I was reading the bible and came across this,
Matthew
18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Now, a friend of mine just lost her leg in a car accident (it wasn't her fault in case you're wondering). Two really big Christians who are also friends of hers then prayed for their god to heal her and give her back her old leg, so it would be like the accident never happened.
Her leg didn't miraculously become reattached to her body and in 100% perfect working order. In fact, nothing happened at all. What's the deal? That passage in the bible says that if two people prayed to the christian god for it to happen, he would make it so.
Why is christianity spreading lies and giving people, like my friend, false hope? The bible says it would be done, but it didn't happen. What a load of rubbish. This just gives me another reason to be Atheist....
2006-10-21 05:03:01 · 5 answers · asked by Toronto 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
beekay,
She lost her leg while riding on a motorcycle. The car right in front of her had to make a quick stop to avoid hitting someone (we live Chicago and traffic is also horrible) and she didn't have enough time to put on the breaks and tried to steer around the car, but ended up jamming her leg on the back corner. If she had been a few more inches to the left, she could have made it by without a problem.
We both go to a christian/catholic/jesuit/whatever you want to call it university here in the city. There are countless devout, "big" christians here and even most of my friends are. I'm one of the few Atheists here and I've only ever met one other Atheist at this university. If you wonder why I go to a Christian university when I'm Atheist, it's bc 1) Chicago is my home and I love it too much to leave & 2) It's a great school and the business program is highly respected in Chicago, which has the second biggest business sector out of in any city in the US (NYC is first).
2006-10-21 05:24:14 · update #1
Oh thank you for that!! I love it
2006-10-21 05:08:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a problem of belief. The people who prayed for the leg to grow back knew it would not, because their belief was not strong enough; the law of physicality is that it is done as we believe.
As those people were praying, there was an inaudible sub-prayer, or true prayer, that went like this: "That leg is never going to grow back!" That is what they truly believed, and that is why there was no miraculous return of the limb.
There is a reason your friend lost her leg, and neither you nor I, nor misguided prayers, can say what that reason is. Only your friend can know that, and at some level, she does know.
2006-10-21 14:54:36 · answer #2 · answered by Sky in the Grass 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt your story or at least the 2 really big Christian part. So many people abuse the Word of God like this and then cry false. Why would God do anything for those who twist His Words? This passage deals with sin and the keys of the Kingdom and is most certainly true. Also we are taught in Scripture how to pray and what to pray for. God is not our servant that we ask anything we want. Better not to pray that to mock God like that.
2006-10-21 12:10:12 · answer #3 · answered by beek 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There are many people who pray and not have their prayers answers. Why is that? What kind of prayers that God listens to? Ecclesiastes 9:11 says that "time and unforseen occurrence befall us all." Being at the wrong place at the wrong moment or the right place at the wrong time probably contributed to this unfortunate circumstance. We may get hurt, not because the Devil directly causes it or because any human does it (in your case, it was because of another human), but because by chance we are in a place at the wrong moment.
The question you really need to have answered is, why does God permit suffering? I think this is the question you really want to know, because now your friend is suffering because she does not have her other leg.
Who really is to blame for it? Humans are to blame for much of the suffering. They fight wars, committ crimes, pollute the environment, or even causing permanent injuries to innocent people. Is is reasonable to blame God for these things that humans themselves do? Certainly not!
Satan and his demons also share responsibility. The scriptures says that much suffering is because of the influence of wicked spirits. The suffering for which so many people blame God does not come from him at all. (See Revelation 12:12; Acts 10:38)
Suffering started of our first human parents Adam and Eve, who were created perfectly by Jehovah God, but chose (with their free will that they were given) to disobey God deliberately. They could have enjoyed perfect life forever and we would be enjoying that with them. So you can thank them for the suffering today, since they were the originators of such.
Jehovah has made provisions to end all suffering. He created the first human pair perfect, and he lovingly made every provision so that life would be pleasant for them. When they deliberately turned their backs on God, was God obligted to intervene so as to shield their children from the effects of what the parents had done (See Deuteronomy 32:4, 5; Job 14:4).
The fact that God has allowed this sinful world to exist until now has afforded you the opportunity to be alive and learn his ways, to make needed changes in our lives, and to avail ourselves of his loving provisions for eternal life. That Jehovah has granted you the opportunity is an evidence of great love on his part. The Bible shows that God has a set time to destroy this wicked system of things. (See Habakkuk 2:3; Zephaniah 1:14)
Yes, your friend is suffering right now, but you should not feel angry toward God because he did not give her a new leg. Because as I wrote earlier, God is not to blame for the suffering that caused this permanent damage. "Far be it from the [true] God to act wickedly, and the Almighty to act unjustly" (Job 34:10)
Certainly, this was unjust what happened to your friend, but not reasong to become an atheist because of what happened.
I hope this response has given given you a different perspective on the current situation. I am deeply sorry to hear about your friend. However, God is not to blame for this. In the meantime, this is a time to reflect your life and hers. The important thing is that she is alive. I have known people who die in such accidents. It is very sad nonetheless. Before I wrap it up; a great model to follow, in terms of prayer, read Matthew 6:9, 10.
The next time one of Jehovah's Witnesses come by your door, pour out your problems to them. That is why we go door-to-door, because we can see people face-to-face and help our householders that Jehovah God has something better for us in the future. The best way to understand people's feelings, circumstances, emotions is by going to their doors. Televangelists cannot see your emotions through the screen. Radios too for that matter. We tried that years ago, but was not effective in reaching people's hearts. Even emails or writing responses online does not tell me how one is feeling. I cannot see anger, frustration, joy, pain. At least I can see it in writing and I enjoy putting a different and hopefully comforting side of things. I have no problems helping out people when possible. I answer many emails like this on a daily/weekly basis, but I also go door-do-door (just like Jesus did) to see the emotions, the body language, the anger in order to ease those pains and give them comfort from the scriptues.
Take Care,
2006-10-21 12:57:54 · answer #4 · answered by the_answer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
god or good for u
2006-10-21 12:08:06 · answer #5 · answered by george p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋