NOT a philosophical debate!?

Question

ok I'm not religion bashing here, and definitely not trying to begin some philosophical christian vs. etc debate, but...
if christians are taught that we're made in the likeness of god, and then also are taught that they're miserable sinners....
where does that leave god?
(ok so for all you religious minded, WITHOUT being rude, let's try something else besides "heaven" and "everywhere")

Answer 1

We were created in the image of God. This image means we have all of the same qualities. We have choices to make, and we have the power at our disposal to implement our choices.

We have the same basic set of emotions that God has, too. We have wants and desires, as does God.

A big difference is that we are made of mortal flesh, and God is a heavenly being. So we are indeed similar, yet we are different.

Evidently, being of mortal flesh, we are subject to animal instincts and other such inborn things. To be more Godly in our lives, we are requested to rise above the animal part of us and behave with Godly intent.

God gives us the tools we need to discover what he wants for us, and to implement the changes in our character to make us desireable in God's sight.

Those who choose otherwise are left to be led by their fleshly desires, instincts, and lusts. They crave self-centered pleasure, and will go after it even if it means hurting others in the process.

Some are more overt about hurting others, and we are witness to the levels of crime in our neighborhoods. Others just have a "feeling" that hurting others is bad, and try to refrain, but do not go a step further to find out why it is a bad thing, and if there are better things to do.

Christians have the Bible, and regard it as the inspired Word of God. This book outlines the things we must do to make ourselves over into people who love God, and who are pleasing to God, and who will reach the highest levels of potential He has given to each of us.

Answer 2

electrickshadow it's not just about going to heaven it's also about a loving relationship with God the Father.

One can only experience that if they know God. Apart from acknowledging our wrongs the whole point is to learn something from it all.

God also gives the believer a peace of mind and also if a person is hurting God can also heal that person. It doesn't mean that every thing will be all hunky dorky either.

Every one has problems and by going to God a person can find a whole more with God. Every one has void in their life and they tend to fill up the void with various things that aren't really good for them.

God wants to fill the void in part. I don't know what I would do with out God mainly because I have faced hardships in my life. Others may not have experienced different ones then what I have and visa versa. Every one is different and they are individuals.

Answer 3

Right where He's always been. Just because something looks like the original does not means it's as good as or even close to the original. (Coke vs Sam's cola looks the same but ever tasted it? it's just not the same.and it's made in the image of, the original is definitely better then the image.)
We are only miserable sinners if we stay in our sin and never try to get closer to God. If we are found trying we will be rewarded. Jesus paid for my sins but I'm supposed try to keep the tab to minimum.

Answer 4

Well, the God of the Bible seems just as mixed up as we are. God seems very human when he gets jealous and has to be talked out of murdering people. He told Abraham to kill his son and he supposedly commanded the Israelite soldiers to kill women and children when they sacked the Caananite cities. He'd already said he didn't think children should be sacrificed or people murdered. Wouldn't make God a hypocrit? We're not miserable sinners. We're human saints in the making. God is misrepresented in the Bible. Thank goodness we don't have to believe everything we read!

Answer 5

It's hard to answer looney questions based on erroneous assumptions. Mankind was/is made in the image of God.., a thief, a fallen malicious angel came and deceived them into giving up their godly dominion and authority and power over to him..., making him lord over the Earth; thus sin being defined as the breaking of God's law; they sinned against God. God had already set a universal law in place that says: "Every seed produces after it's own kind".., so His man and woman made in His image and likeness became turncoats and sold out to the enemy by DISOBEDIENCE to His command to NOT eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil! They took their power of "freewill" and messed in their own hat! They went from the "taken care of" position to "get to work for yourselves" place! But after their "sin", it changed them and all their seed; all mankind after them were born sinners! Like squirrels have baby squirrels, dogs have puppies, etc. Not a mystery, 4th grade natural science.
Now, God had a plan already for such an event and He has put a plan in place beginning through Abraham and fulfilled it in His Son Jesus Christ.
Now where does that leave God? Since without Christ, you are a miserable sinner with no hope of heaven on Earth or anywhere..., where's your freewill in taking up the plan?

Answer 6

We are created in the 'likeness' of God in the respect that we, are able to love, have an innate sense of justice, we can reason, are able to be compassionate. We have intelligence, we can figure out solutions to problems. We are not simply " instinctual creations" We are sinners in that because our ancestors Adam and Eve, decided to disobey our Creator. Because of this we are born in sin, and have the propensity to do wrong, or disappoint our Creator.
Where this leaves God is that his designs and wishes for humankind has not changed, he still hopes that mankind will turn to him for guidance. The reason he is allowing mankind to rule over himself is to allow man to see that in order to have a happy life they need God in it.
Who is to blame for man's suffering? We are, as humans we have fought wars, commited crimes, polluted the environment, often carrying on business in a manner motivated by greed rather than concern for our fellowman, and also indulging in habits that we as humans know are harmful to our health. When we do these things we hurt ourselves and others.
Should we expect to be immune to the consequences of what we collectively do? Galations 6: 7 ; Proverbs 1: 30-33
Satan and his demons also share responsibility for the suffering of humans The Bible discloses that much suffering is because of the influence of wicked spirits. The suffering for which so many people blame God does not come from him at all--Revelations 12:12 ; Acts 10:38;

Answer 7

read some descriptioins of God from the hindu and Buddist perspectives then come back to the Bible and read it agian the nature of God and self will change to what is realy you and what is not. I suggest the Bagdavada Gita and the Upanishads/ THats what Jesus was reading along with the Damapada.
When you done knitpicking over the cultural and tribal descriptions of the Higher power and have seen the forest through the tribal trees. THen seek truth you will find that feeding the poor loving your brothers and the true message is beyond all of the knitpicking.

Answer 8

We were made in his likeness,which means appearance or image. We are sinners because we come from a generation before " CHRIST " of sinners. People who sinned against " GOD'S " laws at the time.

Answer 9

respectfully - I don't know that "heaven" and "everywhere" has much to do with your question.
Yes, People are creatted in the image of God. At the creation, everything was perfect. That is until Adam and Eve disobeyed God. That's why we are all "miserable sinners".

blessings :)

Answer 10

I like your question, and have wondered about this myself. My conclusion is God created humans in his likeness, meaning we have intelligence, thought, and reasoning. The ability to choose, plan, organize, work, love and play. Characteristics that God also has. Along with that gift of being made in His image or likeness, he gave us the choice to obey or not to obey, and of course we did not obey Him, and that is what makes us miserable sinners. It is that sinful part of our being that makes God different from us. That is what makes God, God, and us not.