in the dark

[goose5587]

I have been deployed to iraq twice and have seen and done many terrable but necissary things in order to make it home alive. But thats what I did in the infantry. But a lasting result was in effect. I dont know what to think anymore. I lost 21 friends there. Few of which were going to be fathers and never got to see their kid. I had to witness most of their last moments on earth. Why would god do that? What reason would there be? And the most peculiar thing happened. It felt better thinking that he wasnt intervening. Thinking that he hasnt intervened. Am i a bad person for believing that he hasnt done a thing since he started this mess? Am i wrong? And the fact i felt lied to and betrayed by christianity. I had time to read and study my bible in iraq. It doesnt make any sort of sence anymore. Am i going to hell for it? I havent found anyone who could answer the questions in my head. There are more than i could ever put down. I learned the hard way that the world is more violent than you know.

 

[Root of Jesse]

It's hard to know how to reply to a deist. Christians believe that God allows evil in order for a greater good to happen. "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." God allowed his only Son to die because He loves you so much.
God did not promise us paradise in our Earthly lives. He promised us Paradise in our eternal life. Our life on Earth is our test to determine if we pass into Eternal life, or eternal death.

 

[Albion]

I have been deployed to iraq twice and have seen and done many terrable but necissary things in order to make it home alive. But thats what I did in the infantry. But a lasting result was in effect. I dont know what to think anymore. I lost 21 friends there. Few of which were going to be fathers and never got to see their kid. I had to witness most of their last moments on earth. Why would god do that? What reason would there be? And the most peculiar thing happened. It felt better thinking that he wasnt intervening. Thinking that he hasnt intervened. Am i a bad person for believing that he hasnt done a thing since he started this mess? Am i wrong? And the fact i felt lied to and betrayed by christianity. I had time to read and study my bible in iraq. It doesnt make any sort of sence anymore. Am i going to hell for it? I havent found anyone who could answer the questions in my head. There are more than i could ever put down. I learned the hard way that the world is more violent than you know.

'
Goose, it's hard to know how to reply to a Deist who is unhappy because God has peformed exactly as Deism says he does and should. But this is a 'Christians Only' forum, as you see in the rules and the header, so perhaps someone on the Deist forum can help you (if there is one).

 

[hopeful321]

You experience a world with out God's Love and it is brutal. I Hope you will keep this in mind as you go forward in your walk. The 2 commands given to us by Jesus is to Love God and Love your Neighbor and Enemy. This is extreme to love your enemy when they are trying to kill you and your friends. In order to show Love you must Live and tell the next generation about Gods love,tell about your friend's love because Jesus said No greater love then to give one life. Jesus did this on the cross. Finally, Love your enemies when they will let you, otherwise you must be on your guard. This will not answer all your questions and i have not experience combat, but my father told me about his experiences with Fanatical Japanese who did suicide attacks. Life is not good without Love. There is faith Hope and Love, the greatest is Love. I can only suggest to keep loving as God through Jesus showed us. God Bless you, many time over for your service.

 

[football5680]

Why would god do something for you if you will turn your back on him. It is easy to believe in god when things are going good.

 

[hopeful321]

God want to be with his creation, that means you and me. While God wants all to be saved, you have a choice to follow or turn your back. He still stand ready to give you the gift of salvation just as one of the thief that was crucified with him in paradise. God tells us he will give us what we need, but we don't need much to live and love, just ask the monks and nuns. I struggle with what is enough time to be with him (prayer and learning) and his creation (humans,animals, nature). I settled for now with up to 10% of my waking time (about 90 minutes) a day including talking to Christians on the internet. I don't make 90 minutes everyday, but some days I am with the Lord and his creation more, sometimes less. This helps me keep things in perspective in a cruel world without love. Life is not for the faint of heart, but keep loving, living and looking for God in the creation (yes, even humans.).

 

[pshun2404]

I have been deployed to iraq twice and have seen and done many terrable but necissary things in order to make it home alive. But thats what I did in the infantry. But a lasting result was in effect. I dont know what to think anymore. I lost 21 friends there. Few of which were going to be fathers and never got to see their kid. I had to witness most of their last moments on earth. Why would god do that? What reason would there be? And the most peculiar thing happened. It felt better thinking that he wasnt intervening. Thinking that he hasnt intervened. Am i a bad person for believing that he hasnt done a thing since he started this mess? Am i wrong? And the fact i felt lied to and betrayed by christianity. I had time to read and study my bible in iraq. It doesnt make any sort of sence anymore. Am i going to hell for it? I havent found anyone who could answer the questions in my head. There are more than i could ever put down. I learned the hard way that the world is more violent than you know.

No but you are not thinking of this correctly. God did not cause it (only if you are a Calvinist and if he was correct you are right in your sentiment...it makes no sense) and God did not kill your friends. Because he did not particularly intervene to stop it (though He does some) is because man was given dominion over the earth and he in turn gave this dominion to Satan. This is why Satan could rightly and legally offer Jesus in His temptation the "kingdoms of the world" because they are truly his to offer. He has a legal right to rule and is the god of this world (where as Adam under the Lordship of God was intended to be). Man has free will and such evil is not of God but a result of the work of the devils (starting with the Serpentine person in the Garden). Satan introduced sin, sickness, and death and made it the rule of thumb here through Adam. The fruit of the tree of Knowledge in conclusion is the idea we can be a god unto ourselves and decide what is good or evil in our own eyes (always a problem as far as God was and is concerned...see all of Kings and Chronicles for many examples).

Evil people do evil things and they will be repaid...at the judgment...evil exists because of good people who have done nothing (out of fear, complacency, whatever). God is not the problem...the fallen corrupted nature of men is the problem...but God has offered a sure solution in Messiah and His finished work but who shall believe our report...

So you cannot change these evil people from making evil choices and causing the demise of the many but you can accept His solution and by one at a time the world will be changed a little more, each one until His return when He comes with His reward and with recompense.

If I tell you not to jump off the skyscraper it is not because I am bossing you around, I am telling you this because "in the day you do you shall surely die" and I love you and do not want you to die...but if you in your self will and selfish desire to be your own lord decide what is good for yourself and jump anyway, you cannot blame me for you becoming roadkill...

And if someone who loved you yelled out offering the opportunity to take advantage of a net which would save you and you refused...again you could not rightly blame that one who wanted you to take it...

The problem for all men is we all have jumped (Romans 3:23) but God has provided the net (the cross and the resurrection) but men reject God and the knowledge of God and suffer the consequence the Lord tried to spare them of...

Decisions of Sadaam or his perverse evil sons or the decisions of a G. Dub'ya do not indicate or implicate anything of God. But alas the rest of us must all suffer the effect of these choices and actions. Finally God has the power to intervene but then He would violating His own will, word, and plan...now He has at times but only on occasion and for His glory or to bring about His kingdom...as for the rest He foreknew all of this but dominion given to Adam was His will and so only by another man (the last Adam) was he able to remedy this and still remain Holy and Just.

In His name

Paul

 

[Brito]

. . . Why would god do that? .. . Am I a bad person for believing that he hasnt done a thing since he started this mess? . . .I felt lied to and betrayed by christianity. . . .

God didn't do the terrible things, man did.

He didn't start this mess, Bush and Blair did.

Christianity didn't lie to you and betray you, politicians did.

Brito.

 

[Albion]

If you've read the thread, Brito, you know that it's a "Christian only" forum. Please respect the rules.