did questions ruin this former Pastor's faith?

Question

http://ezinearticles.com/?Questions-Your-Pastor-Will-Hate&id=103223

I remember asking why the Bible, a book which had to know better since it was written by God himself, said Joshua raised his hands and the "sun stopped for the space of about a day," when clearly it would be the earth that stopped rotating? I asked him how oceans would not slop out of their basins in such a scenario and drown the whole world? I asked him if humans would not be cast into space by such a sudden stop of the entire planet? I even asked if this really happened, why did no one else on the whole planet notice it, or write about it? I got that dumb look again.

I even asked him what would happen to my handicapped brother, who could neither hear, speak or see and thus had no way to become a Jesus accepting Christian. He told me he was saved automatically. Wow! How cool. I, on the other hand, would have to risk getting my beliefs correct or go to hell. Bummer. more at link

Answer 1

As a former women's pastor myself, I can say that it does happen. My questions went unanswered so I searched for the truth myself. I'm an atheist now.

Answer 2

If you would research you would find out that there is a day missing out of time. Joshua making the Sun stand still accounts for "almost a day." Hezekiah, a king, was dying and
asked a prophet to pray that God would extend his life another 15 years. God did and as a sign the sun dial was turned back ten degrees. IT IS BELIEVED THAT JOSHUA'S
ALMOST A DAY AND THE 10 DEGREES THE DIAL WAS TURNED BACK EQUAL ONE ENTIRE DAY - hence the day that was missing out of time.

If God said the sun stood still then the earth rotating is not what is true. God can change whatever He pleases without breaking the rhythm of the universe or the earth. Whether some other people noticed it or not is not shown in scripture so it must not have been important or God would have put it in the record.

If you had a brother who could neither speak, hear or see, it would not be impossible for him to see Christ since we are talking about God being "spirit" and He is well able to reveal Himself to anyone no matter what their physical handicap is.

God doesn't make salvation necessary and then retract it. He has His ways that far surpass ours to do what He needs to do. Human intellect cannot grasp this totally because we are dealing with infinite intelligence and power.

Answer 3

Come on now. First, God DID NOT write the Bible. God inspired MEN wrote it. Ever noticed that the books all have men's names?

At that time in history, men believed the earth was the center of the universe and the sun and stars rotated around the earth.......therefore the "Sun" stopped.

If the earth stopped rotating we would lose the centrifugal force and gravity would pull down harder, opposing any "sling into space". This increased force would also hold the water in the basins. How do you know nobody seen it happen, was terrified but went on with their business?

Sorry about your brother and may God have mercy on him AND he WILL.

I doubt your questions caused the pastor to lose his faith. If so, his was living in a fantasy world and did not truly believe.

Your statements about God and the Bible probably confused him to the point he couldn't figure it out. Maybe you should go back to him and revamp your questions.

Good luck to you. Pops

Answer 4

It's just hard to believe that you haven't heard the answer yet. And maybe you can write that author and tell him that God didn't write the Bible. I don't know who told him that, but there aren't any Christians I've met that think that God wrote the Bible.

The answer to the sun stopping is : That's how it was percieved in Joshua's time. As far as I know, they didn't know about solar years and such, and they apparently need to either.

You know what? Sometimes I think that God allowed certain things to be written in such a way that would make some people not get saved. And it's working. I've known for decades that God doesn't want everybody.

Answer 5

Its hard to believe that a pastor of 26 years could make such false assertions about the Bible. I mean he's got his facts wrong.
One example: He said "How come the horses in the Exodus die twice in the Ten Plagues and still survive for Pharoah to mount a final attack against the Israelites, and then die again." In reality, the horses killed were those belonging to Pharoah "in the field"(Exd 9:25) , along with the firstborn horses belonging to Pharoah(Exd 12:12). Thus there remained some horses of Pharoah, with which he used to chase Israel.

Answer 6

Questions usually do. It was similar questions I asked that lead me to be an atheist. I've been an atheist for over 20 years now. The more I learn about religion, the less plausible it sounds. Now I just try to help other people make that first step to rationality... Asking questions.

Answer 7

I hope not. But I believe I could have answered some a little better with scripture. Don't lose your faith.

Answer 8

For your brother he will have to make the desion for himself, he will have it placed apon his heart and he will have to choose, as for those questions, they are holes in your faith , have faith and beleive, don't doubt, pray about it but i dont think that the questions would ruin that pastor's faith, trust me, i am the daughter of a pastor, and it would not even come close to ruining my dad's faith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!