There exists evidence of things I haven't 'seen', and I still believe... Many claimed countries, air, other galaxies, black holes, the existence of claimed people I've never met, my great great great grand parents, insect species, atoms, gravity, etc... The question becomes, why do I believe these unseen things exist, and not God?
Sir you cannot compare your faith in God to your faith in Australia or your great great grandmother. Several hundred years ago a man saw an apple fall and decided to call it gravity. Then the world said "Okay sure", accepted it as reality, and came up with formulas and equations to better understand it. Truth is we know NOTHING ABOUT GRAVITY STILL, only how to think about it.
Sounds like a rather impotent God then really?
God is not a stone-hearted king sitting far far away on his giant throne in outer space. Was God impotent when he chose to manifest Himself as a low-class carpenter from Nazareth? The Jews thought so! They were expecting a MESSIAH. Was God impotent when he allowed this low-class carpenter to be spat on, kicked, pierced, and CRUCIFIED? They sure thought so! (Matthew 27:42)
The root of your disappointment is your expectations of a fantasy Messiah showing up when really God is found in the least expected places of your life-- outside of prayer, outside of church, outside of Christian Forums!
You know this because????????
Because that is where
I found him, brother! I remember feeling crushed after church every week because everyone else was hands raised, on their knees, eyes closed looking like they had been POSSESSED by the Holy Spirit. I said "Why not me too, God?" I surrendered my expectations of what God was suppose to feel and look like and I started seeing Him clearly in my mother's love, in the innocence of children, in music, sunsets, laughter, friendships, kindness from strangers. I don't know your life but I really hope you don't have to squint, tilt your head, or really concentrate, to think of similar experiences.
This makes no sense. What about still-borns, infants, small children, the ones whom never hear of Jesus, the mentally handicapped, humans with Down's syndrome, earnest and heart-felt death bed confessions/conversions, etc. They cannot, or did not, 'prepare' before their deaths.
And furthermore, what exactly are they 'preparing' for? Once you cross the threshold, from earth to heaven, you are no longer you anyways... All humans will perpetually sin, until natural death. In heaven, you apparently have no more desire for sin; you are perpetually happy and filled with bliss. Otherwise, why call it 'heaven'?
Not sure where you conjured up this argument. What was it that I said gave you the impression God has something against still-borns, infants, children, mentally handicapped, etc etc??? Quite the opposite.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. -- Matthew 5:3-10
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. -- Matthew 20:16
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' -- Matthew 25:40
A. Then God will not hold it against me for being a skeptic.
B. I do not need to prepare for God's contact; for as the Bible also states "and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
C. And again, why prepare? See above...
A. He will not. I hope you are living your best life as a skeptic.
B. No one can force you to. Like you said, I cannot force you to love someone. Likewise nothing could force me to love and listen to my mother when I was a teenager. It was only years later that I realized the depth of her affection, which then began to transform me. I will probably never fully know the depth of her affection until I have children of my own one day.
C. If I could go back to my teenage self and say "STOP. LOVE YOURSELF AND LOVE YOUR MOM." I totally would, would have saved myself a lot of heartbreak.
And second of all, heaven then also looks to resemble the military; earned ranks, metals of valor... Except, in heaven, you wear them forever?
I do not know what Heaven will be like, cvanwey. Why don't you stop creating disappointment for yourself by dropping the expectations.
And in regards to your response, if grace is bestowed upon all, I guess you will ultimately see every human in heaven anyways. If not sooner, than later... Maybe just with less 'badges' of honor? And since eternity is a long time, in the grand scheme of things, I guess it really makes no difference. Hence, why should anyone care what the Bible says? Just live your life. If THIS version of God truly exists, He's going to take you, 'purify' you where applicable, and then you will end up in the same realm as all the ones whom spent their entire life's on earth following a specific creed or code.
Yes cvanwey, live your life... to the fullest! That is really what God wants (John 10:10).
But I again ask you, for which you already acknowledged and concurred; but I have to bring it up again, as it is relevant here.... Millions and millions of Christians believe hell is eternal. God does not even want to correct them. And yet, many state they speak to God directly. You would think, in some of those conversations, God might reveal to them, that all are saved (eventually). And that hell is not eternal for the humans whom inhabit this specific realm.
But as you stated, 'God works in mysterious ways.'
And furthermore, what 'loving God' would put such humans through such a process, if they are going to ultimately end up where He wants them anyways?
And further still, what sort of 'loving God', would set back, and watch it all happen, knowing with infallible certainty, exactly the way it was going to go down? In the end, they all end up in heaven anyways. What does the human gain, after being in heaven? Do humans sit around, and compare stories of what God put them through before they got there?
Yes, God truly does work in mysterious ways!
The idea of hell is detestable to me so God chose to speak to me in a different language. There are some that find the idea of 'everyone's in' to be detestable so God speaks
their language. The Father knows each child's language. In the end, when we are all grown up in Heaven, we will all sit around laughing about how immature we all were.
Please look at my responses in a
differing light
- What can you do for me? In this thread, demonstrate/affirm the conflict within the Bible. You have already fulfilled this request. And I thank you for this....
- By catalyst, I'm stating I searched for God for decades. Not once do I feel I received anything for which I could not just as well chalk up to standard naturalist daily phenomenon.
- What 'evidence' specifically have I been given, and should follow, for God?
- The title of the thread demonstrates how we have absolutely no unity among the believers AND non-believers. When you read the pages of the Bible, we have a multitude of 'confirmed' renditions. You are a testament to this; and a contributor.
And no, belief is not a choice
Otherwise, simply WILL yourself to believe the opposite of something you currently truly belief, without
reason.
You -past tense-
searched for God or are you still searching for God? I am happy to do my part in discipling others and I'm sorry if I've misinterpreted your responses, but if this is going to continue as an argument of whether God is confusing or not then I believe I've submitted. God being confusing is not a reason for you to not try. Gravity is confusing but I don't reject the idea of it.