Friend questioning christianity

livingthefaith · 07-04-2009, 08:11 AM

I have a good friend who has been "christian" since birth but hasn't been to church since middle school. Recently I went to a christian camp and when I got home he was very interested in listening to me talk to him about what happened there, I had a terrible time trying to fully explain how the camp felt/ changed me since he doesn't share the same views on religon as I. He must have realized this sometime into our converstation and then wanted to have one of those typical discussions that I like to call "bible wars". Unfortunatly he waited until like 11:30 pm to start asking me questions, I told him that I would love to talk to him, as long as it was not my bed time and to call me in the morning.
He took me up on this offer and we ended up have a 3 hour conversation, part phone, part text about religon. He didn't understand many things in the bible, I said that even the most religious among us don't fully understand the bible and all it teaches, that is to be expected.
The problem I was having was that he kept quoting the Koran to me to try and counter-attack any bible passage I used. I asked him why he would quote the Koran since he had never studied the it prior and was just using it to try and counter act the Bible. He said he was trying to strengthen his christian faith by exploring other religions. I just don't understand how to tell him that looking at the Koran is not going to bring him closer to God. please respond!

Steven Thompson · 07-04-2009, 01:50 PM

Well, sometimes studying other religions or beliefs can help to strengthen faith. In this case however, this might not be the case. It seems he is looking for a weapon to use, something to give him a reason not to believe in God and His perfect Son. It's in these times that you might try asking him a few questions. Such as, why is he looking at another set of beliefs? What led him to want to do this? Also, you are wise in not doing this alone. Our pride and sense of "fairness" get in the way alot, and stop us from going to those who have answers to the questions that we ourselves can't answer.

You said that he has had a christian upbringing. Is this in his own house, through his parents? If so, then looking at this situation may help shed some light on what is going on, for if his own parents were once of the faith but have been falling away recently, him following their lead will probably seem like no big deal to him. It may even seem correct to him, as your parents influence much of your own beliefs and morals. If this is the case, I can pretty much guarantee that convincing him to stay with his beliefs is going to be quite an arduous task.

Also, does he really know the whole point of Christianity? The fact that Jesus died because we are failures, and that only through Him may we gain eternal salvation? If he sees Christianity as just another set of morals, something to trudge through on a daily basis, then expounding on what Christianity really is might be a wise course of action. Furthermore, many people that don't enjoy any sort of fellowship, whether it be church, youth group, bible study, or even an online forum become inundated by this world, and regardless of how strong their faith is they start to worry more about this world than anything else. Their cares, plans, and entire self is so focused on the secular that the spiritual is petty and unimportant.

I hope what I have said helps you to know what you need to say. I will be praying for him, and that God works on him through you.

God Bless.

livingthefaith · 07-06-2009, 09:31 AM

Yes, his parents, while not etremely faithful Catholics attend weekly mass. He has been incouraged to go to church but he never does. He actually asked me to take him to my youth group time (of course he had to ask during the summer when we don't ahve formal youth group.)

I think i missed one of your questions....

07-04-2009, 08:11 AM	#1
livingthefaith livingthefaith Edit Disciple	Friend questioning christianity I have a good friend who has been "christian" since birth but hasn't been to church since middle school. Recently I went to a christian camp and when I got home he was very interested in listening to me talk to him about what happened there, I had a terrible time trying to fully explain how the camp felt/ changed me since he doesn't share the same views on religon as I. He must have realized this sometime into our converstation and then wanted to have one of those typical discussions that I like to call "bible wars". Unfortunatly he waited until like 11:30 pm to start asking me questions, I told him that I would love to talk to him, as long as it was not my bed time and to call me in the morning. He took me up on this offer and we ended up have a 3 hour conversation, part phone, part text about religon. He didn't understand many things in the bible, I said that even the most religious among us don't fully understand the bible and all it teaches, that is to be expected. The problem I was having was that he kept quoting the Koran to me to try and counter-attack any bible passage I used. I asked him why he would quote the Koran since he had never studied the it prior and was just using it to try and counter act the Bible. He said he was trying to strengthen his christian faith by exploring other religions. I just don't understand how to tell him that looking at the Koran is not going to bring him closer to God. please respond!
Status: Offline

07-04-2009, 01:50 PM	#2
Steven Thompson Steven Thompson Believes that believing is more than a belief Edit Disciple	Well, sometimes studying other religions or beliefs can help to strengthen faith. In this case however, this might not be the case. It seems he is looking for a weapon to use, something to give him a reason not to believe in God and His perfect Son. It's in these times that you might try asking him a few questions. Such as, why is he looking at another set of beliefs? What led him to want to do this? Also, you are wise in not doing this alone. Our pride and sense of "fairness" get in the way alot, and stop us from going to those who have answers to the questions that we ourselves can't answer. You said that he has had a christian upbringing. Is this in his own house, through his parents? If so, then looking at this situation may help shed some light on what is going on, for if his own parents were once of the faith but have been falling away recently, him following their lead will probably seem like no big deal to him. It may even seem correct to him, as your parents influence much of your own beliefs and morals. If this is the case, I can pretty much guarantee that convincing him to stay with his beliefs is going to be quite an arduous task. Also, does he really know the whole point of Christianity? The fact that Jesus died because we are failures, and that only through Him may we gain eternal salvation? If he sees Christianity as just another set of morals, something to trudge through on a daily basis, then expounding on what Christianity really is might be a wise course of action. Furthermore, many people that don't enjoy any sort of fellowship, whether it be church, youth group, bible study, or even an online forum become inundated by this world, and regardless of how strong their faith is they start to worry more about this world than anything else. Their cares, plans, and entire self is so focused on the secular that the spiritual is petty and unimportant. I hope what I have said helps you to know what you need to say. I will be praying for him, and that God works on him through you. God Bless. __________________ -Steven Ask not what you can do for the world, but what God wants you to do for the world.
Status: Offline

07-06-2009, 09:31 AM	#3
livingthefaith livingthefaith Edit Disciple	Yes, his parents, while not etremely faithful Catholics attend weekly mass. He has been incouraged to go to church but he never does. He actually asked me to take him to my youth group time (of course he had to ask during the summer when we don't ahve formal youth group.) I think i missed one of your questions.... __________________ A life without Christ is like a life not lived.
Status: Offline