If God is all-powerful, wouldn't that likewise make God all-responsible?

Question

For example, if God is "the prime mover" doesn't that mean that everything that happens and exists is so because of God?

Once I heard the definition of "responsibility" is based on the "ability to respond." If God is all-powerful, doesn't that imply that God is able to repsond to all things?

Here are a few interesting examples that people usually don't think about:

* God allows the torment of Job. God shouldn't have anything to prove to Satan, but he lets Satan torture a good person anyway. For what? All-powerful implies no need for more of anything.

* God throws Satan to Earth to rule Earth. Who is responsible for Satan's rule over Earth? Did it ever need to happen? Could it be stopped at any moment? Why not now?

Don't get me wrong. I don't feel particularly angry or sad about this, but I am curious about God's motives and accountability. Who keeps track of God's sins?

My concern is not whether or not God exists, as I will presume he does, but the nature of God. This would help to narrow down which religion is the correct one for a confused agnostic like myself. For example, if God is not accountable to anything or anyone, then God is above sin and can do things that would eternally damn any one of us for such horrible (and unrepentant) acts, confirming that the real God is a tyrant. If God is real and really a tyrant, then I suppose there is good reason to fear God on the basis of malevence rather than love, which would explain a lot. This this variant, God is able to be vicious and abusive, but "good" because divine command: Might makes right... Sounds wonderful, right?

If, however, God is responsible to someone or something, then there may be a legitimate struggle for supremacy with Satan, but would mean God is not all-powerful or perfect, although perhaps good. This would also explain a lot. I could relate more to this version.

More?

RIF, I have already done this before I asked this question. Your concerns are founded on what? That you can't answer my question?

Hmm... Starjumper, you might want to look at your answer carefully. It sounds like your version of God is not all-powerful and is engaged in a real struggle, even though you use some language to say he has no peer. Why all the concern for a omnipotent being? First you say there is nothing to prove and then you say Job was used as an example. That's a direct contradiction. Which is it?

So if you were God, Cindy, and you told your kid to jump off a cliff, then you'd still be good? Or is there some other principle at work here that you forgot that negates the "might makes right" factor?

Good point, Sarge, but if you admit that you don't know God, then you have to admit that you don't know if God created everything - not that this really matters in the greater scheme of things anyway except in this sort of debate except to say that if God is "prime mover" then all happens as a result of God, including sin, which means our sins are God's sins and, perhaps, in judging His creation, God judges himself... Another interesting possibility, yes?

Interesting metaphor, JimPettis, but very different in that it's more like shades of grey and not black and white as I asked. If the US and Al-Queda are two seperate entities with seperate powers, then how could we make such an accusation? If the US created and funded Al-Queda and still controls it, then the answer spins. If it was once created and funded, but now is a power on its own, then the answer changes yet again. I don't know any of these answers, but I bet there is some human that does know. GOD, however, is a different story.

So, no, you didn't answer the question at all. Sorry.

To several others: I have read the Bible straight through twice, studied it with the UMC, Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, CLDS, Lutherans, and Unitarians. Sometimes, when you have only studied with one church, you presume that there is only one interpretation of scripture. You would be wrong. My question is informed by all of my study and cuts the entire thing to the bone to answer several other questions I have for myself such as, what, exactly, does it mean to have a personal relationship with God? Is it really a loving relationship or is it more like an abusive dictatorship sort of relationship?

Answer 1

You're right, to allow what happened to Job is to command what happened to Job, if God is going to be in charge of the universe. To say "God didn't do it, Satan did" is a cop-out of responsibility.

Now take the lesson from it. Job claimed a sufficiently holy life in order to attain Heaven. God showed him who was Lord over who "attained" Heaven, and it was through His power and His will that His own would believe and live the life that Job did. His own would withstand the trials, grounded in a solid foundation of faith. To me, the book is all about God's sovereignty as opposed to man's will.

Answer 2

Yes he is. Hence sending his son down to die for us and Armageddon. God doesn't have to prove Anything. He Wants to. Remember that we are not the only beings around. There are also billions of angels (who were being misled by Satan) as well. God showed Satan and the rest of the angels (in Job's case) that a single imperfect human being could stay loyal to God (thus giving hope to the entire of humanity) and rewarded Job tenfold. God throws Satan to earth was mentioned earlier in the Bible when all of Jesus's enemies were laid at his feet. The Heavens are clean now, and working. It's the earth's turn and from the looks of things, God is going to have to act soon. He promised he would not let us destroy his planet and also that he would 'cut the last days short' because if he didn't, no living flesh would live upon it! Doesn't that sound like our times? The Earth is Sending out an SOS people!

Answer 3

God doesnt sin, nor does he lie, ive also read he doesnt repent. but i havent read that verse in awhile. well satan always wanting to accuse ppl so why not let him know a thing or two. remember the end? Job got everything back plus some. he didnt throw him down for him to "rule" but he didnt stop it. yes it could be stopped at anytime but why not see how many ppl really love you in the hard times. the things that we go through is not just for his proving, its to grow us up, to be able to comfort someone knowing you been through the same. try not to look at it in bad ways, i believe God knows what hes doing. just because he allows something doesnt make him responsible. we need to learn how to handle the situations. even though satan is here doesnt mean we have to follow him or do what we know isnt right.

Answer 4

To a small child, I as the parent am all powerful and yes, responsible for the end result of a situation. This does not mean that I do not allow the child to make certain decisions for themself.

They are told not to take a cookie before dinner. They wait and watch and take the cookie anyway. I did not give them permision to take the cookie. I am not any less in control of them than I was before they took the cookie.
They just now have to pay the punishment for taking what they were told not to do.

I am in control, I gave them a choice, and now they have to live with the consequenses of that choice.

God does all this and more with us. We are his children, he is in control and responsible for us. He still gives us choices and we must live with the consequenses of those choices.

Sin is disobedience of Gods word. God cannot sin. God cannot disobey himself.

Answer 5

Okay, it's obvious to me that you don't read the bible or you wouldn't be asking these questions that really doesn't even make common sense. We are free moral agents......do you know what that means. You are free to chose for yourself what you will and will not do. Therefore, you are responsible for your own actions, not God.

Animals operate on instincts, humans act on their will, their choice. I'm not going to bother to give you an in depth explanation about the other issues you have concern with because spiritual things are spiritually discerned (only spiritually comprehended).

It's like apples and oranges........can't make an apple into an orange and visa versa.

Answer 6

The idea of God being "all this" and "all that" is man-made. Nobody knows God. All I know is a higher power created everything. Your examples are out of the Bible....a man-made book. Placing blame for bad incidents, on a being you have no knowledge of, makes no sense.

Answer 7

Of course not. For example, the U.S. military is more powerful than Al-Qaeda. Does that mean the U.S. military is responsible for Al-Qaeda's actions? Of course not! Personal power only demands responsibility for the use of that personal power, not responsibility for others' use of other power.

Another mind-bending question solved by Captain Obvious

Answer 8

god didnt torture Job for satan. he wanted prof that Job would b faithful to God through bad times and good.

Answer 9

There's a saying:

If power requires control; then God is the most limited of all creatures.

Answer 10

"God's sins" ???? Oookkkaaayyyy. Tell you what: you go and ask God to explain His "sins" and to show you if you're wrong for asking such a preposterous thing. Ask Him to reward you if your question is justified, or to send judgement upon you if you're wrong for assuming the right to even ask such a question in the first place.

I doubt you will, even if you are an atheist. Go ahead. Give it a try.

I'm daring you to. Call my bluff. Please.