Why is it so difficult for those of "Faith" to, at some point in their lives, re-examine the foundations of their faith.
Born again is not a re-evaluation of religion....We are not talking about simply agreeing to confirm what you already believe.
The churches have had to back peddle several times over the centuries to account for science. They have in fact had to re-examine their own foundations. These enlightenment's have resulted in a change of the interpretations previously held sacred.
Point being that even at the top there has been numerous precedent of the practice of religion taking another honest look at itself. Why then is it so forbidden for the individual to stop somewhere along their life and take an honest hard look at what they believe.
Do you as a Christian or a Muslim ever take another look at your religion?
Hiya. In regard for examining my religion, well firstly please know for me it's my actual relationship with the Lord. But you see it HAS to be about re-evaluting my relationship with Him. If I even try to question Who He is, He always reminds me that He is indeed God, and this is by His Spirit. And this is something that He does as any loving Father would do, but only He alone can do in regard with what you are asking. He is constantly showing me His love.
I'll try to explain more. For me, if anything, it's more about examining myself if I'm being in the faith in Jesus Christ, which to every account, again, the Lord always reminds me. He strengthens me, guides me, corrects me, comforts me and reminds me through His Word. One of the Names of Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Faith comes through the message, and the message through Jesus Christ.....so for me, believing in His Word is very important.
I can share some verses here in regard to testing if we are in the faith...
2 Corinthians 13
1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”
2 I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare—
3 since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.
4 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
So I don't think I can answer it in the way you are thinking or wanting. I mean, I know that God is God, that He created us. This isn't something that I knew on my own. It's by His Spirit. But until someone has His Spirit, they won't know - it is impossible by themselves, but only possible with God Himself. That is what is meant by "born again" or the new birth. It's all of Him. Upon belief in Jesus Christ our Lord, is when someone is "born again" by His Spirit. All of sudden we "know" that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. That He came in the flesh, that He died for our sins. (Words cannot describe this experience) And this can happen at any time with a person also. I was 31 years old - so much later in life. He knows our hearts and if we're just "lost" and seeking, or if we actually are rebelling against Him, hardening our hearts against Him...like Satan did. Here is verse where it shows about being born again, and it could happen like the "wind".
To try to share more, these verses say:
Deuteronomy 4:28 There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. 29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.
That is a promise from God. He is God, so He knows our heart and if/when we are truly seeking Him. It can't be "fake" - God knows if we are being dishonest, even when we don't realize we are. He knows if we are truly seeking the truth and wanting to know God. He has promised we will find Him when we seek Him. I'd personally encourage anyone, to ask God themselves with full heart, any question themselves - for it's only by Him this revelation can come about. We may not get the answer we think we will, but if we ask Him things such as," God, is Jesus Christ the truth as the Bible says? Is He the only way? Is He Savior to the world?" (He will know if we already are doubting, but if we really want to know, be prepared..for as He promised, He WILL answer) He is God, not a man, that He would ever lie.
After that, and knowing He is God, it is an ongoing relationship - our whole lives. Our Father, our Teacher, our Mentor, our Comfortor, our Guide, our Lord, our everything. I am always getting corrected and humbled from Him for pride, sin, wrong doing, even lack of faith at times. Not faith that He is Who He is, but lack of faith of what He is doing or why He is doing it. To just trust Him.
Even in the Bible there are so many instances where they lacked faith in what God was doing. He had to correct them so many times. At one point, Jesus even told them,
(I'm paraphrasing here..) "Jow long must I put up with you?!" LOL
Luke 9:37 Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him.
38 Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child.
39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. 40 So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”
41 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”
I laugh when I read that because it shows so much how we are. That's our fallen state, a "sin" nature - to rebel against Him; to lack in faith, as we are weak, and He is strong. He knows it and it is why He sent Jesus Christ to cover our sins. We couldn't do it ourselves. All He did and His LOVE covers a multitude of sins, and makes us know His love, start to heal, forgive, and love like He does. (oy, but we fall short , oh yes) I thank Jesus Christ so much for all He has done, even for forgiving me when I ask Him to forgive me for lack of faith.
Hope that helps with what I shared. Sorry for any typos..I gotta run here, started to rush. Take care.
Someone thinks a lot of himself apparently. It's also apparent that you haven't set foot in a church in many, many years.
