CHRISTIANS -- I can't force myself to believe in the Biblical god; is this held against me?

While to the Christian this hypothetical situation may be impossible (one assumes God would help someone that truely wants to believe to do so), let us consider it anyway.

There is Biblical evidence that God will judge us each on what we know. For example, Matt 11:23-24 says:

"23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you wthat it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

While there is some controversy, there is also evidence that people will have another chance to choose when they understand. 1 Peter 3:18-20 says:

"18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, 7when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah..."

Revelations 20:12-15 discusses the dead being judged according to their works. This is notable because it is AFTER the reserection of the saints in 20:4-6. otherwise, why would God bother to judge non-Christians if there wasn't a chance for them to change their mind? Although I should note that some believe these also to be Christians. I believe there is another verse that strongly suggests people will have a chance to choose later on but I can't find it right now.

One thing that the Christian knows for sure though, is that however it is done, God will be fair. After all He is the one that invented the ideas of justice and mercy. He also says in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but othat all should come to repentance."

I know whatcha mean about taking that LEAP of faith from a position of reality into the realm of delusion - you know there's nothing there but millions of people tell you that 'they know' that there is.

Could ALL these people be insane?

Well, yes ... and they are.

I searched in Vietnam during the war - poor, starving, traumatised, wide-eyed children.

Mmm. Not much evidence of a god there.

I searched in peaceful Oz - lotsa people ‘walking with god’ but they didn't seem luckier or unluckier than me ... in fact I saw MYself as a lot better off cos I wasn’t carrying the load of guilt and FEAR of hell in my 'after' life.

I searched straight and sober for ten years; I searched under the effects of mind-altering substances for thirty years.

There were times I thought I WAS 'god' but never found a foot-print in realistic evidence anywhere.

My open-minded search stopped about five years ago because try as I might I wasn't able to let go of reality.

I'm sure there are many who've had a reality that wasn't too nice and haven't missed trading it in on a delusion - the delusion is just not for me.

NOWadays I just point and laugh at the delusional fools who are convinced I am mad.

LOLz

See Sufi Story in the link below: When the Waters Were Changed

I don't believe this will be held against someone,if God,knows your heart.As much as it hurts when my children don't trust or believe me,I never hold it against them,because I love them.It may make situations in their lives more difficult by not listening to sound advice from someone older and experienced,but that too, is their path.With all of the different religions out there fighting one another,different Dogma and the hypocrisy, I see why one wouldn't believe.I know that God understands what we are faced with and loves us just the same. God simply wants us to Love and Help one another.

If there weren't a god then I can't see how an imaginary entity could hold anything against you - so no.

But I think you're asking, hypothetically, if you were wrong about there being God and you were to die if God would hold it against you and send you to hell because you could not find it within yourself to believe. yes? According to scripture salvation can only be reached by not only believing in God but also choosing to follow him. Christ said of Himself that He is the only way to God. So to answer your question - yes, it would be held against you. God is so good that all sin, by its very existence must be held against us. This is why Christ came, to satisfy the need for justice in light of our sin so that our sin wont be held against us.

Anyway, it seems like you're thinking about a lot. I hope you find what you're looking for.

I think that belief is a choice. By NOT "being able to believe" - you are choosing not to believe. It's your choice. And I think - that according to the Christians - you will not have exercised your free will to believe - and you will go to hell.

I am not a Christian - but I do believe in God. I believe that God is the power of LOVE. My philosophy - Science of Mind - is all about taking control of your life through taking control of your mind. Change your thinking - change your life - you know, all of that.

So - if you WANT to believe in Jesus - you will. I think you're making a choice not to do it. I also think that there is nothing wrong with that. AND - I also think that if there is something after this life - you'll be fine. God is love.

Namaste!!

This happened to me in fact.

I just couldn't believe in the Christian God - it made no sense to me.

'Lucky S.' is correct- wish I could tell you my story as to how I came to believe but the events that lead up to it were overwhelming.

I studied everything I could get my hands on from science, philosophy, and theology until I literally was at a point that I couldn't not believe.

Sorry for scripture, but I believe this with all my being:

Jeremiah 29:13

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”

I'm a Christian, but I'll be the last one to tell you to "accept Jesus as your personal savior and messiah" because that's just not in the Bible. That's dogma.

What I will say is that if you seek God, you will find Him. I know you can't understand that because of your many repeated statements that you simply don't believe and don't want to. And I will say that following Jesus way will lead you straight to His throne, just like it did for me. What was His way? Love, love, love. Let your heart be pure with love and you will see God. If, at the end of your life, you have lived a life of love for yourself (your body, mind and soul) and more importantly, love for others, I seriously cannot see God turning you away, for He IS love.

Especially if you've tried very hard to believe and in your heart you just can't. Do you not think the God who created you, who knows the number of hairs on your head cannot understand that His child is confused?

I starred this as I am curious as to how many people actually get this. I get it totally.

I would venture to guess that looking into the aspect and finding knowledge actually trumps blind faith (if any god does exists that is he would take our sincere efforts into

consideration)

Of course this goes against all bible teachings so I am sure it will get thumbs down!!

Everyone has a conscience which tells them to some extent what is right and wrong. If you have lived your life following your conscience, have regretted what wrongs you have committed during your life, then you have lived up to the light you were given and will be judged accordingly. Heaven will be full of the type of people you are describing.

Yes they are held accountable for not believing. some people believe in predestination which is where God chooses only certain people and gives them a desire to want to know him and other people don't believe in predestination I'm one of those people that don't I believe in complete free will which means it is OUR choice on whether we believe or not. But even if predestination is true or not I think that person WILL be held accountable for not believing and will go to hell to put it so bluntly.