Why does God want us to "submit", "surrender" ourselves to him?

Question

I believe if there is a God, then what God wants from us isn't our submission or our surrender. Only a powerless deity would want that.

Answer 1

Only an evil being who is anything but perfect wants submission or surrender

Answer 2

I agree, but it isn't god that wants this, it's the church. God does not exist, and therefore his only want would be to exist. Sort of like Pinnochio wanting to be a real boy. The church does exist, but they do not have god like powers. They only have the power of suggestion and collusion. The mind is a funny thing. If you tell a kid there's a monster under it's bed, it just might believe you, especially if you produce something like some hair from a comb or brush and say it's from the monster. The church does the same thing, only to adults. It has a book that it says was written by god, thus proving that their god exists. Now, the reason you scare little kids with the monster under their bed is to keep them in bed at night. The reason you scare adults with hellfire is to get them to fork over their hard earned cash on a weekly basis. The mob does something similar, but they can actually hurt you. The church is powerless, so YOU have to CHOOSE to surrender your will and accept the delusion. Otherwise, it won't work.

Answer 3

A powerless deity would not have the power to make anyone 'surrender' to him. A bit of an oxymoron, isn't it?
Cheers.

Answer 4

Well, you could interpret it as a teacher or mentor who requires you submit in order to be able to teach. Or a military leader who requires obedience as a practical matter: when the enemy is attacking, there's no time to politely explain the reasons for each decision.

Or you could interpret it as the dominatrix who requires submission and surrender in order to help you play out your fantasies. At least I can, because I am a pagan.

Answer 5

Greetings Ali, in the name of the most high. You have one of the most bravest and wisest character in the Islamic History.

Let us come to your question. Submit ourselves to God is the only way to perfection our faith as only complete obedience will make us obey 100% all what God wants from us and how according to him, man shall live.

God of the bible and the quran has given man freewill to decide between right and wrong. What is wrong in being a "slave" of God? Is it better to be a friend of all which God has forbidden?

In Peace, brother.

Answer 6

I want to be your friend.
First of all you would have to also "want" to be my friend too.
If I am going to be your friend I will need to choose to submit and surrender to your will even if it was something as simple as going to Burger King instead of McDonald's to eat.

If you did not choose to take the same attitude and actions I am afraid it would be a very short friendship.
Christ is looking for a Bride, not a friend.
I am a bond slave / sheep / servant to my Lord because he gave his life for me.

Answer 7

No God wants you and I to "submit" or "surrender" to him. All those commands are given by the men who wants to control us in the name of God.

Answer 8

Actually, it is not in any benefit of the God but for ourselves alone, so that we may get our self awareness and get more closer to our own inner self, that is most of the time becomes dirty to see through, what is right or wrong.

Holy Qura'n, chapter, Al-Hashr (#59), verse #19,

59:19. "And be not like those who forgot Allah, and He caused them to forget their own-selves. Those are the Fasiqun,(rebellious, disobedient to Allah)".

If you do not follow the description of a doctor, recommended medicine for your disease, what you think, who will be in loss, you or the doctor.

I hope you get my point.
thanks in advance.

Answer 9

He does not, contrary to your opinion. He even gave us the choice between life and death. He gave us the choice of whom to serve. He allowed people to choose to do good or evil. But, of course we must bear the consequences of our choices. We can not have our cake and eat it too.

Please Deut 30:19, Jos 24:15, Isaiah 7:15,16.

Answer 10

If we follow our own natural desires then we will go away from God and find only sadness and misery. Oh yes you may find temporary and extremely fleeting happiness, but it will only get harder and harder to do as you get farther and farther from God. And so he gives us commandments to help us overcome our natural self destructive tendencies and find eternal happiness.