Why are the people who survived the bridge collapse saying 'Thank God I survived' and calling it a 'Miacle'?

Question

What, did god choose YOU to survive and not the others? Were THEY being punished for some reason? Did god love YOU more than them? YOU were special, THEY were not, so they got slaughtered?

And why are Christians so darned thankful to the point of calling it a MIRACLE when heaven is where you all think your going anyway? Seems to me you'd be calling it a miracle if you DID die in the bridge collapse. Why would it be a miracle if you DIDN'T die and go to heaven?

Christians believe in heaven, but seem to be TERRIFIED of it. Why? Could it be there is just a wee touch of doubt there? Otherwise you should be CELEBRATING when someone dies, cause they went to heaven, right?

Answer 1

I asked this same question (or similar at least) just a little while ago and have gotten just a few answers. Normally in the R&S section there are plenty of people willing to preach to you about how God saves those who believe. Yet, I guarantee some of the people that died are believers too. I think that by saying "God protected me (but not that other guy)" they are saying that they are better in God's eyes.

Here's my question if you want to check it out.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArdM5GjH3dXJZEqhrvwxNEfsy6IX?qid=20070803123615AApouqT

Answer 2

You've addressed many points in your question. First let's look at "miracle", which I perceive as an unexplained phenomenon. It is a miracle when you face a possible life threatening situation, in this case being on a collapsing bridge, and you live to tell about it. I don't believe that it has anything to do with the amount of God's love for a person b/c sinners experience miracles also. Death is inevitable and something that we all have to face. So there's nothing spectacular there. However, when you face a situation where your life could've been taken away but you survived, THAT'S miraculous!!

As Christians we are thankful for the acknowledgement of "miracles" because it's affirmation that God's Mercy is still prevalent.Keep in mind, however that there are differen levels of Christianity just like there are different levels of maturity. A more mature Christian isn't "terrified" to die b/c we know that that's just a doorway to our Creator and Eternal Peace with Him.

However, before being a Christian we are human and therefore we usually will give in to our human emotions when faced with a situation that touches our hearts, such as the death of a loved one. On one hand we comfort ourselves with knowing that that person accepted Christ as their Savior. But on the other humanly hand, we grieve b/c of the loss of that individual from our lives and from others that are close to them. It's that unexpected element that sometimes overwhelms us.

We shouldn't spend time rationalizing whether someone is "punished" because they died or experienced some trauma in their life. What we should be doing is getting close in the Word for ourselves so that when we face a traumatic situation we are able to speak peace into the situation, pray for those effected, and provide comfort to those that are involved. Because one day we will be in a situation where we will need to keep our wits and draw on what we know to give us strength. So use your energy to focus on yourself because when the time comes, yourself is who you will need to be accountable for and that gets hard when you're concentrating on your neighbor's shortcomings.

Answer 3

Wow, you seem like a really angry person. First off when someone escapes death they usually say "Thank God" no matter what their religious affiliation is. Second of all God sent his son to die, why does anyone else deserve something better then death- everyone dies and when it is your time it is your time. It has nothing to do with being punished or God not loving you. People are calling it a miracle because so far their have only been 6 deaths that is amazing considering the traffic and how many injuries- 110, there could have easily been a lot more people dead.
I am a Christian and I am not afraid of Heaven but I also enjoy life here- Heaven only has an entrance, not an exit. I want to live my life on Earth- doing God's work- and then go to Heaven.

Answer 4

Whether or not they are thanking God..or whatever their religious beliefs, the fact that anyone did survive that is a miracle..and you can't deny that it is amazing..they should be dead...It is a tragedy that Anyone lost their life...just because someone says thank God by the way does not mean they are a Christian..what would you say?? Oh thank nothing I survived?

Christians are not Terrified of death..however what you
are failing to remember is that we are still human beings and that even though we know where we are going..we still have family and friends that we love here on earth..I know that if I died tomorrow It would be ok..however, I do not want to die anytime soon..I want to have my baby and see her grow up...frankly it is because I am human and selfish and I am not ready to go...but that does not mean I fear death because I don't..I have peace about it..OH and when one of my Christian brothers or sisters die..I do celebrate..we had a great party when my Grandma went to heaven...

Answer 5

You are right, to a certain degree.

While heaven and eternity with our creator is the ultimate goal of each and every follower of God and his will and way, we are told in the bible that if we knew more about heaven than we do, that we wouldnt want to be here on earth anymore.

So, our pull to stay with our families and loved ones stays very strong even into our old age. Terrified of death, I am not.

I heard a neat little saying by one of our pastors, whom is in his late 80's and still very healthy. He said that he wouldnt want to spend one more moment here on earth than he was supposed to, yet also does not want to spend one moment less here on earth than he is supposed to.

Our ways are not Gods ways and we do not know why some were called home and some were allowed to stay for a while longer, but whatever the reason, the ones that died had been given every opportunity to accept or reject God and follow him and his will and his way.

Sometimes it takes an awful life changing event for some to see their own mortality here on earth and finally accept eternal life with God. Sometimes an event like this is the exact cement that a non believer needs to seal their hatred and non belief and harden and darken their heart to the point of no return, so that God will give them over to their darkened and depraved hearts and all of Gods will and way will seem as foolishness to them. (this is explained very well in the book of romans in the new testament).

All in all, we are still fleshly humans and do and say things that might make another cringe or become filled with hate at the thought of our words, no matter how good the intent. If that is the case with you, let me shoulder the apology and wish you ease in forgiving us for loving our God, no matter the outcome of our situations, good and bad.

Answer 6

The will to survive is a very strong one, and hard to overcome.

Still, I didn't hear any of them say they were afraid to die.

And they thank God and call it a miracle because they religious, no doubt. If your ideas about death were valid then suicide would be a good thing.

Answer 7

dude. K...let's start at the beginning:

God doesn't choose certain people to survive and others to die, yet uses it as an opportunity to do his will. For example, if he's ready for you, he'll use that opportunity to take you. God doesn't love anyone more than anyone else. On the other hand, God is sad when people like you try and stray others from the truth. All he wants is to have his children find his truth and to live in it so than when it comes for OUR time (which who knows when that will be) we will be ready to spend eternity with Him in HEAVEN...instead of the alternate of eternal damnation. Our goal as followers of the Word is to help our fellow earthlings get to know their Father..and we try but sometimes people just push away...and we aren't terrified of heaven, just that people we love won't come with us...

Answer 8

Tragedy does not mean someone died because of sin. What is a miracle..is it and unnatural occurrence? Man knows he will die yet he also has fears of it. What is sin,are we free from it even if we are saved? Is the words of my mouth and the meditation of ones heart always exceptable to God.1 Samuel 12: 20-25. Christians pray and give thanks and often we only think of yourselves. When we forget others do we not sin against God? Celebrating life, yet forgetting the loss of life and their families. Romans 5:12-21. We do sin,all of us.

Answer 9

No one wants to die, simple fact. Whether it is because you are not ready to leave your family, or whether you have unfinished business, or whether you are just not completely sure as to where you go when you die. So when someone survives they thank God for the opportunity, and as for the ones who perished, in the end it may prove useful to God, who knows his plan is a bit out of human ability to completely understand. But now for you, I wish you would just calm down, and not take your anger out on Christians who are just thankful to be alive.

Answer 10

I will give you the same answer I gave "so what????"...but I warn you, he didn't like it.
It's no fun to have your own words turned back on you, I suppose...


I suppose that, if you happened to be one of those who survived something like this, your first thought would be "gee, I wish I were one of those who died," right?

NO??

Are you saying, then, that you would be "glad to be alive"? Maybe even "thankful to be alive"? And, would that mean that you would also be glad that the ones who died were now dead, or even thankful for their deaths?
Of course not!
Yet, you use this situation to cast stones at those who escaped this tragedy and are glad to be alive...or even thankful to be alive, as if you think they are glad that other people died...or even thankful that other people died.
I'm sorry, but you sound a bit angry about it...as if you think everyone involved should have died.

You asked for my opinion...
My opinion is that it is very sad when someone dies in a tragedy like this.
But not nearly as sad as the people who want to make it a "religious issue" by questioning the faith of the survivors.
God was there for the survivors...He is also there for the families of those who died.
All of us will die, eventually...will you use every death to question people's faith?