If your belief is the "right" one, and your God is the Truth... then read on...
I have seen some people in here stating that God has set everyone's lives up for them, He knows when they die, what happens between that and being born, etc etc... so did He also choose who would believe and who would not? Did He know that people would start believing in other God's? Why would he do that?
2007-02-02 11:01:12 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If God is such a powerful being... can he not take away free-will and "make" us all follow him? He musgt be able to do smething about other beliefs... he is The Almighty...?
2007-02-02 11:22:12 · update #1
The theology you are describing is called "Calvinism"--
Under Calvinism, when people sin or suffer, they will it for evil, but God turns it around for good. See the story of Joseph at the end of Genesis. Read Jeremiah 18 for a parable about how people are clay in God the potter's hands and how he controls them for his purpose. The Pauline epistles have a good treatise on this philosophy. Evil happens because humankind is naturally evil and God sits back and lets men do this so he can accomplish something that brings the greater good. If God willed that Adam didn't eat the fruit, we'd never know the extent of God's love through the crucifixion.
A problem with this theory is that God sends people to hell for evil that He willed (Since they didn't have free will).
The opposite theory is called Arminianism or Free Will. They say God wills all to be saved and lets people decide to choose good or evil.
There are also some Christians who believe God isn't necessarily omniscient (all-knowing) They have scriptures to back this up like God regretting he made man before Noah's flood. (Genesis 6:6)
2007-02-02 11:43:52 · answer #1 · answered by boatbuilder 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God is omniscient but he didn't plan everyone's life. We have free will and he knew who would believe in him from the foundation of the world but he didn't cause them to believe. Everything that happens has an effect. For example, there are things that people do that effect the generations that follow. Prayer makes a difference. All have been made aware of God's loving kindness and he is perfectly just so that those who choose to reject him prove his justice.
2007-02-02 19:10:39 · answer #2 · answered by hisgloryisgreat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes He did. The Bible states in many places that before the foundation of the world He chose the elect and decided who would not be written in the book of life. I am sure that He knew people would believe in other gods. Look at the issue of Pharaoh, Moses said let my people go and then the Bible states "God hardened his heart" Ex. 4:21, 7:3,13, 9:35, 14:4,8,17 . Also God said for this cause have I raised thee up. Ex. 9:16 and Romans 9:17. I do not understand why He does the things He does but it all brings Him glory, proclaiming his name through all the Earth.
"No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him..." John 6:44
"... they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." Heb. 9:15
"...whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world" Rev. 17:8
Edit
God is all powerful and can make everybody follow Him, but that is not His goal. It is a battle between Him and Satan for trophies (souls of mankind). If God chooses certain elect then Satan tries to crush them and they still praise God (due to His grace) then God wins proving that He is stronger than His enemy. it is like a big chess game. ps: Satan is not a fallen angel like so many state. Is.14 where Lucifer is mentioned is about the king of Babylon who was Nebuchadnezzar at the time. Satan still is welcome in heaven as seen in Job and called the accuser by Paul.
2007-02-02 19:06:48 · answer #3 · answered by pontiuspilatewsm 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't believe our lives are set in stone. We are responsible for our lives, not God. Many times, in the Bible, God said IF you repent, he will change his mind about something or other. He does have a plan for everyone but in no way are we obligated to go by that plan. He does not chose who will believe and who will not because He wishes everyone to believe and be saved from a life of sin. Knowing something will or will not happen does not give you automatic control over it.
2007-02-02 19:10:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes to all of the above. He even knows that you are having a problem accepting Him. He gives us all a choice. It is called free will. To believe or disbelieve is your decision. God respects your choice. He will never force you into believing in Him.
He did not create us to be robots, and only react as a matter of our programming. Read this. " I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed my live." Deuteronomy 30:18.
There is your answer. God ALWAYS knows what He is doing.
2007-02-02 19:15:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there are some truths, when not balanced with other truth disclosed in Scripture, that lead one into error.
The world is not a simple place. God will not be categorized.
2007-02-02 19:06:57 · answer #6 · answered by wefmeister 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
when God created us he made us so he could have a relationship with us. but he didnt want zombies that just did what he wanted so he gave us freedom of choice even though he knew we would follow other gods. he just loved us so much he did it anyway
2007-02-02 19:13:05 · answer #7 · answered by grace_girl 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He still has to let those events transpire.
Called free will.
and there is Carlos Castaneda
2007-02-02 19:07:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The answer's in the Bible. it's hard not hard to find.
2007-02-02 19:05:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋