Why have I become as I am?

[Dark Wanderer]

I am certain that a benevolent God does not exist and yet for some reason I have a strong desire to ask theists why things are as they are. Perhaps it is because of the damage that has been done to me from within. A human being is not supposed to become what I am. It is not healthy or pleasant. So I look for any answers even when I am certain that they are not there.

Let's just get straight to the point: I am a monster

I have witnessed and endured every horror that you can imagine and then some. My enemies have taken absolutely everything away from me and destroyed everything in the world that had any meaning. My enemies have destroyed everything that I had once viewed to be beautiful and precious. After a while I could no longer see the point in bearing hope, or love, or affection for ANYONE. Absolutely no point in trying to help others or make the world a better place through acts of charity and mercy. Waste of time. Oddly enough, I did not become apathetic. Perhaps apathy is a disorder that people are born with. Instead I became consumed with limitless hatred for my enemies. I hate them day and night, 24/7. I hate them so intensely that I would gladly torture them for an eternity and not care about tiring from it. I find joy in absolutely nothing but the thought of making them suffer for what they have done to everything that used to have any meaning to me. Well. almost everything. I still find meaning in vengeance and cruelty. I desire to bring bloody vengeance upon the wicked. Vengeance upon the murderers, the rapists, the thieves, the abusers, the corruptors of children. I am the walking incarnation of vengeance itself.

Whatever softness I once possessed as a former husband, former father, and former servant of humanity has been completely snuffed out. Not only do I not desire to return to that life but I despise the very idea of desiring it! I despise the very idea of wanting to love and be affectionate and be caring and kind. What is more foolish than loving the fragility and weakness of life? Why desire it when it is pointless? Why love when the enemy wins anyway?

They have taken the whole world away. You might look around and see the beauty of God's creation. I look around and see chaos and ruin.

Do you understand where I am coming from?

This may sound like the rambling of a madman but I guess you could say that I am indeed mad.

You believe that there is a loving God up there so please tell me....WHY WHY WHY do I exist?! Why do I look around and see only Hell and not one shred of evidence for God or heaven?!

 

[berachah]

The answer is that the devil has authority in you now. You are seeing what the devil would like you to see.

This may sound callous, but there is an ongoing battle for our destiny....God wants us to born again (having his Spirit within us...and that Spirit is distilled into one word.....LOVE) and the devil wants us to be possesed by him with the one overpowering emotion to be that of hate.

The 2 cannot take residence in our hearts together. They are like oil and water. We have our own will power, reasoning and decision making in between. The more our soul is exposed and yields to that which the devil is bringing against us, the greater chance there is that he will take possession of our mind and soul.

This intrusion into our lives comes in one of several ways: through others, (by what they say and do) through ourself (we can speak evil into our own destiny) and directly from the devil.

There will be no turning for you unless you begin to forgive and you will not be able to forgive what seems like great evil, on your own strength. Unfortunately you are doomed and bound in this cycle which generally results in people taking their own lives, having their lives taken by someone else or ending up in prison. (of course there are exceptions that lead an increasingly tormented life...which is hardly a life...

But there is a way out.....cry out to God like so many of us have had to do...when we have got to a place where there is no hope, is no goodness, nothing.....

I cried out for Jesus to take over my life...I committed my life to him and he began to change me from within....I started to forgive others..(not for theirt benefit, but for my own) I no longer wanted their evil (that had robbed my past) affecting my present and my future. That was the greatest battle and the greatest victory. I onlt did it by praying goodness up my enemies. Finally their evil began to lose a grip on my intellect, my perceptions, my destiny. Love began to revive......

Therefafter God started to get a greater foot hold on my life.....almost daily changing the way i perceived myself and others, the things I said, the curses I spoke over myself...they all began to recede from my existence.

Since God has done a great restoration..and not only can I live...but I have been used to share this life I have, with others who face that what I have faced.

Jesus Christ came to set man free...to bring life and life more abundant...... I hope you can take these same big steps in spite of how crazy these words might appear to you at this time..

 

[Dark Wanderer]

The answer is that the devil has authority in you now. You are seeing what the devil would like you to see.

This may sound callous, but there is an ongoing battle for our destiny....God wants us to born again (having his Spirit within us...and that Spirit is distilled into one word.....LOVE) and the devil wants us to be possesed by him with the one overpowering emotion to be that of hate.

The 2 cannot take residence in our hearts together. They are like oil and water. We have our own will power, reasoning and decision making in between. The more our soul is exposed and yields to that which the devil is bringing against us, the greater chance there is that he will take possession of our mind and soul.

This intrusion into our lives comes in one of several ways: through others, (by what they say and do) through ourself (we can speak evil into our own destiny) and directly from the devil.

There will be no turning for you unless you begin to forgive and you will not be able to forgive what seems like great evil, on your own strength. Unfortunately you are doomed and bound in this cycle which generally results in people taking their own lives, having their lives taken by someone else or ending up in prison. (of course there are exceptions that lead an increasingly tormented life...which is hardly a life...

Pretty sure that I'll be able to forgive them when they are all gone but they never perish. New generations of evil vermin are produced daily in public institutions. The power of evil is everlasting.

But there is a way out.....cry out to God like so many of us have had to do...when we have got to a place where there is no hope, is no goodness, nothing.....

I cried out for Jesus to take over my life...I committed my life to him and he began to change me from within....I started to forgive others..(not for theirt benefit, but for my own) I no longer wanted their evil (that had robbed my past) affecting my present and my future. That was the greatest battle and the greatest victory. I onlt did it by praying goodness up my enemies. Finally their evil began to lose a grip on my intellect, my perceptions, my destiny. Love began to revive......

I've cried out to God millions of times and nothing happened. Eventually I just gave up. I am to pray goodness upon enemies? Is that just some spiritual/psychological technique? It sounds similar to what the shrinks say "think positive". It all seems pointless to me if it doesn't crush the enemy. One can have all the pleasant spiritual thoughts in the world but the enemy continues to grow stronger by the minute. They grow stronger at a far faster rate when they have nothing to fear, when they are surrounded by a soft and peaceful people.

Therefafter God started to get a greater foot hold on my life.....almost daily changing the way i perceived myself and others, the things I said, the curses I spoke over myself...they all began to recede from my existence.

Since God has done a great restoration..and not only can I live...but I have been used to share this life I have, with others who face that what I have faced.

Jesus Christ came to set man free...to bring life and life more abundant...... I hope you can take these same big steps in spite of how crazy these words might appear to you at this time..

Why has he not done these things for me? I can't even imagine looking any harder for God than I already have. Even now when I'm basically certain that he isn't there, I still wait. Strange as it sounds that is how it is.

One thing I cannot wait for is for God to act. I DO NOT see him acting and I DO NOT trust him. Yes being able to trust him would change everything but that may be impossible at this point. How can I trust a God who does absolutely nothing? He doesn't even grant strength and wisdom to those who wish to protect others from destruction. They always lose to the enemy!The Bible says that he does grant these things but in reality...nothing. It just all looks like a horrible twisted game to me....

 

[Faulty]

I've cried out to God millions of times and nothing happened. Eventually I just gave up. I am to pray goodness upon enemies? Is that just some spiritual/psychological technique? It sounds similar to what the shrinks say "think positive". It all seems pointless to me if it doesn't crush the enemy. One can have all the pleasant spiritual thoughts in the world but the enemy continues to grow stronger by the minute. They grow stronger at a far faster rate when they have nothing to fear, when they are surrounded by a soft and peaceful people.

I assume it's statements like this one you are thinking of...

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you."
Luke 6:27-28
​

This is not a command to you as you don't belong to Him, but you are in this verse. He tells us to do these things because they reflect His own nature, the things He does towards us.

When we as sinners were open enemies of Him, He loved His enemies...

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us - Romans 5:8
​

While we hated Him, He took our sins upon Himself...

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness."
1 Peter 2:24
"Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father"
Gal 1:3-4
​

It's only when you are born again that you are capable of loving your enemies the way God showed His love towards us. He desires we all repent, not only turn from our sins, but knowing that we cannot deliver ourselves from our sins, but completely understanding there is freedom available only in what He did for us. These people are no longer enemies of God, but reconciled to the Father.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 5:9-11
​

 

[suzybeezy]

Giving my enemies this much power and control in my life would make me angry and miserable too! No one has an easy walk in this world, despite how it may look from the outside. But the difference is, refusing to give up, despite the challenges that come our way. The enemy is always going to come at us, he wants us to be miserable. But I refuse to give the enemy the victory. I refuse to allow anyone like that have that kind of influence in my life. Allowing the enemy to make me miserable, makes them have a position of importance in my life that I refuse to give them. Yes it can sound like mumbo jumbo, but you decide what you let in your life and how you view it. Bad things will happen, but how you react to it and handle it is up to you. Will these bad things break you, or will you find some inner strength to carry on. Its in finding that inner strength we grow and we as Christians develop our faith and relationship with the Lord. You say you don't believe but somewhere within you must still have that glimmer of hope and its that small glimmer that the Lord can use to restore you.

 

[Dark Wanderer]

I assume it's statements like this one you are thinking of...

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you."
Luke 6:27-28
​

This is not a command to you as you don't belong to Him, but you are in this verse. He tells us to do these things because they reflect His own nature, the things He does towards us.

When we as sinners were open enemies of Him, He loved His enemies...

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us - Romans 5:8
​

While we hated Him, He took our sins upon Himself...

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness."
1 Peter 2:24
"Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father"
Gal 1:3-4
​

It's only when you are born again that you are capable of loving your enemies the way God showed His love towards us. He desires we all repent, not only turn from our sins, but knowing that we cannot deliver ourselves from our sins, but completely understanding there is freedom available only in what He did for us. These people are no longer enemies of God, but reconciled to the Father.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 5:9-11
​

I suppose it makes sense when you believe that God will be victorious. It's quite a bit easier to "turn the other cheek" and what not when you have an all-powerful being on your side who will ultimately defeat the enemy for you.

I simply don't know how to believe this. The leap of faith is so enormous while the importance of the situation is equally enormous. Why would a loving God make it so difficult to believe when it is that important? Is it because I don't have the right spiritual feelings to sense his presence? It is so absurd that I am nearly certain that he isn't there at all.

 

[berachah]

I've cried out to God millions of times and nothing happened. Eventually I just gave up. I am to pray goodness upon enemies? Is that just some spiritual/psychological technique? It sounds similar to what the shrinks say "think positive". It all seems pointless to me if it doesn't crush the enemy. One can have all the pleasant spiritual thoughts in the world but the enemy continues to grow stronger by the minute. They grow stronger at a far faster rate when they have nothing to fear, when they are surrounded by a soft and peaceful people.

We are either overcome by the evil of others...their evil begins to get authority in our live and determines our actions and thoughts. Or the love us God can flow through us into the situation we face and overcome those that are against us. As strange as it sounds, love has the power to overcome evil. The greatest challenge we face is to give up on our desire for revenge and to let go of our hatred, our anger.

Jesus can understand your situation. He was a sinless man with an intimate relationship with his Father in heaven, gave up his life, to die for those that hated and persecuted him. After doing many miracles, healing, restoring lives...the same people shouted "crucify him." The mocked him, striped him naked, spat on him and killed him. At his death he said, "Father forgive them fore they know not what they do."

The Bible also says that if God could forgive us for the sins that we have committed, who are we to hold the sins of those comitted against us.

Why has he not done these things for me? I can't even imagine looking any harder for God than I already have. Even now when I'm basically certain that he isn't there, I still wait. Strange as it sounds that is how it is.

Without doubt it is God who has held your interest...He has not allowed you to turn from Him. Persoanly I believe you have to:
- forgive others
- ask God for forgiveness for your own sins
- Confess and receive Jesus Christ as Lord of your life
These are acts of faith we need to do in obedience, even if it does not make sense. Let God take over thereafter and continue what you have done in faith.

One thing I cannot wait for is for God to act. I DO NOT see him acting and I DO NOT trust him. Yes being able to trust him would change everything but that may be impossible at this point. How can I trust a God who does absolutely nothing? He doesn't even grant strength and wisdom to those who wish to protect others from destruction. They always lose to the enemy!The Bible says that he does grant these things but in reality...nothing. It just all looks like a horrible twisted game to me....

God is waiting for you to do what you can do. If you are serious about getting a breakthrough, commit your life to God. Give Him authority in your life to change what needs to be changed. Dont hold onto that which is destroying you and expect God to act. Like any relationship, it is a two way street. We do what we have the power to do (with the things we cannot do, we confess our weakness and hand it over to God to change) and God wil prove to be faithful.

Find a Spirit filled church, listen to the praise, read the Bible, do what you can do to meet God. Every act of faith and obedience helps break the yoke of the devil. Resist partaking in media or music that is filled with anger, hatred, profanity. The power of the devil will gradually recede and you will start to see a new beginning.. You are no different from the rest of us and God treats all his children with the same love.

Read the parable of the 4 soils and realize the devil will use various means to stop this joruney once you start. He does not let his children depart easily. Mix with Christians as you will need strength for the journey...that is if you truly want to see God and know his love and faithfulness.

 

[Dark Wanderer]

God is waiting for you to do what you can do. If you are serious about getting a breakthrough, commit your life to God. Give Him authority in your life to change what needs to be changed. Dont hold onto that which is destroying you and expect God to act. Like any relationship, it is a two way street. We do what we have the power to do (with the things we cannot do, we confess our weakness and hand it over to God to change) and God wil prove to be faithful.

Find a Spirit filled church, listen to the praise, read the Bible, do what you can do to meet God. Every act of faith and obedience helps break the yoke of the devil. Resist partaking in media or music that is filled with anger, hatred, profanity. The power of the devil will gradually recede and you will start to see a new beginning.. You are no different from the rest of us and God treats all his children with the same love.

Read the parable of the 4 soils and realize the devil will use various means to stop this joruney once you start. He does not let his children depart easily. Mix with Christians as you will need strength for the journey...that is if you truly want to see God and know his love and faithfulness.

Well there is one situation in particular that's REALLY making all that hard to believe. I have seen how the enemy corrupts the minds and souls of the young. I have seen the total triumph of evil against budding life. They teach the young that evil is good and that true love is loving evil. The kids never snap out of it! The vast majority of the brainwashing victims take their insanity to the grave with them.

So it looks to me that evil has already obtained lasting and perfect victory over large sections of humanity. All that remains is people like me to make em pay for it.

How did this happen? I received the same brainwashing as a child but my own imaginative abilities eventually set me free from it. Why does God make some children clever enough to sift through the garbage and others too unimaginative to comprehend anything that isn't drilled into their skulls from the outside? Is it because he hates them and planned them for destruction from the beginning? Does this mean that my enemies are not people but instead defective vermin born from Hell?

 

[bling]

How did this happen? I received the same brainwashing as a child but my own imaginative abilities eventually set me free from it. Why does God make some children clever enough to sift through the garbage and others too unimaginative to comprehend anything that isn't drilled into their skulls from the outside? Is it because he hates them and planned them for destruction from the beginning? Does this mean that my enemies are not people but instead defective vermin born from Hell?

We all want a Garden of Eden type situation with no pain, on death, no needy people, everything provided and God to directly talk with.

The problem with the Garden situation it is the worst/impossible situation for humans to fulfill their earthly objective.

The best situation is the one we find ourselves in today, lots of opportunities: tragedies of all kinds, satan running around, death, hell and people sinning. So do not “blame” God for this situation since it is the best he could make it to help willing individuals to fulfill their objectives.

 

[Dark Wanderer]

We all want a Garden of Eden type situation with no pain, on death, no needy people, everything provided and God to directly talk with.

The problem with the Garden situation it is the worst/impossible situation for humans to fulfill their earthly objective.

The best situation is the one we find ourselves in today, lots of opportunities: tragedies of all kinds, satan running around, death, hell and people sinning. So do not “blame” God for this situation since it is the best he could make it to help willing individuals to fulfill their objectives.

pain, death, and needy people isn't an issue IF God and heaven existed. Thing is, corruption is much MUCH worse than pain, death, and being needy. Christ can remove pain, death, and need...but corruption is the perfect murder because it removes everything that was once good in that person forever. Though I suppose it is a little bit like all of those things but it is magnified to the point where it utterly destroys a person's "soul", making them irredeemable. The joyful little child in them was murdered by the power of evil and snuffed out forever. The power of that evil is so great that not even your God has promised to bring that little child back. The child is snuffed out forever, leaving only the slimely narcissistic shells that plod around us every day. This is why I would find it so easy to torture and kill them.

This is the reason why I know that a benevolent God does not exist. Because he has already lost to the power of stupidity and evil.

Yes I do believe that much of humanity is irredeemable and that there is no rhyme or reason for any of this. So these individuals face every form of annihilation because they were unfortunate enough to be cursed with a defective brain and also surrounded by evil every minute of their lives. Then they face final annihilation because believers weren't fast enough in the race or clever enough to make them understand the reality of themselves.

How does this not look like a sick and hopeless game to you?

 

[Ark100]

OP, you need to start trusting in God again.
You can't really get anything from someone you are cynical and judgemental about. I don't mean it in a harsh way but to really see the goodness of God and to start seeing healing from within, you have to throw out your current mentality or at least be willing to set it aside and TRUST God for once.
From you posts, its clear that the enemy has taken control and has firm authority over you and your thoughts. He has some rights to because you have given it to him.
You need The Lord to break out of this before it destroys you.
One thing the enemy is good at is destroying people. he came to steal, to kill and to destroy but The Lord came to save, redeem and deliver HIS CHILDREN.
Those who believe and trust in Him.
Accept the Lord as your Saviour, confess your sins to Him, be humble, go to him with genuine heart and pour out your heart to Him.
You need a christian, a strong one as a mentor, be it a pastor or prayer warriors to pray alongside you.
You need to do some work. The Lord is at the door of your heart knocking, you have to let Him in to help you.
He will help you get through this if you surrender all to Him. You may have lost a lot, or have gone through a lot, but always remember for those who are still alive, all hope is not lost.
The Lord does not do evil to any of His children, the enemy does the evil, and he sneaks in when people are happy and feeling good about life.
That is why for Christians, we have to put on our full armor of God on. Christ did not say it would be easy, the world is a battle field. The enemy has limited authority and power here, and he roars about, looking for whom to devour. He will entirely devour anyone who is easy target for him, and he is merciless.

Jesus Christ saves, He redeems, He breaks bondages, He delivers, He sets free from the bondages of darkness. He can help you if you will let Him.
Before you cry out to Him, you need to give your life to Him all over again, confess your sins to Him, and ask Him into your life. Ask Him to send His Holy Spirit into you to dwell in you and help you.

You can do it, don't blame God, don't accuse Him, don't say He wont listen or won't help, because its not true. He will. He knows what you are going through
He wants to help, but you have to give Him absolute and total control.

Goodluck

 

[bling]

pain, death, and needy people isn't an issue IF God and heaven existed. Thing is, corruption is much MUCH worse than pain, death, and being needy. Christ can remove pain, death, and need...but corruption is the perfect murder because it removes everything that was once good in that person forever. Though I suppose it is a little bit like all of those things but it is magnified to the point where it utterly destroys a person's "soul", making them irredeemable. The joyful little child in them was murdered by the power of evil and snuffed out forever. The power of that evil is so great that not even your God has promised to bring that little child back. The child is snuffed out forever, leaving only the slimely narcissistic shells that plod around us every day. This is why I would find it so easy to torture and kill them.

This is the reason why I know that a benevolent God does not exist. Because he has already lost to the power of stupidity and evil.

Yes I do believe that much of humanity is irredeemable and that there is no rhyme or reason for any of this. So these individuals face every form of annihilation because they were unfortunate enough to be cursed with a defective brain and also surrounded by evil every minute of their lives. Then they face final annihilation because believers weren't fast enough in the race or clever enough to make them understand the reality of themselves.

How does this not look like a sick and hopeless game to you?

It sounds like you have not see Christ living in a true Christian?

How much “worse” has the world gotten than when Christ walked the earth?

If a person wants to truly be like Christ and be seen as a “Christ like person”, it has to be on the stage of a evil, sick, troubled world or you will not notice the Christ among the masses. How can unconditional Love be seen and experienced without the contrast of the worst situation?

If the world has not gotten better then we can expect it to act like it did in the first century, but fortunately this place is not our home. This place is the best place for us to desire Godly type Love, humbly accept Godly type Love (because we really need it), show others Godly type Love, see Godly type Love (it is a huge contrast to what is going on) and obtain Godly type Love (just turn toward God).

 

[brinny]

I am certain that a benevolent God does not exist and yet for some reason I have a strong desire to ask theists why things are as they are. Perhaps it is because of the damage that has been done to me from within. A human being is not supposed to become what I am. It is not healthy or pleasant. So I look for any answers even when I am certain that they are not there.

Let's just get straight to the point: I am a monster

I have witnessed and endured every horror that you can imagine and then some. My enemies have taken absolutely everything away from me and destroyed everything in the world that had any meaning. My enemies have destroyed everything that I had once viewed to be beautiful and precious. After a while I could no longer see the point in bearing hope, or love, or affection for ANYONE. Absolutely no point in trying to help others or make the world a better place through acts of charity and mercy. Waste of time. Oddly enough, I did not become apathetic. Perhaps apathy is a disorder that people are born with. Instead I became consumed with limitless hatred for my enemies. I hate them day and night, 24/7. I hate them so intensely that I would gladly torture them for an eternity and not care about tiring from it. I find joy in absolutely nothing but the thought of making them suffer for what they have done to everything that used to have any meaning to me. Well. almost everything. I still find meaning in vengeance and cruelty. I desire to bring bloody vengeance upon the wicked. Vengeance upon the murderers, the rapists, the thieves, the abusers, the corruptors of children. I am the walking incarnation of vengeance itself.

Whatever softness I once possessed as a former husband, former father, and former servant of humanity has been completely snuffed out. Not only do I not desire to return to that life but I despise the very idea of desiring it! I despise the very idea of wanting to love and be affectionate and be caring and kind. What is more foolish than loving the fragility and weakness of life? Why desire it when it is pointless? Why love when the enemy wins anyway?

They have taken the whole world away. You might look around and see the beauty of God's creation. I look around and see chaos and ruin.

Do you understand where I am coming from?

This may sound like the rambling of a madman but I guess you could say that I am indeed mad.

You believe that there is a loving God up there so please tell me....WHY WHY WHY do I exist?! Why do I look around and see only Hell and not one shred of evidence for God or heaven?!

my question to you is why ask these questions? is there a smidgen of a part of you buried deep inside that seeks answers in the hope that there are alternatives to being as you said, a monster?

 

[paul1149]

I've cried out to God millions of times and nothing happened. Eventually I just gave up.

It may be that instead of crying out, you need to simply approach Him and surrender. Confess that you are powerless to change yourself, and that you need Him to do it in you. Be willing to allow Him to be Lord of your heart. This doesn't have to be loud or emotional at all, though it can be. The essential thing is the surrender, and it can be done in the soft silent language of the heart.

You do realize that the anger and unforgiveness you harbor will eventually destroy you? Science has proven as much. Whatever happened to you, the destruction continues in real time until you break the cycle. And that breaking happens through the power of forgiveness.

Take a look at this wonderful invitation from Jesus:

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” -Matt 11:25-30​

You see how simple it really is? A child could do it. In fact, only a childlike heart can do it. But if you feel that excludes you, that you never could be so simple of heart, He's still got you covered. All He requires is a sincere effort, such as, "I believe; help Thou my unbelief!!", and He will respond. That is His word, which He died in such a cruel fashion to uphold. You can count on it.

In forgiving those who did not deserve it - that is, us - Jesus reversed the spiritual grid. Now, in Him we gain the power to do the same. Simply put, Jesus' unconditional love gives us eternal life, and the power of sin and death no longer reigns over us. And that is evidenced by the inability of unforgiveness to keep us bound any longer. This is why whom the Son sets free, is free indeed.

 

[candle glow]

I've heard it argued before that if God created everything, then that must include evil, too. Well, yeah, if he created everything, then that must include evil.

But, rather than something to blame God over, I think it may be more helpful to see it as an integral part of what it means to develop real character. Evil exists so that we have something NOT to choose.

Yeah, it sucks that so much pain and suffering happens, but there is a difference between allowing something to happen, and causing it to happen. That difference probably means zilch to those who are on the receiving end of the suffering, but that, too, is a part of what it means to develop character.

Jesus never argued with Satan's claims that he could give him (Jesus) rule over the world if only he would bow to him. Jesus also referred to Satan as the "prince of this world".

So, yeah, Satan has been given permission to cause all kinds of problems, "The wicked" always seem to win.

But on the other hand, that is the nature of goodness, that no matter how much wickedness happens, good cannot be killed. We are the "salt" of the Earth. Salt preserves, and that is our job, to preserve goodness no matter what.

The more severe the pain and hardship, the more brightly the light shines when we do not give in to hatred and fear. There are many teachings in the gospels and the NT as whole, showing that there is something more important, something much bigger than our lives.

But, even without some lofty theology about eternal life after we die, we can still understand what a "vicious cycle" is. The answer to pain, violence and misery is not more pain, violence and misery, even if seems to accomplish some sort of justice in the short term.

Real revolution works on revolutionary principles. Instead of hitting back, we turn the other cheek. Instead of seeking to gain more, we seek to live on less. Instead of being masters, we become servants. Instead of trying to save our lives, we seek to lose them, instead of taking the highest seat, we seek the lowest, instead of walking the required one mile, we walk two etc...

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Hi,

with out God we do become debase, I went through periods of life where I hated people and God, I can't say I ever really wanted to kill any one or anything, but I was certainly very angry, selfish and bitter. To my advantage God rescued me from these feelings of hopelessness and made me aware of his love and care for me as an individual. Since then I have experienced many encounters with God, real experiences that prove to me beyond a doubt that God is real. I have included a link to my personal website which explores these issues, and records my experiences with God. If you are looking for a real God then the link will help. Visit Know God Personally

 

[berachah]

pain, death, and needy people isn't an issue IF God and heaven existed. Thing is, corruption is much MUCH worse than pain, death, and being needy. Christ can remove pain, death, and need...but corruption is the perfect murder because it removes everything that was once good in that person forever. Though I suppose it is a little bit like all of those things but it is magnified to the point where it utterly destroys a person's "soul", making them irredeemable. The joyful little child in them was murdered by the power of evil and snuffed out forever. The power of that evil is so great that not even your God has promised to bring that little child back. The child is snuffed out forever, leaving only the slimely narcissistic shells that plod around us every day. This is why I would find it so easy to torture and kill them.

This is the reason why I know that a benevolent God does not exist. Because he has already lost to the power of stupidity and evil.

Yes I do believe that much of humanity is irredeemable and that there is no rhyme or reason for any of this. So these individuals face every form of annihilation because they were unfortunate enough to be cursed with a defective brain and also surrounded by evil every minute of their lives. Then they face final annihilation because believers weren't fast enough in the race or clever enough to make them understand the reality of themselves.

How does this not look like a sick and hopeless game to you?

do yourself a favour and look for Henry Wright's website. he has a small booklet called bitterness which will cost a few $$. I think it would be very beneficial for you to get another perspective on these issues.