Why do people play God?

Question

One thing that I learned by going to Church is that God has his reasons for everything. When people pray for safety and health, yeah its nice, but God is going to do what he wants right? So when you pray for things like "heal my friend", aren't you trying to play God by telling Him what to do?

I know that when I pray, I alway pray for God to lead me in the right direction, or to ask him to let me know how to help people get through things. I just think that when somthing happens, it happens because God wanted it to.

I had a long term family friend that had died of cancer, who was a baptist. She didn't want people praying for her health because she said it was God's will. I know that people feel resentment towards God for things like this, but I figure that God might need the person in Heaven.

What is truely is a better gift, life on Earth, or an eternal life in Heaven with God?

Lorreign: "you aren't telling him what to do, you are asking him to 'look into' something. A suggestion, not a command. "

Ok good point, however, giving Him a suggestion would imply that He is Not perfect right? Again, you are telling Him what you want done, not what He wants done.

Psiren:
"why are you asking him to lead you in the right direction then? if he want's to he will. if not, he won't. isn't that what you're saying? or did you just want to let us all know how much better your prayers are than anybody elses?"

Because God wants us to go down the right path, why wouldn't He? He however will decide who lives or dies, its not up to us. No I'm not saying that my prayers are better than anyone's, I just wanted to give an example of where my idea is coming from. I'm sorry that it came across as that. God Bless!

Answer 1

You've asked several questions...

1) "God's going to do what (H)e wants right?"

Yes, God is God and will do what He wants. However, He does listen to our prayers, and our concerns matter to Him. He wants us to rely on Him in troubled times

Further, not everything that happens in this life is God's will. God gave each and every one of us free-will. People create all kinds of misery for one another, and for themselves; all of this is because we are working outside of God's will. This is not how God would have it, but He loves us so much that He allows us to choose.

2) "Aren't you trying to play God by telling Him what to do?"

No one can tell God what to do? They can ask and petition the Lord with request, as He instructs in the Bible, but ultimately God chooses when, and how, He will intervene.

3) "What is truly a better gift, life on Earth, or eternal life in Heaven with God?"

Both are gifts from God. And both are good.

Answer 2

"I know that people feel resentment towards God for things like this, but I figure that God might need the person in Heaven. " Im sorry, that made no sense. Why would a god need someone to die? and worst of all, to die tragically, because he "needs him/her in heaven"?
We all know of good, religious and non-religious people dying all the time, some in horrific ways, and i can't manage to understand why god is so gory.

However, you do have a point. Praying is useless. It is all in your mind. IMHO, when a person is sick, in some cases they may be able to heal themselves just by believing they can. I don't think we're any god's slaves. It's not like we are in this life to simply let 'god' live it for you.

Answer 3

Everything humans do, from medical research to airplanes, is playing "god," meaning they have some control over their own lives, and they don't rely on a god to complete tasks for them.

Without playing "god," there would be no language, no civilization, no modern medicine, and no relief from the struggles of the natural world. Kids didn't die from a god's "will" 100 years ago; they died from diseases that medicine didn't know how to address.

I'm sorry, but there is no evidence for a god. Promising heaven and other imaginary places won't change reality. Life on earth is still precious, but I'm concerned that your post sugarcoats death, and devalues a finite life on earth.

Answer 4

I am sorry for the loss of your friend. Your question is interesting but for me it comes down to being relative to my situation. I am healthy, have a great family and a nice career. Life on Earth is exactly where I would want to be. If I were sick and unable to enjoy the gifts of life on earth I would want to be with God in eternal sunshine. I like to take life one day at a time and Change the things I can and have the courage to accept those things I can't change. Good Luck to you!

Answer 5

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

There is nothing wrong with praying that God heal someone.

Your last question is a no-brainer. Life on earth is temporary. Where do you want to spend eternity?

Answer 6

Eternal life in Heaven with God is a better gift, although I would still like to live my life here on Earth.

Answer 7

I will answer with Job 42 :10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends;
Your statement is a good one;
We are to Pray for others, and ourselves,Sometimes God
will change our focus-He often times changes us; I had disc
removed from back,and metal inserted in spine,I prayed before-during and after,always Lord heal me,I can look back now to that time & I would lay out the problem before God,but when I was thru praying ,I would start trying to figure out how to take care of problem my self,that was picking the problem back up.I believe we should Pray according to Matt18:19 I am healed from back problem can do about anything.In conclusion, Your last Statement the Apostle Paul thought about the same thing,so You are in good company when you wonder about Life here and now and the one awaiting You.

Answer 8

The Que Serra, Serra whatever will be thinking is boring and apathetic. God knows all but He wants us to be actively involved with Him. We Christians are Co-laborers with Him and can influence Him. Remember King Hezekiah? Perhaps, not everything we pray about or desire is necessarily right or wrong, black or white. Somethings obviously are but not everything. I think God wants a relationship with us & that will include give and take.
There are things that happen to us because we tolerate them and sometimes I think God is watching and saying, "Why are you allowing that in your life?" For example, the woman who continues to allow her alcoholic husband neglect her or beat her up. We have a part to play in this salvation otherwise we wouldn't have a reason to be here.
Life with God is the best gift. To know Him now is really good and to see Him face to face must be awesome!

Answer 9

Great question.I agree with you that things happen because HE wanted them to.There is always a reason why someone dies and they are TOTTALY better off in the place called HEAVEN!The truely better gift is an eternal life in Heaven with God.

Answer 10

it somewhat is a omit definition or misnomer. To play God is to take the placement of decide and Executioner of a individual without listening to the info. God is familiar with the info. he's the only one that could somewhat study all people hearts whilst at any time. The question approximately people who create are actually not God. Is back out of lack of understanding. people who kill without in basic terms reason are criminals.

Answer 11

If there were such a thing, eternal life would certainly be preferable. But there isnt.
But, to answer your question--people aren't telling god what to do when they pray, are they? They're asking him to do something, and when he doesn't do it, you say it's god's will. Isn't that the way it works with you people?