Do people sculpt their answers to please God?

Question

It seems like many people answer (or refuse to answer) as if they think God is watching and judging them. Agree? Some people will not answer a hypothetical question if their life depends on it, if the answer might not impress God. It reminds me of how people dislike the Last Temptation of Christ, which explores "how would Jesus, with the weaknesses of a normal man, wrestle with the responsibility of being divine?" People will not accept the premise so they will not consider it.

So, if that is what's going on in answers, where the rest of us can be wild and crazy in our anonymity, how restricted must these people feel in their daily lives? What an incredible strength of control to keep people in line when only God is watching...

Answer 1

Good question...

Some people do deliberately spin their answers to evangelize, those answers should be obvious. We all answer these questions based on our own premises and opinions.

I simply choose not to answer questions that violate my own premises, or that are irrelevant to faith. Questions like the sexual orientation or proclivities of my Savior are, in my opinion, simply not germane to the topic on this board. They are usually designed to bait and provoke, rather than answer people's questions about the humanity of Jesus.

I'm sure that Jesus had thoughts that all men had, but, like other men, I respect the privacy of my God enough to not ask those questions in public, and He respects my privacy far more than I ever could. Where it helps me in my own life, I ask Him those questions, in the private place of my heart, between me and God.

Answer 2

Thank you for the compliment.

For me, it's not about picking and choosing answers I might find offensive, it's a matter of time constraints.

1.) Is the question completely inane? Rejected.
2.) Is the question intended to anger me? Rejected.
3.) Is the question intended to mock me? Rejected.
4.) Does the question do 1, 2, or 3, although unintentionally? Answered.
5.) Can I explain it in 1000 words or less? Answered.
6.) Would it take 1000 words, but I only have an hour to type it, but I'd love to answer it? Rejected (or piecemealed answered).
7.) Is there no way for me to explain it in less than 1000 words? Rejected (because no one will read a wordy post, no matter how well answered it was).
8.) Is the question difficult? Answered as thoroughly as possible.
9.) Is the question offensive? Answered as best as possible.
10.) Does the question show an utterly extreme amount of ignorance? Partially answered, and then cancelled as I resign to the fact that even if I made it as clear as a bell, the author would just snicker and mutter behind his monitor as to how stupid I am or somesuch, and not bother further wasting my time because nothing I could possibly say would make him change his mind... either because he is incapable of understanding (ie not spiritually ready for it), or simply refuses to be willing to understand.

As I only have a limited amount of time, I must pick and choose carefully what ones I answer... my last big answer wound up causing me to burn my potatoes.

Answer 3

So, if I rant and cuss when faced with some of the comments on here I am a "Judgmental hypocrite Bible thumper"

and if I don't I have a "Restricted Daily Life"?

This is humorous, if you only knew my story, you would realize that I have lived an absolutely unrestricted, Full life!

You can Love God and be a good example without shoving it down other throats.

If others want to join because they admire my Peace and inner Strength, that is cool.

Being a Christian is work, but it is always worth the effort.

May God Bless you and your Family!

Peace!

Answer 4

It doesn't matter what we type down God knows whats in our heads anyway. So, therefore there is no way to impress God or base your answers in a way that's pleasing to God because God knows what you are thinking. Why would people dislike being reminded that Jesus was human too while he was here and had a moment of weakness. I would too if I knew I was dying for a bunch of ingrates. All that matters is he went through with it and here we are today. I don't ask those what if's because they ask me to imagine that God or Jesus doesn't exist and I can't do that because they do and I can't imagine my world without them and don't wish to bascially.

Answer 5

I'm not quite sure where to go with this question.

If a person believes in God, they also believe in His omnipotence and omnipresence, which means He's all-knowing and everywhere at once. If a person believs in God, they also probably want to please Him. So, knowing that He's always there, why would you want to say something that displeases Him? Especially when He's God, and He can hurt you? lol

That said, God isn't limited to just ease-dropping or looking over our shoulders at what we type. He's omnipotent, He knows what's in our hearts. So, ppl can say anything that's cute, but if it's not something in their hearts, then it doesn't matter anyway.

I don't believe the majority of ppl just say what they think God wants to hear. I believe it's something that comes from their heart.

I do believe there's a danger in allowing your mind to ponder blasphemous thoughts, like the whole business of the last temptation of Christ. to me, it's silliness to allow yourself to ponder things that don't affect the central message that's preached in the Bible. it's opens a big can of worms that makes us feel more comfortable in our sin. and the truth of the matter is the last temptation was just a fictional thought inside someone's mind, it wasn't the truth (just like the da vinci code). it makes ppl stray from the true message of God. it makes ppl think it's okay to be in sin, instead of feel uncomfortable to be in sin.. Jesus was perfect, and although He had temptations, He rose above them, and that's the only message we should concentrate on. The Last Temptation is like watching a silly soap opera.

Answer 6

Thank you!

Yes, some people answer as if God is watching, because He is!

You will also witness us loving others, helping others, teaching others and praying for others. Sure God is watching, but we are living to please HIm all the time...not just when we type on a computer.

Answer 7

So it seems you are objecting to the believers in god to submit their behavior to the governance of what they think God wants.
How dare they try to please their leader?

Kind of a strange angle to attack Christianity...to accuse them of doing as Christ would do.

I'm sure all Christians are encouraged by your observation.

Titus 3:9
"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless."

John 14
"15"If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Answer 8

Extremely bound up from living dishonest lives....many of them have huge fake smiles...They are used to being not real, not genuine, and they don't even know it....It is easier to say that you are going to hell instead of having to look in the mirror and having to be honest with what they see. It shows in their writing.

Answer 9

God is inside us: in our heart and conscience. Other things (Bible, other sacred Books, what other persons says) can just help. We have to listen to others, but to search God deep inside us. It's good to hear God inside us.

Answer 10

Good question, that never crossed my mind. Considering some of the bible hogwash written on here, I bet you are absolutely right. I wouldn't want to sit next to one of them at work, that's for sure.