I often hear on the news, etc. people who say something about God must have been looking out for them, because they didn't die in whatever disaster just struck nearby. Wouldn't that mean that God wasn't looking out for the people who DID die in the disaster? I believe that maybe God gives us life and everlasting life, but much of what happens on earth is just life and He doesn't "choose" who dies when. Comments?
2007-03-17 03:52:04 · 9 answers · asked by geckosgirl 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Because everyone knows that it's a stroke of luck that keeps them from being in the position of the person to whom they refer when they make that statement.
2007-03-18 02:46:34 · answer #1 · answered by Zasu 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Obviously it is a completely illogical statement. Since faith is the exact opposite of logic/reason, are you really surprised that it is illogical?
If a plane full of 200 people crashes into the ground and 3 people survive, there was no common thread holding the other 197 people together that it was their exact time according to god's will. If this were the case, why would we ever conduct accident investigations?
If it's really by the grace of god, then all the proper maintenance in the world wouldn't have prevented it right? If tomorrow, they started checking on planes every 3 weeks instead of every day, the thousands of deaths as a result would be b/c of god right? Not human's fault at all? Because all the survivors could say "There but for the grace of god..."
Maybe the NTSB is an atheistic plot to prove god doesn't exist?
2007-03-17 12:23:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When someone uses this sentence, it means that had circumstances been different in our own lives, we may have ended up like the person we are talking about, looking at. When we say that sentence while looking at a homeless person, we are thinking that 'that could have been me'. When we see that people have died in a strange way, we are thinking, 'that could have been me if I'd been there'. We are thanking God for not allowing it to happen to us, and realizing how easily it COULD happen to us. It is that we do not know what God has planned for each of us............so, at any time, bad things could happen to good people. God is always watching us, that is for certain. I believe God does choose everything about us, so, 'by the grace of God, that wasn't me'..............and, I'm sorry it did happen to someone else.
2007-03-17 11:05:31 · answer #3 · answered by laurel g 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it is the grace of God which preserves us. We also have free will (otherwise there wouldn't be differences in people's beliefs) and we need to take into account that we live in a fallen world.
For those who do die or who are injured, we need to understand that they are blessed, too. If we die and have Jesus as Lord & Saviour then we go to be with Him which is the greatest of blessings.
If we do not die, but survive with injuries, then we can give thanks that we are still here to witness to others of God's goodness.
Even through illness or injury we can show others the love of God. I suffer with fibromyalgia which is debilitating at times. BUT when I cannot do things as usual, then I can spend more time in prayer and communicating with others online. I have made some lovely friends this way and have been blessed enormously.
I know that people of other religions and beliefs will answer, and to those who disparage what I have said and the convictions I hold dear: I forgive you and pray that God will touch your lives.
Blessings, Gypsy Queen
2007-03-17 11:00:01 · answer #4 · answered by Gypsy_Queen 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There, but for the grace of God, go I... ,
means that if God's grace (goodness) wasn't in effect, I'd be in whatever trouble I've witnessed. I'm sure you've also heard, God works in mysterious ways. We should not expect to have all the answers to everything. Even today, professionals are in disagreement on how things work or how they came about. Remember, if I had all the answers, I'd be GOD.
2007-03-17 11:10:45 · answer #5 · answered by Bert H 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
People have their time when they have to depart from Earth. Those people ,"saved by God's grace," wasn't their time to leave Earth and unite with God. Do you understand?
2007-03-17 12:41:26 · answer #6 · answered by The Pirate 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To understand the expression fully, you have to understand the Christain meaning of God's grace. It is not a simple thing to understand. It is more than goodness, more than a shelter, and even more than just being lucky.
See this link:
http://kenbirks.com/messages/Grace1.pdf
2007-03-17 13:36:42 · answer #7 · answered by Sophist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In other words: "That could have been ME!!" Is what the scripture means......Or, I've also been there, already.. You have a Wonderful "St.Patrick's Day" hun!! Great Question!! Smile!!
2007-03-17 11:02:41 · answer #8 · answered by Hmg♥Brd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
who would want a god that picks and chooses who dies..not me
2007-03-17 11:08:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋