Is God using Covid 19 to get our attention ?

[Windwalker]

I think its fantastic that people are listening to youtube instead of paid ministry. Its not optimal but an improvement in my opinion.

Right now and for the last...several centuries churches could ignore social problems by having the ministers remain silent about them, and those ministers would, in turn, shush anybody who wanted to make a sound. I commented on another thread that due to this virus and lockdown status I think its fantastic Christians are experiencing life without weekly getting ears scratched by paid clergy.

That would explain why they are making such a huge deal of social distancing keeping them from their "constitutional rights of free assembly", even during a pandemic. If the folks don't come in for their weekly indoctrination session, they might begin to see reality and realize they've been glamored by the preacher man.

 

[Brickjectivity]

That would explain why they are making such a huge deal of social distancing keeping them from their "constitutional rights of free assembly", even during a pandemic. If the folks don't come in for their weekly indoctrination session, they might begin to see reality and realize they've been glamored by the preacher man.

Some people might even church shop! Wouldn't that just be crazy!

 

[Hawkins]

I was watching some videos on the YouTube, were Justin Brierley, (Unbelievable: host on Premier Christian radio) interviews the British evangelist J John about the current epidemic of Covid 19. At 10.39 minutes in, J John says, 'Many of us are trying to get Gods attention but I think Gods trying to get our attention.' Various other christian leaders in the evangelical soup have echoed the same theme, suggesting that this Covid 19 is Gods rather grim way of getting the attention of believers and I assume non believers. What do you think? Is it really possible that an omniscient God needs to drop the bar so low to get his creations attention?

It's not about attention. Covid-19 has the effect for humans to do themselves a review on how weak and unprepared they are. Some will turn to God under that circumstance. God counts souls, not attentions.

 

[Windwalker]

Some people might even church shop! Wouldn't that just be crazy!

You should see the concerns being expressed over on PastorsPanicking.org.

 

[Brickjectivity]

You should see the concerns being expressed over on PastorsPanicking.org.

I'm going there immediately. You'd better not be pranking me.

 

[Riders]

I don't believe God is like that. However if this bug is being used by folks who become nicer kinder and more patient giving because of it what's wrong with some positive changes? Theres more attention being given to our older folks whom in our society need it with the neglect in some nursing homes, we are now hearing more about it is that not a good thing?

 

[Kenny]

I think its fantastic that people are listening to youtube instead of paid ministry. Its not optimal but an improvement in my opinion.

Right now and for the last...several centuries churches could ignore social problems by having the ministers remain silent about them, and those ministers would, in turn, shush anybody who wanted to make a sound. I commented on another thread that due to this virus and lockdown status I think its fantastic Christians are experiencing life without weekly getting ears scratched by paid clergy.

 

[Twilight Hue]

That would explain why they are making such a huge deal of social distancing keeping them from their "constitutional rights of free assembly", even during a pandemic. If the folks don't come in for their weekly indoctrination session, they might begin to see reality and realize they've been glamored by the preacher man.

I would say a few days out from the rose-colored world and stained glass windows would be a breath of fresh air. ;0)

 

[Windwalker]

I would say a few days out from the rose-colored world and stained glass windows would be a breath of fresh air. ;0)

Indeed. Now you understand why they are inventing a constitutional crisis where none actually exists? They're trying to get the flocks back under their mesmerizing controls.

 

[1213]

...What do you think? Is it really possible that an omniscient God needs to drop the bar so low to get his creations attention?

If this is real epidemic and not fake, I believe it is developed by men to get more power for world rulers and to take away freedoms and rights of people. But, I believe it is possible that God could send diseases to wake people up, but in that case, I don’t think it could be used by rulers to get more power, it more likely would hit the rulers.

 

[Agent]

Rev.16
[1] And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
[2] And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
[3] And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.
[4] And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.
[5] And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
[6] For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
[7] And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
[8] And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
[9] And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
Rev 16

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Is God using Covid 19 to get our attention ?

No.

 

[Muffled]

I was watching some videos on the YouTube, were Justin Brierley, (Unbelievable: host on Premier Christian radio) interviews the British evangelist J John about the current epidemic of Covid 19. At 10.39 minutes in, J John says, 'Many of us are trying to get Gods attention but I think Gods trying to get our attention.' Various other christian leaders in the evangelical soup have echoed the same theme, suggesting that this Covid 19 is Gods rather grim way of getting the attention of believers and I assume non believers. What do you think? Is it really possible that an omniscient God needs to drop the bar so low to get his creations attention?

I haven't heard anything from Him to that affect. What I am getting is that God is taking vengeance for all those babies that have been aborted.

 

[Muffled]

If you read and understand the Bible, you would likely realize that evangelist merely say what they think will get ignorant people's attention, and, or because they themselves are ignorant of God's ways. In other words, they don't know the Bible, and in many cases, they don't care what the Bible says. Tickling ears, and getting money from the spiritually poor, is their only concern.
Some people are waking up though... Sadly, others think their money is in good hands, since they think they can "buy God's favor".

I tend to think such a blanket statement lacks merit. I believe there are evangelists who know the Bible and preach it.

 

[Muffled]

As presented... I think that is a very "religious" approach in violation to scripture.

James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

John 10:10 King James Version (KJV)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Certainly, in the midst of evil, He tries to get our attention... but trying to get our attention to heal and deliver.

I believe then there is the cross. No greater effort has ever been made to get our attention.

 

[Kenny]

I believe then there is the cross. No greater effort has ever been made to get our attention.

So beautifully said.

 

[R T Writes]

One would expect that if an omniscient God needed or wanted to get his creation's attention, he would devise a way so ingenious that it would immediately poduce the intended result. I'm currently not giving any special thought to an hypothetical deity nor do I believe there is such a deity in the first place. If this is a divine device to catch the attention of all his creation, either I'm not part of this creation or this deity failed and thus isn't omniscient.

Everyone supposes the creator to be a 'deity'. The concept of deity is ancient and primitive. God is not a deity. God is the ever living consciousness that created what is. "God" is love. The source of all life. God does not require worship, which too is a concept that ancient people created to venerate any personification of the forces of nature and its phenomena. Phenomena which were mysterious and often fearful. Seasonal change, drought, earthquakes, fire,etc. This is clearly illustrated in the story of the Hebrews who attributed the ten plagues to their deity.

"God", the Hebrew concept that was merged with the Christian concept, was worshipped no differently than the pagan gods and the idea of the singular god of the Hebrews was as to character no different than the multitude of pagan gods. Christians followed through with their concept of worship of "God" in similar manner as the pagans and attributed every possible consequence of life on earth to their deity's whim. Today, despite advances in scientific knowledge about the physical world what is supposed to be mysterious, and unexplainable is attributed to God. Hence all the questions about 'why Covid-19). The same behavior and belief patterns persist among human beings today because they do not recognize what God really is, and because they continue to suppose that God is a jealous and judgmental dictator, or 'deity' whose authority is not to be questioned without consequence.

But if you understand that what is called "God" is love, alive, conscious and benevolent, you can follow with simple questions like "What does love do? What doesn't love do? What is love like and what is love not like." The answers to these simple questions will tell you that is indeed God is love. God does what love does. Love does not condemn or curse, or do violence, or wish violence. Love does not wish for those who are loved to suffer from an attitude of vengeance or punishment. In short people who look at "God" from the traditional religious perspective never can understand God, and live in fear of God always, because they do not see God as love, but rather as 'deity'. Deity is equated with 'authority', in this case 'divine authority', hence god is also called a "king" who sits on a throne. Another human concept. Humanity understands 'authority' in a ways that do not accord with love. Hence, 'divine authority' is equated with human notions of justice and punishment, judgment and in kind rewards, such as you see in the old testament Bible commandment, "an eye for an eye". The God of love could not have given such a law since love is about forgiveness and healing, not the perpetuation of pain and suffering. These are human concepts that stem from human prejudices and fears, un-forgiveness, vengeance, war, hatred, and punishment. This too is clearly seen in the justice systems of the US, where people are punished and even killed in the name of 'justice'--and eye for an eye. Christian claims of forgiveness along those lines are false, since Christians demand 'justice', judgment and punishment from both the authorities man and as they claim and call authority in the name of God. Love does none of these things. But it is not a stretch that authoritative 'deitys' do. This warped thinking naturally supposes that God is doing judgment over humanity when diseases and other large scale trouble comes to human beings. But god is no more responsible for Covid than people are responsible for the heat coming from the sun.

 

[sojourner]

I was watching some videos on the YouTube, were Justin Brierley, (Unbelievable: host on Premier Christian radio) interviews the British evangelist J John about the current epidemic of Covid 19. At 10.39 minutes in, J John says, 'Many of us are trying to get Gods attention but I think Gods trying to get our attention.' Various other christian leaders in the evangelical soup have echoed the same theme, suggesting that this Covid 19 is Gods rather grim way of getting the attention of believers and I assume non believers. What do you think? Is it really possible that an omniscient God needs to drop the bar so low to get his creations attention?

This is the same claptrap we hear every time there’s a disaster. “God’s retribution for (insert latest “moral failing” here).” COVID-19 is what happens when human beings 1) eat bats, 2) fail to maintain proper boundaries and lines of communication, 3) elect idiots to public office who are more interested in their wallets and golf games than they are in public safety and health.

From a theological position, nature may very well be getting our attention for our abuse of the earth with impugnity.

 

[sojourner]

I think its fantastic that people are listening to youtube instead of paid ministry. Its not optimal but an improvement in my opinion.

Right now and for the last...several centuries churches could ignore social problems by having the ministers remain silent about them, and those ministers would, in turn, shush anybody who wanted to make a sound. I commented on another thread that due to this virus and lockdown status I think its fantastic Christians are experiencing life without weekly getting ears scratched by paid clergy.

...then there are all the responsible professional spiritual leaders who care for, nurture, support, teach, and enlighten people through real theology, careful exegetical treatment of texts, and scholastic formulation of theology that serves to heal instead of hurt people. The Dietrich Bonhoeffers, Thomas Mertons, MLKs, Philip Newells, etc.

 

[nPeace]

I tend to think such a blanket statement lacks merit. I believe there are evangelists who know the Bible and preach it.

I agree, they are, and they follow the early evangelist, by preaching the same message they did, and using the same methods they did.