Well, one of the most common family of questions that we receive are all related to the topic,

but what it means to have a genuine relationship with God.

How do you get one, a genuine relationship with God?

How do you get it?

And how do you keep it?

And, of course, that line of thinking will eventually lead you to a big hurdle.

Why does God sometimes withdraw his presence from us?

Why does he do it?

How does he do it?

What does it feel like?

And how does all that work?

That's the question next time.

Why does God sometimes withdraw his presence from us?

But today we have a question about how to find this authentic relationship to begin with,

and it's a question troubling a woman named Elina. Pastor John, hello to you, she writes.

I write with a heavy heart. I've recently concluded that I treat the Bible as literature and treat

Christianity as a social culture, meaning I study both from an outsider's perspective,

lacking personal conviction.

I do think the Bible is true, but I haven't experienced a close or personal relationship with Christ

at all.

It feels wrong and dishonest to describe my faith as walking with Christ when I so rarely feel God's

presence.

...