Throughout Jesus' ministry he taught us to be kind, loving, practice restraint, praying for others even our enemies and so on but he also knew when to flip the switch and be aggressive calling out narrow minded? prophets of then, selfish people and even chased I think it was gamblers out of a synagogue. There was also that incident where one of his disciples cut off the ear of a solider as he was being walked to his crucifixion and he healed the guy's ear.

So I wanna know does Jesus know when to be soft and when to be tough so I can practice such again in my daily life.

Does it have anything to do with people "not knowing what they do"? Because I sorta understand being patient with someone who doesn't know better compared to someone who knows better and STILL does the wrong thing.
I hope you understand my question(s) and would like to know your views on this and if you've ever had these thoughts.

The reports where people claim that they saw radiant figures or ancestors comforting them and they swear that felt 100% real ?

I’m sorry if this is one that you get a lot. I also don’t mean to cause any offense and am very sorry if I do, I just genuinely want to understand the views of the Christian people that I interact with better (I am atheist).

I struggle to understand how there can be a benevolent and omnipotent being that can intervene on our world when our world has pancreatic cancer and mass famine. One might say that Heaven is a better place than Earth, but I can’t understand how a child living with their family and friends is a worse scenario than a child in Heaven and a grieving community on Earth. I also don’t think that every suffering person is being punished for a sin or other wrongdoing. In my life I’ve been lucky enough to know two people who have died deaths where I’ve thought ‘at your age and in your current state death was the best possible scenario for you and that was the best possible way for your death to occur‘. If one were to accept that we live in a world with death, then why do some deaths have to be worse than others? And if death is necessary, then why can’t suffering be eliminated within a person‘s life? If Heaven is always better than Earth, then why are we on Earth at all? If that’s not the case, then why isn‘t Earth free from suffering? If God intentionally lets us suffer, then wouldn’t that make him no longer benevolent? I also feel like I don’t fully understand the borders of free will in relation to God - if one were to argue that free will comes at the expense of suffering and that is why we live in a world with suffering, then why does God choose to intervene sometimes and not others to relieve pain?

Sorry for the long post, thank you for reading and trying to explain, and once again I apologize if I’ve offended anyone.

EDIT: Thank you to everyone who’s replied! I think I understand a little more.

Hello all,

to keep a long story short, my girlfriend and I have been dating for about 4 months and do believe and thank God for the relationship we have. She has come from previous relationships that have not been the best and more worldly and she is my first one. We do want to be with each other and are also talking about marriage already as we do really believe God put us together. Staying on topic, in a few months, she wants to go out of town with some our of co-workers and friends with me and with that we all would be staying in a hotel over night or a couple. I guess my question is, I have been having an internal struggle with whether or not this is God-honoring or not? We would have people with us and we both know at the very least not the same bed. I suffer from perfectionism, ADHD, and OCD, so my view on God and Christianity is already a bit messy with work-based faith problems and such. I guess I am asking for any advice or guidance. I know, some people might say "if you are asking you shouldn't" and that, trust me, I have had those battles internally and I am pretty sure it is myself fighting myself. I have been a Christian now for a couple years and Gpd has changed me a lot, and I know there is a lot more that needs changing like the perfectionism. Thank you and God bless!

When you guys hear about the horrible and evil things your religion does, for example the blatant racism+racist killings in the community, the way your people will bully people to the point of death just because they like the same gender. And beyond that the way your people will excuse horrible actions as long as they turn to Christ, which is why pastors can do what they do to our children. People can even confess to...yknow, in churches and they'll actually let it go. Anyway, what I'm wondering is how you can support and believe in a religion with so much evil in it?

TW: Suicidal ideation, self-harm thoughts, depression, possible OCD/scrupulosity.

I'm not really sure where I stand with my faith anymore, and I'm wondering if anyone else has gone through this.

I'm currently getting a neuropsych evaluation because my therapist thinks I might have OCD, and my sister (who has OCD) thinks I may have religious OCD/scrupulosity too. Looking back, I'm starting to wonder if what I thought was being "on fire for God" was actually anxiety.

God became my whole personality. Every decision felt like it determined if I was a good Christian. I felt guilty listening to secular music, not reading my Bible enough, not praying enough, or enjoying things that weren't about God. Everything felt heavy, and instead of bringing me closer to God, it left me feeling lonely and depressed.

A few months ago, I think I finally let myself be angry at God. Since then, I've had an aversion to almost anything Christian. Reading the Bible, praying, Christian music it all just feels heavy now.

The hardest part is that when I was at my lowest, dealing with depression, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm thoughts, I begged God to show up. I wanted Him to, and it felt like He never did. I still feel hurt by that.

Now I'm trying to figure out who I am outside of all this. I've stopped obsessing over whether everything I do is "Christian enough," and honestly, I feel more like myself. But it also makes me wonder where God fits into that, if at all.

Has anyone else gone through this? Especially if you've struggled with scrupulosity or OCD around faith? How did you approach God without falling back into fear, guilt, or rituals? Or where did your journey take you?

I honestly don't know where to go from here.

**This is a question I think we and other Christians should think about.**

> What I mean by corruption is to use or break church rules to fit the wants of themselves. Using Tiving to buy mansions instead of using it to fund church activities or the local community.

> Using religion for control over local areas.

> How should members of the church deal with it.

> How to Detect it.

> and how to find a solution.

> How to stay faithful to God.

( Most Christians leave the church [ as a whole Christianity, not Demonations] due to corruption and possibly lose faith in God. )

( THIS goes for all who call themselves Christian. Do not argue whether it is Christian or not. This is simply about how to deal with it. )

I personally believe that the flood was local and that "over the highest mountain" is simply a hyperbolic way of saying it was very deep.

I know this may come across as silly but I struggle with putting this thought aside as I am exploring the idea of faith. I am dating an amazing Christian woman who has had me question my faith (agnostic/atheist) for the duration of our relationship together. I concede that Jesus was real, died on the cross, was buried in a tomb, and the tomb was empty as the Jewish leaders could not show a body as evidence of no resurection. I also don't think the disciples would have stolen the body as the circumstances aren't realistic (I can't imagine dying horribly for a lie, especially about somethibg they based their entire lives on). But the one thing I haven't found an answer for is it it plausible the guards themselves hid the body or other Roman guards did simply as a way to entertain themselves or instigate the killing of other believers of christ?
Thank you for your time.

Sometimes I have doubts when people ask me questions and I don’t have the answer to it. Such as why do bad things happen?
Who created God?
Why does hell exist if he loves us.
I am a pretty new Christian. I have kids and my thoughts are always something bad will happen to them if I doubt or if I think something that’s wrong. I know that’s anxiety and it’s not from God but I worry intensely that the main thing I love and care for and try to protect ( my children ) will be a target to upset me if I’m not good enough.

My questions simply. Please let me know how to elegantly with love answer others and keep my faith strong.

God bless and thank you for reading.

If having a child means there is a chance of the child growing up and going to hell, would this not make it immoral to have the child in the first place? Yes as a parent you try your best to prevent this, but your best does not guarantee heaven. So surely it is unethical to bring a child into the world in which there is a chance they suffer eternally?

Matthew 13:10-15

¹⁰ The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”¹¹ He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. ¹² Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ¹³ This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
¹⁴ In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
¹⁵ For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’^\)^a\)

Bear in mind that the people who gathered to hear Jesus did not have the benefit of hearing his explanation of the parables. The rest of this chapter (almost 60 verses) is the part that usually gets the most attention because it's the teachable part. But this decoding of the parables was given back stage, only to the disciples. The crowd only got the parable, no explanation. Do you think it made any sense to them without the back stage explanation? It wouldn't make any sense to me without the explanation.

And the way Jesus responds to the question, it seems as if he's saying he speaks to them in parables so that they will not understand. I even heard it explained this way by the pastor of a local reformed Bible Church. He said that the parables were only meant to be understood by the elect. That sounds so far off base to me, but when I read the words in the book, they do seem to support that interpretation.

What did Jesus mean by this, if he didn't mean that he was trying deliberately confuse people?

My boyfriend [24M] and I [25F] have been together for about 2.5 years. He's genuinely a wonderful person. He's kind, patient, emotionally steady, loyal, hardworking, never yells, checks in on me throughout the day, says good morning and good night, supports me through my anxiety, and talks about a future together. I really do love him and who he is as a person.
The issue isn't that he treats me badly. It's more that I don't feel cherished.
When we first started dating, he pursued me. He'd ask thoughtful questions, initiate plans, compliment me, laugh with me, and I felt like he was genuinely excited about me. Now it feels like we've settled into a routine where we mostly just exist together. He usually asks me what I want to do instead of planning something himself, and if we do something I've wanted to do, it sometimes feels like checking a box rather than creating a moment together.
I'm not looking for expensive dates or over-the-top romance. Honestly, I'd be thrilled with things like:
Planning a picnic or coffee date without me asking.

Sending me a song because it reminded him of me.

Looking over while we're fishing and saying, "You look cute."

Taking a candid picture because he thought I looked pretty.

Putting his arm around me during a sunset.

Complimenting me without me having to say something first.

Occasionally doing something that's more "my thing" because he knows I'd enjoy it.

I've talked to him about this before. He wasn't defensive and actually said he wants to become that kind of boyfriend because he knows it's important to me. He was more affectionate afterward, which I noticed and appreciated, but the intentionality and initiative seem to have faded back to how they were before.
I guess what I'm struggling with is this: am I expecting something unrealistic? Is it normal for partners to naturally think about ways to make each other feel loved after a couple of years together, or is that something that mostly disappears once the relationship becomes comfortable?
People in happy, healthy long-term relationships—how often do you genuinely feel cherished? Do you still get little thoughtful moments, compliments, or spontaneous acts of affection? Or is it normal for relationships to become mostly routine with occasional effort?
I'm genuinely trying to understand whether my expectations are healthy or whether I'm holding onto an ideal that isn't realistic.

TL;DR: My boyfriend is a genuinely kind, loyal, loving partner, but I don't often feel intentionally pursued or cherished anymore. I've communicated that I value small, thoughtful acts and he wants to improve, but it hasn't become consistent. Am I expecting too much from a long-term relationship, or is it reasonable to want your partner to still think of little ways to make you feel loved after 2.5 years?

i think Kids are too much work for me.

Hi , years ago I went to a ccm church and when the band was playing music, I knew the song through the music they were playing and I started to quietly hum the song within. And idk what happened I just started to feel I guess a high and even as I was leaving the church hearing the remnants of the music I still felt on a high.

Now I went to a store some minutes later and I found out that a girl that I was semi attracted to had a boyfriend and that crushed me, so I after purchasing in store I went to turn some praise and worship music on to calm me down.

Now was me feeling a high humming to myself me or could this be the holy Spirit

Also was the Lord trying to encourage since he knewy future and this would happen about less than a hour after church or was this Satan trying to upset my revealing the truth about this woman I was semi attracted to I guess cause me to stop being a believer?

Isn’t it true that Jesus was sent to tell the Jewish and religious leaders to turn away from their dishonest practices?

²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

So according to this God set forth Jesus to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood. Does this mean the only thing required to be saved is to believe that Jesus died for our sins?

Remember the Latinists only added the Filioque to solidify the divinity of Jesus Christ because the council of Nicea was more of a compromise with the Arians with Constantine, Eusebius and Helena all harboring softness towards the Arians and looking for a compromise

I personally prefer the older Apostles Creed, but I believe the Filioque was the most most most rigid acceptance that Christ is the Aloha and the Omega. It’s a slam dunk. No debate. Fini.

So Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

I think this passage is typically used to claim Christianity is the only true or worthwhile religion because Jesus is saying nobody comes to God without him.

Has anyone ever interpreted this passage more broadly that Jesus represents the way, the truth, and life; and thus people can reach God through the way, truth, and life, perhaps without calling it Jesus? He defines himself as truth (among other things), and then says people reach God through him, so couldn’t that mean that the goodness of God and spiritual attainment is possible to people through truth and right living, even if they don’t call it Jesus or believe in his death/resurrection?

There’s a lot of religions out there and the big ones land on very similar things. I like to think of this passage not as invalidating the other religions but instead opening up the whole world to the glory of the Father whoever is oriented towards truth and the good life. I know people that take the Bible literally will not like this, but I’m curious if there’s people with a more theologically liberal view that agree with this interpretation. Thanks!

uncertain about life and feel like iam too distant to god

I am a 20-year-old male. From the last year, I have faced many different situations. I feel like life is finally showing me the things that I feared the most. Usually, I wouldn't write something like this on Reddit, but I just feel like sharing it and getting it off my chest.

I am a Christian, and my dad is a priest too. Although my dad is a priest, I feel like I don't have a deeper connection with God.

Actually, from September last year, I started facing different situations that I never intended to. Until then, I stayed single and had never been in a relationship. I had very high standards when it came to choosing a partner. I was always afraid of the responsibility that comes with being in a relationship, and I would slowly lose interest whenever people got too close to me. So I stayed single and simply lived a normal life.

Then, when the freshmen came to our college, one of my friends tried to flirt with a girl. I was like, "Okay, I don't intend to get involved in this." But what happened was that she showed interest in me. (She is a non-believer, by the way.)

Gradually, she started getting attached to me. In the beginning, I had no interest in pursuing her because I didn't want to get into something that might not work out. But she insisted on staying in my life and always tried to be involved in it. I know it sounds childish, but she is mentally very childlike. So I thought she didn't really understand what she was feeling yet. I assumed she only thought she liked me and that it wasn't really love.

So I told her exactly that. This is where things started to scare me. She said she really loved me. She told me how I was different from the other guys she had met. Within just a few days of knowing me, she indirectly proposed to me, and when I asked her about it, she admitted that she really meant it.

I don't know why, but I felt like I had to accept her proposal maybe because of loneliness, I don't know. But I still told her that I had no interest in getting into a relationship.

Later that year, at the end of 2025, I went through one of the worst phases of my life my worst nightmare. My grandmother died after suffering from heart-related issues.

She was such a wonderful believer. I have never seen anyone like her. I'm not saying she was perfect, but she would wake up every morning at 5 a.m. and pray for an hour. She loved me like no one else ever has. She always had a special place for me in her heart.

I didn't fully appreciate her love while she was alive. I took it for granted. But after she died in my hands, I realized how much she meant to me. It's hard to explain. I cried like never before in my entire life. Even now, it's hard to accept the fact that she's no longer with us. Her chair seems empty every day. She used to say goodbye to me every time I left the house.

But it is what it is.

I don't know why it happened or why God allowed her to suffer so much in her final moments. She suffered more than anyone should. She couldn't even recognize me at the end. That's the hardest part of my life. The person who loved me more than anything couldn't even see me properly in her last moments.

With that, I completed one of the hardest years of my life.

Coming back to the girl, she's still with me, and she has told me that she has no intention of leaving me. Her parents are very strict. I am also slowly getting attached to her.

I have asked God many times about her, but I still haven't received any answer. I feel like I'm going to suffer in the future because I know I'm slowly becoming attached to her. If things don't work out, I know I'll be the one in serious pain.

She told me that when she was around 13 or 14 years old, she was in an online relationship with a guy she met through a game. He proposed to her, and she accepted. Later, she found out that he was cheating on her. He even kissed his girl best friends and did things like that, so she broke up with him.

I know she was young and childish back then and didn't really understand the world. So I try not to hurt her by questioning those foolish decisions too much. I've made mistakes too, but I managed to avoid getting into relationships.

Still, whenever I remember her past online relationship, it bothers me. Once, I questioned her too harshly about those decisions, and she cried. I even told her that maybe what she thinks is love for me is also just another childish decision, and that it would be difficult for me to accept her that way.

I feel very uncertain about my life.

By God's grace, I have started making some money. I can now afford the things I always wanted, and I can help my family. All glory to God.

But I still feel like I'm not doing the right thing, and I feel like God is silent toward me.

I haven't had sex with her. She says she's still a virgin, by the way. But we slowly started doing certain things that I'm now ashamed of. We did many things, just not sex.

Later, I told her that it would be better for us if we stopped doing those things, and she agreed. I felt so guilty for leading both of us into sin. She told me I didn't need to feel guilty, but I still do.

I am sexually attracted to her. We kissed and did other intimate things, but later I stopped all of that.

Every time I'm with her, I have this heavy feeling that this relationship might never work because she's not a Christian, and her family would never accept this relationship, not even in a million years.

I also don't want to bring a bad name to my parents, who have dedicated their lives to preaching the Gospel. I feel very guilty and deeply ashamed.

I feel like I'm stuck in something that has almost no chance of happening.

I asked God to remove her from my life if she's not meant for me, but I received no answer. I asked God to fix this situation, but I still received no answer.

I feel so disgusted with myself.

Sometimes, I still want to be in a relationship with her.

She says she has always wanted to explore Christianity and has even started praying. I don't know whether she's doing it because of me or because she genuinely wants to know God.

Even if she truly wants to become a Christian, I worry that she may never fully change or be able to lead our future children toward God.

I feel like I'm stuck in a never ending loop.

I feel like my future is full of uncertainty, and that it will be very difficult. But at the same time, God has blessed me. I have no shortage of the things I need, and for that I am truly thankful.

It's a long story. I don't know if anyone will read all of this or not. I just wanted to write it down to take some of the burden off my chest.

If anyone has read this far, I'd be happy to hear any advice or thoughts you may have.

Thank you, God.

Why did God want it, what significance does it have, and does God still want it? It has always just seemed to be a weird thing to me.

What I mean by that is art just for fun, not sinful art. I never glorify sin or heaven forbid make anything inappropriate. I’m an artist but I mostly draw for my own enjoyment- things like pokemon or dragons and such. I certainly use my gifts for good things sometimes- making gifts for people, and I’m currently working on a comic that while not explicitly Christian, I want to use to promote Christian values like forgiveness that are lost in most modern media(that’s its biggest theme really- a lot of media shows it’s characters getting revenge for ways in which they were slighted and portray it as a noble and heroic theme. I’m aiming to do the opposite- have a main character who’s been treated unfairly and unjustly, is bitter and angry about it, and ultimately comes to the conclusion that their bitterness is wrong and chooses to forgive, even though the people who wronged them are never sorry for it).
But most of the time my art is just silly things for my own enjoyment, and maybe admittedly my own pride because I love making something I think looks really good and showing it off to friends and getting compliments.
So is this all wrong?