If my eternal salvation depends on believing in god and christ then why does he not reveal himself? Why is up to me to believe without proof? Can I assume that if he does not show himself to save my soul then he probably does not care for me?
If god does love me as much as he does then where was he at times when I was at the hospital? Or when I needed money for college? Why does he think that hell is an appropriate destination for not believing in something that I have never seen, never experienced, or ever met? If I must believe before I see then I ask you again, why doesnt he show himself to save my soul. It seems like god plays kid games with us.
That sort of stuff would never fly between humans. If your father abandoned you for 20 years then showed up out of the blue you would probably dislike him or at least not want anything to do with him. And thats considering that he did show himself, now when we talk about god, I won't learn of his existence until its too late
2007-10-09 05:57:31 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some of you will say that god has always been there, but if he was going to be there as an invisible, undetectable entity, then he should not bother showing up at all.
2007-10-09 05:58:28 · update #1
don't ask questions.
pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
...but make the check payable to "cash."
2007-10-09 06:00:40 · answer #1 · answered by kent_shakespear 7 · 0⤊ 10⤋
You have to take off the blast helmet before you can see him. The blast helmet is our sinfulness. You may want to see swans, but if your head is plunged into the lake all the time, you will never see them, even if they swim right over your head. Look in the right place, and you will find what you are looking for. This may sound presumptuous, but about eight years ago I did "see" God, or at least heaven, for about three seconds. This was after years of prayer. I thought I had seen God in a symbolic sense by studying the gospels, praying, going to church and so on, but this was something entirely different. It happened in a very unexpected way, while I was skiing of all places. Even though it only lasted for an instant, it almost blew my boots off. I don't expect you to buy my story without any proof, but at least let me assure you that
(a) God does exist
(b) he can be perceived intellectually through reading the gospels
(c) he can even be perceived directly, if you are willing to put in the prayer time and spiritual discipline
If you want to see God, you have to make an effort. How hard is it to read a chapter of the gospels every day?
2007-10-09 13:14:30 · answer #2 · answered by morkie 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
First your eternal salvation depends totally on the choices you make while you live on this earth that God created.
It is up to you because you are lucky enough to have a choice to or not to believe. You are making yourself more important than God by believing He owes you revelation when all you have to do is read how the world came to know God in the Bible it begins with "In the beginning>>please study don't take word for word each passage lots of stuff has been left out, but its the only guide to life we have that begins in the beginning so enjoy. So you are 20 yrs old? the age of reason doesn't start for most unitl 30 but you can educate yourself meanwhile.
2007-10-09 13:11:58 · answer #3 · answered by Neptune2bsure 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Bible says, "When you seek the Lord your God with ALL YOUR HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH , He will be found by you. I have a question- since you used the analogy of a father that abandoned you and came back after 20 years, how was your relationship with your earthy dad? Sometimes people cannot "see" the goodness of the Lord due to the fact that they compare Him with there earthly father. You would not be asking this question if God was not seeking you out- trust Jesus for salvation and your faith will bring you sight.
2007-10-09 13:15:40 · answer #4 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
God has been in the business of revealing himself these past 6,000 years. He's still doing it. The proof is there for those with eyes to see and ears to hear. The reason why you are fulminating against him is that a spiritual corpse needs to be brought to life before it can see and hear. God raises the dead to life. Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones shows he does it spiritually. Jesus' resurrection from the grave shows he does it literally as well. Hundreds of people saw him alive after he'd died. Is that not good enough for you? Why does all the evidence have to revolve around you? Are you more important than Jesus, who died in order that you could be saved? Do you not realise God in Christ took your place on the cross, paying the price for your sin?
God is not unreasonable. Yes, he asks for commitment before 'proof', but he gives anyone lacking faith the faith they need to commit! You just have to ask him for it (sincerely, of course). In one sense it's incredibly easy. In another, it's the hardest thing in the universe. The only one playing games with you is Satan because he is a deceiver. He puts doubts into your mind and, because you are still spiritually dead, he's confident you will never be able to rouse yourself to spiritual life. Well, you wouldn't be able to, except for God's undeserved kindness. God is so close to you, you'll be astonished when you waken up to it! Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and he will raise you up. Many Christians are praying for you. Let us know when the miracle happens!
2007-10-09 14:15:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
God has always been there. No you can not see him as you would see another, but just look around you at nature and all the wonders of the world. Without God none of us would be here. God does let himself be known and seen, but you must beleive in him.
When you were in the hospital God was with you loving you. If he wasn't then (assuming it was you in the hospital) you would never had made it out of the hospital.
You can't see air, so does that mean you don't beleive in that either?
2007-10-09 13:12:12 · answer #6 · answered by Tennesseemom 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I honestly do not know what people have against God. They have not seen the 'big-bang' and yet they believe in it. They were not there when the Neanderthals walked the earth and yet people believe that these creatures were quasi-humans. The have never seen neutrinos and black holes and yet they believe that these things exist. In my life I have seen God manifest Himself many times through his words and yet people doubt his existence. The fact that the government may abandon you, refuse to fund your education, send you to corrective institution [or jail] and generally make life difficult for you does not preclude the existence of the government. Just as our relationship with the government dictate what we may likely get from the government, our relationship with God even in trying circumstances, determines what we receive from God.
2007-10-09 13:16:11 · answer #7 · answered by Optimist E 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You answered your own question when you said if your father showed up even after 20 years that you'd still dislike him. Wouldn't that be the same for you and God? Maybe he has shown himself, but you've just not chosen to accept it.
Anyone looking for proof of God is hard pressed to find it, unless you look at the drug or alcohol addict who cleaned himself up using his faith in God, or the work of the thousands of missionaries who try to find homes for the homeless, or in the faces of the hundreds of police and firemen who went up into the Twin Towers to rescue as many people as they could on 9/11.
And maybe God was there with the nurses and doctors who took care of you while you were in the hospital and lived to tell about it to the rest of us today.
The evidence is all around. It just takes looking at things in a different perspective. Instead of wondering and complaing why God isn't in your life, ask yourself if he isn't already there, just working in ways you didn't see before?
What right do you have asking God for money for college? He gave you legs, arms, and a brain to use to find gainful employment. And hopefully some parents who were able to help out financially as well.
2007-10-09 13:08:24 · answer #8 · answered by samans442 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
God never abandons us. This world is fallen. If anyone is to blame it is satan himself.
God does not jump through hoops. He has told us that we get closer to him by our faith. He gave us independance to decide what to do with our souls.
We all have the Holy Spirit with us but we need to grow in Him. The closer we get to God, the clearer things become. Its not delusion. Its actual clarity if you can believe it.
To know God, research Him. Read the bible. Get a good teacher in Him like some Joyce Meyer DVD's or her books. You educate yourself in Him and you will S E E. It's awesome.
2007-10-09 13:09:07 · answer #9 · answered by brown eyed girl 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The Bible say,s without Faith none will see God,he is not
going to come down and show some people just because
they have to have proof,he said blessed are those who have not seen and therefore still believe.
2007-10-09 13:05:19 · answer #10 · answered by elaine 30705 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
God did reveal Himself in Jesus. If you think Jesus didn't exist it is only because you haven't read about Him in history. Nobody in the world has has such an impact on history as Jesus did.
2007-10-09 13:12:57 · answer #11 · answered by Fish <>< 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋