Is this scriptural?

[we are called]

seems we're all missing the biggest one: Genesis, Noah's ark, ring a bell? God was saddened by the wickeness that he saw that he took vengance on the earth, etc etc etc. seems pretty clear to me. If the church you're looking at doesn't seem to follow basic biblical principles, it might be a church to avoid. It could also be a huge misunderstanding, and be the best place you've ever been. But I wouldn't count on that.

 

[Van]

Hi Genuine, your question is an excellent one. Does God intervene in the lives of His children to discipline them? Does God also bring about calamity to instruct sinners?
And on the other hand, are the hardships that befall us caused by God. If a baby is born blind, was the cause the sin of her parents? What does the Bible say?

 

[Jilly123]

The belief that God makes bad things happen to you when you are living outside of His will is Retribution Theology, and IMO totally cheapens the grace of God.

God can teach us in the midst of calamity, but He does not bring calamity upon us in order to teach us. He has given us the Holy Spirit for the purpose of teaching us, to guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

God is quite capable of teaching us lessons during trials, but I absolutely believe that he doesn't bring calamity upon us. Allows it to happen? Yes. Sends us calamity on purpose to teach us a lesson? No.

God can do or not do as God pleases. It is clear in many scriptures in the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament, that God disciplined his people to bring them back to him or teach them His way. Why then would it not be possible that God, in whatever form, may do the same for his people under the new covenant.

He is capable of doing it, but why wouldn't He? Because of the work of Christ on the cross. Christ's work on the cross was either a) a complete work or b) a complete fraud. We know it to be the former. Christ has taken punishment on our behalf. God is not out to get us. He is not up in Heaven with a big stick just waiting for us to mess up so He can say "Now I'm going to teach you a lesson!!". The penalty of our sins has been paid for. Any consequences we face are natural. By this I mean, if I smoke and get cancer, it's not because God is punishing me for smoking, but because I chose to put harmful pollutants in my body.

 

[God&me]

This statement was in the Statement of Faith for a church hubby and I were thinking about visiting. We decided not to visit the church after reading their Statement of Faith. Not just because of this one, but there were a few that just struck us wrong.

Anyways, just wondering if anyone else has heard of this. This is a really big church in our city. I just don't understand how a Christian can believe this and actually have read the Bible. I can think of several times where God has used illness, tradgedy, and acts of nature to teach lessons...

Just something I've never heard before...

God has given us His word, [The Bible], To Teach us.
The Holy Spirit, To Teach us
And Teachers, To Teach us.

Why would He use sickness or any kind of tradgedy.
we are living in New Testament days, Jesus come with grace, love and mercy.