For the sake of argument, let's say God exists

[Inan3]

It didn't happen to me. No one answered. Much like Allah did not answer to you. You concluded that Allah is just an imagination. Now am I justified to conclude that Jesus is just imagination too?

Well, forgive me for being a little skeptical when I hear you guys ALL say that you sought God and He didn't answer you. Too many people that I know (including myself) and I have read others' testimonials who have done so and have ALWAYS received an answer sometimes even miraculous, for me to believe it just didn't happen. Soooo prefering to assume that it was somehow in the way you were seeking God or expecting to hear back that made you unsuccessful, I ask if would you not mind explaining to me what your manner of seeking was? I truly am not want to believe it is all a sham so would you mind sharing what happened to you? I'm also, hoping I can help.

 

[Inan3]

'k if you ever do want me to read another of your posts you will know what to do

That sounds a little manipulative but okay, I understand the consequences.

 

[Ar Cosc]

Well, forgive me for being a little skeptical when I hear you guys ALL say that you sought God and He didn't answer you. Too many people that I know (including myself) and I have read others' testimonials who have done so and have ALWAYS received an answer sometimes even miraculous, for me to believe it just didn't happen. Soooo prefering to assume that it was somehow in the way you were seeking God or expecting to hear back that made you unsuccessful, I ask if would you not mind explaining to me what your manner of seeking was? I truly am not want to believe it is all a sham so would you mind sharing what happened to you? I'm also, hoping I can help.

I used to pray for help and advice on everything, and I felt a little guilty about only praying when I wanted something, so I also said lots of prayers just thanking God for what I had. In 17 years of this, absolutely nothing. And when I finally rejected religion altogether, nothing changed.

 

[Cabal]

let's call it a poor design and leave it at that.

Really. I mean if this kind of argument and appeal to personal testimony is the last grand plan before the apocalypse, God really isn't serious about saving people.

 

[AV1611VET]

I used to pray for help and advice on everything, and I felt a little guilty about only praying when I wanted something, so I also said lots of prayers just thanking God for what I had.

Sounds like a winner!

In 17 years of this, absolutely nothing.

Except for what you had, right?

And when I finally rejected religion altogether, nothing changed.

What did you expect? more?

 

[Lion Hearted Man]

Except for what you had, right?

What did you expect? more?

I can't speak for Ar Cosc, but one of the things that really got me was why God should be so worried about my personal life or what is going on with me. The whole image of God wanting to have a relationship with me. Why me? Why did God specifically bless me, especially to this degree? Especially when there are millions of children dying of malnutrition and preventable disease?

I left the faith not because my prayers weren't getting answered, but rather because the prayers of the starving world weren't.

Don't you think it's silly, AV, that you think God's priorities lie in helping you and your folk with your mundane problems when you already live in mansions and are among the rich minority in this world? You have no perspective.

 

[Ar Cosc]

Except for what you had, right?


What did you expect? more?

Some of the stuff I prayed for happened, some of it didn't. No special voice in my head, none of this "personal experience" stuff, no spoken replies from God, ever. If the praying was doing anything, you'd expect me to be getting less stuff, and for there to be some sort of change in my inner thought processes and conscience. No matter how much I prayed, and how much I believed there was a God, I never felt any sort of closeness or presence of anything.

 

[AV1611VET]

I can't speak for Ar Cosc, but one of the things that really got me was why God should be so worried about my personal life or what is going on with me. The whole image of God wanting to have a relationship with me. Why me? Why did God specifically bless me, especially to this degree? Especially when there are millions of children dying of malnutrition and preventable disease?

So did David ...

Psalm 8:3 ¶ When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Psalm 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

... and it strengthened his faith.

What's your problem?

 

[Lion Hearted Man]

So did David ...

Psalm 8:3 ¶ When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Psalm 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

... and it strengthened his faith.

What's your problem?

My problem is that God is overlooking the 1.7 billion people in this world living in absolute poverty in order to tend to the needs of fat, old, rich Americans. I'm not selfish or narcissistic enough to think that's a good thing.

 

[AV1611VET]

Some of the stuff I prayed for happened, some of it didn't.

Need I remind you of the Yesnowait triad?

No special voice in my head, none of this "personal experience" stuff, no spoken replies from God, ever.

You know what they say about voices in your head, don't you?

 

[AV1611VET]

My problem is that God is overlooking the 1.7 billion people in this world living in absolute poverty in order to tend to the needs of fat, old, rich Americans.

You've got to be kidding me, right?

About 25 years years ago, at Christmastime, my pastor gave my wife and me an address of a woman who had requested help, due to being poor.

We visited her, and after talking to her, said we would be right back.

We left her house, went and bought her three bags of groceries, and I also got her a leather-bound, Scofield Reference Bible (which I considered the best at the time).

We took the groceries and Bible to her, she answered the door, and as she was taking the bags out of our hands, she said, "Don't forget [name of friend] on the corner."

You remind me of her.

I'm not selfish or narcissistic enough to think that's a good thing.

No comment.

 

[Cabal]

You've got to be kidding me, right?

About 25 years years ago, at Christmastime, my pastor gave my wife and me an address of a woman who had requested help, due to being poor.

We visited her, and after talking to her, said we would be right back.

We left her house, went and bought her three bags of groceries, and I also got her a leather-bound, Scofield Reference Bible (which I considered the best at the time).

We took the groceries and Bible to her, she answered the door, and as she was taking the bags out of our hands, she said, "Don't forget [name of friend] on the corner."

You remind me of her.

Charming.

Oh well, 1.699999999e9 more people to go.

Chop chop, Christian. I wouldn't bother asking your deity for help though, he seems profoundly disinterested.

 

[Lion Hearted Man]

You've got to be kidding me, right?

About 25 years years ago, at Christmastime, my pastor gave my wife and me an address of a woman who had requested help, due to being poor.

We visited her, and after talking to her, said we would be right back.

We left her house, went and bought her three bags of groceries, and I also got her a leather-bound, Scofield Reference Bible (which I considered the best at the time).

We took the groceries and Bible to her, she answered the door, and as she was taking the bags out of our hands, she said, "Don't forget [name of friend] on the corner."

You remind me of her.

Shouldn't God be multiplying the loaves and fish to help you out?

 

[Inan3]

The funny thing is that it is just such testimony like yours that lead me to abandon religion altogether!

I have witnessed children die of hunger. I have witnessed lynchings and acts of God that destroyed people who actually were very pious Christians. Yet you insist this invisible God loves them?
I believe that Jesus was a real person but just like the early Christians before the synod of Nice; I do not believe he is God. Also I do not believe in any God for that matter.

Hypocrites and Pharisees!

Yes, I still insist the invisible God loves them. The simplest way I can explain some of these circumstances is by the judicial system. We have all heard of cases where inidividuals were innocent or guilty and yet they did not receive a seemingly just verdict because someone did not follow the laws that were there to protect or punish them. When God created man He delivered the earth legally over to man... man in turn, unknowingly but still legally, delivered it over to satan. satan has ruled the world ever since. This world is run by his rules not God's. To remedy this God sent Jesus to take it back from satan and Jesus did just that. As far as the transfer of that authority back into the hands of man, it is only those who come through Jesus Christ who are endorsed to walk in His Name and authority on the earth and take back for themselves all that has been stolen from them by the devil.

Most men do not know anything about this, but satan does and he does all he can to KEEP it from being known.

Even in regards to those who HAVE come to Christ, many still do not know who they are, nor that they have authority over the devil and do not have to put up with what he is doing in their lives.

Over the years though, Jesus has continued to build His church and reveal these truths, therefore, today more and more Christians are walking in the authority of Jesus Christ through His Name.

It is because God DOES love those people that you mentioned above and ALL of mankind that He sent His Son. It is all written in the Word of God. It is ALL explained, and yet, people REFUSE to believe it. If you don't believe it.... If you don't come in the Name of Jesus, but try to come in your own name and do things on your own.... YOU HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHTS TO THE LIFE, HEALING, VICTORY, PROSPERITY which come from the Kingdom of God. In turn, you must settle for this world's system. satan is the god of this world, therefore those who choose this world's kingdom and it's system are subject to his rules and consequences.

The ONLY way to partake of the legal rights of the Kingdom of God is to follow it's laws.. The number one law is you MUST come through Jesus Christ. He is our ONLY ADVOCATE or LAWYER. He stands before the Judge of all and declares us righteous. Through Him we have a legal and valid right to receive vindication, renumeration, protection, standing, etc. in the Kingdom of God and AGAINST all that the god of this world would bring upon us.

The first thing Jesus preached when He began His earthly ministry was, "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand." The word REPENT has gotten a bum rap over the years. It actually means, "change your way of thinking." This world's system is designed to bring our demise and failure and ruin. Jesus was saying, "change the way you think because the Kingdom of God has now arrived and you no longer have to be bound by this present world's illegal system." That is the "good news" which is what the word "gospel" means. Jesus came to bring "good will towards men on the earth." If men or women don't take hold of it and change their way of thinking they will not partake of the goodness and love of God, even though He has done all He can to bring it to them.

On more thought on your last statement. "Hypocrites and Pharisees" were those who thought themselves BETTER than others because of their OWN laws and good deeds. I do not think myself better than any. I consider myself to be an equal to all of mankind but I have learned something, that Jesus came to give us back our authority, and now it is my ministry to tell as many as I can that it is for them AS WELL AS for me. I offer you the best that God has to offer... Jesus Christ, the author of salvation for ALL mankind. It is your's for the taking. Do you think yourself BETTER than me and millions of others who have taken the free gift of God's salvation or do you still insist on your OWN means and ways. That is your choice. God will NEVER force anyone to accept it, but I want you to know, your odds are not as good with the god of this world's system.

 

[Inan3]

Shouldn't God be multiplying the loaves and fish to help you out?

No, God has given that into our hands BUT I think what AV was trying to convey is that this woman seemed to think Christianity was responsible to take care of her and her neighbor on the corner. Yes, we are to help them out but our main objective in helping them is to not keep buying them groceries but rather to give them the message of hope that they don't need people to bring them a handout all the time. They can go to Jesus themselves and learn how to be the blessers rather than the blessees all the time.

After the loaves and fishes miracle see what Jesus said when again they came looking for Him.

Joh 6:24 The people saw that Jesus and his followers were not there now. So they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to find Jesus.
Joh 6:25 The people found Jesus on the other side of the lake. They asked him, "Teacher, when did you come here?"
Joh 6:26 He answered, "Why are you looking for me? Is it because you saw miraculous signs? The truth is, you are looking for me because you ate the bread and were satisfied.
Joh 6:27 But earthly food spoils and ruins. So don't work to get that kind of food. But work to get the food that stays good and gives you eternal life. The Son of Man will give you that food. He is the only one qualified by God the Father to give it to you."

People are always looking for a hand out but they don't want to hear the message.

 

[Cabal]

No, God has given that into our hands BUT I think what AV was trying to convey is that this woman seemed to think Christianity was responsible to take care of her and her neighbor on the corner. Yes, we are to help them out but our main objective in helping them is to not keep buying them groceries but rather to give them the message of hope that they don't need people to bring them a handout all the time. They can go to Jesus themselves and learn how to be the blessers rather than the blessees all the time.

Can they eat this "message of hope"?

 

[Greg1234]

Charming.

Oh well, 1.699999999e9 more people to go.

Chop chop, Christian. I wouldn't bother asking your deity for help though, he seems profoundly disinterested.

So do magnetic fields. If they existed, there shouldn't be people without electricity.

 

[Cabal]

So do magnetic fields. If they existed, there shouldn't be people without electricity.

I guess I missed the part where we claimed they were sentient and loved us all so huggy muggy much.

 

[Lion Hearted Man]

No, God has given that into our hands BUT I think what AV was trying to convey is that this woman seemed to think Christianity was responsible to take care of her and her neighbor on the corner. Yes, we are to help them out but our main objective in helping them is to not keep buying them groceries but rather to give them the message of hope that they don't need people to bring them a handout all the time. They can go to Jesus themselves and learn how to be the blessers rather than the blessees all the time.

After the loaves and fishes miracle see what Jesus said when again they came looking for Him.

Joh 6:24 The people saw that Jesus and his followers were not there now. So they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to find Jesus.
Joh 6:25 The people found Jesus on the other side of the lake. They asked him, "Teacher, when did you come here?"
Joh 6:26 He answered, "Why are you looking for me? Is it because you saw miraculous signs? The truth is, you are looking for me because you ate the bread and were satisfied.
Joh 6:27 But earthly food spoils and ruins. So don't work to get that kind of food. But work to get the food that stays good and gives you eternal life. The Son of Man will give you that food. He is the only one qualified by God the Father to give it to you."

People are always looking for a hand out but they don't want to hear the message.

Yeah, because this is more important for their survival than food. Is this what you'd say to a starving child in Africa? "Have hope"?

 

[Greg1234]

I guess I missed the part where we claimed they were sentient and loved us all so huggy muggy much.

No you didn't.