Spoon

[philgarris]

Hey I'll ban both of y'all just because -

And yes kiwi is on very thin ice

What part of ignore and move on is confusing????

[Cal&Ken]

Belief is not knowing. This shouldn't be that hard of a concept to grasp. I am not telling you (or anyone else) that you are wrong in your beliefs, but they are exactly that -- beliefs. You can believe that God exists and have faith that you will go to Heaven, but if you can't prove it, then it is just faith. Believing something to a fault does not make it fact. Christians know they are right. Muslims know they are right. Mormons know they are right. Jews know they are right. The list goes on. But if everyone knows that their beliefs are the one and only way to salvation, then that means someone is wrong in their beliefs. You believe you are the one that is right and everyone else is wrong. Power to you. But you don't know that. You believe it. You have faith. But you don't know. To know would make you more than human. If you can't understand that, then there's probably nothing I can say that will make you see my point.

You are correct, there is nothing you can say, and I am sorry you can't understand. I don't need to defend my position to you or anyone else- but I do hope you will know the same way I do one day.

[skilldawg]

And if suppose the question can be reversed - how do you Jesus believing people explain the torture and atrocities that a god allows to be inflicted onto innocent children. If he can magically heal then he could magically protect them as well.

Do you really seek an answer to this or you just being an antogonistic smart ass?

[Friscofan]

Yeah, tried that and it had the opposite effect. Personally, I don't know how someone could read this book and not become more convinced that all these stories are just Stone Age fables. It is only in an environment where people are socially conditioned do accept these stories that people would be likely to CHOOSE to believe them. Which also explains why different religions are and have been popular in different regions. There is a strong cultural and environmental persuasive element that keeps these belief systems alive - and there is also the fact that most would prefer not to accept their own mortality.

Interesting...I see how you can view it that way. Here's another more specific challenge. As sports fans who love our Bulldogs can appreciate a good challenge re-read the book of John in the New Testament, written by an eye witness of Jesus. Some pretty amazing claims made there. If you're interested to really know Him, Ask God to reveal Himself to you. He won't force Himself on anyone, but He does have a specific way to be saved and gives us several chances to do that. Another challenge is to read Proverbs, written by the wisest and richest man to ever live. Never thought of that as a fable, but some timeless wisdom for all areas of life. Please try it. Nothing to lose says one Bulldog fan to another!

[Cal&Ken]

Bump - just for Champion!

[dawg80]

Bump - just for Champion!

Whoa! that's a bit mean-spirited.











Love it! :icon_wink:

[Dwayne From Minden]

Y'all are going to cause his cats to go bald...

[fanfromafar]

Gay. (just to bump it up again because I love the smell of Champ's tears)

[sharky]

Lee Strobel wrote a book titled The Case for a Creator. Strobel was an atheist and his wife is a Christian. Strobel became frustrated because his wife chose to follow her convictions and worship her God. Strobel has a law degree and worked as the legal reporter for one of the large newspapers in Chicago. He set out to prove his wife wrong and that her faith was a folly. I invite both believers and non-believers to read this book. Strobel's extensive research convinced him that there is a Creator and he became a Christian.

[hambone29]

Why does God get all the glory but none of the blame? Serious question.

[johnnylightnin]

Why does God get all the glory but none of the blame? Serious question.

It's a good question. Typically, when I encounter the question, it comes from a position of one who believes Christianity to be internally inconsistent. I don't want to make assumptions, so tell me what you think. When you say God, are you speaking of the God of the bible? (other options could be the Alla, Buddha, act) And, when you say glory, what do you mean? Finally, when you say blame, what is it that you think he should be blamed for (I know that sounds loaded, but it's not…these discussions are worthless if we're not precise in our terms)?

[hambone29]

For this discussion, God of the Bible. By glory I mean credit or commendation or thanks. And by blame I mean credit as well.
When great things happen (landing a new job, giving birth to a healthy baby, winning a competition, overcoming an illness, etc.), we are to give all the credit to God. Afterall, it's his doing and his awesome plan.
But- when things don't go well (cancer, early death, natural disasters, tragedies of all sorts, etc.), God isn't held responsible. Why not?
The usual answer I get seems to be that it's all part of a bigger plan, God's master plan. Basically don't question it, just have faith... Or God wants us to turn to him for healing... Or, my personal favorite, blame all misfortunes on the devil. The latter being the easiest out. If it's good, it's God's doing. If it's bad, it must be Satan's work. Create a scapegoat and you are in the clear. Genius plan.

[Dwayne From Minden]

God is also a parent who uses to tests to grab ones attention to get one's attention - does he cause the hardships and misfortunes I don't know, but I do believe he allows them to happen...

He also promises that he will give you no more than you can handle -

The biggest misconception is that if God is good everything should be wine and roses all the time, which is the furthest thing from the truth

[Cal&Ken]

God is also a parent who uses to tests to grab ones attention to get one's attention - does he cause the hardships and misfortunes I don't know, but I do believe he allows them to happen...

He also promises that he will give you no more than you can handle -

The biggest misconception is that if God is good everything should be wine and roses all the time, which is the furthest thing from the truth

I disagree He promises that He will give you no more than you can handle. I see that quote man made all the time, but it simply isn't true. The book of Job in the Bible will certainly be proof that He does allow more than you can handle. He says He will be with you, but I believe we have all had more than we can handle at times. I also know those were the times God had the path already made for us and things went very well. I promise you though, when they tell your child has cancer, when people die, etc., that is certainly more that we by ourselves can handle. However; I can tell you that over and over and over I can see how God had things planned out and prepared us before we ever got into stressful situations. He was the one that handled them when I could not.

To answer your question Chris29, a lot of our "problems" are due to free will of man. There are so many things that would never be issues except for man's free will. Many times we expect to live like we want and expect to pray and for God to "fix it." While this may happen at times, generally, these are issues we created by doing something other than God's plan for our lives, and there are consequences to our actions.

I do not have answers for why tragic things happen, and I do believe God allows them to happen. I used to think I would ask this when I got to Heaven, but, in truth, I don't think I will care once I get there.

[Dwayne From Minden]

It's not a man made quote - it was in one of our SS lessons last month I will have to find it...

Basically can be summed up as "through Me all things are possible" and "if you have ME, I will not forsake you..."

I think Job did a pretty good job of handling everything he was given - "he did not curse God and die as his wife instructed him" but he did press on and endure and in the end he was blessed more than one can imagine