Did God summon one of his worshipers to Heaven?

[robtex]

"A woman attending a Christian festival died Saturday after plunging about 45 feet from a bungee-like amusement ride."

CNN Reports:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/15/bungee.death.ap/index.html

Question: Was this an act of divine intervention and was God summoning one of his worshipers to Heaven? If so, why do you think this is so, and if not, why did this woman die while worshiping and celebrating her savior, Jesus Christ?

 

[ChristineES]

It was a tragic and unfortunate accident and nothing more.

 

[Halcyon]

... and if not, why did this woman die while worshiping and celebrating her savior, Jesus Christ?

Dodgy bungie rope?

I see your point though rob, if it had gone the other way, for example if the cord had snapped and she'd survived without too serious an injury, people would be saying it was divine intervention that saved her.
It's just the age old case of - if it's good then it's of God, if it's bad then it's of man or Satan.

 

[Smoke]

Question: Was this an act of divine intervention and was God summoning one of his worshipers to Heaven? If so, why do you think this is so, and if not, why did this woman die while worshiping and celebrating her savior, Jesus Christ?

Just sounds like faulty equipment to me, though I agree with Halcyon: If she had lived, it would've been hailed as a miracle.

My great-grandfather's brother dropped dead at the communion rail during Mass. There's been some discussion over the years about whether that was a particularly ominous death, or a particularly auspicious way to go. No consensus in sight.

 

[Vassal]

"A woman attending a Christian festival died Saturday after plunging about 45 feet from a bungee-like amusement ride."

CNN Reports:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/15/bungee.death.ap/index.html

Question: Was this an act of divine intervention and was God summoning one of his worshipers to Heaven? If so, why do you think this is so, and if not, why did this woman die while worshiping and celebrating her savior, Jesus Christ?

Apparently gravity was feeling mischievous.

 

[robtex]

Dodgy bungie rope?

I see your point though rob, if it had gone the other way, for example if the cord had snapped and she'd survived without too serious an injury, people would be saying it was divine intervention that saved her.

that is exactly why I made the thread. If she had lived God wasn't ready for her to enter the kingdom of Heaven, but if she did die (which she did) wouldn't be reasonable to assume, under the same paradigm that he was ready for her in the kingdom of heaven?

It's just the age old case of - if it's good then it's of God, if it's bad then it's of man or Satan.

I wasn't bringing good or evil into it ..just does divine will chose when you to the kingdom of Heaven, and if so isn't it reasonable to assume she was summoned?

 

[robtex]

It was a tragic and unfortunate accident and nothing more.

I am confused by this answer. They were worshiping God, which from my understanding is done within his presence, spiritually speaking. If this is correct, than God either

1) summoned her to Heaven
2) just watched her die and didn't intervene
3) was unable to save his loyal follower.

It was a spiritual retreat in the presence of God as opposed to some random accident that someone was doing while not celebrating God's glory. Surely God acknowledges with love, pleasure and acceptance his follower's loyalty to him. Are you saying God wasn't there when the lady died or he was and # 2 or # 3 happened?

 

[robtex]

Apparently gravity was feeling mischievous.

gravity, according to those of faith, is a product of God's design. I think it is safe to assume that God, as the designer of the universe and everything in it, has some control over that which he designed as well as the power to intervene as positioned in from his past interventions in the bible. Are you stating gravity is more powerful than God, or that God wasn't at an spirtual event/group that promotes him as a deity and his path to salvation?

 

[Hope]

Are you stating gravity is more powerful than God, or that God wasn't at an spirtual event/group that promotes him as a deity and his path to salvation?

God is not necessarily "present" at events that claim to glorify Him. But I don't know much about this particular event, so I am in no place to judge.

 

[Smoke]

But I don't know much about this particular event, so I am in no place to judge.

Would you be, if you knew more about this particular event?

 

[slabbey06]

"A woman attending a Christian festival died Saturday after plunging about 45 feet from a bungee-like amusement ride."

CNN Reports:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/15/bungee.death.ap/index.html

Question: Was this an act of divine intervention and was God summoning one of his worshipers to Heaven? If so, why do you think this is so, and if not, why did this woman die while worshiping and celebrating her savior, Jesus Christ?

The Bible says it's appointed man once to die (Heb. 9:27). Any time a person who is saved by grace through faith dies, it's God summoning one of His worshipers Home. I personally hope the Rapture occurs before I die, but if it doesn't, I really hope the Lord calls me Home while I'm worshiping Him and not while I'm doing something stupid and sinful.

 

[robtex]

The Bible says it's appointed man once to die (Heb. 9:27). Any time a person who is saved by grace through faith dies, it's God summoning one of His worshipers Home.

If I were a Christian that is what I would think too. I would figure, God summoned her to his side for all eternity, and that is was part of his plan. That is why I am perplexed at why people who survive such accidents did so from divine intervention but those who die instead did so from natural causes as opposed to supernatural plan. That idea of if live =divine intervention (or grace of God ) but if die=natural causes is really inconsistent.

As a matter of fact, is I was the minister of that congregation I would position the event as divine will as opposed to saying "natural causes" which by implication means God was asleep at the wheel or doesn't really care if his loyal subjects live or die.

 

[ChristineES]

I am confused by this answer. They were worshiping God, which from my understanding is done within his presence, spiritually speaking. If this is correct, than God either

1) summoned her to Heaven
2) just watched her die and didn't intervene
3) was unable to save his loyal follower.

It was a spiritual retreat in the presence of God as opposed to some random accident that someone was doing while not celebrating God's glory. Surely God acknowledges with love, pleasure and acceptance his follower's loyalty to him. Are you saying God wasn't there when the lady died or he was and # 2 or # 3 happened?

Christians die every day. In accidents, of heart attacks or strokes, of cancer. Do you think that we Christians believe that God takes that away? We have to live in this world same as anyone else. If you do something dangerous, the consequences will be the same whether you are a believer or a nonbeliever.
And lastly, we are in the presence of God every day, not just during festivals and such.

 

[slabbey06]

If I were a Christian that is what I would think too. I would figure, God summoned her to his side for all eternity, and that is was part of his plan. That is why I am perplexed at why people who survive such accidents did so from divine intervention but those who die instead did so from natural causes as opposed to supernatural plan. That idea of if live =divine intervention (or grace of God ) but if die=natural causes is really inconsistent.

As a matter of fact, is I was the minister of that congregation I would position the event as divine will as opposed to saying "natural causes" which by implication means God was asleep at the wheel or doesn't really care if his loyal subjects live or die.

Good point. I believe that whether I live or die, I am the Lord's. So if I live it's because of Divine intervention and if I die it's because of Divine intervention. A couple of months ago I was in a car accident with my sister that honestly should have killed us or put us in ICU at the least. Instead, we walked away only sore for a few days. It was obvious to me that the Lord still has plans to use the life He's given me. But if He had decided to call me Home, or I had been seriously injured, that would have been just as much part of His plan for me.

 

[robtex]

Christians die every day. In accidents, of heart attacks or strokes, of cancer. Do you think that we Christians believe that God takes that away? We have to live in this world same as anyone else. If you do something dangerous, the consequences will be the same whether you are a believer or a nonbeliever.
And lastly, we are in the presence of God every day, not just during festivals and such.

but this wasn't everyday, this was a ceremony that was specifically designed to honor his glory and greatness. Symbolically it was the worst possible place (other than a church ) for that young girl to die. Theocratically speaking, it seems like a PR nightmare if you don't position it as "God's will".

Also, it wasn't any more dangerous than a carnival ride, skiing, surfing, rugby or other activities. It was much less dangerous than driving, tight rope walking and other activities. Furthermore, it is safe to assume that participant's in a church function preform things that scare them to specifically show their faith in God and his will to protect them. I can state with great confidence that most of the jumpers likely prayed to God before jumping. He answered all the others prayers by keeping them safe except for this one girl. Why? Was he pre-occupied and forgot to protect her? Was he incapable of stopping her from dying? Or was he summoning her?

If the Christian God exists and is everywhere as you just claimed, than only three explanations exist:

1) He doesn't care when/if his followers die even if they are in an event designed to glorify his name.]

2) He is incapable of intervening.

3) He purposely ended her life on earth for a divine reason.

 

[Blindinglight]

"S" happens. Nothing supernatural about it.

 

[kmkemp]

Everything that happens is the will of God. If a Christian dies, it is God summoning that person. If a Christian lives, then God wanted that person on Earth for His own purposes, whatever they may be. The same is true for non-Christians as well except that they wouldn't be entering heaven, of course.

 

[Hope]

but this wasn't everyday, this was a ceremony that was specifically designed to honor his glory and greatness. Symbolically it was the worst possible place (other than a church ) for that young girl to die. Theocratically speaking, it seems like a PR nightmare if you don't position it as "God's will".

Also, it wasn't any more dangerous than a carnival ride, skiing, surfing, rugby or other activities. It was much less dangerous than driving, tight rope walking and other activities. Furthermore, it is safe to assume that participant's in a church function preform things that scare them to specifically show their faith in God and his will to protect them. I can state with great confidence that most of the jumpers likely prayed to God before jumping. He answered all the others prayers by keeping them safe except for this one girl. Why? Was he pre-occupied and forgot to protect her? Was he incapable of stopping her from dying? Or was he summoning her?

If the Christian God exists and is everywhere as you just claimed, than only three explanations exist:

1) He doesn't care when/if his followers die even if they are in an event designed to glorify his name.]

2) He is incapable of intervening.

3) He purposely ended her life on earth for a divine reason.

My only problem with your logic Rob is that you are "humanizing" God too much. God often works in ways we, as humans with finite minds, have difficulty understanding. But I'm sure you've heard that a lot already.

Just because this lady was at a "Christian" event doesn't necessarily mean she was an actual Christian, nor does it mean she prayed before she went on that jump. Lots of Christians don't pray that much (even though we should). There could be any number of reasons God allowed her to die. No matter what, though, He's not some callous, far-off deity, who can't intervene. Nothing happens outside of His sovereignty.

The fact that God allowed someone I know to be killed during a senseless act of violence at Virginia Tech, when she was a solid Christian---and her parents weren't angry at God--- shows me that death is sometimes the greatest "compliment" God can bestow upon a Christian. She was "too good" for this world, so God took her home. Who knows if that wasn't the case for this person as well.

 

[Hope]

Would you be, if you knew more about this particular event?

Good point. No, not really. But I do know that just because something is labelled "Christian" doesn't always mean it actually glorifies and pleases God.

 

[worshiper]

i would blame the faulty ride not the divine intervention