Question on Faith

[WConn]

Again I wish to say that I am in no way putting down the belief's of others, but since I have never seen God, nor has anyone I know seen God, one must therefore rely on FAITH when confirming the existence of God. To quote a line from a movie, "faith is a gift I have yet to be given." While I feel that I believe in God, I do so based on just looking around me and asking if the complexity of ourselves and our planet could be just by accident? I have a background in the health sciences and the complexity of DNA alone is enough to ask if our presence could be anything other than due to an intelligent, meaningful creation. That being said, I still have difficulty with my faith in accepting the Bible in a literal manner. I am not convinced that those around me who profess their faith have really done so in their minds and hearts.

Your responses please;

Thank you very much,

W

[Gman]

Again I wish to say that I am in no way putting down the belief's of others, but since I have never seen God, nor has anyone I know seen God, one must therefore rely on FAITH when confirming the existence of God. To quote a line from a movie, "faith is a gift I have yet to be given." While I feel that I believe in God, I do so based on just looking around me and asking if the complexity of ourselves and our planet could be just by accident? I have a background in the health sciences and the complexity of DNA alone is enough to ask if our presence could be anything other than due to an intelligent, meaningful creation. That being said, I still have difficulty with my faith in accepting the Bible in a literal manner. I am not convinced that those around me who profess their faith have really done so in their minds and hearts.

Your responses please;

Thank you very much,

W

God's gifts or gifts of faith are given to all, perhaps the bigger question is do we accept his gift? Also, what specifically are you having problems with accepting literally in the Bible?

Thanks,
G -

[WConn]

W[/quote]

God's gifts or gifts of faith are given to all, perhaps the bigger question is do we accept his gift? Also, what specifically are you having problems with accepting literally in the Bible?

Thanks,
G -[/quote]
Well, there are too many specifics to mention here, but in general I understand the the 66 books of the bible were decided on as a result of the meeting of the Council of Nicea under the direction of Emperor Constantine. The Bishops decided which writings would be included and which would not, resulting in the basics of the bible as we know it today. With that in mind, I find it difficult to accept that a council of human beings convened to decide what would and what wouldn't be in the book that has lasted this long and influenced as many people's lives as it has.

We are asked to believe that this is the word of God, written by man, inspired by God. Perhaps some portions are, I am struggling with my ability to believe that it is.

W

[jlay]

With that in mind, I find it difficult to accept that a council of human beings convened to decide what would and what wouldn't be in the book that has lasted this long and influenced as many people's lives as it has.

I really hope your questions are sincere. If they are we sincerely want to answer them. Because up till now, all your post are as if you are reading from the "objections to the bible," script.

There is a lot of faulty info floating around regarding the Council, and many use this to cast a negative shadow on the bible.
We must understand that nothing in the bible was written or added at this council. The books of the bible were well known before this council ever met. Through all this Dan Brown goggledeegook, many would love to somehow cast dispersions on the bible through fantasy and make beleive. be careful where your questions arrise. If you have a question, the first thing you should do is ask, "is this question a legitimate?"

http://www.gotquestions.org/Constantine-Bible.html
http://petragrail.tripod.com/nicea.html
http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/nicaea.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea

[ndvasey]

Again I wish to say that I am in no way putting down the belief's of others, but since I have never seen God, nor has anyone I know seen God, one must therefore rely on FAITH when confirming the existence of God. To quote a line from a movie, "faith is a gift I have yet to be given." While I feel that I believe in God, I do so based on just looking around me and asking if the complexity of ourselves and our planet could be just by accident? I have a background in the health sciences and the complexity of DNA alone is enough to ask if our presence could be anything other than due to an intelligent, meaningful creation. That being said, I still have difficulty with my faith in accepting the Bible in a literal manner. I am not convinced that those around me who profess their faith have really done so in their minds and hearts.

Your responses please;

Thank you very much,

W

Great honest question. For me, it has boiled down to this:
I believe in God because I have experienced the peace of God in the midst of unbelievable hardship. Philipians 4:6,7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
I have found that this peace cannot be taken away by any philosophy, entity, power or argument.

I cannot get away from these verses. I have tried to extricate myself from belief in God but His love keeps washing me back to His Word - specifically the verses above. As I observe creation through the eyes of an engineer, I imagine God, the engineer, designing and making all that He did and the delight and satisfaction which He must have felt as He said of His creation "very good".

[WConn]

With that in mind, I find it difficult to accept that a council of human beings convened to decide what would and what wouldn't be in the book that has lasted this long and influenced as many people's lives as it has.

I really hope your questions are sincere. If they are we sincerely want to answer them. Because up till now, all your post are as if you are reading from the "objections to the bible," script.

I assure you that I my questions are sincere. I have read comments on Objections to the Bible, some I have been able to refute based on my own knowledge others I have not. I am not a scholar on the subject as are you. I always thought that the Bible was somehow divinely created and later learned it was written by man, "inspired by God." My background and education tells me that any time man gets involved, the truth can become convoluted. I took the following chapter from one of the links you sent to me.

(Constantine, and the Council of Nicea, for that matter, had virtually nothing to do with the forming of the canon. It was not even discussed at Nicea. The council that formed an undisputed decision on the canon took place at Carthage in 397, sixty years after Constantine's death. However, long before Constantine, 21 books were acknowledged by all Christians (the 4 Gospels, Acts, 13 Paul, 1 Peter, 1 John, Revelation). There were 10 disputed books (Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2-3 John, Jude, Ps-Barnabas, Hermas, Didache, Gospel of Hebrews) and several that most all considered heretical—Gospels of Peter, Thomas, Matthaias, Acts of Andrew, John, etc.)

I have a hard time believing that any council of men, regardless of their denomination would ascertain which books were legitimately inspired by God and which were not. I am seeking knowledge and the truth my friend. You are right when you say that there are many faulty comments available on the subject via the internet. Weeding out the wheat from the chaff can be an insurmountable task at times.

I think you for your responses and guidance. Again, my questions are sincere and I admit that sometimes I take the pessimistic approach to things, just my
basic manner and personality.

W

[ndvasey]

Again, my questions are sincere and I admit that sometimes I take the pessimistic approach to things, just my
basic manner and personality.

W

Acts 17:11 "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

Pessimism or is it true examination for the truth?

Proverbs 25:2 "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings."

So by all means, WConn, search it out and discover the glory of God.

[WConn]

Again, my questions are sincere and I admit that sometimes I take the pessimistic approach to things, just my
basic manner and personality.

W

Acts 17:11 "Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

Pessimism or is it true examination for the truth?

Proverbs 25:2 "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings."

So by all means, WConn, search it out and discover the glory of God.

Well said. I might prefer to think my pessimism is really a true examination for the truth. I will continue my search.

Thank you very much for your response.

W