Belief...a choice?

you may wish to check out the conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus, or Philip baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40).
Instances of spontaneous combustion, I mean conversion.LOL
you may choose to believe anything you wish. two plus two makes five? If it makes you happy, believe it.

I mentioned Paul and the Ethiopian to show a state of readiness when their 'time' came. A long time ago, someone quoted a simple Bible truth to me, and I knew instantly that this is true even tho I had never given it any thought before. What I don't know and cannot describe, either in myself or the two examples I cited, is how long had the Spirit of God been preparing me for this very moment. It was sudden for me, certainly. It was sudden for Paul, the Ethiopian's decision to be baptized may fall under suddenness.
So far as chosen vs. gained? I do not see a difference, and refrain from over-analyzing matter to a state of perplexity sometimes irreversible.
Two plus two makes five may be worked out to a point where it is correct. And if what you believe does not make you happy, what's the point?
I can tell that you wish to delve deeply into the mystery. May I suggest you let this mystery come to you, because it knows how much you can handle at any given time and will not overload the circuits.
Tohido, good peace to you.

Your essay is eloquent, and thank you for sharing your thoughts.When you sit down to dinner, you eat your food one bite at a time. May I suggest that this is also how you approach the word of God, one bite at a time, chew it slowly, digest it, then bite off more, and build on what you have already eaten. Go steady and don't digress. It takes time to get to the dessert, which for me was 'oh, so that is how it works'. And the simplicity of how it works is stunning.
I hope you don't mind that I have said this to you.

-----But the only reason you accept those things is the fact that you want to validate your faith.-----I wonder if validation is the same as sharing. When the heart is full, the mouth runs over.
I fell in love once, my heart was so full, I needed to tell, and I told.
What I felt needed no validation, it needed telling.
Faith and belief are the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, Heb. 11:1. Empirical data? Does not work in this ballpark, because the game is not subject to it.

---

"Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit!"
2 Cor. 7:1

Spiritual belief and natural belief? I cannot go there with you, because I have never thought belief may be categorized this way.
The Spirit's influence is something you must want, a choice you make to have it, and you may have noticed (I hope) that the potency changes in the relationship, the intensity may become palpable in a sense. It's between you and him, and George cannot achieve what's on the road for you, it is your road. I see your struggle, I wish I could make it easy for you.
The following verse occurred to me as I read your words.
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." I Cor. 13:12. It was important to me to say it to you.I'm sad your church is treating you this way. I identify, because for many years I was known as the black sheep of the (church) family for precisely the reason that I asked questions they could not answer.
I found them on my own, and as a result, left them behind in the dust. I believe the most serious handicap a Christian can have is to confuse doctrine with what it actually says in the scriptures.
For instance......the Bible says that God only has immortality (1 Tim: 6:13-16). The logical conclusion is - we do not. The church says that the soul is immortal, which the Bible does not corroborate. Now it becomes your personal responsibility to find out what is true.Come let us reason together, is the invitation found in Isaiah 8:20, meaning you and God talk about it, slug it out, have screaming matches, fisticuffs, whining sessions, throw stuff, slam the door on exit, I've done all that with and to my father, Abba/Father, or closer even - Daddy.
I hope I am helping, sure don't wish to be a hindrance.
Strike out on your own, it is your salvation, and don't let those folks.......you know, trip you up.

There you go.
Beautiful.
Aslan is the only lion!

I chose what I believe, and yes I could change it, if I had a mind to do so.
The mythologies you cite do not appeal to me. I choose the God of the Bible, because he offers the best deal.Also, before you can make a choice, you must have one and that is where reason plays its trump.This message has been edited by PecosGeorge, 11-24-2004 02:40 PM

I might.No, you have no evidence that there is a god, unless you believe that the heavens declare the glory of him and the universe his majesty.
Evidence would crush the premise called faith, on which the deal rests.

A lie by any other name smells just as sweet.
You see a lie from your perch, I do not from mine.
So, what do you say. Shall you refrain from judgment and let me engage in the pursuit of happiness according to my want?

---

"Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit!"
2 Cor. 7:1

Thank you for your thoughts.
Whatever it is she meant, I did not interpret it to mean that she is fine with my beliefs. My beliefs are not her concern. You may go from the beginning of my posts to this one, and you will not find a single one that suggests to non-believers in Christ that they must believe, or else.
The primary directive is 'go ye into all the world', please note that it does not say to bring a sledgehammer. Corrupting this directive is entirely the product of the corrupt who forget that Christ has sheep in other flocks, and so on.
As for being told how screwed they are after they die, is a product of doctrines and not biblical writings. In such an event, it behooves one to know the difference, and the non-believers should simply shrug it off as bunk.

---

"Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit!"
2 Cor. 7:1

Thank you so much for the thought.I'm happy you have found your comfort level, but you intimate that the way I have found mine is inferior to yours.----------I explained to you that, for me, I would rather know an uncomfortable truth than deceive myself with a comforting lie.I would much, much rather spend my mental efforts in thinking well rather than feeling good.------------I won't even ask why you thought it necessary to make this statement.As for me and my house, we will and do serve the Lord.

I googled 'what people believe' and found a few things that may interest you, so help yourself.
It amuses me to see comments such as 'if it doesn't actually say not to use a sledgehammer, the decision is up to the wielder to use or not to use'.
The disciples, when Christ sent them out two by two, did not even take food or money.
Christ is ever the example, and only example. If he used a sledgehammer to get a point across, it's ok.

yes, you can most certainly choose what you want to believe, who is going to stop you?You can even believe that you are qualified to judge the floggees before you flog. I could barely wait for you to bring that up.I do hope you will be more amused than you have ever been.My best and all good wishes to you.

Your incredulity is the cross you were given? Carry it well and carry it to conclusion. Matthew 18:3 may benefit you.Your senses and logic..it seems you would know better than to consult with things so easily influenced by a sinful world and sinful self. See Matthew 15:18,19, Proverbs 17:9, check out all references that deal with the state of the human mind.As for those who choose not to believe, because they connot help it because of their own rationale and logic and it is easier to believe everything is by happenstance? I will say that if they have chosen so, they have chosen well. How people can believe that something may be had from nothing is my wonder question.___________________________The judgment issue opens up a whole 'nother can of worms and is also difficult to digest because of flawed reasoning.When the facts are presented, I look at the presenter and wonder where he/she got them. Motives and reasons and out of the heart of men proceeds evil continously.....

They choose to believe that something may come from nothing, and choose to believe that despite the "evidence" that human reasoning and rationale and the human mind are evil continuously, they'd rather trust on such a premise. The blind lead the blind effectively.