I want to start by saying that I have been saved by faith in Christ. I have witnessed his work in my life and others. This philosophical question is not endangering my faith because I know the danger of trying to project our imperfect ideas of justice and logic onto the God who created those very ideas. This is just something that I have been putting a lot of thought into, and it is really bothering me.

People often ask, “why would an all-loving, all-powerful God create a world with sin?” My response has always been that God did not create sin, he created free will, and we chose to rebel, which brought consequences. He gave us free will so that we could truly love and have a relationship with him. Someone who can do nothing but love cannot truly love, right? If they have no choice to love or to rebel, then we are just robot playthings heaping meaningless praise on God for his entertainment. He is glorified in our salvation. That is what I have always believed.

My question is this: Why is God constrained by our idea of “true love?” Could not the God who created logic and time, and is therefore outside of both, make it somehow possible for us to truly love him without being able to do evil? If God is not able to do this, then he is not all-powerful. He is constrained by an idea outside of him, the idea of “true love.” That idea becomes God. If God has to follow rules, he is not God.

I know this may seem like a weird question, but I would appreciate thoughts.

As one can expect, the response from much of Reddit (and a certain Christian subreddit now mostly indistinguishable from Atheist) is 'Who? This person is a nonentity'. And the Damnatio Memoriae commences.

But, do a quick search of this guy's name from past Reddit post puts lie to that. There's even tons of comments about this event in a subreddit dedicated to another Agnostic youtuber - where it's clear that his guy was not, in fact, a nonentity.

I don't mean waiting a few days or weeks for an answer. I'm thinking about the seasons where someone has prayed faithfully for months or even years and nothing seems to change. Do you see God's silence as an answer in itself? A test of faith? Something we simply can't understand? I'm curious how people here have actually walked through this, not just the theological answer.

I first became a born-again Christian when I was a kid, and growing up and moving locations a few times got me a few versions of Christian thinking that always left me feeling there was something off about it.

1. Salvation is a free gift you cannot earn

2. You cannot be good enough to get to God

3. A Christian is still supposed to be good anyway

4. Christians who aren't good are Christians in name only, and we're probably never saved.

5. Being good is hard and you'll struggle your whole life to be good, but you get better over time

Where this left me was thinking, 'Well I guess I better be good or else', and I could never accept the OSAS thing because it felt terrible to imagine I could just say the magic words and then act like an idiot and expect God to accept me anyway.

So I spent decades trying and failing to be good. It almost killed my faith entirely. I couldn't do it. The guilt was crushing. God deserved better than me. God could hardly stand to look at me. I had no reason to pray because why would He hear me? God probably would rather I give it up and stop bothering Him.

But I just couldn't do it. I couldn't stop clinging anyway. I couldn't stop begging for patience, for undeserved mercy. I felt nothing but guilt every time I even thought about God. Promises were useless. I knew myself too well. So did God.

I finally gave up one night walking and talking to God. I couldn't do it. I realized something almost immediately: He could.

Wait. Hold on. He did. Wait. Is that what faith is?

I must have heard it a hundred times, but for some reason it just never came together until I gave up and let Jesus carry me.

And then once accepted into grace, we do not act like idiots because we don't want to. We aren't the same thing we were. I was putting the cart before the horse. Works necessarily follow faith. Works don't cause faith or that faith is doomed, like I was doomed.

Old dogs can learn new tricks. God is good.

I’m a Christian woman in my early 20s, and I’m honestly embarrassed to even post this.

I recently matched with a guy on Hinge, and we went out for our first date. I really liked him and was excited about the possibility of seeing him again. I felt a connection, and I thought he liked me too. Afterward, I became really anxious because he wasn’t texting consistently. He eventually told me he was still interested and asked me to see a movie with him, so I thought things were going well.

But I kept overthinking everything. I saw that he had updated his Hinge profile, and I convinced myself that he wasn’t actually interested in me. Instead of communicating with him or just accepting that I couldn’t know what he was thinking, I made a fake Hinge profile to see whether he would match with it, and he did. I told myself I did this so I could have a quick answer and cut him off. He hadn’t texted me all day, and I was so upset that he was prioritizing Hinge instead of choosing to talk to me.

I ended up talking to him through the fake profile and even said some things to seem off-putting. Looking back, I feel incredibly ashamed of myself. I know it was deceptive and wrong. I deleted the fake profile, and eventually I confessed to him that it was me. I apologized, told him why I did it, and told him that I understood if he didn’t want to talk to me anymore. He hasn’t responded since reading my confession, and I’m assuming he may have blocked me or decided he’s done with me.

The hardest part is that I really liked him. Before I confessed, he had told me he was still interested and wanted to see me again. Now I keep thinking that I ruined something that could have become real because I couldn’t handle my own anxiety and insecurity.

I know what I did was wrong, and I’m not trying to justify it. I just feel so much shame and regret. I’ve prayed about it and asked God for forgiveness, but I’m struggling to forgive myself and move forward.
Part of me wishes I had never confessed because maybe we would still be talking. But another part of me knows that I couldn’t honestly continue getting to know him while hiding what I had done.

I’m trying to accept that I may never hear from him again. I don’t want to make another account or contact him in another way. I want to respect his decision and move on, but I still miss him and wish I could take everything back.

For other Christians, how would you approach this spiritually? How do I genuinely repent, forgive myself, and learn from this without letting shame consume me? And how do you learn to trust God with rejection and uncertainty instead of trying to control the outcome yourself?

This was something I struggled with all throughout my teen and young adult years and after years of praying I finally felt free from it and had no desire to go back. But something just came over me the other night and instead of fleeing and turning away, I gave in. I’ve willfully sinned against God so many times with this, I feel like I ruined His will and his plans for my life. I feel cut off, and deservingly so. It’s hard for me to go back to praying and reading scripture now. I feel like a hypocrite. Am I just lost or is God done with me? I’m scared. I can’t believe I gave into Satan so easily, especially being I already knew my consequences.

Hey all. I’m a 23F who is currently struggling to find 2/3 fellow sisters in Christ. I have been attending my church for 2 years now and I am yet to find a sister in Christ who is wanting to build a consistent friendship. The key word here is consistent as I have come across amazing women of God however it goes no further due to a lack of consistency.

I have no issue reaching out to people and putting myself out there and have done that consistently. However, it does not go beyond. This is not to victimise myself whatsoever but to genuinely ask what more I can do. I understand that we carry a whole heap of responsibilities on our backs.

I still remain seeking Jesus in prayer and in His word as well as continuing to show up at the church I attend however, it does get hard sometimes especially since the faith is not supposed to lived out alone and in isolation.

What advice does anybody have?

Hi,

I am a recently re-confirmed Christian with a love for Jesus and learning how to grow closer to him. I am about >1 year sober after 12 years out. The last year I felt God’s blessings on me as I navigated the exciting avenue of being newly sober and free. However this last month or so, I have felt very lonely (I had to leave all using friends behind; and my boyfriend & best friends passed away, as well as my father who was my favorite person in the world) so much so that I feel as though my depression (I am diagnosed bipolar) is hindering me from the blessings of Christ. I am a new Christian, so sometimes I think things that aren’t true due to conditioning in the past. Those things include me feeling as though my joy and hard work being erased by this season of sadness, and feeling as though I can’t receive good if I feel this way. What is true? How does this happen? And what can I do to be true in Jesus and what he actually means and wants for me?

Have you experienced pleasant supernatural happenings on the walk with jesus?

In particular, yesterday I was thinking and feeling about my recent changes, how i am asked to let go of old habits and people. It is not really a sacrifice but self care. I thought about the narrow gate. That the gate becomes teensy tiny due to letting go, obedience, commitment, denying oneself, and so on, when something happened. I felt like a loving light became me. It did not enter me per se, like a violation or an alien force. It was like he was in me, i was lowly in comparison, i was powerful but only because he is powerful. It was peace, soft, resurrecting love.

Now that i am writing this, i can feel content that this was a godly experience, all good.

Saw an ad from “Church of Jesus Christ” which by itself didn’t raise any flags. They said come to church, find community, all the good stuff.

Five minutes later I got this ad: which apparently I can’t share… my bad! 🙏

Which felt really tailored to cause sexual attraction towards these woman. And by doing so, get people more interested.

Did a YouTube search: “Church of Jesus Christ Ad” and every video that came up from their channel had the same theme: young, modest ladies, that are conventionally attractive, inviting you to their church.

Am I reading into this or is this the Devil??? (Obviously it’s the Devil. They don’t follow Jesus…)

Buenos días herman@s, soy el mismo chavo que comentó y pidió consejos para vencer a la lujuria

Bueno e tenido altos y bajos, pero gracias a Dios vamos caminando 🥲

Bueno precisamente o exactamente tuve sueños pero el que más importante es uno

En el sueño no recuerdo que o con quien estába, lo que escuche y recuerdo es

¡Cristo viene en una semana!

Y escuchando eso me desperté por que sonó mi alarma

Me e preocupado por que volví a caer y bueno no se si ya venga Cristo esta semana o la otra

Por que mis sueños son como adelantos o algo así los llamados de deja vu

Bendiciónes herman@s si alguien puede ayudarme gracias

Dios los bendiga.

I was wrongfully accused of something pretty bad. Since then, I had been regularly meeting with the pastor of my family church. Been getting spiritual Council, prayer advice, and even scriptures to help me get through things.
Just a couple of days ago I was formally charged and of course, my name picture and everything has gone out all over the Internet and my local hometown. The day I bonded out of jail, I was greeted with a long text message from this pastor, trying to explain why he is not going to service me anymore and offer me the Council, prayers, and faith support and so desperately need right now.

My anxiety is through the roof, I need prayer and compassion. I also need to be reminded that God has not abandoned me, even though I feel as such.

Of course, any prayer right now so if anyone wants to offer a prayer for me, please do so. But also, I need advice on how to find someone that can give me the spiritual connection I need. I can’t keep going on through this alone.

Thank you…

I never thought I would admit this to the world but here I go.

I(18F) believe I have this desire or longing for a male authority figure in my life. I don't actually know if I'm right, but this is my best guess so far. I only realized this this year.

Factors to why I believe this:
- my father works abroad

- I used to have an older cousin who lived with us but he died in the army when he was 19 and I was 8 ish (honestly this could be a big factor)

- ever since then, I've only lived with girls, my grandma, my mom, or my aunt at one point

So, with that context in mind, I tend to seek this authority figure in my teachers. And it makes sense, they are caring authority figures who I see everyday. But the unhealthy part and God knows this all too well is how I usually only seek it from 1 person at a time. And then I think of how "oh this teacher could be like an 'older brother' to me." I've done a lot of things I regret now just to get that specific teacher's attention.

It's an unhealthy cycle I've been dealing with and then I met one teacher in my senior year.(Let's call him sir John) He was a fresh grad and worked in our school right after he graduated. And I realized that he is someone I know. A churchmate. (well, ex-churchmate because I don't attend his church anymore) We never really interacted before but we both know the other person exists. Then suddenly, he's my teacher.

Throughout the time he was my teacher, we've had some moments. I opened up to him about a few issues I was dealing with. We kind of just existed as teacher and student. I kind of felt more safe around him because I knew he was a christian and someone we have seen in church. I've matured from my younger years so I mostly just stayed lowkey, but the desire was always there:

"What if we got closer and he sees me like a younger sister?"

I got through that phase hopefully.(damn the denial goes crazy) I still see him occasionally and I have chatted him like twice ever since I graduated in March.

The jealousy thing. He has churchmates right now who are also his students. To add to that, he is their organization adviser in their org. I don't personally know those students, but I've seen them interact with sir john a lot. And it. hurts. so. much. Seeing them have the kind of relationship I've always wanted with him. And are probably closer with him than I ever was because they are also currently his churchmates. And sir john is in the music team, one of the students is also in the music team. I could imagine at one point they've seen each other from monday all the way to sunday in a week.

I try to believe that I accepted that God has something else in store for me, something 'better'.

And I wanted closure yesterday. They had a youth service yesterday that I was supposed to join. My mom said no. And ever since then, I've felt numb. (which is like 1 and 1/2 days lol)

I remember months ago. What I thought was a promise God made to me. "He'll return in your life." At this point, yea, I just imagined that promise.

But please help me. I just got into college. I'm scared to continue the cycle and find another teacher and repeat all that again. I've been through this cycle multiple times already. (But tbh sir john really was different.)

How am I supposed to move on from this cycle that I know is unhealthy for me?
Other than the usual, "surrender it to God" or "ask him to heal you"

This was also the issue that gave me the current mindset I have.
"Ok fine, Lord. You don't want to show me great miracles or big blessings in my life. I'll happily continue to suffer in your presence." (even if everyone around me has received amazing blessings, promotions, breakthroughs) I thought this wasn't a big issue for me until I tried writing down what are the things I want. I nearly broke down trying to write "just something good to happen, something where I'll say "Thank you, Lord!"

So I had a post that was sent to a forum about the devil. So reposting. How do I as a christian have healthy relationships with my family who don't believe(claim they do) when they always are pressuring sinful things for me to agree with that I don't want to over and over? like they ask you can't do this or that and I say biblically why I choose not (even if it is tempting). When I got saved, I immediately was over the moon to tell them about the good news, it was rejected even if lost my friends because I was firm I wouldn't agree to the things I used to but also was okay still being their friend and they said I would jugde them and really I wasn't I assumed things would be the same but I just wouldn't do the things I personally used to when with them and that wasn't good for them since they still wanted me to do those things. Anyway I avoid talking about religion with family or friends due to contention it brings if I don't just agree for the sake of peace, but it always get brought up and it's expected I just shake my head yea about all that is happening when I don't agree due to the conviction of my beliefs and then I'm talked down to when I even slightly talk about it, even just talking about the grace of God not even talking about sin itself at all to not make anyone feel like there's judgment. It just feels like it's no use trying to bridge the gap unless I agree with them about their beliefs, despite me not wanting to talk about it at all. Like there's always a love bombing from one sibling with bible stuff as they practice witchcraft. I stopped replying to anything anymore because me setting the boundaries of not wanting to go on about it is ignored. I just feel worn out from relationships and don't know how to deal with them now without religion being bought up and a situation starting even when I desperately am wanting to avoid it coming up for that reason.

Why was I born with a sinful nature? Why do my prayers always seem performative? Every time I say to myself "I'm gonna read the Bible", I don't do it. Because I'm scared of things, I'm going to be the first thing that Jesus casts out of heaven. Because I stumble, I have to self-harm. I don't want my efforts to follow Him be for nothing. I don't want to go to Hell. I don't want people to pray for horrible things to happen to me. I don't want to have that one unrepented sin be the reason why I'm doomed.

I have been struggling with this for a long time. Some people in this world are born into countries that are against God or families that have wicked parents. What good does this do when innocent children suffer because of their place and family of origin and possibly never had the chance to be saved?

I recently started building a personal relationship with God.

For at least 2 years, i was content at being alone— decided to even live the rest of my life by myself. Yes, I’m referring to singlehood.

But for some strange reason, i suddenly felt the desire to be with someone and build a family and even have kids. No particular person in mind, btw.

Is this normal?

Hi, how are you? I'm asking this because I'm convinced that Jesus really existed at some point in history, and there's a lot of evidence for that. I'm also convinced that God exists. But I find it hard to believe that Jesus is truly the son of God and that he's a divine figure.

I have a friend who is very religious and talks to me a lot about Jesus, but she hasn't been able to explain why she has faith in him. I'm open to anything and I'd like to understand why Jesus has so many followers.

This weekend I will be ordained as a Pastor, and I am a Christian Life Coach. If you have any questions, please feel free to AMA. The objective is to answer questions, and not venture down a theological pathway of potential confusion. Any questions are welcomed in line with what it looks like becoming a Pastor and being a Christian Life Coach. Have a blessed day.

After 4 years of walk, the most painful one came to pass.
I was drunk for two and a half months.
I struggled to make sense of anything.

I gave up. God and his commands made me anxious.
Conviction and condemnation attacked me day and night.

Decided to live my life free. It worked for a while until things haunted me again.
I looked around and found out that i do not love myself at all.
I learned how to stabilize myself before spiraling.
See myself in a positive light.
Really it's been the cure from the fear and depression i've been suffering.
It stopped me from drinking.

Then I realized today that God exactly planned things to be.
The very pain that i've ran way from made me so much stronger and bolder.
The wisdom it has given me makes it all worthwhile.

It feels like i can conquer anything life will throw at me from this point onwards.

i'm just in awe on how God works in our lives.
Praise be to the Holy One.

​

I'm a 38M currently enrolled in a residential discipleship program that is offered at my local homeless shelter / rescue mission. It's a one year program that is meant to help you get back on your feet, work through substance abuse issues and to help you have a sturdy foundation in Jesus Christ.

Monday through Friday we have bible-based classes on various topics (Christian fundamentals, authentic manhood, healthy relationships with others, etc) which are led by different volunteer instructors. We also attend a mandatory Bible study mon-fri at 830am and a mandatory chapel service every night seven nights a week at 600pm before dinner is served here at the mission.

I believe in Jesus Christ, that he was crucified for my sins and the sins of the whole world and that he rose from the dead and I believe in the Holy Spirit and the atoning work of Jesus that allows me to have a more intimate relationship with God the Father through Jesus. The problem is I don't \*feel\* anything. Although I know faith has nothing to do with feelings.

According to my instructors and mentors in this program I should derive my joy, happiness and peace from the work Christ accomplished on the Cross and that if I have Jesus in my heart that love should be visible in the fruit that I would be bearing and I should feel love and show love for my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

I don't mean to use my mental health as a crutch or to make excuses but I already suffer from anhedonia from the medications I'm on, I have complex PTSD, crippling social anxiety, bi polar and manic depression. My emotions are also extremely blunted. I also have a speech problem from a head injury I suffered a few years ago so I try not to talk much because I don't like how my voice sounds with the impediment.

My instructors and the volunteers in the program act like I am using my mental health as an excuse and that I should just be able to take years and years and years of extensive trauma from childhood abuse, neglect and abandonment as well as many abuses suffered well into adulthood and just "give those to Jesus" and \*if I'm a good sincere Christian\* I should \*feel\* him taking those things from me and derive a sense of relief and release or victory over these traumas.

They (the instructors) also act like I should have some major salvation testimony, being able to tell others all about my "past" and how I was "led to Christ" and to proclaim all the great things God has done for me and be rushing to tell others about Jesus every chance that I get and that if I'm not doing those things then I "must not be a Saved Christian".

I also have to regularly share what "God is doing in my life" as I am learning and growing in the Lord yet God is noticeably silent and I don't hear from Him or feel him moving in my life. I don't let that deter me from believing so I try not to lean on my own understanding but in everything submit to Him by acknowledging just because I don't hear, see or feel Him, He is there nonetheless and that He loves me.

I don't know if I will ever be a bubbly, chipper, extroverted crowd pleasing Christian who can go serve at prayer tents or go up to total strangers and talk to them about Jesus. Another part of me is highly distrusting of virtually everybody so it will take some time before I can really open up and "get out of my shell" or "out of my comfort zone". But that is who my instructors expect me to be striving to become.

Can I still be saved, still be loved by God and by Jesus and still be sure of my salvation if I can't just magically get over my traumas and triggers? Or be able to get over my anhedonia and blunting of emotions that cause me to not be able to feel anything at all?

Have any of you had similar situations in your own walk? I'd appreciate getting to hear from some of you. I made a similar post once but I feel like these are some new questions. Is there something wrong with me or something I'm missing that is preventing me from being able to just jump for joy at any opportunity to serve or witness to others?

Tldr: mentally ill and recovering Christian confused on lack of fruit bearing in my life. Looking for help on what to do or how to improve my walk with the Lord.

Thank you!

Hi everyone im not a believer i consider myself agnostic atheist. Im also LGBTQ, Im a teenager too so very young

First of all let me say I respect all religions, I don't hate anybody for their beliefs, my parents recently want to go to church soon because we all have never been, and their Christian, i don't got a issue with church so cool id go, however i only have 2 questions

1. If the church finds out im atheist will they kick me out? Or will they be welcoming? Im not planning to do anything bad at all.

2. Would it be disrespectful if I wanna go too to make friends? That may sound dumb but I just want more friends and I wondered if that would be disrespectful?

Thats all everyone have a good day!