(July 20, 2015 at 7:38 pm)Spacetime Wrote: The answer to your question of whether or not I was willing to follow Christ has been answered. The answer is a profound yes. Then you forked the conversation. I don't know if you're avoiding this or not... but you've still not answered my original question. So I'll post it here again. Hopefully, you'll answer it this time (third time's the charm, I guess?).
The bible mentions belief as though it were a choice. I've found that my Christian identity is wholly wrapped up in trying (desperately) to believe, when I simply have not been convinced. A positive affirmation of belief "on" Christ Jesus would be a lie in my case... something that very doctrine prohibits. What I do believe is that I've made tremendous effort in trying to believe, by investigating the faith. Without deconstructing this paragraph, please address this over all point; If belief is a choice and there is evidence that this belief is convincing and rational, why hasn't this evidence rationally convinced me to believe? Especially when I'm not ignorant to it... down to its most specific points.
FINAL ANSWER
God maintains a delicate balance between keeping His existence sufficiently evident so people will know he's there and yet hiding his presence enough so that people who want to choose to ignore Him can do so. This way, their choice of destiny is really free.
