Christian Readers discussion

Griffin, which God did you worship? By choosing the name Griffin, it suggests you lean toward the dark side.

Thomas wrote: "Griffin, which God did you worship? By choosing the name Griffin, it suggests you lean toward the dark side."

That is not an encouraging comment at all. In Griffin's struggles we need to be a loving and serving hand if we consider ourselves Christ followers. Griffin is a normal name for a human, I don't understand the reason for your implications.

Griffin, do not be discouraged because you feel this way. I think we all have questioned or felt disbelief at some point in our lives. My best advice would be to spend time in prayer and remember every time in your life that you have felt God close or in ways that He showed up and blessed you. I will be praying for you

In that case, I apologize for my comment. May God bless you and reveal himself to you as you seek him.

Praying for you Griffin! Thanks for your honesty and open heart to share your struggles. God is with you.

"When a young man who has been going to church in a routine way honestly realises that he
does not believe in Christianity and stops going—provided he does it for honesty's sake and not just to
annoy his parents—the spirit of Christ is probably nearer to him then than it ever was before. But
above all, He works on us through each other"
- CSL, Mere Christianity

Natalie, not everyone accepts sola fide.

Natalie wrote: "Lewis did come out with some nonsense sometimes...where is that in the Bible?"

Lewis is making a really good point, that asking "why" is actually a relevant step from a mere outward show of Christianity towards genuine faith. Reaching true faith sometimes involves stepping away from blind religious performance which is not the same thing as faith.

Griffin ✨ wrote: "have always been rlly religious but rn all I feel is distain for the God I worshipped for years, is there something wrong with me?"

Do you have specific doubts or questions? Would you like book suggestions to help you? As someone else has mentioned CS Lewis, his book "Miracles" is a great detailed and careful case for the truth of Christianity.

Natalie wrote: "I don't know on what basis Lewis could say that a person who stops believing in Christianity and stops going to church is nearer to the Spirit of Christ than he was beforehand. That was my point. I..."

To clarify a little more - Lewis was NOT saying it's good to stop believing in Christianity, what he was saying (in context) is that attending church just because you're told to and calling yourself a christian just because your parents did can get in the way of reaching true faith.

It is good to call yourself a christian, it is good to be part of a church BUT these things ought to be done because you know Christ, not merely because you think you're supposed to; and sometimes stepping away for a little while, admitting that you have questions that need answering etc. may be a helpful step in coming to a clear and true faith rather than an outward show.

Adding an extra note, "sola fide" is often misunderstood to mean, blind faith; "don't think just believe" - which in context seems to be what Noah is alluding to.

FYI for anyone unfamiliar "sola fide" is meant to mean that we are "saved" (reconciled to God) purely by depending on Christ, not by having something to offer (i.e. not by works we have done, Titus 3:5, Eph 2:8-10)

Griffin, have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Are you His follower (walking daily with Him, not just going to church once a week)? Do you worship daily? Have you felt His presence? Being a Christian is having an ongoing relationship with Jesus, never ceasing. We talk, I pray, I listen to worship music. Being religious isn’t having a relationship. If you truly want to follow Him, ask Him into your heart sincerely. Then, start walking with Him. Get rid of temptations as much as you can, make your house a clean house of worship. Be careful what you read, watch, listen to, games you play, friends you hang out with, etc. Don’t give the devil a foothold. Surround yourself with His presence by praying, reading His Word, listening to worship music (pure worship, not contemporary), listening to preaching, reading devotionals and other Christian books, watching Christian movies, etc. That doesn’t mean we can’t watch regular tv too, just nothing with nudity or horror images. My family has parental controls on every device. We try to keep it PG, unless it’s a war movie. I'm praying for you.

Griffin ✨ wrote: "have always been rlly religious but rn all I feel is distain for the God I worshipped for years, is there something wrong with me?"

Griffin, I'm sorry about the side-topics above, is there any specific question/problem we could be trying to help you with? Any particular reason for the disdain?

Griffin ✨ wrote: "have always been rlly religious but rn all I feel is distain for the God I worshipped for years, is there something wrong with me?"

Hi Griffin, I think I can pretty much relate to your disappointments in God. I was at one time extremely disappointed in God, I felt whatever I prayed for, God did the opposite. I was in my 30s, serving God in church, lead worship, had daily devotions, seeking God first, but yet never see a breakthru in finances despite the prayer, fasting, bible reading. Although I knew He was the truth (had experienced many miracles in God), I felt myself slowly drifting away from God, drowning in my disappointments. It was only about 8 years ago that the problem is not with God, but with me. Instead of trying to push my agenda and my fleshly desires in my prayers, God is asking me to evolve and rise to a higher spiritual maturity. The problem was, I was trying to force God to answer my fleshly desires (error doctrine of prosperity), Instead of forcing God to understand us, I now try to step up and to understand Him more. And that path really led to real freedom! Sorry for the long writing, really trying to help. It's heart crushing to see people drifting away from God...Stay strong Griffin, build your spirit, feed with spiritual solid food. That was what I did.

Heather wrote: "Griffin, have you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Are you His follower (walking daily with Him, not just going to church once a week)? Do you worship daily? Have you felt His prese..."
excellent post, and advice

Griffin ✨ wrote: "have always been rlly religious but rn all I feel is distain for the God I worshipped for years, is there something wrong with me?"
Why are you mad at God?

Fully trust God
Fully listen to God
Fully obey God
Completely surrender to God
He is good, He does no wrong
Stand firm. Live by faith, not by sight.

Some positive mentors for you from the great cloud of witnesses that encourage us; (learn from their sermons)
Dr Charles Stanley
Dr David Jeremiah
Dr Billy Graham

Another resource: gotquestions.org

Praying for you and with you. I hope this does encourage you.

It sounds like, from what you've said in your various comments in this thread, that you are struggling with your Faith due to hardships/depression. There are many great apologetic resources regarding the problem of suffering from C.S Lewis and Craig if you are looking for something of that nature

Not c.s. lewis! Try listening to Pastor Charles Lawson on You tube.
Here, take a look: https://www.youtube.com/@PastorCharle...

Dear Griffin,

I just want to start by saying: you have been seen, you have been heard, and you are deeply cared for — by others, and even more importantly, by the God who knows every tear you’ve cried (Psalm 56:8).

I’m so sorry that you are struggling with such heavy feelings of disdain, doubt, and discouragement. Four years of depression is not a small thing, especially at a young age — that’s a long, hard road to walk. It’s a real burden, and you are not weak or strange for feeling the weight of it.

I walked through a similar road for three years with panic and crushing anxiety. Every day I felt as if I was going to die of a heart attack for three years and constantly wondering why God was allowing me to suffer through it. But, almost 10 years removed from it, and I can see the great joy and witness that pain has provided me with. It’s given me a window into hurting souls and a true understanding of the pain. The mind produces.

I also want to affirm: you have done many things well.
You have sought God in His Word.
You have surrounded yourself with Christian influences.
You have not given yourself over easily to the world’s noise and temptations.
You have fought to hold onto faith even when it feels like it’s slipping through your fingers.
You have been honest — and that kind of raw honesty is something God loves (Psalm 51:6).
All of this is precious in the eyes of the Lord.

Many people who responded to you have offered encouragement that is real and valuable — they reminded you that questioning and wrestling can actually be part of the journey toward real faith rather than shallow religion. They have prayed for you and pointed you to keep seeking.

But I also want to gently give you something deeper that you may not have yet fully heard:

!!! God’s love for you does not hinge on how hard you pray, how pure your media habits are, or how often you attend church.
!!! His love is anchored not in your strength to hold onto Him — but in His unstoppable strength to hold onto you.

Jesus says:
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37, ESV)
- as a Christian for nearly 20 years and a youth pastor for the past three, I know the pole towards performance Christianity, and it is a fools errand.

Your suffering has not been wasted or ignored. It is not a sign of God’s absence or hatred — it may in fact be a severe mercy, a refining fire that God allows, not because He is cruel, but because He is committed to your eternal good.

The apostle Peter wrote to Christians who were suffering:

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
(1 Peter 1:6–7, ESV)

Notice — if necessary. Sometimes it is necessary for us to walk through seasons of darkness, loss, and even silence from God’s side — not because He has turned away, but because He is purifying our faith into something real, something indestructible.

It’s okay to lament. It’s okay to bring your raw anger, your tears, your confusion right to God. He invites it.
The Psalms are full of holy complaints that end with trust:

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
… But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.” (Psalm 13:1,5, ESV)

You don’t have to pretend. You don’t have to “clean yourself up” before coming honestly to Christ.
He meets you exactly where you are — wounded, weary, wrestling — and says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, ESV)

A Few Final Encouragements:
-Stop trying to earn God’s presence. It’s a gift, not a reward (Ephesians 2:8–9).
-Anchor yourself in Christ’s finished work, not your own performance. “It is finished,” He said — and that includes your acceptance by God.
-Learn to lament biblically — cry out, confess, but end by clinging to His promises even if you can’t yet feel them.
-Know that doubt is not the enemy of faith. Sometimes it’s the doorway to deeper, truer belief.

Griffin, your story is not over. God often does His deepest work in the hidden places where we feel abandoned.
He has not let you go. He never will.

With real care and hope,
A Christian brother

Dear Griffin, I don’t know You but all I can say is Jesus is Alive and He has left us His Holy Spirit who can comfort us, guide us, and teach us all things.

Asking Jesus in my heart was somewhat of an insurance for me because I didn’t want to go to hell.

But I lived however I wanted for many years…

After life’s struggles had crushed me I came to a point of surrender. I said Jesus please take everything You can have it all You can have everything I own my whole life my all. When I gave up and surrendered that is when a fire started inside of me. I started eagerly searching for God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit… I was completely consumed with an appetite that I could not get enough of Jesus. His Holy Spirit has filled me and clothed me and completely taken over the way I think and how live.

Everyday I have to surrender to Jesus… the Lord’s prayer… Give me this day my daily bread. He will comfort You. There are so many verses I can give You. But if You ask his Holy Spirit to come inside of You and surrender to Him Your sinful nature. Romans 7 and 8 , then the Holy Spirit will tale iver and amazing things will happen. Praise Jesus in the Highest! Griffin God knows You and he is willing.

If we truly surrender everything in our heart and our min

Sorry for the spelling mistakes, I am on my phone and it wouldn’t let me scroll down to correct what I wrote.

But I wanted to give You this verse as some encouragement and comfort… Praise Jesus in the Highest Forever Griffin! Praise His Holy Name!

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. 4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. 5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. 6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. 8 Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. 9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, 10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. 11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. 13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! 14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” (‭‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91‬‬:‭1‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Griffin wrote: "In response to heather. I don’t listen to secular music, I watch christain movies I have never even watched Harry Potter, majority of the books I read are by Christian authors or are Christian book..."
It sounds to me like your disdain is not for God, but for "Churchishness." If that is right, then you need less religion and more God. Here's what I mean.

Everything in your posts indicates that you're getting jaded and disillusioned with doing things in what you have always been told is "The Christian Way," simply because your Church told you that's how it was (no secular music, no Harry Potter books, no this, no that, but what do you replace all of that with?). And yeah, I can tell you from experience, no organization on Earth is more effective at driving souls away from God than the Church has sometimes been. Recall that Christ's biggest arguments were with "religious people" called Pharisees and Sadducees.

Here's my advice. For a few weeks, stay home from Church. Pray intently. Don't lash out at God, but don't try to sugar coat things either (He already sees your thoughts anyway so why bother?) Just have a long discussion with Him about "here's how I feel and here's how it looks from where I'm standing. If there's more to You than empty rituals and social gatherings, can You show me where You are and what I'm doing wrong?" It doesn't have to be word for word, but something like that.
And during that time, read your Bible. A lot. It doesn't have to be an intensive study. Pick your favorite passages and re-read them, seeing what you didn't notice before.

What I suspect you'll find is not that you have the wrong God, but that you're sitting in a pew at the wrong Church.

That is not an encouraging comment at all. In Griffin's struggles we ne..." He might have a point, though. Maybe that isn't his real name.