Do we judge who God is, or who people think He is based on the many people claiming to do His work? Is it because of the selfish desires and the condescending behavior of so many that claim to be acting in God's name that people draw their conclusion on who God must be? Is this part of the reason people are turned off to the idea of God or claim that He doesn't exist?
2007-12-17 02:52:01 · 22 answers · asked by plastik punk -Bottom Contributor 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes I realize I mispelled "association". I'm runnig on three hours of sleep and that is my excuse. Thanks.
2007-12-17 02:53:09 · update #1
I ask this because of the many negative opinions I see about God on here. I personally have a firm belief in Him.
2007-12-17 03:05:00 · update #2
Some of you are confirming my thoughts about this with your answers.
2007-12-17 03:22:53 · update #3
nice question to start off the week, punk [are we to assume that you had a REALLY good weekend by the 3 hrs of sleep remark?]
but, to answer your question, I think the answer must certainly be yes. Our initial knowledge and understanding of God must come from our mortal experiences as we know nothing else. Those who have been disappointed in their relationships find it hard to hope or expect differently.
As for me, part of my understanding of who God is comes from the fact that I was raised of goodly parents and therefore was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father... I understand how a child of God is precious because of the own experience I had with my earthly father, being cherished and loved. My father here, although a good and even great man, is not perfect [although he keeps working on it]. But there are some things I can rely upon my father for: support in righteousness, unconditional love, concern for my well-being, assistance when he's able, wisdom when I seek it, comfort when I'm struggling... These traits are then more easily applied to my Father in Heaven.
Conversely, I have a friend who was neglected by her father - their relationship is more marked by what is lacking. She struggles with feelings of self-worth and cannot seem to develop a relationship with her Savior or her Father in Heaven. Although she understands the theoretical doctrines of salvation and eternal life, she cannot seem to apply them here. She does not have sufficient faith in herself to manage faith in God. Her self-doubts cause her to frequently turn from completing goals -- finding that it's easier not to finish than to risk a glorious failure -- not realizing both are failures.
I have also found that the more I focus upon life eternal, the greater my understanding becomes. My weapons of my rebellion fall to the wayside as I gain glimpses of eternal purpose and fulfillment.
So, then, in the end, the lack of understaniding of the true nature of God is one of the greatest tools used by the adversary to cause the children of God to falter in their earthly quests. By not understanding the divine nature of our Father in Heaven, we cannot extrapolate the traits we have inherited and see our own eternal potential. We become bogged down in a mire of isolation, self-indulgence and self-hatred and doubt.
I apologize for the length of this answer... but it's one dear to my perspective... and I'm going to close it by going even longer. The following is the lyric of a song written by Sally DeFord, titled, "My Father's Love for Me"... it encapulates much of what I tried to say:
"The God of earth and heaven, almighty and all wise
Who rules o'er every nation from his throne amid the skies
Who grants us life and daily bread, and every perfect gift
Bids us call him "Father," and freely come to him
"And I have learned to trust his providence to know and fill my needs
As I have seen his goodness mirrored in my earthly father's deeds
"The Spirit beareth witness within the hearts of men
Teaching truth and righteousness; defending us from sin;
Comforting our sorrow; guiding us in prayer;
Calling us God's children; confirming us his heirs
"And I have learned to heed this counselor in every doubtful choice
As I have heard his gentle wisdom echoed in my father's voice
"Our Savior left his Father's throne to mark our earthly path
To lead us home, inheritors of all the Father hath
To suffer every mortal grief that man may ever know
To bear the pain of all our sin as though it were his own
"And I have learned to give my heart to him who died on Calvary
As I have felt his love reflected in my father's love for me.
"I have learned to trust the perfect love of him I cannot see
For he has given me this parable: my father's love for me. "
Any who would like to see the music or hear the song, the link follows [it's free].
http://defordmusic.com/myfathersloveforme.htm
2007-12-17 05:00:22 · answer #1 · answered by strplng warrior mom 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Can God be justly blamed for the evil done by His followers. I use "His" here intentionally, as few have committed similar atrocities on their fellow humans in the name of some goddess like Ishtar, Isis or Diana. Mankind didn't know any significant degree of evil done in the name of God until the One God, hostile, jealous and warlike and a moralistic prude came along to enslave mankind.
But there is no escaping by God the responsibility for creation. If this world was created by a divine personage, it is patently evident that the sentient beings created by this God have been treated shamefully and evil has been allowed to run amok, promises by this God broken. If God made this mess, God should take responsibility for it. And shifting the blame to Satan is no escape. God made Satan too and being omniscient would have known in advance that Satan would mess up the creation. God cannot take responsibility for the good and not the evil as well. God is the author of good and evil, pain and suffering, joy and grief. This is a good reason why the concept of a Theistic God, a God who thinks and acts as a mirror image of some human king (capricious, cruel, irrational and egotistical with an insatiable thirst for blood, worship and sacrifice) should have been eliminated from the equation years ago.
As a concept it is beyond stupid. In fact, it is transcendentally stupid. And even in this day and age we have idiots who claim that the destruction of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina and the overflowing of its levees by Lake Ponchetrain, was a punishment on the wicked inhabitants of that great city. Any God who would indiscriminately punish the good with the bad, murder the innocent with the guilty, wouldn't be a God worth worshipping. Most of the people down there who lost everything and whose lives were destroyed, were no more wicked than the demented clergymen (like Falwell or Robertson) who made this nonsensical claim and no more wicked than the average resident of any other city in the USA.
2007-12-17 03:08:17 · answer #2 · answered by Keira D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question, but Not at all!
And many people do look at the works and lifestyle of people and make assumptions, that because they are hypocrites, their GOD must be false, or a hypocrite also. But,
If that were the case, we would all be guilty of starting a spiral of events that would lead someone or something into a catastrophic event!
People work on their own will, and should not blame GOD for being selfish and condescending. If that were the case, everyone would believe in GOD in order to blame him for every wrong in their lives!
It kind of reminds me of the saying some Christians use to justify their sin:
THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT!
Yeah, Right!
2007-12-17 02:59:43 · answer #3 · answered by Janice Dickinsons' Shrink 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God is God. He is not guilty of anything. The word guilty is a word people made up. It is not proper to make judgments about anyone. People do condescending behavior because they are loosers and suck and are looking to blame someone for their weakensses. People know God thru the bible and thru His Son. People turn off as their own choice and decision and for not any particular reason except that they just feel like doing that. If there is any authentic reason why people do a deed or have a thought then when they express them we can help solve them.
2007-12-17 04:22:02 · answer #4 · answered by sophieb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think some people feel that way.... He let (fill bad incident), so he must not be (fill in applicable good virtue), so he isn't good, isn't God, doesn't exist....
It seems that a lot of people incorrectly blame God for the bad things that happen in life--
Bad things happen for one of 3 reasons...
Our own bad judgment
Someone else's bad judgment
Sh-- happens.
I've observed all three--
Whose fault is it that I dated that one jerk?....
And whose fault is it that he was a jerk?....
One of my brothers- K- he had a friend a while back that died in a car accident. The accident was in a canyon, in the winter. Nobody was speeding or going to fast for conditions, everyone was wearing seat belts. The police investigated the incident and came to the conclusion that black ice caused the accident..... Sometimes bad stuff happens because sh-- happens.
2007-12-17 06:35:44 · answer #5 · answered by Yoda's Duck 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Everybody has sin. people can claim that they are doing things for God, but the only time that what they claim is true is when it is doing good for the world. if you read the Bible, then you will see that God is nothing but good and anything else is just the devil at work. this might not have answered your question but the Bible has all the answers, go look there!
2007-12-17 03:01:15 · answer #6 · answered by Loke 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i love how most of the answers you've gotten didn't even read your explaination...
Kudos to you, that's very true, most of the people I know that don't believe, do so becuase of past issues with the church, or televangilists, or even other christians that THINK they know it all, that claim that they're better than you becuase they have God on their side... give me a break, god doesn't take sides. We're *supposed* to take his side, and then he'll back us up.
One person said that she takes her truth from the bible. That's great. :) I've always said that if it gives you peace, it is right for you. Personally, the bible never gave me peace, it gave me questions, and too many to logically answer without disproving another previously answered question.... But, that's my choice.
Basically, yes, i agree with you. good question. :) you get a star. ;)
2007-12-17 03:09:20 · answer #7 · answered by Silver Thunderbird 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man's reasoning is faulty. It is wrong for any of us to presume that because man doesn't know what he is talking about that somehow God is reflective of man's faulty reasoning. God is beyond our comprehension of perfection and if man want's to blame God for what is wrong in the world, then man is guilty of pride and failing to see his own faults and flaws. This is like the burglar falling on a toy while in the process of committing a crime and then blaming the home owner for having an unsafe house and causing his injury. The faulty laws of man have allowed criminals to get away with such faulty reasoning. God will not sanction such flawed thinking. Eventually, man will have to admit that God is and always has been right.
Man is guilty of wrong thinking, believing that they know all that they need to know and that they have no need of God interfering in their lives. Such thinking will ultimately return to convict them.
2007-12-17 05:21:34 · answer #8 · answered by rac 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, God does NOT force... man is always trying to put the blame on anyone or anything but himself. Be thankful HE made a way out for our sinful choices, HE has given us mercy, and grace... HE is the Creator, who are we to question Him? Life is good in the Lord :) Blessed Be The Name of The LORD HE Reigns
2016-05-24 08:26:45 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible there are several cheats around, speaking on His behalf with impunity. You have the capacity to understand everything. Follow your own instinct. If you feel you are a part of God (His creation) you will understand Him and evberyone else too.God be with you.
2007-12-17 03:05:13 · answer #10 · answered by pai 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Judge someone by the effects of their actions. Since God is the cause of all (with perfect knowledge), all is the effect of God, and all that happens is God's boon or fault.
2007-12-17 02:54:55 · answer #11 · answered by Skalite 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋