Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 10/2/2008

Question
Hello sir,

  I am a 16 year old boy, raised Methodist my whole life. I have found myself questioning God lately, more and more. It is not the teachings that i am questioning. I completely agree with the teachings that i learn in my church. I think they serve a great purpose to the world and are great to live by. But i have a problem believing in this "higher being". I don't think my faith is strong enough to keep me believing. I read through other people who have been through the same questioning stage as me and they all seem to have an epiphany sort of deal where it all just becomes clear. Ultimately I think deep down i want someone to tell me God is real because i would love to believe that. But I am not naive enough to just use that as my foundation of my religion. I want some proof, some evidence, some showing, i want my epiphany so i can believe in God. Hopefully you can help me in this or give me some factual help to pursue my religion in these tough times so i can be able to say that i believe in god with my whole heart.



Sorry for the rambling, I'm just trying to get it all out so you can better help me.

Thank you very much
Tyler

Answer
Hi Tyler,

Thanks for this great question.  I will not be able to talk you into having faith.  I can tell you that God is the only logical explanation for they mysteries of the universe.  Without God, you have to believe in the following:

1.  Eternal dirt - the matter in the universe had to come from somewhere.

2.  Spontanious generation.  Where did life come from?  WIthout God we have to believe that billions of years ago, life sprang out of non-life, even though science disproved that theory 400 years ago!

3.  That this perfectly ordered universe with a delicately ballanced set of eco systems just happened out of chance.  That it has a perfect design with no perfect designer.

4.  THat even though every society has a set of similar morals and a tendance toward believing in a higher being, God did not make us in His image with a desire toward the divine.

Remember, the Bible teaches that it takes work to reject and once you do, then you have to believe foolish things in its place.

Romans 1:19-22
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.