Please dont make me quote bible verses again
2007-06-08 16:44:53 · 21 answers · asked by Johnny W 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
God didn't DO the "bad" things, God merely allowed them to happen, that's what God's will is.
...and man, they HATE that answer.
2007-06-08 16:48:29 · answer #1 · answered by Always Curious 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Deeds are things done by man, not God. We might interpret the nature of God in the history and actions of mankind, but then we would have a shadow only, a mere analogy. God operates on a far grander scale as well as in things much more infinitesimally minute. Things like the Milky Way, the DNA molecule, the mu-meson and pi-meson, the quark, and Black holes. Psalm 8, "When I consider the works of thy hand, the moon and stars which thou hast made, What is man, that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him?" I do not engage in theodicy, because I know that I am utterly lacking in any perspective which could possibly encompass infinity. Any such exercise is nothing less than an exercise in futility. I simply operate with the things I know by virtue of the intelligence He has given me, and work out my own salvation with fear and trembling. Isofar as possible I walk humbly with my God and live in peace with God and man. God's Word is not a cookbook or a Road Atlas. God did not dictate it verbatim. There are various and sundry stories, myths, and traditions found therein. Stories which appear to contradict each other are found side by side, as well as histories that are far less than noble, bloody stories and narrow interpretations of the Law, stories which by their intent support such things as ethnic cleansing (You shall put all people in these villages under the Bann, killing men, women and children) (or psalm137 "Blessed be he that shall dash your babies against the stone walls). The Bible is not some namby pamby collection of fairytales and children's bedtime stories, but a record of faith, good and bad, beautiful and ugly. There are and have been some that want to cut parts, or suggest more delicate readings for the words that are written (cherim in place of ketib, like saying white meat in place of breast and drumstick in place of leg). God's Word gives us the virtue of an overview so that with all the conflicts and contradictions (not errors) we can reflect, interpret, understand and find better ways to work out the same things in our lives today.
2007-06-09 00:32:30 · answer #2 · answered by Fr. Al 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The concepts of 'good' and 'bad' are always culturally specific. You cannot call a deed 'good' or 'bad' unless you are judging it according to some culturally-specific criteria.
What you are doing is taking your own personal beliefs and and trying to impose them on a culture you do not understand. According to the Christians, God is a supreme being who is not subject to the same standards that mortal, limited human beings are.
I'm sure you've met some Christians who use their culture to judge you. In that case, they're making the same mistake you are.
2007-06-08 23:53:29 · answer #3 · answered by Conrad 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, I didn't see your citations in the first place. And exactly how could I MAKE you quote them again? We are in cyberspace.
No one can speak for MOST Christians. Each person can only speak for themselves. And whether or not God DID bad things is extremely subjective.
2007-06-08 23:50:11 · answer #4 · answered by Linda R 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe that He did all that He did and that all of His ways are just. I am sorry that you never took the time to truly benefit from all of his love, wisdom, power and justice, which is what He is made of completely. He didn't tell anyone to eat their babies but they did it and He allowed it to be recorded. Since you don't wish to see anymore scripture, I won't be able to show you why from His mouth as it were but it was for our benefit that he allowed his prophets to relate all of the things done by those who called themselves his chosen people... He never chose them for their perfection. To the contrary, it was to show the nations what such a rebellious people could do and just how much they could thrive and succeed as long as they followed his rules and regulations even in this old system... and just how bad it went for them when they didn't... That's all... I don't find anything hard to understand in that book. Isn't it strange how perception is different from one to another? Take care and be well... Agape
2007-06-09 00:00:26 · answer #5 · answered by Terisina 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Okaaaayy. Give another list of the so-called "bad things" committed by God. How many times in a calendar week do you need to be shown how wrong you and others are?
2007-06-09 00:15:18 · answer #6 · answered by RIFF 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most Christians don't have a clue about what's in the Bible. The ones that do uphold the most incredible contradictions and insanities as ultimate truth and goodness. But, most people around this neck of the woods enjoy their Christianity and seem to derive a considerable amount of enjoyment fiddling with it. As long as they keep their crazy violent childish tantrum-prone paranoic passive-aggressive God to themselves, what concern is it of ours? (Except they can't do that, of course.)
2007-06-08 23:53:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi again Johnny, :-)
Ahhh.... It's good to see you are still reading your Bible. Now you understand why the Bible says to fear God. Keep reading. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to why these things happened.
"Bad" and "good" are characteristics of man. Justice and mercy are God's characteristics. God is a God of justice (law/discipline) as well as a God of mercy (love/warning). He is a God whose characteristics are balanced.
Yes, God is a God of mercy. Why else would He send His Son to die for us? That was out of love and mercy (which we do not deserve). Yet, He also is a God of justice. He sets boundaries (laws) out of love for us so that we don't have to live in chaos and sickness. If everyone did as he thought right, we would have complete chaos.
Just like parents, God loves us and wants us to obey. If we don't, He warns us. If we continue to persist in our sins, finally, like a child who continues disobeying, we should expect justice.
All of this is because He loves us and wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth.
Even earthly fathers discipline their children for their own good. And if a child/children of God get(s) out of hand, the Lord, in His loving kindness will use justice. His justice to one person/nation is many times also His mercy to another.
"All things work together for good, for those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. Do you love Him? Are you called according to His purpose--in other words, do you work for Him? If you do, this promise is for you.
Johnny, even our justice system is built on this principle of discipline and mercy. We don't just let anyone do whatever they want. No. If they break a law, they pay a fine, or get put in jail, etc. We have these laws to protect the innocent. And can you imagine what a stop light would be if no one obeyed the red light? Chaos. Wreck after wreck. No. The law God gives--and expects us to obey is for everyone's own good. He gave His law to us because He loves us and wants what is very best for us.
You don't want a "milk toast" God do you? If you do, sorry. You’ve got the wrong one. My God is ALLmighty God and does what pleases Him. He is God. We are just another speck on this place we call earth--and your time--as everyone’s time--is short. Very short. Make the most of it, okay Johnny?
This is why real Christians say that Christianity is not for wimps. God is not a wimp--neither is it easy to live a Christian life. Let God be God in your life Johnny. Give Him the fear, honor, and glory He deserves!
If you quote Bible verses, please give us only one or two so we can actually explain them to you.
Hope you have a nice day! I'm going to church now, to worship the Father, my dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the precious Holy Spirit. Hope to see you there again one day soon.
Love and prayers in Christ,
oooooolala!
.
2007-06-10 09:38:44 · answer #8 · answered by oooooolala! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christians like to think that Satan does the bad things, and that God does the good. But if God was "all-powerful" and "all-loving" this would not be the case. There wouldn't even be a "Satan".
2007-06-08 23:51:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The "bad" things God did?!?! Are you sitting in the judgement seat of God now?!?!? If I create a vase on a potter's wheel and don't like how it turns out I get to destroy it, my vase, my choice. This is HIS creation and we, according to scripture:
Job 25:6 how much less man who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm?
Do you think that God, in His infinite wisdom and judement, shouldn't destroy parts of His creation He finds abomidable? I think He has every right. You have too high an opionion of yourself and your powers of judgement. He is the righteous judge, not you.
2007-06-08 23:51:50 · answer #10 · answered by prismcat38 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋