OK, explain it like I'm stupid: Why would a good god make Pat Robertson wealthy and George W. Bush powerful?

Question

Isn't that about as good as giving whiskey and car keys to teenagers? Agree/disagree?

I should have mentioned that the whiskey & car keys & teenagers line is a quote from P.J. O'Rourke.

And AZ, sorry about your screen -- but truth to tell, your Q&As have wrecked at least one keyboard of mine, so fair is fair, y'know.
;-)

Answer 1

as a former teenager I resemble that remark.

And this question made me spew coffee over my screen, can I sue for damages?

Answer 2

I guess it's a paraphrase of that old saying: God watches over the unintelligent and the crazy.

W is not successful. He was a C+ student, and an alcoholic. He got into Yale because his father went there. He was a failure as a businessman, so he naturally went into politics, which is the refuge of the incompetent.

Pat Robertson is a fruitcake. He is wealthy because he is a first-class manipulator, and knows how to play upon the fears of the weak.

If they are examples of the kinds of people the gods favor, I'll hang onto my apostasy.

BTW: "Tax and spend" isn't a great way to govern, but "Don't tax and spend anyway" is hardly better. And when Clinton lied to us, 3,000 people didn't die. And lastly: During the Clinton years, tax revenue went up, spending actually dropped, and we had a $3 TRILLION SURPLUS. Not bad for a "tax and spend scheme."

Answer 3

No, you're not stupid, probably just being sarcastic. God made all things possible, even if we don't think it's fair.

About that whiskey and car keys part, teenagers are old enough for that.
I would ask too why adults are given the permission to smoke, eventhough it's bad for health? People do mistakes, and I believe not all teens are like that.

Answer 4

Questions like that are only self-centered and serving. You suppose that the decisions were wrong, and you are right.

Why did God allow the Pharaoh to keep the Jews, God's chosen people, in slavery for 430 years? Why did God allow Stephen, a prophet of God, to be stoned? The list goes on and on.

There are answers. You may not know them...you may never know them. Why does God allow abortions? Why does God allow crooks to get away with things?

The point is all things work for good to those who love the Lord. That may not mean you get what you think is right when you think you should get it. Faith does not aleays mean God removes the circumstances you are in; but, it does mean you have peace, hope, and love -- even through death. Your life does not end when the body ends -- there is a second death or eternal salvation. The key is faith.

Sometimes God allows people to have hardened hearts, like the Pharaoh, and allows people to bring condemnation on themselves. God also showed His power to the world in leading the Israelites out of captivity. I'm sure slavery was brutal and not fun...I'm sure the Pharaoh was worse than George W. Bush. Still, thousands of years later, we have a story that still -- through the sufferings of the Israelis -- glorifies God to this day.

Adversity befalls us all, whether its fair or not -- look at Job -- look at Christ -- How you handle adversity makes a world of difference. Life has nothing to do with fairness...in fact Christ died a sinless man out of love for us all. It was not fair...He did not deserve it. It has everything to do with love and sacrifice. He ultimately became the firstborn of the death, overcoming death, and was given dominion over us all. He is risen! And is our Saviour! He lived under terrible rulers, and was condemned by His own people...but He loved, had faith, and handled the situation perfectly through His sacrifice. Quite frankly, as a sinner, I deserve hell, but because God is not fair, and allows love to trump sin, I can be saved through the grace of Jesus Christ.

Answer 5

It's the free will of people, influenced by Satan that allowed it to happen, because God doesn't interfere in the affairs of mankind (miracles excepted).

Would you like another fairy tale?

Edit:
Car Keys!
Damn, and now I've got all these drunken teenagers arguing over who gets to wear the cargo pants...

Answer 6

www.stevenbrack.com

Go to the above link and listen to the song "questions"..

It is a slammin blues song with a Hendrix sound about why do the wicked prosper and the good fall down.

We are not to judge unless we are doing it to help the individual. Who do you consider good, and what is your measuring device?

Answer 7

God didn't do it. If any spirit can be given credit for it, it would be Satan.

Robertson's stand shows he is not a follower of Christ and a worshipper of God.

Like all of man's government leaders, Bush thinks he is God's representive on earth. But his actions show otherwise.

Answer 8

You are asking why good things happen to bad people. Sometimes the laws of karma require that ups and downs are not easy to interpret. Remember the story about the man who broke his leg and all his neighbors said, "bad luck," but then the draft board rejected him because he had a broken leg.

Answer 9

no because they cause more damage than that, also without risking personal injury to themselves,
guess they like win win situations
oh, don't forget televangelists, i cant even think of an analogy for them!

Answer 10

Now you get to see who had influence on this earth and it certainly wasn't god....... that is what's going on.... religion never ever came from god...