You have to consider the possibility that God does not like you?

Question

This is not a new idea. Back in the days of hell-and-brimstone religion, when everyone was going to Hell and not Heaven, it was proposed that God is so good, so innocent, and so pure that your sins make you look like a horrid monster in his eyes.

Answer 1

Absolutely I considered that. In fact I thought God was disappointed in me for many years for the reasons you mentioned. Funny many people will say God loves them, but they are not convinced that he likes them.

I changed my theology to one that was far more practical and decided to actually believe what Jesus said about him that he is not a b*st*rd. That he actually does like me and everyone else. (So maybe he has bad taste.) It was a good first step toward me accepting myself. Once I believed God that he liked me, and I liked myself, I found myself more accepting others. ( His bad taste is contagious and I like it.) Having a God that likes you goes a long way.

Answer 2

And you should consider that you are thinking of God like he's some dude judging you. We don't live in the Old Testament. Jesus made it clear that we are all "sinners" (human) so it's best to just keep trying than to continue to suffer like a monster when knowledge is available to you. You have control over your "sins" and if you think of yourself as a monster then that is the world getting in your head. God expects you to screw up and then learn from it. You give your life lessons to the world and therefor to God. So somedays you might be a monster but God doesn't really care. Love can be found if you look hard enough with an open heart and mind.

Answer 3

Not being a Christian, I don't have to worry about the fire-and-brimstone preaching of the likes of Johnathan Edwards and his "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" sermon. Calvanists have long held the view that each of us is either bound for Hell or Heaven, and God has determined that before we were ever born. Calvanist were, along with the Catholics, responsible for the killing of thousands of Witches, simply because they were thought of as worshiping Satan. (Actually, they believe that anyone not Christian actially worships Satan, albeit unwittingly)

In my belief, we aren't simply good or evil, but travelers and students on an eternal journey. Some of us may do evil, others good, but it is all part of the road we are travelling. I'm not saying that evil-doers ought not be punished, as they certainly should. That too, though, is part of their learning.

One can see where each of us is on our paths; the baser and "evil" may just be beginning, while the ones we consider "wise" seem to be older and more mature souls. We all have our suffering to go through, and perhaps that is our individual hells. There is though, no eternal place of punishment, only Karma and learning.

Answer 4

Yes Matt. The question should really be posed the other way. I have asked it many, many times of those I minister to. And the answer has been 99% of the time, a resounding "No!"
Of course, that is the real task of religion. And I must give religion its due. It has been very successful! Most of the humans on the planet believe that God does not like them. And so they must jump through hoops, dot their "I's" and cross their "T's" in order to appease his great displeasure. All of which I believe is pure, unadulterated bunk. Of course he likes me. And he likes you. And he likes Idi Amin and your ugly Aunt Hildegard, and Ivan the Terrible and Vlad the Impaler. And he likes sunsets and hurricanes, and volcanoes and cherry blossoms. He likes the whole kit and caboodle. But that kind of thinking is tough on religion and doesn't sell as well as hell fire and damnation. It is the oldest lie in the world, and not one that will soon fade away. And just think how things might be if it did. Less folks would be flying airplanes into buildings, or launching nasty wars on third world countries, or beating to death beautiful boys like Matthew Sheppard. But the religious crowd will disagree. That's ok. He likes them too, which is the silliest thought of all. :-)

Answer 5

ok, where did you get that? I do know that God loves me because He was loving enough to make me why would He hate His children? He made you and me. He knows every hair that is growing out of your head, you are the apple of His eye! remeber that and when He gets ready to bless you there angels talking about us saying, "did you hear what God is ready to do for so and so? wow! that is wonderful!" remeber, He healed the blind man begging for change he asked Him for his sight and He healed him and at that time, if you were different like that or in any other way, you were an out cast nobody would not even be around you they didn't care but, He did so, smile at A homeless person and say hi, you will be amazed on how that will make them feel :)

Answer 6

I don't live the best life in the world, I have my vices, I have my arrogance, I'm ornary, I've argued with God, yet God and the angels are with me a lot and lead me to things and protect me and shove me out of the way of some (not all) disasters.

Answer 7

It's possible.
Similarly to the possibility that a parent does not like their child who they gave life to...
It happens.
This is thinking outside the box.
Good work.
Peace!!

Answer 8

frankly I don't care if god likes me or doesn't like me... I'm sure he doesn't like a lot of people... actually if I was him... I'd laugh at how often my "creations" bicker amongst themselves... and just for that... I'd smite them all down and drown them in a sea of bible versus.

Answer 9

yea i have but i have ruin my life (in his eyes so im going down ) but some people who do the hole church thing will tell u diffrent

Answer 10

but we are at one time a part of him and we still have part of him in us. So to hate eachother would be foolish.