Why don't you believe in God?

[Tracy]

God doesn't want robots. He wants us to have enough faith so we choose Him in our own free will. I know this has been played out, but I thought I would mention it.

And BTW your not the only one who has to see things to believe them.

I hear ya. I already mentioned the faith thing. That's what everyone says when I ask. I mean, I have faith that my brother will get off drugs someday..have for years. When should I expect this to happen if it's all about having faith. We are working on 16 years of faith in this circumstance. See what I mean? How long do you have to have faith before you feel something or before something happens??? Let me guess...I am being taught a lesson.

[Wedge]

I hear ya. I already mentioned the faith thing. That's what everyone says when I ask. I mean, I have faith that my brother will get off drugs someday..have for years. When should I expect this to happen if it's all about having faith. We are working on 16 years of faith in this circumstance. See what I mean? How long do you have to have faith before you feel something or before something happens??? Let me guess...I am being taught a lesson.

Well of coarse there is a "sunday school" slogan for all of life's problems. "Because Jesus' wants it to be." "Because it is in God's timing." The list goes on and on. The key is not always have an simple answer for every problem.

As far as your brother, all you can do is offer help. If you meet someone on the street and want him to raise his hands above their head, you could dance, sing, beg, pleed, cry, bribe, or do anything you can think of, but unless they want to do it, they won't. You can make anyone do anything they don't want to do.

[Tracy]

Well of coarse there is a "sunday school" slogan for all of life's problems. "Because Jesus' wants it to be." "Because it is in God's timing." The list goes on and on. The key is not always have an simple answer for every problem.

As far as your brother, all you can do is offer help. If you meet someone on the street and want him to raise his hands above their head, you could dance, sing, beg, pleed, cry, bribe, or do anything you can think of, but unless they want to do it, they won't. You can make anyone do anything they don't want to do.

I know. You are doing exactly what every person does when I ask about religion. I have been there for my brother and I know that he has to want to want it. The point is not really about my brother, it's about faith. I hjave faith that he will "want to" get off drugs. How long should I keep this faith if in 16 years my faith has done nothing obviously. I believe there is some type of God. I have faith in that. How long do I have to wait before I am struck by him? Before I feel as strongly about it as some people do? Before I don't just feel like the Bible is a good novel written many years ago?

[Wedge]

I know. You are doing exactly what every person does when I ask about religion. I have been there for my brother and I know that he has to want to want it. The point is not really about my brother, it's about faith. I hjave faith that he will "want to" get off drugs. How long should I keep this faith if in 16 years my faith has done nothing obviously. I believe there is some type of God. I have faith in that. How long do I have to wait before I am struck by him? Before I feel as strongly about it as some people do? Before I don't just feel like the Bible is a good novel written many years ago?

Very good questions. I appologize for being the stereo-typical Christian that tries to have answers to everything. I understand where you are coming from about faith in your brother. It comes to a point where your not really doubting God, your doubting if it is worth the effort. I don't know your brother or anything about him, but the only thing that comes to mind is to try to show him how things can get better off the drugs. Sorry I can't be any more helpful, but I do know there are others out there that can.

Growing up in church, I always saw this great evanglist saying how he went from bad to worse to God. I thought for a long time, that in order to be a good Christian with lots of faith, you had to have this cool testimony. About how you found out how bad it was, then ran back to God. Well I sat down years ago and realized I didn't want to hit the wall. I remembered the happiest point in my life was when I was truely seeking God. I dislike with a passion those people who go from sinner to saint over night. It's like a Jesus high they have to tell everyone. I prefer to keep my religion and my God walk to myself. But in your situation, I would say if you truely seek God, He will show you the way. I know, sunday school answer. But you have to want it. It takes time. Trust me. Probably the hardest thing I have had to do in my life, but I know it will be worth it.

[Killer]

I know. You are doing exactly what every person does when I ask about religion. I have been there for my brother and I know that he has to want to want it. The point is not really about my brother, it's about faith. I hjave faith that he will "want to" get off drugs. How long should I keep this faith if in 16 years my faith has done nothing obviously. I believe there is some type of God. I have faith in that. How long do I have to wait before I am struck by him? Before I feel as strongly about it as some people do? Before I don't just feel like the Bible is a good novel written many years ago?

your placing your faith wrongly.... the faith shouldn't be i want my brother off of drugs.. it should be i'm gonna be a God loving/fearing christian and have faith that my God can do the impossible. it's not just faith. you have to do your part in worshiping Him.

[ISAtlanta300]

Exactly right.

Often "faith" is overlooked. If you turned and look the other way, (Your brother is still ALIVE and has not OD'd for example) You could find faith and God in the simplest of things.

That is what keeps a lot of people from believing. Faith is not asking for favors or just assuming that things automatically happen. I can have faith in winning the lottery all day long. Does not mean that I will win it this saturday.

Faith is not about "wants" and "needs". Faith is about keeping you "strong" in the face of adversity.

"Faith" help you cope with your brother for 16 years, whereas most people would have "given up". "Faith" has helped you help others. "Faith" has kept you sane during those nights that you cried yourself to sleep.

"God" is everywhere. You just have to WANT to see him. There is none so more blind that he who does not WANT to see

[Tracy]

Exactly right.

Often "faith" is overlooked. If you turned and look the other way, (Your brother is still ALIVE and has not OD'd for example) You could find faith and God in the simplest of things.

That is what keeps a lot of people from believing. Faith is not asking for favors or just assuming that things automatically happen. I can have faith in winning the lottery all day long. Does not mean that I will win it this saturday.

Faith is not about "wants" and "needs". Faith is about keeping you "strong" in the face of adversity.

"Faith" help you cope with your brother for 16 years, whereas most people would have "given up". "Faith" has helped you help others. "Faith" has kept you sane during those nights that you cried yourself to sleep.

"God" is everywhere. You just have to WANT to see him. There is none so more blind that he who does not WANT to see

I didn't ask God to help my brother. I just had my own faith that he would quit. I don't ask God for favors. It makes me feel bad.

I BELIEVED he would get off. Afterall, that what faith is..a belief. Faith doesn't always have to be God. When I said what I said about faith in the first post, I meant that faith alone isn't usually enough for anything to happen.

[SNapper]

Religion is a joke. People believe because they can't handle their own lives and they can't be alone. They're scared of life and death.