Why does God not speak with action rather then words?

[DarkProphet]

Looking at the amount of Christian factions there are it is evident his words are not clear. So why does God not communicate his will through actions?

 

[zaksmummy]

God communicated through action when he sent Jesus to die on the cross.

The thing is that God gives us a choice; we can choose to believe or choose not to. We can read his word and choose how we worship him. We are not automatons. People of similar thinking group together - this is not peculiar to christianity, its true of all people - thats why you find clusters of people of the same nationalities together.

God made us all unique but we prefer to be in a herd!

 

[drich0150]

God spoke clearly in the OT. Look at what "we" did with very clear understanding of what God wanted from us. We turned God perfect law/will into a perverse self serving way to enslave each other. As it is now we have the freedom to serve God with what all of our Hearts, mind, Spirit and Strength will allow.

Now because we are all different this "service" will in turn look different.

 

[Noxot]

Looking at the amount of Christian factions there are it is evident his words are not clear. So why does God not communicate his will through actions?

what do you mean by "So why does God not communicate his will through actions?"

what kind of actions?

 

[christtoevo]

I had a thought the past couple days about god and the bible, maybe it would get more responses if re-phrased. Why does a god who creates, who is all powerful, who can do anything, have to use a book to find people?

 

[LOCO]

I had a thought the past couple days about god and the bible, maybe it would get more responses if re-phrased. Why does a god who creates, who is all powerful, who can do anything, have to use a book to find people?

From a Catholic viewpoint, maybe some other Christians will agree also, others may disagree. Jesus didn't leave a book. He never wrote anything down. He left his Teachings which were passed on orally.

This includes Eucharist (Bread&Wine), regular gatherings for worship and instruct (Mass/Sunday Service).

The Disciples decided what was doctrine and then passed on those teachings. If you were Jewish you only had access to Jewish Scriptures at that point, now known as the Old Testament.

The Bible as we know know it wasn't produced until 400years thereabouts after Christs death and ressurrection. With the advent of the printing press in the 15C more were able to be mass produced.

People were not converting because of a book. Most were not reading anything, Jewish Scriptures were kept at the Temple if you were Jewish you knew the Scriptures inside out and could link the Teachings to the prophecies of the OT.

The conversions that were happening in 'gentile' non Jewish lands were largely because of the preaching they were hearing, being touched by the Holy Spirit and the miracles they were witnessing. The Disciples were healing the lame and raising the dead.

Knowledge of Sacred Scripture is important but subservient to a relationship with Jesus.

Sacred Scripture (word of God) small w is always subservient to Jesus (Word of God) capital W.

Our primary focus should be on cultivating a relationship with Jesus 'the living breathing Word of God' not an inanimate object.

 

[razeontherock]

Looking at the amount of Christian factions there are it is evident his words are not clear. So why does God not communicate his will through actions?

He gave dominion to mankind. Over all the earth, and everything in it. For as long as we are alive.

Not the answer you were expecting, is it? It is the Truth though. From His POV, it was Moses who split the Red Sea ...

 

[christtoevo]

From Problem to Problem.

"Our primary focus should be on cultivating a relationship with Jesus 'the living breathing Word of God' not an inanimate object."

Some of the most sincere people on earth lose there minds trying to find GOD.
What does GOD do about that? Nothing! The Bible helps an unstable mind. why?

I really hate asking why questions when talking about the bible. just gets me in trouble and reduces any progress i was making.

 

[razeontherock]

Some of the most sincere people on earth lose there minds trying to find GOD.
What does GOD do about that? Nothing!

I don't think this is true. It is true that it is not at all uncommon to find people in mental wards who know Scripture quite well. These people made a habit of not doing what they knew. That would be ... kinda opposite of "trying to find
G-d."

Re: your observation about why questions: sometimes what we do is far more important, and yields insight far more, than what we think, ask, believe, or say.

G-d wants a seamless unity between our believior and our behavior.

 

[christtoevo]

I can understand the actions part, makes complete sense!

 

[Sketcher]

Jesus practiced what he preached consistently, so he did quite a bit of speaking with his actions while he was on Earth.

 

[LOCO]

From Problem to Problem.

"Our primary focus should be on cultivating a relationship with Jesus 'the living breathing Word of God' not an inanimate object."

Some of the most sincere people on earth lose there minds trying to find GOD.
What does GOD do about that? Nothing! The Bible helps an unstable mind. why?

I really hate asking why questions when talking about the bible. just gets me in trouble and reduces any progress i was making.

Maybe your question is pointed to Bible worshippers or Bible only Christians. Don't lump all Christians together. There are varying views on the Bible and its interpretation.

My point is that Catholic Christians believe primarily in forming a relationship with Jesus (a person) not the Bible (an inanimate object). You cannot form a relationship with a a book, maybe that is why people are losing their minds.

The Bible for Catholics is a teaching tool. It doesn't record everything Jesus said or did but it brings us closer to understanding the times and events. It records the most important events in his life.

God is always there for us, sometimes we aren't present or open to his grace. He always answers prayers, sometimes it's 'yes', sometimes it's 'no' and sometimes it's 'not yet'. Christians must accept all answers with humility and grace.

If you want to discuss the theology/reasoning about why God doesn't intervene in all cases, start another thread. You may not be satisfied with all the answers because like faith, God is a mystery and unfathomable to the human mind.

Did you read the entire posting, I never said the Bible helps an unstable mind. There are examples where it influences an already unstable mind...e.g. Messiah complex, but that is not due to the Bible it's due to the mental state of the person.

The Bible was never meant for personal interpretation.