Many of you responded that the reason that some people live through events like 9/11 and others die is because, for the survivors, it was not their time to go. Yet, in my previous hypothetical question, many of you indicated that you would thank God for answering your prayer and letting you live through the event. However, if God had already determined when you were going to die, doesn’t that mean that he was not responding to your prayer? In other words, you weren’t supposed to die that day anyway. Your prayer was irrelevant. For those who died, they were probably praying that they would live, but God had already determined that it was their day to die. So, in such a case, is there any point in praying? The future was already pre-determined by God (at least by your logic), correct?
2007-07-02 06:38:44 · 16 answers · asked by Biggus Dickus 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thanks Kitty.
2007-07-02 07:09:52 · update #1
911 was not God's will.....................we are not puppets either. Choices were made for us - they call it murder. I doubt it was supposed to be anyone's "time to die".
2007-07-02 06:41:58 · answer #1 · answered by fanofchan 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think God knows when we are going to die because He sees from the perspective of one outside of finite experience so that He sees our life simultaneously rather than sequentially as we do. The bible says that God has set forth the days of man as being 3 score and ten years. He may bless some with additional years at His perogative but lives that are shortened due to circumstantial experiences such as desease or accidents are an extention of the result of the fall and incidental events within space and time. God may on occassion see that it is better that some be taken out for whatever reason, good or bad but this would be the exception rather than the rule. As far as prayer goes, God does not need our prayers to perform what may be His will but has chosen to include us as a partaker or simply a part of the process in the actualizing of answered prayer. Nevertheless prayer is communion with God on an intimate level and as a born again believer it seems quite pathetic not to be in communicado with the Lover of our soul and to insist that a relationship exists between the saved and the Savior.
2007-07-02 06:57:48 · answer #2 · answered by messenger 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Prayers of thanksgiving are never irrelevent, only an irreverent person would see it as such. Prayer is done out of love for that will of God being done in us, not because we are still alive and others died. There is always a point in prayer and our death is known by God and with even more reason we need to thank Him for granting us another day.
2007-07-02 06:47:39 · answer #3 · answered by Perhaps I love you more 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No not necessarily so. We pray with the understanding that God may or may not answer our prayers at the time that we would like him to. But they could have all died in their sleep later that nite. God allows things to happen for a reason. Those people dying may have been tragic but it may have saved several millions more lives. I don't pretend to know what God will or will not do, however prayers are never irrelevant.
2007-07-02 06:46:33 · answer #4 · answered by tikababy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, there are different types of prayer...prayer of dedication, petition, consectration, agreement... A Chrisitan should (not that all do) pray the prayer of consecration over their lives. (that His will be done.) however as humans our flesh too will sometimes want what we want rather than what God wants. But He still knows what is best. We can put a petition before God, and say it is a petition to live through a tragic event, well if you think about it. To a Christian, to die is really to live, b/c you will spend eternity with your Father in Heaven. But yes, sometimes we can pray a prayer in vain but they are never irrelevant to God, even the Bible speaks of that... But God knows your true hearts desire!
2007-07-02 06:48:23 · answer #5 · answered by TRV 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, you forgot that God wants us to rely on Him for all our needs, regardless of what will take place. He wants an ongoing relationship with lots of communication that shows we know our Creator, we know He is with us, we know He has all the power, we know whatever happens He is for us, we know He has a larger plan yet we are never overlooked , etc. etc. Whether He saves us or not, we need to be talking to Him. He tells us to pray without ceasing. That simply means we recognize that He is interested in every detail of our life, and wants to hear from us in an honest open way all the time. It really does matter if we pray to Him. It matters to Him.
2007-07-02 06:47:12 · answer #6 · answered by Joyful Noise 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Christian religionists are as usual, ignorant of the teachings in the book they claim to use as their source of guidance. In the bible book of Ecclesiastes, starting at 9:11 the idea that the length of your life has been "predetermined", is shot down in flames by saying such things as ( I'm paraphrasing ), "the swift don't always have the race, the mighty don't always have the battle.......for TIME AND UNFORESEEN OCCURRENCE BEFALL THEM ALL."
2007-07-02 07:07:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
By my logic? You sound like you have enough logic for the both of us. But to answer your logic with God's logic...
There is a time to die, yes.
This time is not set in stone.. No where in the bible will you find this. In fact you will find many instances that point to the exact opposite.
So those who lived through 9/11 and those who died, did not alter the will of God. -thats His logic.. the rest is my own spin.
If by chance you found yourself a death or life situation on that day or anyother day for that matter, your faith in God will see you through.
As Shadrach, Meshac, and Abednego stated to the king, "We are sure that our God can deliver us from your fire. But know this oh king, whether our God delivers us or not, we will never bow down and worship your idols."
Hence it's not whether you live or die in such a situation, but whether you believe or not. Life is uncertain, God is not. His plan and purpose for my life will be fullfilled regardless of my life on this planet. Should I die before the appointed time or live beyond that time makes no difference at all to me. God who is just and mercifull will see that I am fully rewarded for all that I was appointed to do. He is just! And does not require works since His Son did the work for us. My reward is found in Jesus not myself. In Him I have enough whether I live or die.
You cannot find logic in heavenly matters, it is impossible because God's ways are above your ways. You think as one who is earthly and God is not bound by this earth nor by the limitations put upon it. To understand God and those who have found Him through Jesus Christ, is impossible. And by your own knowledge we are foolish. I would rather be found a fool by you than by God.
2007-07-02 07:05:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thank you for you question.
Yes, according to your hypothetical situation, there is a point in prayer. First of all, the Bible tells us over and over that God does respond to prayer. Secondly, a prayer of praise is always worthwhile--God will always honor a prayer of praise.
Explorer--you are the one mistaken...you have taken something out of context. The passage you quote is referring to the shortsightedness of man, not of God....
2007-07-02 06:44:39 · answer #9 · answered by Todd J 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because people on Yahoo don't understand what's going on that doesn't mean God is confused.
You need to get your answers directly from the Bible.
Prayer does change things.
Pastor Art
2007-07-02 06:44:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are examples in the bible of God extending someones life due to prayer and repentance.
2007-07-02 06:43:12 · answer #11 · answered by Mr. E 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋