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I am a very faithful Christian but I have a lot of questions about the foundations of my religion. I don’t understand the Bible at all. I don’t understand why and how we know it is the word of God. I don’t understand why some people go by the New Testament, and some people go by the Old. Shouldn’t we read all of it? But I find so many contradictions in it. For example I’ve been told it says in the Bible that different races shouldn’t marry, and I don’t believe in that. I’ve never actually seen those words in the Bible though because I don’t know where to look. I wish I had some way to be able to understand the Bible. I don’t feel that I have anyone to go to in my church because their views just seem opinionated to me.
I’ve got to the point where I don’t even read the Bible at all because I don’t feel that it helps me any with my faith. If anything it just confuses me and makes things worse. I don’t have any doubts and I believe that as long as I just trust in God, that’s all that matters. I’m pretty happy with where I am now in my faith. But sometimes I just wish I understood things about it a little better. Is it wrong that I go by my heart’s morals and not the Bible, but still say I’m Christian?(I would prefer if people who are just going to tell me that God doesn’t exist didn’t respond. I don’t want to waste my time arguing because that is not what I came here to do. No disrespect to you but you can’t help me.)
Welcome akara,
Your instincts are correct.
The bible is the truth and what it teaches is what we should follow.
There is much that is useful to be found here in every thread so just read awayAkara Welcome, First it is the Bible were you will find what is true and what is false. There are errors, but in general you can prove things. In 1 Thes. 5:21 tells us, that we should prove all things.
When you study in the Bible always pray for wisdom first.
We were in the Catholic Church until we were 46 and 47 years old. We never read the Bible. You can't read the Bible like any Book. My advice to you is to get a good Concordance. Then go by subjects. If you have not been Baptized yet, you should do so according to scriptures, also. That means submerged completely under water. Without God's Holy Spirit you will not understand the things of God. IMO no offence intended.
Peace and Love IreneThank you both so much for your advice. It was helpful. Maybe I should try getting a new and better NIV Bible. Any suggestions?
And yes, I was baptized and submerged. I'm glad I did that.There are a few weird things in the Bible that I have read myself and thought about but still don't understand. For example, apparently women are “unclean” while they are on their period and anyone who touches a woman on her monthly is unclean.
“And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.”
-Leviticus 15:19-30What is up with that?! Does anyone maybe know another site I could go to that suggests answers for questions like this?
Akara As far as Lev. is concerned, we are no longer under that Covenant. I have writen an article on that. You might want to read it. I will bump it up for you.
Peace and Love IreneQuote (Akara @ Aug. 08 2008,15:41) Thank you both so much for your advice. It was helpful. Maybe I should try getting a new and better NIV Bible. Any suggestions?
And yes, I was baptized and submerged. I'm glad I did that.There are a few weird things in the Bible that I have read myself and thought about but still don't understand. For example, apparently women are “unclean” while they are on their period and anyone who touches a woman on her monthly is unclean.
“And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.”
-Leviticus 15:19-30What is up with that?! Does anyone maybe know another site I could go to that suggests answers for questions like this?
Welcome,One thing that may be helpful for you to realize is that the bible was written in a different era, a different generation of people.
Back then blood-born diseases were everywhere. Back then, they didn't have sanitary napkins and tampons. Perhaps when women had their period is was more messy and not easily contained? Maybe some of these “rules” that we read about were because of this and the fact that diseases were so easy to catch?
I've decided that when I'm reading the bible and I stumble upon something that doesn't make sense like this…..I'm not going to think negatively first, I'm going to see if there is a reason for some of the things that seem cruel or mean. Sometimes, there are answers. Much study and prayer is needed.
Glad you are here,
MandyWelcome akara,
Our host has a section which might help you at Questions and Answers hope I did it right I've never posted a link before. Again welcome hope you stick around it is a good place to learn.Wm
Akara,
On a bible there is Biblegateway which allows you to search by words then offers a dozen or so different translation which can help when your first trying to understand scripture. Hope this helps.You stated in your post that sometimes “rules” seem to be opinions, most here would agree (we call them traditions) and Jesus made it clear, man likes his traditions and tends to hold them higher then the dictates of God. We should seek truth and through it we will be set free from these traditions and lighten our load and grow closer to the Father.
Scriptures can seem confusing and even contradictory at first but if you seek, the Holy Spirit will guide you to all truth. One point I want to make is the Father is patient as long as your honestly searching He understands you will make mistakes don't give up if you keep at it. it eventually begins to make sense and contradictions disappear.
In my opinion – Wm
Hi Akara:
Have you been born again? When we as born again Christians receive the Holy Spirit, we know that the bible is the Word of God because the Spirit testifies that God is a reality and that His testimony regarding His Son Jesus is true.
Quote 1Jo 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
1Jo 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1Jo 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.I was a member of a Southern Baptist church for many years before my born again experience, but I did not have a personal relationship with God, and so, I am wondering if something similar is the case with you.
We are saved by Faith in God's testimony regarding what He has done for us through His Son and His Christ Jesus. When we come to God through Jesus, we come to Him with a repentant heart. If you have not received the Holy Spirit ask God to fill with His Spirit.
When seeking understanding of the Word of God, go to God in prayer asking Him for understanding.
Quote Jam 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Jam 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.As born again believers, God instructs us to marry someone who is a Christian. It does not have anything to do with race.
If we are married, we should not have sex with our wife while she is in her period. Other than that the rules of uncleaness relative to a woman and her period do not pertain to us.
I hope that this helps.
God Bless
Irene: Yes, I'd like to read your article.
Not3in1: Thank you, that makes a lot of sense. Sometimes I just don't think of these things, I guess.
seekingtruth: Thank you for the links. I think I've been to BibleGateway before, and it was a great site, but I didn't remember the URL. Thanks, I think that will be useful.
942767: Thank you for your advice. Yes, I'm glad to say that I'm a born again Christian and I have a personal relationship with God.
Thank you all so much for your help! I think I will do a little research and praying now, and maybe one day I will understand a little better.
Welcome Akara,
It sounds like you are a “baby” christian, so to speak. All Christians start out that way. As babes in Christ we feed on milk, the basics of God and as we grow we start to chew on the tougher stuff. The book of John is a good place to start your search. There are some good basics there.LU
Hi akara, dont worry a lot of people are confused when the read the bible, i know coz even tho ive beena christian for 14 yrs i still have trouble. Make sure you are in a good church that teaches from the bible, and that has a good pastor who is willing to take time to answer your questions, or even one that has a study group for new believers. I also wanted to address your question about the verse form levitcus. A lot of the laws from that book and deuteronomy were designed to set the jewish nation apart from the other pagan nations surrounding them. They were totally different from the way the gentiles were doing things… and as some one else pointed out some of the laws were to prevent illness, a lot of the laws about food are for that reason… they didnt have a fridge. oh and one more thing, there are several versions of the bible out there… try a version called the message… its the bible in modern language…. there is a version the pairs the message with KJV and NIV… a lot of people in my church use that one… or a good study bible can help too…. so visit your local christian bookstore…. GBU
Welcome Akara:
Please join in our prayer request and spend some time praying for others. It brings our relationships with God's family seem so much closer. Everyone seems to have an particular bible they choose. For me ; the good ole King James Version is still my only choice. Please read, Jer. 31:31 God speaks about a new covenant….as to the food we all should learn more about eating right ….lol , it teaches us to number our days more. ps. 90 :12 …. God Bless you and keep on keeping on for Jesus.
Quote (Akara @ Aug. 08 2008,07:26) I am a very faithful Christian but I have a lot of questions about the foundations of my religion. I don't understand the Bible at all. I don't understand why and how we know it is the word of God. I don't understand why some people go by the New Testament, and some people go by the Old. Shouldn't we read all of it? But I find so many contradictions in it. For example I've been told it says in the Bible that different races shouldn't marry, and I don't believe in that. I've never actually seen those words in the Bible though because I don't know where to look. I wish I had some way to be able to understand the Bible. I don't feel that I have anyone to go to in my church because their views just seem opinionated to me.
I've got to the point where I don't even read the Bible at all because I don't feel that it helps me any with my faith. If anything it just confuses me and makes things worse. I don't have any doubts and I believe that as long as I just trust in God, that's all that matters. I'm pretty happy with where I am now in my faith. But sometimes I just wish I understood things about it a little better. Is it wrong that I go by my heart's morals and not the Bible, but still say I'm Christian?(I would prefer if people who are just going to tell me that God doesn't exist didn't respond. I don't want to waste my time arguing because that is not what I came here to do. No disrespect to you but you can't help me.)
The bible does not condemn the mixing of race in-fact Many Patriachs were married to different ethnic groups, Moses and Abraham being two who did this.In Judaism it is the belief that it is better not to marry outside of your religion as it can cause you to stray such as Solomon strayed because of his many wives that were not of his religion.
I had this problem, and I asked God to open my eyes, ears, and heart so that I could understand His word, and to give me wisdom in understanding it. And things really started making sense!
The Bible says nothing about not marrying a different race. The only thing it says is that we should not marry anyone of a different FAITH, and that is because they may make you believe what they believe. But marrying a different race is Ok.
Satan is trying to decieve you about the bible. Satan is the king of confusion. Everything in the Bible makes perfect sense, but what makes it confusing is that some parts are arranged in different order I think, and several different people talk about the same things, only with tiny variances. Yes, that is confusing!
There are many more books of the Bible that were not included when the Bible was made. I have read some of those books, and things do click into place a lot more….but some experts believe that those “lost” books are not authenic. But from what I understand, they were found in the exact same place as the rest of the Bible, so how are we to know whether they are authenic or not? Only God knows the truth. But all I know is that when I read some of those books, the confusing parts made sense-it was like the missing parts were there.
As long as you truly believe, without a doubt that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that He has forgiven you for your sins and that you know that He will deliver you safely to Heaven when you die, you are saved.
But know that this is a trick of Satan….getting you not to want to read your bible. Trust me when I say that he has plenty more tricks that will slowly but surely turn you away from God.
God bless you Akara! You also can go to a bible book store and find question and answer books in there too. I use the NIV some too, my preacher says its fine but when he does deeper studying he likes the king james .The more you learn of Gods word the more you will know it is true. When you can look at the Word and follow it from beginning to end of what has happened, whats going on now and what is going to happen you will understand ,how could anyone of wrote the word like that but God. I am a Baptist, and go to church faithfully, and I would not change for nothing. When you have the holy spirit it will guide you to the truth. I promise! You should talk to God about what ever is on your mind, he will give you answers. He is our true friend, who will always be there for you 24/7. His line is never busy. I wish you the best in your spiritual walk! God Bless
Quote (Akara @ Aug. 08 2008,07:26) I am a very faithful Christian but I have a lot of questions about the foundations of my religion. I don't understand the Bible at all. I don't understand why and how we know it is the word of God. I don't understand why some people go by the New Testament, and some people go by the Old. Shouldn't we read all of it? But I find so many contradictions in it. For example I've been told it says in the Bible that different races shouldn't marry, and I don't believe in that. I've never actually seen those words in the Bible though because I don't know where to look. I wish I had some way to be able to understand the Bible. I don't feel that I have anyone to go to in my church because their views just seem opinionated to me.
I've got to the point where I don't even read the Bible at all because I don't feel that it helps me any with my faith. If anything it just confuses me and makes things worse. I don't have any doubts and I believe that as long as I just trust in God, that's all that matters. I'm pretty happy with where I am now in my faith. But sometimes I just wish I understood things about it a little better. Is it wrong that I go by my heart's morals and not the Bible, but still say I'm Christian?(I would prefer if people who are just going to tell me that God doesn't exist didn't respond. I don't want to waste my time arguing because that is not what I came here to do. No disrespect to you but you can't help me.)
Get your bible and read the the Gospel of John. Get to know who Jesus is. He is the Son of God. Don't try to fit a doctrine you have been taught into this. Just read what it says. It says that Jesus is the Son of God and that God is the Heavenly Father. IF you get that, you have a great foundation to build on.Then read Acts and pay close attention to what happened in the upper room. Ask God to give you all they had back then. Ask God for the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth. When he gives you the Holy Spirit, you will speak in tongues. Don't let that scare you. It is a wonderful thing to have a language to speak to God. It is for you today. I am assuming you have been baptised in the name of Jesus, the way the Bible tells you to do and that you have turned from your sins.
Let the Holy Spirit lead you as you read. He will open your spiritual eyes to see the scriptures in a spiritual way and not in a carnal way. Call on the Holy Spirit and trust him to teach you the truth.
You can have the holy spirit and still not speak in tongues tho. It isnt for all. some are blessed with that gift. And yes John is good, but you need to understand alot more of the bible too, about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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