Why should I seek God?

On one hand, you may feel that you “need” him.  Even though you may recognize that you have needs only God can meet, you must not try to use him to achieve your own ends.  It is not possible to bargain with God. (I’ll do this if you will do that.”)  That is not Christianity at all, but a form of magic or paganism in which you “appease” the cranky deity in exchange for a favor.  Are you getting into Christianity to serve God, or to get God to serve you?  Those are two opposite motives and they result in two different religions. You must come to God because 1) you owe it to him to give him your life (because he is your creator) and 2) you are deeply grateful to him for sacrificing his son (because he is your redeemer.)   On the other hand, you may feel no need or interest to know God at all.  This does not mean you should stay uncommitted.  If you were created by God, then you owe him your life, whether you feel like it or not.  You are obligated to seek him and ask him to soften your heart, open your eyes, and enlighten you.  If you say, “I have no faith,” that is no excuse either.  You need only doubt your doubts.  No one can doubt everything at once— you must believe in something to doubt something else.  For example, do you believe you are competent to run your own life?  Where is the evidence of that?  Why doubt everything but your doubts about God and your faith in yourself?  Is that fair?  You owe it to God to seek him.  Do so.

What if I’m not ready to proceed?

Make a list of the issues that you perceive to be barriers to your crossing the line into faith.  Here is a possible set of headings:  

Content issues.  Do you understand the basics of the Christian message—sin, Jesus as God, sacrifice, faith?  

Coherence issues.  Are there intellectual problems you have with Christianity?  Are there objections to the Christian faith that you cannot resolve in your own mind?

Cost issues.  Do you perceive that a move into full Christian faith will cost you dearly?  What fears do you have about commitment?   Now talk to a Christian friend until these issues are resolved. Consider reading: Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis (MacMillan) and Basic Christianity, by John Stott (IVP)