2010 11:51:44 PM
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deermousie
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I'm going to add one story from someone who can't respond to this thread (because he's dead): C.S. Lewis.
Hanging out with his university don (professor) buddies, including Tolkein, he heard about Jesus rising from the dead (a nonChristian, surprisingly enough, said, "It actually seems to have happened"). As he struggled with the Bible's message and applying what he know about storytelling and myth (the academic definition, not lay people's definition*), it painted him into a corner and he finally felt forced to believe it.
He called himself, "The most reluctant convert in all Christendom." You can read about it in his book, "Surprised By Joy" (I think that's where it is).
I'm loving hearing all these stories. We'll be telling them in heaven! 
*don't ask me because I don't know; I just know they're different.
_____________________________
People died to give you the Bible in your language.
Read it. Eat it. Dwell in it. Rightly divide it. Live it.
Laugh, dance, praise your God, and go read some more. And God bless you.
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/31/2010 12:58:13 AM
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Liveloved
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Prayer Warrior
quote:
ORIGINAL: Liveloved
quote:
ORIGINAL: EuphoriaAlice
Hi everyone, quick questions really, but the more in-depth answers, the better!
Why do YOU believe? Why the Christian faith specifically?
What made you believe and why?
Peace.
I met God as a child. I knew He was holy and I was not. And I knew He loved me and wanted a relationship with me.
That relationship is only possible through Jesus because I must be holy to enter God's presence.
In Him (Jesus) I am the righteousness of God!
I believe because Jesus is the Truth, a very real person, Who came and lives in me.
Just stumbled in here, but read your message and wanted to say it is precious.
Blessings to you and yours,
pw
Thanks, PrayerWarrior. My simple little girl story but that's how it happened for me. Singing Holy, Holy, Holy on Sunday morning truly entered me into the presence of God and this little girl knew she was loved. . .  
_____________________________
Liveloved
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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/31/2010 6:26:39 PM
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StephK
Posts: 2488
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From:
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quote:
ORIGINAL: EuphoriaAlice
Hi everyone, quick questions really, but the more in-depth answers, the better!
Why do YOU believe? Why the Christian faith specifically?
What made you believe and why?
Peace.
I bolded the peace part for that is one of the main reasons I believe. My childhood was chaotic and at times violent. My mother was a very faithful Christian and we went to church. I always sensed God's peace and presence in the sanctuary. I was just a young child but I understood that even when there was turmoil, abuse, chaos around me that if I trusted in Him there could be peace in the midst of the chaos. As I grew up and learned to deal with the fallout of the abuse I did have some issues with God for allowing it. I was angry and put out with God and those who had hurt me. That was until one night when I was trying to understand why I went through what I went through I opened my Bible to the God and a section of scripture literally bolded and popped out at me. It was the God of all comfort passage in 2 Corintians 1: 3-7. I was healed and given the ability to truly forgive.
Fast forward to a couple years ago where I seriously questioned the existence of God and went through a real testing of my faith. I did some searching and reading yet I always kept coming back to the way in which God was always there meeting my needs, the healing of my wounded heart, the truths of scripture and the peace in the storms of life. I simply couldn't "not" believe.
7 And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7
_____________________________
Stephanie
"Our God is not to be worshipped as one among many good and true beings, but as God alone; and his gospel is not to be preached as one of several systems, but as the one sole way of salvation." - C.H. Spurgeon
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RE: Why Do You Believe? - 7/31/2010 6:57:32 PM
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CMT8808
Posts: 907
Joined: 9/4/2009
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Why Do I believe? Because I know God is not a religion, but a Spirit that has helped me through my most difficult times and got to share in my Happiest times of my walk of life. You could almost said we did the 'Wiggle' (for those not in the South it means dancing, so get your mind out of the gutter  )
I had a difficult young life and the things I never thought were ever possible for my life, He made possible, including giving birth. I was told since I was 18 y/o that it was impossible for me to conceive. (I was abused in many ways for years) and Lo and behold I have a child a beautiful healthy baby that is now 4 y/o and I am 49.
I have come close to death on many occasions. I was suppose to die when I was 5 y/o when I went into a coma from contracting spinal menegitis (I am allergic to pencillin and sulphur, the wonder drugs of the 60's) plus I didn't suffer any side effects.
And I do not have enough space to share all that HE has done for me, inspite of myself, a sinner, fallen, broken person, yet seems to find me worthy enough to lift me.
CMT
_____________________________
formerly Delete 123
Never Underestimate the Power of God
Romans 8:28, Proverb 3:5
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that is my Calvinistic response. (Sorry I had too) 
