Wondering About God and the Christian Faith?
If you want to know the truth about God —really know the truth —you are a "seeker." That's a great thing to be, because according to Jesus, seekers find what they're looking for (Matthew 7:7).
Seekers come in all shapes and sizes. They have a variety of backgrounds. Some don't believe in God; others do believe in God, but aren't sure how to connect with Him. What all seekers have in common is the fact that they've stopped pretending they have it all together. They're open to the possibility that God may exist, and more importantly, that He may want a place in their lives. They know they don't know — but they want to know.
If you're a seeker, how do you go about this all-important task of pursuing God and His truth? Well, the following outline doesn't claim to be the final and authoritative word on the subject. But —with a humble recognition that the stakes are sky-high and believing you are very precious to God —below are some questions to help you in your search.
1. Why do you want to know God —what do you hope to get from Him?
People seek God for a variety of reasons. Some think their search will lead to a more fulfilling life or a greater sense of purpose. Others are looking for relief from their pain. Still others are curious and just want to find out what's true.
What's your reason?
You should be aware of your aspirations and motivations, because you may be looking for the wrong thing. For example, perhaps you're a seeker because you want to find greater happiness. What if you do find God, but your life circumstances lead to less happiness? Will you feel cheated? Believers often report that God gives them greater joy, meaning, and purpose in life. But nearly every believer will also admit to experiencing periods of difficulty. So this is a good question to ask yourself: What am I looking for? And, conversely, What does God offer me?
As you read God's book, the Bible, you'll discover how much He's already given. But He may not give you exactly what you've anticipated. So expect the unexpected, and make it your goal to find God, no matter what the outcome or perks. The bottom line is that a true seeker seeks the Giver of life, not just His gifts.
2. Are you placing limitations on God?
Two people who have fallen deeply in love don't go into marriage with the intention of ignoring each other's wishes after the wedding ceremony. Such a commitment involves adjusting personal priorities in the interest of building the relationship. When they establish their residence, for example, a couple will usually discuss at length the furnishings, wall hangings, and other touches that will make their house (or apartment) a home. In the same way, it would be absurd for a seeker to open up to God but give no thought to the possibility that God may want to rearrange a few pieces of furniture when He moves in.
Of course, some people are fearful that God wants to throw out all the furniture and condemn their house as uninhabitable. But nothing could be further from the truth! God created us to be in relationship with Him and with each other. Through the Bible, God tells us that He wants us to enjoy this life in a way that's in line with His purpose for us.
But the question remains: Do you realize that God wants to be a powerful presence in your life, not just an idea in your head?
Many seekers declare intellectual reasons for dismissing the claims of the Bible, but in truth, they are not willing to give up some activity they know is offensive to God. If that's you, you need to know that God will take you as you are, but He doesn't want to leave you as you are. He wants you to let Him make you into what He wants you to be.
3. What can you learn about God?
One way of approaching God is by starting with philosophical questions to determine if there really is a God, and what He is like. Some of those questions might include:
Is there a God?Yes, and the evidence is very convincing. If you’ve ever looked up at the stars in awe, or considered the complexity of earth’s life forms, and been amazed at the design of creation, then you have begun to grapple with some of the evidence. “The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.” (Psalm 19:1-2) As we discover more and more about the universe, we are led more and more to see God’s place in its order and in its complexity.
But perhaps the greatest evidence of God’s existence is humanity itself. Unlike animals, people have the capacity to reason and make moral choices; we each have a conscience, we are capable of love and compassion, and we have an instinct to worship. Where did these qualities come from? “God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)
Can we really know anything specific about God?This is a critical question. Left alone, we know nothing about God unless He communicates with us. But He does speak to us! It happens in at least two ways.
Creation is one way God reveals Himself and speaks to us. By simply observing nature, we can see that God is powerful, intelligent, and creative. “From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20)
The Bible is an even more direct way of knowing about God. In the Bible, God speaks to us through the various writers in both the Old and New Testaments. The Bible itself makes it clear that it “never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21) By faith we look at the Bible “not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) Millions of people, over thousands of years, have experienced the transformational power and life-changing impact of the Bible. After 2000 years, no expert in any field has disproved a single statement in the Bible.
What is God really like?God is a person. He is not merely an `it’ or a ‘thing’ nor a force of some kind. He thinks, feels, desires, and acts in ways that make it clear he is a living personal being. It is reassuring to know that we can speak to this personal God, and that He can know us and care for us.
God is one. There is only one true God. He says, “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God.” (Isaiah 44:6) But God has revealed Himself as a ‘trinity’ of three persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit. Each of these persons is truly, fully, and equally God. This is one of the great mysteries about God—The Holy Trinity: one God in three persons.
God is eternal. God has no beginning and will have no end. The Bible says, “From everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Psalm 9:2) This constancy gives us confidence in the God who will not act capriciously or unpredictably. He is steadfast and reliable.
God is holy. To be holy is to be set apart in a glorious and perfect way. “No one is holy like the LORD!” (1 Samuel 2:2) God is utterly without fault or defect, and incapable of tolerating evil: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.” (Habakkuk 1:13) Such a holy God calls all of us to lives of holiness as well.
God is all-knowing. He knows our dreams and our fears, our best moments and the times we would prefer to forget. “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away.” (Psalm 139:2)
God is just. God made us, provides for us, and one day He will judge us as well. He will reward His people and punish the wicked with perfect justice, beyond any appeal or dispute. “God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
God is sovereign. God alone rules the universe, and nothing within it is beyond His control. “The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth.” (Psalm 135:6) Nothing surprises Him; nothing can thwart His plans. He can even take the evil acts of men and turn them for His own purposes (Genesis 50:20).
God is love. To know God is to experience the giving and receiving of love. “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
What does God think of me?What about us? Where did we come from and why do we exist? Humanity is more than an accidental result of a cosmic chemistry experiment. We are purposefully created by God, different from other animals. “Then God said, ‘Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life—the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals.’” (Genesis 1:26) As such, humans are given responsibility for stewarding God’s world as His representatives. As His unique creation, humanity has been given special dignity and freedom as well. As the only beings created in the image of God, we were created to reflect God’s character as spiritual, moral, rational beings.
But we know that we do not perfectly reflect God. In fact, we fall far short of God’s standard for us. “For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23) If we’re truly honest with ourselves, we know that we often violate God’s commandments for us, sometimes many times in a day. Because of God’s holiness, He cannot tolerate our sin, and as sinners, we are unable to experience His presence. The Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and death is that separation from God forever.
Being separated from God forever is too horrible for us to contemplate, and God feels the same way. So He provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him, through His Son, Jesus Christ. “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20).
4. What do you think about Jesus?
A spiritual seeker may think the proper order of inquiry is first to decide if there is a God (a philosophical question) and then figure out who Jesus is (a historical question). But another and possibly even more exciting way would be the reverse order. Many seekers discover that when they deal with the person of Jesus, they find answers to many of their other questions at the same time.
Is there a God?Yes, and He came to earth in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” (John 16:28)
Does God love me?Yes! Look at what He did to show that love: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:16, 17)
What religion is the right one?Reconsider that question in the light of the fact that God cares about a relationship with you, not your religious affiliation. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus...There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28).
What do I have to do to live forever?Accept Jesus as your forgiver and your God. “For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise Him up at the last day.” (John 6:40)
How can I experience meaning and purpose in life?Try following Jesus and cultivating your relationships with God and with other people. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
According to the Bible, until a seeker comes to terms with Jesus, he or she hasn't dealt with the issue that's most important in starting a relationship with God. Consider this reality: Jesus is the most influential person in history. A poor itinerant preacher—the son of a carpenter—but also the Son of God, changed the entire course of world history.
How can any serious spiritual search overlook Him? For example, today's date is based on a reckoning that hinges on Jesus' life. Because of Him, people were moved to split world history into two eras—“before Him” and “after Him” (B. C. and A. D.).
5. How will you respond to Jesus?
It's not enough to intellectually agree with Jesus' claims. If you read the Bible and recognize Jesus as the true Son of God, a man who walked the earth, lived a perfect life, died, and rose again from the dead, you must choose to cross the line of faith and receive Him. This is a once-for-all decision. A “process” follows, but you have to start by inviting Him into your life and accepting that He paid the debt you owe for your sin but could never pay yourself.
Salvation in Jesus is a totally free gift, and receiving it is as easy as saying, “Jesus, I acknowledge my sin and Your payment for it on the cross. I now ask You to be my forgiver and my God.” But you must respond personally and deliberately, or the gift will remain unopened and unenjoyed. If you decide to follow Jesus Christ, please drop us a note to let us know. We’d like to celebrate along with you and suggest some next steps.
Some Practical HelpsKeeping in mind the previous questions, here are some practical ideas to guide you in your spiritual search:
Seekers come in all shapes and sizes. They have a variety of backgrounds. Some don't believe in God; others do believe in God, but aren't sure how to connect with Him. What all seekers have in common is the fact that they've stopped pretending they have it all together. They're open to the possibility that God may exist, and more importantly, that He may want a place in their lives. They know they don't know — but they want to know.
If you're a seeker, how do you go about this all-important task of pursuing God and His truth? Well, the following outline doesn't claim to be the final and authoritative word on the subject. But —with a humble recognition that the stakes are sky-high and believing you are very precious to God —below are some questions to help you in your search.
1. Why do you want to know God —what do you hope to get from Him?
People seek God for a variety of reasons. Some think their search will lead to a more fulfilling life or a greater sense of purpose. Others are looking for relief from their pain. Still others are curious and just want to find out what's true.
What's your reason?
You should be aware of your aspirations and motivations, because you may be looking for the wrong thing. For example, perhaps you're a seeker because you want to find greater happiness. What if you do find God, but your life circumstances lead to less happiness? Will you feel cheated? Believers often report that God gives them greater joy, meaning, and purpose in life. But nearly every believer will also admit to experiencing periods of difficulty. So this is a good question to ask yourself: What am I looking for? And, conversely, What does God offer me?
As you read God's book, the Bible, you'll discover how much He's already given. But He may not give you exactly what you've anticipated. So expect the unexpected, and make it your goal to find God, no matter what the outcome or perks. The bottom line is that a true seeker seeks the Giver of life, not just His gifts.
2. Are you placing limitations on God?
Two people who have fallen deeply in love don't go into marriage with the intention of ignoring each other's wishes after the wedding ceremony. Such a commitment involves adjusting personal priorities in the interest of building the relationship. When they establish their residence, for example, a couple will usually discuss at length the furnishings, wall hangings, and other touches that will make their house (or apartment) a home. In the same way, it would be absurd for a seeker to open up to God but give no thought to the possibility that God may want to rearrange a few pieces of furniture when He moves in.
Of course, some people are fearful that God wants to throw out all the furniture and condemn their house as uninhabitable. But nothing could be further from the truth! God created us to be in relationship with Him and with each other. Through the Bible, God tells us that He wants us to enjoy this life in a way that's in line with His purpose for us.
But the question remains: Do you realize that God wants to be a powerful presence in your life, not just an idea in your head?
Many seekers declare intellectual reasons for dismissing the claims of the Bible, but in truth, they are not willing to give up some activity they know is offensive to God. If that's you, you need to know that God will take you as you are, but He doesn't want to leave you as you are. He wants you to let Him make you into what He wants you to be.
3. What can you learn about God?
One way of approaching God is by starting with philosophical questions to determine if there really is a God, and what He is like. Some of those questions might include:
Is there a God?Yes, and the evidence is very convincing. If you’ve ever looked up at the stars in awe, or considered the complexity of earth’s life forms, and been amazed at the design of creation, then you have begun to grapple with some of the evidence. “The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.” (Psalm 19:1-2) As we discover more and more about the universe, we are led more and more to see God’s place in its order and in its complexity.
But perhaps the greatest evidence of God’s existence is humanity itself. Unlike animals, people have the capacity to reason and make moral choices; we each have a conscience, we are capable of love and compassion, and we have an instinct to worship. Where did these qualities come from? “God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)
Can we really know anything specific about God?This is a critical question. Left alone, we know nothing about God unless He communicates with us. But He does speak to us! It happens in at least two ways.
Creation is one way God reveals Himself and speaks to us. By simply observing nature, we can see that God is powerful, intelligent, and creative. “From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20)
The Bible is an even more direct way of knowing about God. In the Bible, God speaks to us through the various writers in both the Old and New Testaments. The Bible itself makes it clear that it “never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21) By faith we look at the Bible “not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) Millions of people, over thousands of years, have experienced the transformational power and life-changing impact of the Bible. After 2000 years, no expert in any field has disproved a single statement in the Bible.
What is God really like?God is a person. He is not merely an `it’ or a ‘thing’ nor a force of some kind. He thinks, feels, desires, and acts in ways that make it clear he is a living personal being. It is reassuring to know that we can speak to this personal God, and that He can know us and care for us.
God is one. There is only one true God. He says, “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God.” (Isaiah 44:6) But God has revealed Himself as a ‘trinity’ of three persons: Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit. Each of these persons is truly, fully, and equally God. This is one of the great mysteries about God—The Holy Trinity: one God in three persons.
God is eternal. God has no beginning and will have no end. The Bible says, “From everlasting to everlasting you are God.” (Psalm 9:2) This constancy gives us confidence in the God who will not act capriciously or unpredictably. He is steadfast and reliable.
God is holy. To be holy is to be set apart in a glorious and perfect way. “No one is holy like the LORD!” (1 Samuel 2:2) God is utterly without fault or defect, and incapable of tolerating evil: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.” (Habakkuk 1:13) Such a holy God calls all of us to lives of holiness as well.
God is all-knowing. He knows our dreams and our fears, our best moments and the times we would prefer to forget. “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away.” (Psalm 139:2)
God is just. God made us, provides for us, and one day He will judge us as well. He will reward His people and punish the wicked with perfect justice, beyond any appeal or dispute. “God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)
God is sovereign. God alone rules the universe, and nothing within it is beyond His control. “The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth.” (Psalm 135:6) Nothing surprises Him; nothing can thwart His plans. He can even take the evil acts of men and turn them for His own purposes (Genesis 50:20).
God is love. To know God is to experience the giving and receiving of love. “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
What does God think of me?What about us? Where did we come from and why do we exist? Humanity is more than an accidental result of a cosmic chemistry experiment. We are purposefully created by God, different from other animals. “Then God said, ‘Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life—the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals.’” (Genesis 1:26) As such, humans are given responsibility for stewarding God’s world as His representatives. As His unique creation, humanity has been given special dignity and freedom as well. As the only beings created in the image of God, we were created to reflect God’s character as spiritual, moral, rational beings.
But we know that we do not perfectly reflect God. In fact, we fall far short of God’s standard for us. “For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23) If we’re truly honest with ourselves, we know that we often violate God’s commandments for us, sometimes many times in a day. Because of God’s holiness, He cannot tolerate our sin, and as sinners, we are unable to experience His presence. The Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and death is that separation from God forever.
Being separated from God forever is too horrible for us to contemplate, and God feels the same way. So He provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him, through His Son, Jesus Christ. “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20).
4. What do you think about Jesus?
A spiritual seeker may think the proper order of inquiry is first to decide if there is a God (a philosophical question) and then figure out who Jesus is (a historical question). But another and possibly even more exciting way would be the reverse order. Many seekers discover that when they deal with the person of Jesus, they find answers to many of their other questions at the same time.
Is there a God?Yes, and He came to earth in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” (John 16:28)
Does God love me?Yes! Look at what He did to show that love: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:16, 17)
What religion is the right one?Reconsider that question in the light of the fact that God cares about a relationship with you, not your religious affiliation. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus...There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28).
What do I have to do to live forever?Accept Jesus as your forgiver and your God. “For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise Him up at the last day.” (John 6:40)
How can I experience meaning and purpose in life?Try following Jesus and cultivating your relationships with God and with other people. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
According to the Bible, until a seeker comes to terms with Jesus, he or she hasn't dealt with the issue that's most important in starting a relationship with God. Consider this reality: Jesus is the most influential person in history. A poor itinerant preacher—the son of a carpenter—but also the Son of God, changed the entire course of world history.
How can any serious spiritual search overlook Him? For example, today's date is based on a reckoning that hinges on Jesus' life. Because of Him, people were moved to split world history into two eras—“before Him” and “after Him” (B. C. and A. D.).
5. How will you respond to Jesus?
It's not enough to intellectually agree with Jesus' claims. If you read the Bible and recognize Jesus as the true Son of God, a man who walked the earth, lived a perfect life, died, and rose again from the dead, you must choose to cross the line of faith and receive Him. This is a once-for-all decision. A “process” follows, but you have to start by inviting Him into your life and accepting that He paid the debt you owe for your sin but could never pay yourself.
Salvation in Jesus is a totally free gift, and receiving it is as easy as saying, “Jesus, I acknowledge my sin and Your payment for it on the cross. I now ask You to be my forgiver and my God.” But you must respond personally and deliberately, or the gift will remain unopened and unenjoyed. If you decide to follow Jesus Christ, please drop us a note to let us know. We’d like to celebrate along with you and suggest some next steps.
Some Practical HelpsKeeping in mind the previous questions, here are some practical ideas to guide you in your spiritual search:
- Ask God to reveal Himself if you're not sure He's there.
- Read the Bible — start with the New Testament books of John, Acts, and Romans. John tells the story of Jesus’ life (as do Matthew, Mark, and Luke); Acts give an interesting and factual historical account of the earliest days of the church; and Romans is a letter written to explain some of the most foundational things Christians believe.
- Talk to people who display a genuine relationship with God — those who obviously love Him and who live by a different set of principles.
- Spend time in nature, observing and experiencing God's creation.
- Question things others seem to take for granted — be a lover of truth.
- Ask God’s-followers why they believe what they believe, and how they know their beliefs are true.
- Recognize that following God must make sense: truth may go beyond reason, but not against it.
- Scour the shelves at a Christian bookstore or church library for credible authors, or ask your Christian friends for a list of authors who have inspired them in their walk with God. Some suggestions might include Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis; More Than A Carpenter, by Josh McDowell; or Basic Christianity, by John Stott.
- Attend an Church and try out a small group. Start asking questions like: Who was Jesus? Why did He have to die? Who is the Holy Spirit? Why and how should I pray? Does God heal today? Through interesting talks and small group discussions, you can get many of your questions answered in a relaxed environment. Stuart Presbyterian Church offers both Sunday school and small groups.
- Write down your questions, especially about what you read in the Bible, and take them to a knowledgeable Christian who respects your seeking process.
- Know your presuppositions — the things you already believe — and try not to let them interfere with your quest for the truth.
- Stay open to actually finding what you're looking for. Fear of commitment and change can keep you from finding the truth.
- Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings during your search.
- Know your personal issues: your past will profoundly influence your present ability to be objective.
- Remember that you don't have to know everything to know something.
- Determine to seek for a specific period of time, and continually evaluate your progress. Then try to reach an appropriate conclusion.
- Finally, and perhaps most importantly: Act on what you decide!