Merciful God?? I think not.

[Luminous]

Well, s/he might get some death threats from the ones that like the old one better.
Also, I don't like the title. If it is written simply from one wo/man's standpoint, then how can it be the Bible of Our Times? It would have to be the Bible of My Time, otherwise it is just presumptuous.

Can't even be a bible because a bible is a gathering of loosely related books. i suggest: The Book of My Time.:angel2:

 

[Germ]

You could write any nonsense.If its well funded,you will get some followers.

 

[Luminous]

You could write any nonsense.If its well funded,you will get some followers.

sure; i concur

 

[Linda777]

Just saying that something is True does not make it so. Where's the Beef?

Where's the beef? Lol. Jesus said that he is the truth. If you don't believe this, there is nothing I can do about that. There is none like him. The entire world knows this. He is the One life is all about. None can deny that the world has gone after him.

As for you preoccupation with Jesus and AD/BC, well, he didn't do this, man did. And it wasn't even for his birth, but corresponds more closely with his death. And Jesus wasn't the only deity to have affected the language we use for marking the passage of time. Six of the twelve months were named for Roman gods or goddesses.

So your point here is to discredit? I know all that, but you are getting technical. I thought we were talking about God himself. His nature. His word.

Many religions and beliefs offer this hope. If this is the only truth needed, then Jesus is neither the original nor unique author.

Jesus was the Word made flesh. The Word being every word that came out of the mouth of God. Every law he gave to Israel. Other religions can't offer that. They are not Israel. Buddha or whoever didn't rise from the dead. I take it you don't believe the Bible to be God's written word? Are you familiar with myths and where they came from? We could start there on myths. The ancients believed in gods. They are not myths, but actual historical facts.

I do believe the Jews would disagree. You do know that the Old Testament is their Holy Book, don't you? Furthermore, could you explain what the book of Esther has to do with Jesus? Or all of the so-and-so begat so-and-sos? Or the Old Testament injunctions not to eat pork or shellfish?

I'm not concerned with what the Jews disagree with. The Old Testament was not just about shellfish. It was laws given to Israel at that time. Some applied then, some for all time. Esther saved her people from destruction. The Jews had to survive for through them would come Christ. That is what Esther is all about. If the Jews had been destroyed there would be no Christ.

Why would God give the devil power in the first place? From what I remember, Lucifer was original one of the best and strongest of the angels. No begging involved for his power. Then, through arrogance, he tried to overthrow God, and lost. I don't get the part where he comes to God and begs for power and God gives it to him. And if he does, what does this say about God? Do you give a drug addict heroin? Do you give a murderer a gun, knowing that he is a murderer?

I see clearly your point. Would I give my children a glass of milk and a glass of poison and tell them to choose? No I would not. This tell us that God didn't do that either. We are not kinder than God.
We are made in his image. What does that tell you? We have evil in our self as well as good. God creates evil even as he said in Isaiah 45:7. Calvary is the place where evil is destroyed in Christ.

But he's the one who gives devil his power....
Nice destroying power there. At the very least, it looks like God's playing some sick game.

Look! God created the world and all that is in it. He commanded them not to eat of the forbidden fruit. They did. They disobeyed. No choice was given them. He commanded them not to eat of the tree in the midst of the garden.
Can anyone blame him? He told them not to do it. Can anyone say to him he didn't tell us? Your argument is why did he put the forbidden fruit there in the first place, right? This is what we are discussing.
You have two children and tell them not to play in the street. They do. Then what? Whose fault is it according to you? Yours or theirs? A commandment is not to be disobeyed but it was.

The whole reason God created mankind was so that He could have creations that CHOSE to obey and love him; he wanted something with the free-will to oppose him, and the free-will to love him. Angels didn't cut the mustard because they had no choice.

I don't agree with you. Angels have choice. How come Michael and Gabriel didn't say "I will exalt me.."?

If God creates something and not like it, isn't that like making a mistake? I thought God was infallible?

He creates evil. It is that simple to understand. God creates evil as well as good.

Why does God tolerate the devil, and give him power when he begs, but can't tolerate the human purposefully created with the freewill to oppose him?

If I was to follow your line of thinking, then God would be a malicious monster who made us just to watch us suffer. No offense. We are made in his image. That should tell you everything about God's power. Do you think a tornado is just that; a tornado? He made the forces of nature and they are in his power also. Jesus calmed the stormy sea. He controls all things.
God is love means that love is greater than the evil he creates. That is why love is God and evil isn't.

 

[Germ]

"He controls all things".So you can blame him for the bad as well as the good?That seems to me like a reason to be indifferent toward god, not praise him.

 

[Falvlun]

He creates evil. It is that simple to understand. God creates evil as well as good

You are saying he does create evil. Ok. I'll accept that for the purposes of this discussion.

But he didn't HAVE to create evil. Nobody made God create evil. So why did he create it?

You are the most powerful being in the universe and you HATE spinach. So why would you create spinach in the first place?

 

[Runewolf1973]

If "God is Love", then that means that "God" is not a deity to be worshiped, but rather an ideal to be valued and cherished. How can you pray to Love? We can only "love" all things that are part of what "God" is. In helping each other and in the power of our own human spirit, we create our own "miracles". Prayer is just another way to "direct" that energy. I don't pray to ANY idols aside from what nature has given me. Do you? What is this "God" with the long curly beard that lives all cushy and cosy up in Heaven while others below it suffer? What is this Satan creature with the long curly tail and pointy ears? What are they besides being "idols" of christianity.

Would YOU let you're children go play outside by the street and not keep an eye on what they were doing? Children will be children. If we are "God's" children, He should be keeping a better eye on us. There are many children that disobey and do not listen, but that doesn't mean you just leave them on their own. If there are wolves in the field, you better tend to you're sheep!

 

[Linda777]

Germ said' "He controls all things".So you can blame him for the bad as well as the good? That seems to me like a reason to be indifferent toward god, not praise him.

God is Sovereign.

 

[Falvlun]

God is Sovereign.

That is not an answer. So, even if God is really evil and roasts babies for lunch, we should still praise him simply because he is sovereign?

Once again, the simple act of asserting something doesn't make it true. Even if you believe something with your whole being, that does not make it inherently true. You must provide proof. And lacking proof, you must provide good reasons. You will never convince someone of God's sovereign-ness by simply asserting that he is sovereign.

 

[roli]

Well, to bring this a little back to the original topic:

So, when we fail to overcome temptations, is it really the power of God that has failed?

Is that what you believe, sure takes the onus of you,...how liberating that must be!!!!

It does not seem fair that God should get all the credit when we do good and overcome evil, and we get all the blame when we sin.

And you think your notions to do good are in your carnal nature alone...! that credit you attribute to self for anything you do may need to be re-evaluated!!!!!

Actually, according to traditional Christian theology, God is a Triune God, which means he is three parts: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost

This is very true!!

To say that God is a spirit is a bit simplistic.

That's what he is, but I did'nt conclude that that was all he was, he's savior, redeemer,master, lord, comforter, King, love and so much more..and how far shall we go with this?

You also word it so that Jesus appears to be a separate entity from God, when he is really one and the same.

He is one and the same , he is also Lord ,savior,master, redeemer, judge, freind, truth, love
....but he is also separate and distinct.
His attributes are that of God, but has his own as well...can this be .
Maybe not in the human rationale
Ask me to explain this to your understanding and I will have to decline, for this is to be had by the individual themself.

Say you market yourself as the strongest man in the universe. No man can stand in your way. Then lets say you gather to yourself all these puny guys; in exchange for their service, you offer to protect them. Well, one day, one of your puny guys picks a fight with a another strong guy. Dumb move, right? Well, he is has the strongest man in the universe fighting with him. BUT HE LOSES THE FIGHT! Does this not cast doubt as to your claim of being the strongest man? God, as he is described by most monotheistic religions, is omnipotent and omniscient. He should have been able to see all of this coming AND have had the power to prevent/fix/thwart etc.

What kind of mindless,void of volition droids would we be like if all he did was pull the strings, ...
How would you have turned out as a child if your parents fixed every problem, prevented every painful experience, gave you everything you thought you wanted.
Please answer this question before you rant on about God and all his short comings and soc alled failures.

You question his power before you search yourself for the reason why he may not be moving to prevent, fix or thwarf these things.....:help:
You seem to have the answers!!
You honestly don't see his power in your life and the universe around you?

In other words, you must have faith that something is true before you can believe in half-baked proofs.

That sums up every aspect of your life, whether you see it or not !
You live in a relam of faith,day in and day out, believing in half baked truths, as you call it.

 

[Linda777]

Runewolf1973;1330974]If "God is Love", then that means that "God" is not a deity to be worshiped, but rather an ideal to be valued and cherished. How can you pray to Love? We can only "love" all things that are part of what "God" is. In helping each other and in the power of our own human spirit, we create our own "miracles". Prayer is just another way to "direct" that energy. I don't pray to ANY idols aside from what nature has given me. Do you? What is this "God" with the long curly beard that lives all cushy and cosy up in Heaven while others below it suffer? What is this Satan creature with the long curly tail and pointy ears? What are they besides being "idols" of Christianity.

The Bible says that God is a Spirit. I cannot define God except by what the Bible says about him. The Bible is our canon. God showed us himself in Christ. I agree with you that suffering is a hard thing to see here. But God was willing to come and suffer Himself, then offer us the solution, which is Himself. He said if we believe in him, we will live forever with him in a place where there is no suffering.

Would YOU let you're children go play outside by the street and not keep an eye on what they were doing? Children will be children. If we are "God's" children, He should be keeping a better eye on us. There are many children that disobey and do not listen, but that doesn't mean you just leave them on their own. If there are wolves in the field, you better tend to you're sheep!

I would keep an eye on them. As you know evil happens. But he did make a way for us through Jesus Christ. We have no excuse when he paid the price for us.

 

[roli]

If "God is Love", then that means that "God" is not a deity to be worshiped, but rather an ideal to be valued and cherished. How can you pray to Love? We can only "love" all things that are part of what "God" is. In helping each other and in the power of our own human spirit, we create our own "miracles". Prayer is just another way to "direct" that energy. I don't pray to ANY idols aside from what nature has given me. Do you? What is this "God" with the long curly beard that lives all cushy and cosy up in Heaven while others below it suffer? What is this Satan creature with the long curly tail and pointy ears? What are they besides being "idols" of christianity.

Would YOU let you're children go play outside by the street and not keep an eye on what they were doing? Children will be children. If we are "God's" children, He should be keeping a better eye on us. There are many children that disobey and do not listen, but that doesn't mean you just leave them on their own. If there are wolves in the field, you better tend to you're sheep!

Are you spewing or actually looking for the answers to these accusations ?

 

[Germ]

"god is"...most statements that begin like this can be dismissed.no one knows the nature of god,for even if he existed,he would operate beyond our logic.you cant prove or disprove something when you wont even apply common logic.

 

[Linda777]

Falvlun;1330964You are saying he does create evil. Ok. I'll accept that for the purposes of this discussion.

He most certainly does create it. I'm glad he is the one doing it and not some other power he knows nothing about. That would be horrible. He takes full responsibility for it.

But he didn't HAVE to create evil. Nobody made God create evil. So why did he create it?

I can only go by what he says in the Bible. He was honest and told us he is the one creating it.
A serpent was in the garden paradise with the first two. Genesis clearly says that the serpent was more subtle than any beast the Lord God had made. He made that evil serpent. Why? Evidently it had to come from him, it was there and it came forth in his creation. He called all he made good. But it was before he created the earth that he found iniquity in Lucifer. He said that Lucifer was perfect in all his ways until the day iniquity was found in him. Found! Discovered! God found something. He found iniquity in one of the angels he had himself created. Why was it there? The evil wanted to rule over all. He was cast to earth. It had to go somewhere and it came to earth (matter) and we could continue the whys. God created it! It is so simple to see.

You are the most powerful being in the universe and you HATE spinach. So why would you create spinach in the first place?

It had to be the way it is. It had to be. Evil was found in something God made. He became sin on the cross for us. Remember the brazen serpent? God said whoever would look at it would be healed. Well go figure. Jesus became the serpent in his flesh when he suffered and died. Now the serpent has no power over us IF we are in Christ.
Energy and matter is God and Christ.

 

[Germ]

"god is"...most statements that begin like this can be dismissed.no one knows the nature of god,for even if he existed,he would operate beyond our logic.you cant prove or disprove something when you wont even apply common logic.

 

[Falvlun]

And you think your notions to do good are in your carnal nature alone...! that credit you attribute to self for anything you do may need to be re-evaluated!!!!!

If we have the ability to evil all by ourselves, then why can we not do good all by ourselves?

What kind of mindless,void of volition droids would we be like if all he did was pull the strings, ...
How would you have turned out as a child if your parents fixed every problem, prevented every painful experience, gave you everything you thought you wanted.
Please answer this question before you rant on about God and all his short comings and soc alled failures.

Are you saying that God couldn't have figured out a way to create something more than a mindless drone but something less flawed than ourselves? His mind is so infinitely greater than our own; you can not assume that simply because you can not think of a solution doesn't mean that there isn't one.

You seem to have the answers!!
You honestly don't see his power in your life and the universe around you?

On the contrary, all I know is that I do not know. You are the one with answers, and I am simply asking you to defend them.
I believe that my life has been a blessed one so far. I had rough times in my childhood, but things seemed to work out. I do not know whether this is God or not. There is nothing to show that it must be a benevolent Force, or simply the random vagaries of human existence.
As for the intricacy of the universe attesting to a Creator, I again see no conclusive proof. Unfortunately, I see many contradictions to the idea of a benevolent, omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient God.

You live in a relam of faith,day in and day out, believing in half baked truths, as you call it.

I am not so naive as to think that all the knowledge I accept as truth to be correct. In 100 years, people will probably be laughing at our archaic notions of atoms. The difference is that there have been given to me reasons to believe that the current model of the atom is correct to the best of our understanding. Religion, though I should probably say specifically Christianity as that is the one I am most familiar, does not give me objective reasons to believe in its tenets: it asks for blind faith. I have tried that, and I was happy for a while, but my mind ultimately has rebelled. I need proof. And lacking proof, I need damn good reasons. I would even settle for some answers.

 

[Linda777]

Germ;"god is"...most statements that begin like this can be dismissed.no one knows the nature of god,for even if he existed,he would operate beyond our logic.you cant prove or disprove something when you wont even apply common logic.

I personally believe the Bible is his word to us so we can know who he is and what is going on here. You said a great thing...that he would operate beyond our logic.
He does move beyond human understanding.
The Bible says his understanding is infinite. Infinite.

 

[Linda777]

Falvlun;1330981]That is not an answer. So, even if God is really evil and roasts babies for lunch, we should still praise him simply because he is sovereign?

God is not evil. Evil wants to be God, but God who is love is greater than the evil he creates. His love is greater than evil. We have many blessings to praise him for. Praise isn't just saying hallelujah, but it is a way of life.

Once again, the simple act of asserting something doesn't make it true. Even if you believe something with your whole being, that does not make it inherently true. You must provide proof. And lacking proof, you must provide good reasons. You will never convince someone of God's sovereign-ness by simply asserting that he is sovereign.

Proof? The Bible proves itself true everyday with the prophecies unfolding as history is unrolling. Take Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream; Daniel told us the future of the world. All that Jesus said is happening even as he said it would. I could go on and on...

 

[Germ]

Exactly,which is why i cant conceive how god can be angry with anyone for questioning.this is akin to trying to teach a toddler quantum physics...he will not understand,and it is pointless to be angry at him.we can not assume that a god does not exist,nor can we prove a god does exist.

 

[Runewolf1973]

Are you spewing or actually looking for the answers to these accusations ?

Spewing? No. That would be too much like preaching. I don't believe in "preaching" about something I don't understand. I'll leave that for the church. They are better at spewing random words out of the bible and trying to "preach" what they don't understand. Notice all the preachers on TV that just flip through the Bible to find their "answers"? Why can't they just stay on just one page?....Because they don't really understand it. So why should they preach what they really don't understand? Seems pathetic. There are very few other "God's" or beliefs that require national television to send their message out. They don't have the need to "advertise". It is like watching political campaigns on TV, only difference, where are the other guys? Would be nice to know what THEY have to say before deciding on a Universal President. So far, I have elected no one.

All the things that I have stated are things which I understand to be true. That is not because I just heard something or read something out of a book and automatically "believed" it. It is because I questioned those sources, and in doing do, separated the truths from fiction. I found all my answers. ALL is coming into focus.....QUITE CLEARLY.