As a Christian, how did you make decisions? (& random observations)

[SarahJaneSmith]

I’ll be moving to a new city when my current job ends. I’ve made my decision based on a number of factors and I’m “at peace” with my decision. Anyway, it’s got me thinking...christians will talk about “god leading me” towards such-and-such and even as a Christian I wondered how they knew. How was it any different than me sitting down with a list of five possible cities and simply narrowing it down to one? When I was hyper-pentacostal my friends would plead with god louder and more long-winded-ly than the friends I had when I decided I was a cessationist instead, and yet at the end of the day I chalk it all up to superstition now. 
 

How about you? I’ve had an easier time making decisions since walking away because I’m no longer looking for super subjective “signs” to point me one way or the other and then become consumed with anxiety over making the wrong decision even though god, in his infinite wisdom () couldn’t be bothered to make his will clear. Now? Now I just ask myself what I want and what’s best for those that will be impacted by my decisions. 

[florduh]

Funny story about "God's leading."

 

My brother, a hard working honest boy, had just gotten married and then his old car died. He asked our fundy father if he could borrow a thousand dollars so he could get one right away. Dad told him he would pray on it. Well, he did and God told him to loan him $500, not the thousand he needed. God leads in mysterious ways.

[SarahJaneSmith]

42 minutes ago, florduh said:

Funny story about "God's leading."

 

My brother, a hard working honest boy, had just gotten married and then his old car died. He asked our fundy father if he could borrow a thousand dollars so he could get one right away. Dad told him he would pray on it. Well, he did and God told him to loan him $500, not the thousand he needed. God leads in mysterious ways.

Ugh, yes! Why couldn’t he just have been honest and said “I have 500 I’ll give you but not the $1000”? Why does it need to couched in god talk?! (Rhetorical. Apparently I’m more angry about this than I realized)

[◊ Weezer ◊]

I often thought that many of those who made a big deal of God's guidance basically eventually went with their  emotional "feeling", like many regular people do. 

[♦ Fuego ♦]

"He knows what you need before you ask" BUT "Pound on the door and don't be refused" There's a long list of all the promises and exceptions that believers have to balance. The more woo ones feeeellll god tell them X. The others pray and think about it, then try to wrap god into the choice they make. I'd say that is 99%. I remember people offering god choices and then being disappointed with the random choice, but considering it god's will. Others would put themselves through tests, like "What if God really doesn't want me to marry her? Would I really be willing to submit?" Never once saying that god told them, but they had to settle it emotionally. Religion makes for a confusing mish-mash of myths and emotions that don't help and often are just in the way. 

 

Very occasionally, someone will hear a voice. I did a couple of times. That made the other believers look at me weird, but I thought it was supposed to be normal. I'm still not sure what happened, but it was pretty damn clear and to the point, none of the "I would say unto thee my child" crap. Maybe it was me filling in for god, but it seemed to speak with clear authority. But that was maybe 3 times in 30 years (crammed into the last 10 where power/energy/miracles/shaking/etc were signs that god was there).

[MOHO]

I am plagued by indecision. I ponder and research and change my mind often.

This frequently leads to the best decision/design etc.

 

Praying used to assist with this endeavor but I realized, after deconverting, that I get the EXACT same benefit from simply talking it out with knowledgeable, interested parties.

 

[TheRedneckProfessor]

This is where my 2Lx2W analogy comes into play.  I was taught a simple formula: pray and wait.  god knew what his will was and would reveal it when the time was right.  The formula was supposed to always work, in every situation and in any circumstance.  But, just like trying to use 2Lx2W to find the diameter of a circle, the "pray and wait" formula simply did not always work.  Sometimes it seemed to work (often enough to make me keep believing it always would); but more often than not, in hindsight, I was simply left living as best I could with the piss-poor decisions I had made.

[DanForsman]

47 minutes ago, MOHO said:

I get the EXACT same benefit from simply talking it out with knowledgeable, interested parties.

 

Since god always keeps his opinion to himself I would think talking it out with knowledgeable, interested parties would be quite an upgrade but maybe before you would consult other church members in addition to praying.

[older]

10 hours ago, DanForsman said:

Since god always keeps his opinion to himself I would think talking it out with knowledgeable, interested parties would be quite an upgrade but maybe before you would consult other church members in addition to praying.

  

And after consulting with said church members, sending in some money.

[DanForsman]

29 minutes ago, older said:

And after consulting with said church members, sending in some money.

Considering that MOHO is always generous where the church is concerned , I'm going go with yes if the opportunity presented itself.

[Steviejay]

I preyed like everyone else and just like everyone else, it didn't work and so i'd make an excuse for god. "He's not ready for me to do this yet" "i'll keep praying" "my faith needs to be stronger" "i must of sinned and it's getting in the way".....all are complete bullshit and I'm sure many of you have more excuses that you made for this imaginary god

 

Simple explanation once I grew up instead of trying to be born again!!

If prayer actually worked the churches would be full to the brim of the sick instead of all the hospitals but they are EMPTY with the doors locked at night. Christians often try to claim a miracle happened but forget to tell you that the person was in hospital having specialist treatment for their illness or cancer. this isn't god working, it's the Doctors and Nurses and all the Meds

 

Here are some of the absolute, outrageous, rediculous prayer claims made by the one and only himself, Jesus, and this is enough to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the Bible is just complete and utter crap and lies.If you ever needed simple, uncomplicated proof that Christianity is total nonesence and fake then these verses are all that is required

 

JAMES 5:15  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. the Lord will raise them up. IF THEY HAVE SINNED, THEY WILL BE FORGIVEN......This shows that ANYONE can pray and be answered but it hardly ever happens like this

 

MARK 11:24  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it WILL be yours.........Yeh, right!!! another failure

 

JOHN 14 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And i will DO WHATEVER YOU ASK IN MY NAME, so that the son may bring glory to the Father. Youmay ASK ME FOR ANYTHING in my name, AND I WILL DO IT......................Never ever happened in the whole of history, anothe Bible lie

 

MATT 18:19  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about ANYTHING THEY ASK, IT WILL BE DONE for them by my Father in Cookcoo land (sorry I meant heaven). For where two or three are gathered in my name (not during lockdown), there am I in the midst of them....................utter bullshit again

 

MATT 17:20  For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed (one of the smallest seeds on the planet) you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move, and NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO YOU................No one has EVER achieved this in all the centuries past, not one person, and also what a complete pointless thing to do unless you need to walk an easier and flatter route.....pointless miracle just like walking on water and water into wine (ok, well maybe not so pointless on a friday and saturday night!!)

 

I saw this paragraph a few years back but it sums up Christianity and Jesus quite well

Why does Santa not give all the needy children in the world present?..........The same reason that Jesus doesn't feed them and let's millions of children all over the world end up being abused and starving....................Because imaginary characters work this way!!

 

If christians still believe after reading thses outrageous prayer promises, which are clearly untrue then I'm afraid they have been brainwashed and indoctrinated beyond the point of reality and it nay take couseling to make them see sense

 

[Simone]

I feel free. No need to waste my time of fasting to discern His will and at least still cannot know God's will . Freedom is a great gift when you leave these stupid beliefs behind you.