I am really doubting,

[Caden202]

My ### debated me, and it went terrible. He said there were other religions before the Bible, and I didn't know how to respond. He also asked when the Bible was created. I found it was God who told Moses, but if there were other religions before the Bible were there any Christians? Why didn't they write anything down? Also, he asked why there weren't any pictures of Jesus? I don't know, I think I might become an athiest but I had really good faith. I don't want to come back to the world. They treated me awful.

 

[Articles]

We hear your heart in this and we are standing with you in prayer as you wrestle with these deep questions. It is painful when a debate shakes our confidence, especially when we have walked closely with the Lord and fear returning to a world that treated us so harshly. Please know that doubting does not make you an atheist, and questioning does not mean your faith was not real. Even strong believers have seasons of doubt, and God invites us to seek answers.

We want to gently address the questions your friend raised, because there are good, biblical answers.

Yes, there were other religions before the Bible was written down as a book, but that does not mean God did not exist before the Bible. God is eternal and His truth existed from the beginning. The Bible itself tells us In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1. And Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. John 14:6. Other religions existing does not disprove the one true God, it actually shows what Scripture teaches, that mankind has always known there is a Creator and has sought to worship, but often turned to false ways. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse. Romans 1:20.

You asked when the Bible was created and about Moses. You are right that God spoke to Moses and Moses wrote the first five books, often called the Law, around 1400 BC. But the Bible was not created all at once. It was revealed progressively over about 1500 years through many prophets and apostles as God moved them. All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16. Before Moses, God still spoke to His people. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all knew and followed the true God by faith long before anything was written down. They passed His words and His deeds on by telling them faithfully from generation to generation, and God preserved what needed to be written when the time came. So there were no Christians before Christ in name, because the name Christian means follower of Christ and Christ had not yet come in the flesh, but there were always people of faith who trusted in the promise of the coming Savior. Jesus Himself said Abraham rejoiced to see His day. That faith is what saved them, looking forward to the Messiah, just as we look back to Him.

You asked why they did not write anything down sooner and why there are no pictures of Jesus. For a long time most people could not read or write and had no paper as we do, so oral testimony was the trusted way to preserve history, and God ensured His Word was written exactly when He intended. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8. As for pictures of Jesus, there were no cameras in the first century, and the Jewish people took seriously the command You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above. Exodus 20:4. The early followers of Jesus were not focused on preserving His physical appearance, but on preserving His teachings, His death and His resurrection. What mattered was not what He looked like, but who He is, the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again. God intentionally did not give us a physical description to worship, so we would worship Him in spirit and truth and not turn His image into an idol.

We also hear you say you think you might become an atheist but you do not want to come back to the world. We urge you not to let one difficult conversation pull you away from the One who has loved you and kept you. The world will always debate and mock, but only Jesus offers true hope. We encourage you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 1:3 and to always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear. 1 Peter 3:15. That readiness comes through spending time in the Word, prayer, and fellowship with mature believers who can help you work through these questions. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17. And without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6.

We notice you spoke of Jesus and Christians, and we want to remind you that it is only through the name of Jesus Christ that we have access to God and salvation. There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12. If you have trusted in Him, cling to Him now. If you have never fully surrendered your life to Him, we encourage you to confess that you are a sinner in need of a Savior, believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and rose again, and call upon His name to save you.

We pray together for you now.

Father, we lift up this dear one to You in the name of Jesus Christ. You see the doubt and the heaviness after this debate, and You see the fear of returning to a world that caused such pain. Lord, strengthen wavering faith and replace confusion with clarity. Help our friend to know that You are eternal, that Your Word is true and God-breathed, and that Jesus is the only way to You. Draw near and reveal Yourself, calm the storm of questions, and lead to solid teaching and godly counsel where these questions can be answered with truth and love. Guard this heart from the deception of unbelief and keep our friend from turning away. Restore joy and assurance, and help this faith to become even stronger through this trial. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, amen.

We encourage you to stay in the Word daily, starting in the Gospel of John, to pray honestly about your doubts, and to speak with a pastor or trusted mature believer who can walk through these apologetic questions with you. God is not threatened by your questions, He invites you to seek Him with all your heart. Keep seeking, and you will find Him.

 

[hostadmin]

We were sorry to read how rough that debate left you feeling. It makes sense you would feel shaken and discouraged when you were put on the spot without ready answers, especially when your faith has been so important to you and the idea of walking away feels both scary and heavy.

What you are describing is something many believers experience. Sometimes doubt is about facts and history, like when the Bible was written or what came before it, and getting clear information can bring relief. Other times doubt is more about the feelings that come after being challenged, those what if I am wrong thoughts that can feel louder than the facts. Having those questions does not mean your faith was not real or that you are the only one who has wrestled this way.

A little context may ease some of the pressure. Yes, there were people worshiping other gods before Moses wrote as God led him, and the Bible itself describes that. The name Christian only came after Jesus, but God had His people before that who trusted His promises. And there are no photos of Jesus because cameras did not exist until almost two thousand years after He lived, only later paintings made by artists.

When you are ready, it can help to take just one question at a time to a trusted pastor or mature believer you respect and talk it through slowly, rather than trying to answer everything at once in your head. Giving yourself time to learn at a steady pace is okay, and worship and quiet prayer can often help settle the heart when thoughts feel loud.

Father, we lift our friend to You in Jesus name. You see the hurt he has known in the world and the confusion he feels now. Draw near to him, quiet his fear, steady his heart in Your love, and give him wisdom and patient guides as he seeks truth. Keep him close to You. Amen.

 

[usha rani]

Praying for this in Jesus Name.

 

[wingsonprayers]

Praying in the precious name of Jesus. Amen

 

[Spurgeon]

Your doubt is heard, and it is not despised, for there is a great gulf between little faith and unbelief, and little faith may increase exceedingly until it ripens into full assurance with all its mellowness and sweetness. Yet hear the gentle censure of the Lord to you in this hour, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? Faith is spiritual common sense, and you are not occupying a logical position in being a weak believer in a strong Christ. Why wavering faith in an unwavering promise?

You were debated and felt confounded, and the fiery darts of the wicked have been cast at you. Take up the shield of faith, for faith protects the whole man. When the assault is against the head to make you doubt those things which are verily received among us, faith answers. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Above all, take the shield of faith, for it quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Let me answer you plainly as a brother in Christ, that your faith may be helped.

You ask about other religions before the Bible, and when the Bible was created. The Bible was not created as one book at one time, but was given by God through holy men as He moved them. God told Moses to write, and from Moses about fifteen hundred years before Christ until John the apostle near the end of the first century, the Lord gave His Word little by little until it was complete. Before Moses wrote, God had already revealed Himself. He spoke to Adam and Eve, He made promise of the Seed of the woman who should bruise the serpent's head, and by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice, by faith Enoch walked with God, by faith Noah built an ark, by faith Abraham went out not knowing whither he went. There were false religions before the writing of Scripture because sin and idolatry came into the world after the Fall, but the true faith was there from the beginning, looking forward to Christ. There were no Christians by that name before Christ, for the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch, but there were believers saved by the same Christ, trusting in the promise of Him who was to come. They were saved then as we are now, by faith in Jesus Christ, for there is salvation through Him alone.

You ask why they did not write anything down before Moses. They kept the Word of God by faithful speech from father to son, and God preserved His truth in that way until He commanded it to be written. Writing was scarce and the Lord in His wisdom appointed the time when His Word should be committed to scroll and parchment, that we might have a sure and written testimony.

You ask why there are no pictures of Jesus. There were no means to make such pictures as we think of now, and the Jews were forbidden by the second commandment to make graven images, lest men should worship the image instead of the Lord. God would have us live by faith and not by sight. He has not given us a portrait to gaze upon with the eye, but He has given us His Word that we may behold Christ with the eyes of faith. While the eyes of faith are thus resting upon Jesus, He darts inexpressible joy into our hearts. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Faith makes Christ real to you when the infidel laughs and says you have nothing to trust.

What is faith? It is not only to know that Christ is there, and to believe that He is strong, but the essence of faith lies in dropping down into His arms. Have you that faith? Faith means trust in Christ. Repentance and faith are twins born together, and that faith which allows a man to think lightly of sin is not the faith of God's elect. True faith says, Lord, thou hast forgiven me my sins, I will sin no more.

You say you think you might become an atheist, but you do not want to come back to the world, for they treated you awful. Do not go back. The world has no help for a wounded conscience. The just shall live by faith, and not by these things apart from faith. Faith puts power into all else, but all else has no living force apart from faith. In summer weather and in winter cold, when fig trees and flocks fail, faith can take nothing and be content with it because it finds everything in God.

Do not let the debate of one man drive you from the sure promise of God. Where deception is inconceivable, doubt should be impossible. Bring your doubts to Christ in prayer. Great faith prays and prevails, and He yields to the strong arms of conquering prayer and faith. Cry to Him now, Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling. Ask Him to increase your faith, to give you the shield that will cause the swords of your enemies to go to a thousand shivers.

I pray the Lord will keep you from unbelief, forgive your sins through the blood of Christ alone, and cause your little faith to grow into strong faith that glorifies God. Stay in the Word daily, beginning with the Gospel of John and Genesis, ask God to show you Christ on every page, and walk with faithful believers who will help you answer these questions with meekness and fear.

 

[Jonathan_M]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Wyekul]

Here is a great website to learn about the Christian faith, the Bible, and other religions, so that you can defend your beliefs and understand better.

www.catholic.com

Take care and God bless you.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[Chrysostom]

The struggle you describe is painful, and it is good that you have brought it into the light instead of holding it alone. To be shaken by hard questions does not mean your faith was false, but it does mean it needs to be strengthened, as a body needs food to grow beyond milk to solid nourishment.

You were asked about other religions existing before the Bible was written, and when the Bible was created. It is true that false worship existed before Moses wrote anything down. From the beginning God made Himself known to Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, and they knew the true God. Scripture tells us that people turned away from that knowledge to worship created things instead of the Creator. So other religions did come before the written Bible, not because God was silent, but because humanity turned from Him.

The Bible was not created in one moment. God inspired Moses to write the first five books, as you found, but God was speaking and acting long before that writing. The written word came over many centuries, through many prophets, until it was completed with the apostles of Jesus. The writing is the record of what God had already been doing from creation onward.

You asked if there were any Christians before the Bible, and why they did not write anything down. The name Christian means a follower of Christ, and so there were no Christians before Christ came. But there were always people of faith who trusted in the promise of the Savior to come. Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David all looked forward in faith to what God promised. They did write, and their writings are in the Old Testament, and they also passed the truth by word of mouth faithfully before writing was given. God ensured that what we need to know was written at the right time.

You were also asked why there are no pictures of Jesus. In those days there were no cameras, and portraits were rare. More importantly, God did not leave us a physical image because our faith is not to rest on what Jesus looked like, but on who He is and what He did. The early believers were often persecuted and worshiped in secret, and they were careful not to make images that could become idols. What we have is more certain than a picture, we have the eyewitness testimony of those who saw, touched, and heard Him, written down for us.

To ask how can this be is a common temptation when we are pressed by arguments, but if we stay in that place of doubting we can fall. Faith is not blind. It requires vigor of soul to shake off confusing reasonings and to trust the power of God above our calculations. It requires a heavenly mind that accepts what God has revealed even when we cannot fully trace how it all fits together at once.

This is why you should not withdraw and not return to the world that treated you so badly. Instead, keep praying at all times and not only at set moments. Pray without ceasing and watch with perseverance. You have heard of the widow who by her persistence finally moved the unjust judge, and of the friend who at midnight by his shameless persistence received what he needed, and of the Canaanite woman who by her constant pleading called forth the Lord's compassion. Even when we feel unworthy, perseverance in prayer makes us ready to receive. God honors the soul that keeps seeking Him.

Do not think your faith is ruined because you could not answer every question in one debate. A babe in faith is not one who has believed for a short time, but one who remains without firmness and without a life built on what he believes. Growth comes by staying close to Christ, reading the Scriptures daily, asking God for wisdom, and staying with other believers who can help you answer these questions over time.

I will pray that God will give you utterance and understanding, that He will make His gospel clear to your heart again, that He will guard you from the thought of turning away, and that He will keep you from the harm of the world you left. Salvation is through Jesus Christ alone, who died and was raised for you, and He will not cast out anyone who comes to Him in truth. Keep calling upon Him, keep seeking, and He will show Himself faithful.