Follow up question to my last one?

Question

In my last question, I asked Christians if God had a plan for everything, if he chose when we are born and when we die. In "A Purpose Driven Life" there is this statement: "He planned the days of your life in advance, choosing the exact time of your birth and death." This "plan" is also mentioned in Psalm 139:16. Here are my questions if this "plan" is true:
1. Does God plan all abortions? Since he plans all births and deaths, this means he wants the abortion to take place, and the mother and doctor are merely puppets in God's plan.

2. Does God plan murders? God chooses the exact time of death, so that means he planned the murder. Again, a murderer would simply be a puppet in his plan.

3. Why do people pray requesting things? If you pray for something, (better job, good health, etc.), and it is not in his plan, why bother? If it is in his plan, won't it happen without your asking. The last thing God needs is a human interfering.

Thanks for input.No bashing is intended here.

This question is most based around the quote from the book and the answers I got the most in my last question. I really only question those ideas.

Answer 1

finally someone else gets it....

:P

Answer 2

You know, I see the point you are trying to make here and I can't really answer your question. I'm confused. I am a catholic and some of what you are stating is fact, the other is "I wonder". I'll tell you what, I didn't study theology so therefore far be it from me to analyze this or lay it out as a theologian would without issue. I just don't believe that GOD plans abortions, murders, or subtracts from someone's request in a prayer. People are the ones who generate all of these happenings. You know, "freedom of choice" HE doesn't plan such evil things, as HE originated the Commandments. Why would HE blasphemize HIS own laws. These are my own thoughts, just simple make sense thoughts by a catholic who believes in GOD and HIS laws and love of all who are, was or ever will be. Therefore, no abortions, no murder, no denial of prayed requests............make sense?? you tell me......

Answer 3

I disagree with Rick Warren on this issue. This is primarily why I don't think God's sovereignty necessitates that all things are therefore predetermined. The existence of real evil in the world presupposes that there are some things that do happen that are not "God's will". As such, God need not be alleged to have actively orchestrated evil to come into being. On this view, here's how it plays out:

1. God foreknows, but does not plan that they should come to pass. Yet he can plan in advance in full knowledge of what humans will choose to do with their free will.

2. Likewise, God foreknows, but does not plan that murders should come into occurence.

3. Asking God is as much an exercise in one's self-development as well as establishing the causal means by which God chooses to perform his deeds in people's lives.

So properly understood, there is no real conflict between God's sovereign power over human events and his desire that people should exercise their free will and moral responsibility.

Answer 4

I am not skilled to understand what God has planned what God has willed neither are you I can't answer those questions because it is not my place I respect God's decisions no matter what they are, my father died and my best friend but I know it was God's doing and one thing I do know is that God does not have a plan for everything but he does encourage you to go down the right path look at the people you've met in the past and where, also where you having trouble in ur life, all factors

Answer 5

Psalms 139:16
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

As far as the Psalms, it is saying that he knew before you were what you would choose. God didn't plan it as he gives us free will to make the decision. God gives every opportunity for all to come to him, but he knew who would chose what.

God does not plan abortions or murders. These things entered into the world with Satan. Why would he let Satan be if he knew what would happen? Why would he throw away those that do come to him because some didn't? Satan had the free will choice as well, but so did all the other angels. The other angels he loves just as he loves those that choose him. he loves all his creation, they just choose not to love him back. God created everything he did in order to have his creation to love and spend eternity with.

We pray because even though God knows what wil be, we do not. This shows are faith in God and builds a relationship with him. We don't always get what we want, but we get what we need. Even if that is to be humbled.

Answer 6

If you were the best teacher in town...loved and honored and someone said you were teaching lies and could prove it....would you hand him the chalk and tell him to show his stuff?
God has a purpose for the earth that will never change. The Bible explains The cause of all the problems and the fix.
God hands the chalk to the rebel student and states that you have 6000 years to prove that you can run and manage this earth. show me your plan on the chalk board and in real life. the end result will be one winner...the wisest and most loving of the two...God Jehovah.
No more puny challengers to deal with...all rebels are destroyed for the benefit of those that want life from God and do it his way.
Satan has proved totally unworthy of management and rule...so he too is fired and destroyed..
That is Gods purpose...he has given us free will to act wisely not murder steal lie cheat hate abort lives
those that do like his rules will have to go for the benefit of all mankind...no more phony peace talks....no greedy commerce...violence crime war///ego trips The meek can only inherit the earth if God remove evil..so he Will...so he Will.. Peace forever my friends. Not a plan a purpose to fill the earth with obedient creatures ...not little gods of ego mania....real fun loving peaceful people

Answer 7

Listen - God sees the big picture. We only see in part - just a fraction. He is in control though, in good and bad. We live in a world where the devil lurks about seeking who he may devour - it is a sinful and fallen world. Bad things happen and will continue to happen. Trusting in Christ and becoming a Christian does not mean that the world changes - we change for the better - Christ in us. I hope this helps. Blessings.

Answer 8

God gave His desire for mankind tand there is an interplay betweern the evil that we do. and the the good He would like to see in the world. There is a lot that He left for us to choose and the amount of evil He will allow. See the following examples of His directness in putting down Evil.

1. The great flood of Noah's time to curb violence. His disgust with violence is very clear. Do we pay attention to bible history.

2.The total demolishing of Sodom and Gamorrah because of the homosexuallity and sexuality in the land. Again are we paying attention to bible history.

3.The total dissemination of the population because of the hearts of men given over to total evil and not the worship of the creator at the Tower of Babel

4.Now Jonah and the whale story is kind of the flip side in that God was sending Noah to preach to a people whom God felt were to repent and Jonah did not want to go because these people would literally skin him alive so you can understand his reluctance to go. So enter the whale to change Noah's mind.

The real truth to all of this there are no direct answers in the bible to answer your questions so that it takes a diligent bible study to come up with an answer.

Today is what we have and tomorrow is a mystery, and thats as good as it gets.

In this life we get to see God's back side of the tapestry and if you forget to ask Him to see the front side when you get to heaven. Shame on you!!!

God's Gospel:

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10

Answer 9

So according to that explanation we have no free will and everything is predetermined. Sorry folks, doesn't work that way. The bible is not a good place for finding factual evidence.

Answer 10

Fabulous, thought provoking question. I'm looking forward to the answers.

Edit: Uh oh. Maybe not so thought provoking. The one above looks like the ubiquitous, "God works in mysterious ways" response.

Answer 11

God doesn't play Dice ...then manualy selects his favorite roll.


(incredible).

Ignorance is Bliss.