Yet another question...

[XabolitionistX]

I've been pondering lately (surprise, surprise) and this is something I've stumbled upon (I'll try to make it as brief as possible):

I accepted the concept that Jesus Christ was my saviour when I was 13 years old.

I come from a middle-upper class white family.

Prior to my salvation, my life was easy.

After my salvation, my life was still easy.

I've been going through this "existence dilemma" lately as far as God is concerned. The other day I finally understood the concept of "knowing what you believe and why you believe it." Before I had ever qestioned the existence of a Creator I only knew "what I believed" but I didn't know "why I believed it." Now that I've spent time away God, my faith in Him seems stronger than before because now I know life without Him.

Here's my question:
Earlier, I pointed out that at age thirteen I hadn't experienced enough of life to fully understand struggle or discontent. Even if I did experience those feelings I didn't know what the concept of true happiness was so I wouldn't be able to identify those negative feelings anyway. So, according to all of you, philosophic ally or biblically (as it seems some of you choose to seperate those two which is fine by me). Does it benefit a Christian to spend time away from their Creator if they have not previously experienced "true life?" I suppose another way to ask this would be: Does it strengthen one's faith to refute their source of "life" so that they can experience "death" for a limited time.

I apologize for the wordiness here. I'm not even sure this is what I want to ask but this is the first time I've attempted to put these thoughts into writing. If I'm lucky, one of you will understand what I just asked. :) I think as posts come it will make itself more clear as I will be able to point out pieces of arguments that won't work (or do work).

Anywho... what'd'ya' think?

Jason

[Bryan]

From what I am telling you are asking if it will strengthen one's faith if at some point you doubt the faith you are wanting to strengthen. I say that this can infact strengthen your faith. It happened this way for me. Also, if you really want to enjoy life as a Christian you must find the joy that is available in God to do this. Once you have found, or caught a glimpse of, the joy that is available to you, you will really understand what a joyful life we can have in God.

[+Donny]

romans 5:3-4 , suffering produces perserverance, perserverance character, and character hope

[calebb]

I believe what you're asking is:

Does it strengthen your faith to backslide, and then realize yourself that you can't live in sin and handle life on your own... even possibly have God allow bad circumstances to happen to you because He loves you so much and wants you to come back to salvation?

Thats pretty much what happened to me, but if I were to talk to someone who was considering getting into sin or taking a break from Church or something in order to strengthen their faith I would quote 2 Peter 2: 19-21

20 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: "A dog returns to his own vomit," F8 and, "a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire."

So it sounds like we get judged according to what God has revealed to us... And since no man knows the day of his death, and God makes no promises to how many chances He will give us to repent and follow Him...

-Caleb

[Bryan]

Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering. --Master Yoda

[mesabooger]

Join the military, that'll fix ya. lol jk

[Chrysostom]

Jason, i am quite encouraged by your presence, journey, and posting. Keep it up!

Yes, i know the road, and i have been down it. Personally, my own search has led me to oppose sending children to church. i want people to really meet Jesus! i don't want them to grow up on something. i want them to live SCC's lyrics--"What about the change?"

Questioning what you have been taught builds roots. It teaches you why you should believe what you already believe. It also teaches you what you have accepted and believe that you should not. Personally, i don't consider myself a Christian unless i am willing to, at a moment's notice, question the very existence of God. Each time, however, He has returned me to Him. He is real. Personally testing my previously blind beliefs has given me powerful foundations which stand against opposition.

Is it OK to question? Yes. However, i implore you to spend time with the Father Himself and in discipleship. He is truly all that matters--homes, jobs, and wives don't really matter in the long run (i know that may be a world-shaker for some) in and of themselves. Only God does.

He is awesome.

i am thankful for your return. God be praised.

In Jesus' name,
john

[musicman04]

I think partially what he was trying to say is if you've lived the other side, experienced other things, you have a different perspective. We've all faultered and failed, but we've also all gone through different things. I've never drank, smoked, or done drugs and I'm proud of it. I don't plan to ever try either. So, the people who have been through these things know the lasting effects and the control is has over you.
If you're saying that we need to stop professing our faith or living like Christians to experience this, I'd have to disagree. This could end up backfiring. I don't think we are to purposely let our christianity slide out of our grasp. We are to live it to the fullest, fullfilling what Christ wants of us. Maybe I'm just not getting what you are saying. God Bless and keep playin'!

[OnEaglesWings]

I think I get what you're asking and while it makes sense to want to make sure your faith can stand or to simple want to know how great this gift is...I think it is unnecessary. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't question or search, but "spending time away" from God might be too hard to pull off, and I don't think you need to do it. We are set free from the world. If you haven't experienced hardship, that's great! (I will say that I think God will probably test your faith at some point). However, maybe a better way than personaly spending time without God would be to go on a missions trip and see what peoples lives are like and try to help them. Or, if you don't want to do something that big, try just going into a downtown area and volunteering in a homeless shelter or something. You don't have to worry about having "an easy life"...God knows how you feel and, maybe, knows if and when you are ready to face challenges. In the mean time, strengthen and deepen your relationship with Him, don't take a vacation.

[Phil]

Are you asking if "leaving your faith" can later strengthen it?

If so, I would say that is not a good idea. The reaon might be good: to strengthen it, but there are many other ways of doing that. How about some hardcore Bible study? Long amounts of time in prayer? Fasting?