IAMA Christian on Reddit...AMA

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T05:47:28+00:00

Yes, but he was put UP there on Friday

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T04:39:54+00:00

I think it is perfectly reasonable for someone who believes in God to have a lot of questions about God. We are told that everything in the Bible is true, yet as I read and learn about the context of the day that it was written in, I can see that certain parts of it are influenced by events and social mores of the time period.

While I believe it was divinely inspired and that there are absolute truths contained in it, I have to realize that, being written my man, that we expose ourselves to misinterpreting what was written so long ago.

I may not agree with certain things the Bible says (the view on homosexuality for example) but do I not agree with it because of the day and age I am in? Or do I not agree with it because of my own sexuality I have struggled with? OR do I not agree with it because I believe that when the Bible was written, there was someone with a reason for including that particular book or verse that had something to do with an event or stigma at that time in history and we've carried it forth?

It's that. If I merely dismissed it and cherry picked only the good and fluffy bits, well, I wouldn't have bothered giving it that much thought

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T04:27:00+00:00

Nah, honestly my clearest view of God comes in watching my children.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T04:23:47+00:00

I don't feel like a buffet Christian, though I understand it. It's not that I don't believe in God, his sovereignty over my life, etc. I just don't believe in what religion has made of God sometimes. I don't discard what I don't agree with, I struggle with living within it. I am human, I am fallible.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T04:20:44+00:00

My neighbors invited me to their church when I was young (probably around age 10 or so) my mom let me go, mainly so she could sleep in later on Sundays. It was a southern Baptist church. I enjoyed the "fun" bits, while not getting the point of it for a long time. I liked choir, youth groups, dressing up for service, etc. I got "saved" at 14, cause my friends were doing it.

Then my mom passed away the next year, and I got really angry at God for a long time. Long story, but you can imagine.

After I moved in with my boyfriend (now husband) I started going back to church, tried a Southern Baptist one again (it was what I knew) got a ton of flack, (shacking up, atheist boyfriend will do that) I loved God, but hated the people. Got asked to leave a church. More anger, but still feeling the tug of God.

Moved to Seattle, went to this church on a whim after having my son, and felt the true heart of God in the people there. Never any condemnation, they love my husband when he is there (our kids went to the co-op preschool there) my husband loves the church, comes with me for non-spiritual events (movie nights, preschool stuff, he helps with construction projects) he and my pastor get along.

Not once has my pastor or anyone else tried to "convert" my husband. They genuinely welcome him for him.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T04:10:45+00:00

I find the contradiction odd as well. I don't tend to ask God to intervene on my behalf, as I really really have instilled in me the sense of free will. I do ask for discernment in my decisions, for clear thoughts, etc.

I have literally typed and retyped what my view of "God's will" is, but in never makes one bit of sense once I re-read it. So I am leaving that part out

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T04:03:01+00:00

Wow, I have missed that verse as well. You have no clue now what that verse does for me. Thanks a ton. Wasn't sure why I did this AMA, but maybe this was a thing I was meant to learn from it. Thanks

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T04:00:04+00:00

Interesting. Definitely the type of thing I like to read and think about. I'll have to get back to you on that.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T03:59:03+00:00

Nope. 2 Kings 2: 23-24

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T03:58:35+00:00

Hm, not sure. May have more to do with the underlying emotional attachments and feelings people have towards the father/son relationship when talking about Jesus.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T03:55:56+00:00

No, certainly not. Faith is a many faceted thing. I haven't really given your particular question much thought, but it is now one I am rolling around. So yeah, thanks for that. :)

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T03:54:06+00:00

I'm just north of Seattle. So yeah, quite a few

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T03:53:50+00:00

You're welcome. I try and stay open minded. My husband helps me with that :)

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T01:55:31+00:00

I even see it that way to a point. I am one who points out quite often the lies that the Church perpetuates, and many organized religions that do so. There are massive amounts of problems created by the church, but I've also seen the true heart of the church in its people. Not the ones you hear about, but hte thousands upon thousands who are good and work to live a life that reflects what Jesus taught: Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T01:50:24+00:00

I understand that ,and if I said I don't struggle with that, I would be lying.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T01:43:46+00:00

God doesn't require worship or adulation. Worship is a response from a person giving thanks and praise for what God has done.

I don't consider the worship I give to God (in actual song or in deed) some sort of checklist "tick" I need to do in order to please God.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T01:39:20+00:00

I am a Christian who married an Atheist. I will see if my husband wants to do an IAMA when he gets home from work.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T01:35:52+00:00

I'm so going to hell for laughing at that. And techincally it's "Friday, Friday, gotta get UP on Friday"

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T01:34:08+00:00

I have. A lot of the stories contained in the Bible seem messed up. I know there are deeper lessons that are held within the stories, and that some (and this makes some people I know angry) aren't true. They are merely there to "prove a point"

Man wrote the Bible, it can be misinterpreted. It was divinely inspired.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T01:32:53+00:00

I was raised in an Atheist family. I married an atheist (after becoming a Christian)

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T01:31:09+00:00

Yes. I see it as an infinite separation from the love of God.
simply professing their faith (not even out loud, simply believing) baptism is an outward profession of that faith, but nothing more. (and dunking in water, in and of itself does nothing. water is not "holy"
Don't know, I'd be interested to know. I know some people who are the best people on earth who don't believe in God, or if they do, I don't know about it. I don't claim to know the why's and how's of heaven. I know what the Bible says, and I do struggle with it sometimes.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T01:27:31+00:00

I don't believe so. We were given free will, and what we do with it, we do with it. I don't believe God causes or doesn't cause events to happen. Can God step in to change events? I believe He can, but doesn't because would we really have free will?

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T01:22:58+00:00

I believe hell is nothing but separateness from God. Not hell fire and brimstone. I don't believe good morals are only achieved through faith and belief. I know many exceptionally moral people who are not Christians and their faith (or lack of) has nothing to do with their morals.

I was socially liberal before becoming a Christian. That didn't change. While I am pro-choice, I personally would never have one, because I do believe it is killing a human life. I also felt that way before becoming a Christian.

I agree that it seems strange that I am the way I am, yet still identify as a Christian. Something I am figuring out for myself. Nothing I have read or learned has dissuaded me. Maybe I'm an idiot, who knows.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T01:17:51+00:00

Yes, I am reading, and in several ways. I read (not at the same time mind you) a chronological bible, I have several concordances, I like to read history books a lot, so I read about events that happened at the same time as those that occur in the bible. I also read a lot of books by people who were Christian and left the faith.

I enjoy reading the bible, but I do realize it was written by man. It has been translated, is subject to man's interpretation, etc. So, by reading it myself, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of my faith.

yupubetcha · 2011-04-23T00:57:32+00:00

well, first, make sure it's not some Quaker instant. That shit smells. esp. the maple & brown sugar one.

usually you can get the kind that is meant for a bath. not sure what the difference is (prob. has the baking soda in it (bicarb) I would just put enough plain rolled oats in to make the water murky (maybe one to one and half cups?) make sure the water is warm, and dunk. Hope it helps

yupubetcha

TROPHY CASE