I have a very religious family on my wifes side. This year I have lost my home due to a fire, had very bad Pneumonia that nearly killed me, then lost my 100,000 a year job, then lost my new home because I could not find another job, and lost my vehicles. Now I am living with my mother and father in law and they are saying it is my fault because I have not been going to church. Even my wife has told me this! Why would god make my wife and children suffer because I have not been going to church? I have kinda fell out of beleiving and they are not making me feel any better by feeling this. Is this the way all religious people think? I have not done nothing wrong here.
2007-09-09 15:10:36 · 29 answers · asked by busar1300 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Just to let people know I am not a criminal. I just worked very hard to get where I was. And have always obeyed the laws. (besides speeding my car sometimes)
2007-09-09 15:25:09 · update #1
No, my father is a Christian (Catholic) and would never act in such a way. If your wife and her family are so unfeeling, I think it would be time to move on. I would never compound someone's unhappiness by saying they brought it on themselves. This also doesn't explain why people who go to church every week are struck down with cancer. I am sorry, but they sound like truly ignorant people to me and I would not want to be part of any church that felt that way.
2007-09-09 15:16:10 · answer #1 · answered by Pangloss (Ancora Imparo) AFA 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Even my wife has told me this! Why would god make my wife and children suffer because I have not been going to church?
Some people do feel that bad things happen to bad people so that they may learn to follow God. I do not. God will in answer to prayers of others create circumstances good or bad that will lean a person to choose Him as saviour.
I have kinda fell out of beleiving and they are not making me feel any better by feeling this. Is this the way all religious people think?
No, all religious or Christian people do not think like this. The Bible clearly shows examples of OT believers being punished for their sins and blessed upon repenting. The NT clearly shows that Christians will be chastised to show that we are the sons of God. Pagans however, are left to the consequences of their own sin. That is what most people are thinking about when they talk the way your family has.
You have almost lived a life close to a guy in the Bible named Job. Job has a book all to himself. Repent and follow Jesus and the Lord may rebuke all the devourer has taken from you. God loves you and wants the best for you in eternity regardless of the costs in this life. Yet God also wants to bless you in this life too.
2007-09-09 22:27:15 · answer #2 · answered by idiot 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It may have been something you did or it may just be bad circumstance. God will not punish you because you don't go to church. That is something he will deal with on judgement day. People should not be persuaded onto going to church on a promise that you will have good things come your way. The simple fact is that if you don't turn from sin and surrender your life to God, you are in danger of hells fire. Once you do get born again and develop a close relationship with God, all the blessing that come are just an added bonus! Unfortunately your sin could have an effect on your family. Your situation sounds like way too much to be simple circumstance. It sounds like a curse of some sort. It could be a spoken curse, inner vow, or generational curse. Think about something you or someone else said or did that could have brought a curse over your finances. Sometimes when people are in need they promise God that if he brings them out of it they will tithe their income or give a great offering, but if you don't hold up your end, your in danger of a curse. Do not be discouraged and turn your back to God, this is when you need him the most! : D
2007-09-09 22:27:03 · answer #3 · answered by jojo9 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is exactly what the Lord was talking about when He said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter heaven." So, you are saying that you made fat cheese, had the cars, good wife, children, and a house with a white picket fence....then you kinda fell out of believing. Why do you even have to question what is going on here??? Typical, you want the crown, but not the cross. God has every right to do in our lives as He sees fit. He will not be mocked, or play second in our lives to anything or anyone. Scripture says that a person's judgement is greater who knows the way, but turns from it
( kinda fell out of believing ). God has not forsaken you, He loves you....and like Job in Scripture He can restore to you more than what you have lost. But that depends on the Lord and you. Your family loves you and obviously understands that there are consequences to straying from God and just plain rejecting Him. God bless you as you seek what it is you truly want.
2007-09-09 22:52:00 · answer #4 · answered by HeVn Bd 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Who knows why you lost your job? Who knows why you allowed everything to be taken away? Maybe you're depressed. God is probably not punishing you. Although there will be a day of atonement. God cares about you. You should be having communication with God, whether you go to church or not. Don't be discouraged. Turn back to God, ask forgiveness and He will forgive you. Also, look up any shelters in your area and move your family into a shelter. You will get the help you need for re-education, rent, food or whatever your family needs. God bless
2007-09-09 22:24:37 · answer #5 · answered by spiritwoman343 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I don't know your wife or her parents, so I can't judge them.
But as a Christian I don't believe in a vengeful God.
Bad things happen to every body. Not just people who don't go to church. But if you did trust in God, no matter what happens you would have some one to turn to in times of adversity. God would give you the strength and the guidance that you needed to get through it. He would even guide you in what direction you could go to make things a little better. But God doesn't promise us that we will never have problems, He just promises that He will be there with us in the time of adversity. You should read " Foot prints in the sand".
2007-09-09 22:30:08 · answer #6 · answered by jenx 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hmmmmm, ok and a wow thrown in......... this is a hard story to swallow, NOT that I do not beleive you, but for people to actualy act and talk this way.... *sigh*...... the first word that sets me off is the word religion, that word makes me nervous, and I am Christian......... I am sorry this is going on in your life...... let me see if I can shed some light here, if I may ???? Ok, first: they are refering to the mistaken idea that God is punishing you for your refusal to go to a church house and join...... second: they are NOT right in the respect that , they seem to have forgotten the Bible makes it very plain that satan is the god of this world, good, bad, ugly, pretty, etc.......... satan manipulates nature, etc., to get his work done........ third : If material things were and are so very important to them, that is the WRONG thinking for a Christian......... fourth : people get down and out at times, people need help for veriying reasons, and Jesus himself said, when we help others we are helping HIM...... NOW, on the flip side, there could be missed oportunities for blessings, because the man, according to the Bible is the spiritual head of the family...... BUT, this would also fall in your father-n-laws lap, not yours....... sorry, I could go on and on about this, but I think you get what I am saying ?? I do hope so....... go in peace........ God bless
2007-09-09 22:28:09 · answer #7 · answered by Annie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm so sorry for the things you've been going through, but please don't loose hope. You don;t say whether you are a Christian or not, but life happens to all of us. Only you would know if it's something to do with you personally or not and the family shouldn't be pointing any fingers, but praying. It's a time to draw together and put more trust in God. It is important that you lead the way because you are the leader of the your family, spiritually and otherwise. You are more vulnerable at this time because of the onslaught of bad circumstances, but just remember that there is strength in numbers and God provides for His sheep. He can and will bring you through the fire, if you totally believe and surrender to Him. God protects His own. Don't isolate yourself, but instead go to church and share your feelings, ask for prayer and support and expect God to work in your life. As for the family, just let them know it's not for them to know the mind of God concerning you. If they have no blame themselves, then they should be praying and encouraging you.
2007-09-09 22:25:59 · answer #8 · answered by Joyful Noise 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No you haven't done ANYTHING wrong. As Forrest Gump said, sh*t happens. It's just happened more frequently to you. Things will get better. If you love your wife and family and want to stay with them, then start going to church and praying. It couldn't hurt, and it will make them and your in-laws feel better. Pray for strength to get through this. Pray for peace in your heart so that you can start seeing the positive.
If you have lost your love for your wife because of this, then move on. But believe that you have the power inside you to move forward and get back on track. If you had a $100K job, then you obviously have the skills and experience that are worth that much. Lots of jobs out there - you can do it.
I will pray for you! :)
2007-09-09 22:23:12 · answer #9 · answered by alis volat propriis 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Bad things happen to good people. Eleven of twelve apostles were killed along with Jesus Himself. Many early Christians were killed, so going to church does not make things like that easier. Going to church does give you more opportunity to be with others that love God and want to serve Him. I have known of people getting very good jobs by being friends of people at church. Where I go, there is a bank president. Most of the bank officials go to church, so it did not hurt them.
God makes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust the same. He does not punish us here for not doing what we should. He leaves us here to follow Him to the end.
Job was a just man in all he did. Read Job to see what happened to him.
Cheer up, look up and pray to God for help. If you serve Him, He will help you. His help is not always for here on this earth, though.
2007-09-09 22:22:48 · answer #10 · answered by mesquiteskeetr 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
God is not punishing you. You and you alone are responsible for what happen to you. Were you saving money from that $100,000 a year job? Bad things happens to everyone, the answer: prepare, like the ants.
Don't allow others to put a quilt trip on you. God is not in a church, but in your heart. Pray.
My prayers are with you.
Said in love.
2007-09-09 22:22:55 · answer #11 · answered by Gem 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋