A Research Milestone...
Throughout my biblical studies I've searched for an answer to the age old question: "If God cared so much about us and our problems, would he prevent such things from happening?"
Such with 9/11 coming up this month, I've done alot of soul searching. We've never had something like that happen to us in the last 10 years, so this was a dramatic wake up call for the entire nation, if not the world, to exactly what is going on in the world.
But this is a valid question in that it puts most of the blame on God for the bad things that happen in this world. Interestingly enough, this is the will of the Devil. Why? Who else would want you to turn away from God?
If you grandmother battles a disease for a very long time, suffering and coping, and then suddenly dies, that is somehow God's fault for making that happen. Alot of people, even religious leaders and icons, portray God as a hardhearted and uncaring Lord, which is the complete opposite of what the Bible actually tells us about our Lord.
Deuteronomy 7:8-10 - "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him."
James 1:13 - "When under temptation, let no one say: 'I am being tempted by God.' For with evil things God can not be tempted nor does he tempt anyone."
God is never the source of wickedness you see in the world around you. Granted, he does allow bad things to happen, but there is a big difference between allowing something to happen and causing it.
For example: Think about a wise and loving father with a grown son who is still living at home with his parents. When the son becomes rebellious and decides to leave home, his father does not stop him. The son persues a bad way of life and gets into trouble. Is the father the cause of his son's problems? No. Similarily, God has not stopped humans when they have chosen to pursue a bad course, but he is not the cause of the problems that have resulted.
Surely, then, it would be unfair to blame God for all the troubles of mankind.
This is a public entry and I wish all that have an opinion to post it. I am curious to hear your justifications.
~Matt~
Such with 9/11 coming up this month, I've done alot of soul searching. We've never had something like that happen to us in the last 10 years, so this was a dramatic wake up call for the entire nation, if not the world, to exactly what is going on in the world.
But this is a valid question in that it puts most of the blame on God for the bad things that happen in this world. Interestingly enough, this is the will of the Devil. Why? Who else would want you to turn away from God?
If you grandmother battles a disease for a very long time, suffering and coping, and then suddenly dies, that is somehow God's fault for making that happen. Alot of people, even religious leaders and icons, portray God as a hardhearted and uncaring Lord, which is the complete opposite of what the Bible actually tells us about our Lord.
Deuteronomy 7:8-10 - "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him."
James 1:13 - "When under temptation, let no one say: 'I am being tempted by God.' For with evil things God can not be tempted nor does he tempt anyone."
God is never the source of wickedness you see in the world around you. Granted, he does allow bad things to happen, but there is a big difference between allowing something to happen and causing it.
For example: Think about a wise and loving father with a grown son who is still living at home with his parents. When the son becomes rebellious and decides to leave home, his father does not stop him. The son persues a bad way of life and gets into trouble. Is the father the cause of his son's problems? No. Similarily, God has not stopped humans when they have chosen to pursue a bad course, but he is not the cause of the problems that have resulted.
Surely, then, it would be unfair to blame God for all the troubles of mankind.
This is a public entry and I wish all that have an opinion to post it. I am curious to hear your justifications.
~Matt~