How can we trust god?

Question

According to the Bible, god lies to Adam and Eve and tells them that the fruit of the tree of knowledge will kill them, also god allows Job to be tourtured and to have everything he holds dear to him striped away, because god makes a bet with satan. If these things are true than how can we trust him on any other issue?

Excluding creation, because it cannot be proved that he didn't just take credit for something he didn't create, what has god ever really done that was in the interest of mankind and not himself?

Note: I have nothing against christianity or any other religion, I'm asking this on a purely theological basis. Also I would appreciate it if people did not answer with anti-christian statments or statements about how I need to have a better relationship with god. Jesus and I have an understanding and I would appreciate it if people didn't try and agitate the relationship.

Answer 1

Good Day,
I want you to know that I appritiate your cander and honesty in your questioning. Let me start off with God never lied to Adam and Eve. When the Lord said that the fruit of the tree of knowledge will kill them, he was telling the truth. See up until that point man had not known sin, or desease, or anything assosiated with pain and or suffering. By eating the fruit, they sined, therfore entering in death and all things that are affiliated with it, (ie. sickness, ect.) for the first time. Gods original intention was to dwell with man and have man partake of his creator daily beholding the Glory of God.
To answer your other question, and to verbatum state it...."what has God ever really done that was in the interest of mankind and not himself?" First off the by asking that question you immedatley put God on the same level intelectually as a human. By the very statment implying the it is an intentional act of selfish motivations without intrest for the creation that is suffering. May I add that we give "beings from other planets" more credit than that. "Because they have the intelluctual know how, and the vast knoweldge of an advanced civilization, to travel light years, they must see that peace is the only way". I would think that we would give the all supream being of the universe more credit than that. By the way, so that we can be reconnected to him, seperated by the fall of man, (ie Adam, and Eve) he sent his only begotten Son to be crucified on a cross for your sins and mine, weather you want to believe in him or not that really happened. Pretty selfless act to me. He did that so the we can once again talk with him and have a relationship with him, by believing in his Son for the forgivness of your sins so that you can be made whole again.
Well I hope that this answeres your questions. Have a blessed day.

Answer 2

First of all the thing about being a christian is having faith that what is said in the bible is truth and as for God lying you are mistaken in your interpretation...Adam and Eve were to have eternal life in the Garden of Eden, but because they did eat the forbidden fruit people now perish.The "knowledge" that they acquired caused their own demise...he didn't say "Poof" they would be gone at the very minute but they do end up dying.

And also in being Christians WE know that we will be tested Jesus himself was tested and tried by non believers. The test for Job was that he had to stay faithful and not curse God through his trials and he never did...and after his trial...(because there is always an after the storm) Job was rewarded 3x fold what he had before.

When people ask me that question I always go back to the fact that it is a matter of faith, faith that he is looking out for our best interest because I know I can't do it by myself and so far I am doing just fine and he hasn't lied to me yet.

Answer 3

I am not a Christian, however this argument is full of holes.
1) The god of the bible didnt lie - Adam and Eve eventually died.
They might not have if they'd remained in the garden of Eden.
2) The god of the bible reserves the right to "test" you. Since thats written in the bible - what trust is broken?
3) According to the bible, gods interest in us is love. Love IS selfish - yours is too.

If you intend to assault that faith - at least use arguments that indicate you've researched the issue you're complaining about.

Answer 4

I think you should read deeper. He meant that Adam and eve's lives would be finite. One day they would die because up to the point that they eat the forbiden fruit they had everlasting life with unlimited resources. God made a point not a bet in job's case. He wouldn't do something without seeing the outcome after all he is God and he knows how things would work out. In the end God was to strengthen Job's faith.

Answer 5

First off, God did NOT lie to Adam and Eve, unless they are in hiding with Elvis somewhere. I really believe they are dead. He didn't allow Job to be tortured, and He did not "make a bet" with satan. He did allow Job to be tested, and Job of course passed with flying colors, just like God knew he would. You are a little mixed up and messed up, (two different things). And if you don't think you can trust God, I very much doubt you have any kind of "understanding" with Jesus.
And the most important thing of all...if you can't trust Him, then you have no hope, no life, no future, no hapiness, no fufillment, no nothing.

Answer 6

"According to the Bible" - stop right there. You are referring to a joint-effort publication by humans. If we can't trust them, then all the stories contained in the Bible are logically also suspect. The Adam and Eve allegory, their "eating of the tree of knowledge" - I get it, wouldn't want them to be too smart. That sentiment has been echoed through the ages by religious leaders in reference to their "flock." To sort-of answer your question, you can trust in YOURSELF -- you know right from wrong. As far as god "making a bet" goes -- interestingly, one of Einstein's famous utterances was "God does not play dice with the Universe." Apparently, according to modern day quantum physics, uncle Albert was mistaken in this regard.

Answer 7

Never trust God, if you have this kind of understanding of God. I would completely renounce that God which you described above, and then I would exorcise him from my inner self and order him to leave my body. Then after he has left, I would sit down and pray to the real God, who is so kind, so good so loving, much beyond any one's understanding. If you do this and read the the book of John on daily basis, you will find the real God. That which is in you is the Devil. Get him out first, then let God comes in.

Answer 8

Psalm 55:23 (Whole Chapter)
But you, O God, will send the wicked down to the pit of destruction. Murderers and liars will die young, but I am trusting you to save me.

Psalm 91:2 (Whole Chapter)
This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him.

John 12:44 (Whole Chapter)
Jesus shouted to the crowds, "If you trust me, you are really trusting God who sent me.

Romans 11:22 (Whole Chapter)
Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe to those who disobeyed, but kind to you as you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.

Galatians 2:20 (Whole Chapter)
I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Hebrews 3:14 (Whole Chapter)
For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ


Hebrews 10:22 (Whole Chapter)
let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

1 Peter 1:5 (Whole Chapter)
And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see.

Revelation 14:12 (Whole Chapter)
Let this encourage God's holy people to endure persecution patiently and remain firm to the end, obeying his commands and trusting in Jesus."

I hope that you will read theese with an open heart! I hope that son you will accept, the truth and love of Jesus in your heart. And I hope you will be filled with no doubts, but joy as I am. God bless you. (by the way, our money even says "In God we trust." That should tell you something!)

Answer 9

There is only one logical conclusion when one considers how "god" doesn't appear to be doing anything positive. And that conclusion is that "god" is an invention of man.

Answer 10

adam and eve would have lived eternally where as died after living 927 years.

and we would have not suffered this earth.

Job was a servant of God whom God trusted, Job did not curse God that was the faith of God in Job. i am even unworthy to untie Job's shoes and serev him lord's supper. whereas John the baptist said this about Jesus.

God has done all for us, so much so , that he has let his own son become a creature to save his creation.

the gift of God is eternal life. think beyond the limits of few years where these arguments will seem foolishness but those who sacrificed themselves for the lord would be the ones who stood with God when his creatures pointed fingers at him.

James the brother of Jesus killed by mobs in Jerusalem during his public preaching
James the son of Zebedee also killed by mobs in Jerusalem during his public preaching
Mathew is slain with a sword in Ethiopia

Philip is hanged in Phrygia

Bartholomew flayed alive in Armenia

Andrew is crucified in Achaia

Thomas is run through a lance in east India

Thaddeus is shot to death with arrows

A cross goes up in Persia for Simon the zealot

And another cross turned upside down for peter in Rome

Mathias is beheaded

And only John who is alive imprisoned at Patmos.

This is not our home

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.
14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Mathew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Mathew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
10:36 And a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household.
10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.