OK Freedom Friends, you all have gotten my attention on this topic, I know some things about the God (singular) of all creation.
Genesis, 1:1, "In the beginning,God created the Heaven and the earth". When God had ended from all (ALL) His work (Genesis 2:2) , speaking about his creating all the heavens and the earth, it was, as is recorded "very good'. When God says something is very good, (and not often, in scripture), the thing is "VERY GOOD" (v.31) The place God created for mankind (EARTH) to live and exists was perfect in every way possible, ( think," garden of Eden").
There were no earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, volcano eruptions, nor any other "natural disasters" which are known to us, it did not even rain then, for rain was not an occurrence at that time in the beginning, so no floods disaster either.(until after the fall of mankind, rebellion, Genesis 3) First of all praise God for giving us our life, and the earth and everything we need to exist while we are here and alive. Secondly, note this, that in the book of Genesis, there is no explanation of the fact of God's existence, friends, GOD DOES NOT NEED TO EXPLAIN HIMSELF TO HIS CREATION !!
Now DH, I know that you do not know, nor understand Christianity, and how & why it differs from the religions of the world, and it is different. The major difference is, The Risen Savior, Christ Jesus, the one who was dead, haven died upon a bloody cross ( a matter of History), buried, and as was prophesied, rose up out of his grave. Having given you this DH, as is recorded in the Book authored by God, 'The Bible" in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John, my question to you would be, do you believe this, if not, can you DH discredit this Biblical truth by way of evidence you have and can show, that the gospel is not true?
With that, I will comment on the question, (age old question) which we hear over and over again every time there is a disaster of any kind and magnitude, that being, "why did God allow this to happen, or to often, where was God, also, how could God do such a thing? Well, to these things I say, God sent his only begotten Son to earth, just to put him upon a bloody cross to die, only after He allowed him to be prosecuted, beaten beyond recognition, spat upon by on-lookers, mock by many, rejected by his own (the Hebrews, Jews, Israel), for something that all of us are guilty of , sin and rebellion against God....GOT IT?
That being said, someone mention in this Forum the account in scripture of Job, and how he had suffered greatly. However they erred in that they said God brought these suffers upon Job as is recorded in Job 1 & 2. God did not bring these things upon Job;s life, but he did allow them, It was Satan who sought to discredit Job's faithfulness, & services to God, and so in chapter 1 v.12 God says to Satan, "behold all that he (Job) has is in thy power". Folks what I want you to see here is that Satan has been given great power, and do this day, has great power, also know that Satan is a real being, not a fictional character, a spiritual being, not flesh & blood as we. Know also that we also are spiritual being, that's right we are spirit beings, in an earthen vessel...the flesh. Also in chapter 2 of Job verse 6, God tell Satan," he (Job) is in thy hand, only save his life",
It was Satan that brought the onslaught of sufferings upon Job's life, and yes God did allow Satan to do so, God allowed it to happen, for a reason, in that in the end...God would be Glorified. The chief end of mankind, is, to Glorify the Lord God, and in the end of it all, GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED........period.
With regard to Satan's power here on earth, (for in Heaven he has no power nor authority) and only for a season does he have power here on earth, God has given Satan not only great power, but authority over this present "evil" world, again, for a season. This is clearly seen in the gospels where is record the temptation of Christ at the start of His earthly ministry (3.5 years). In one temptation mentioned, Satan takes Jesus to a very high place, and shows Jesus ALL the kingdoms, the bible records...."in a moment of time". Folks try to get this, Satan says to Jesus, "all these (kingdoms), I will give thee, if thou will bow down and worship me". First of all, Satan could not make such an offer to the Lord Jesus, if he did not have the authority to do so, if he did not "OWN THEM' (the kingdoms), Also, it is record to say, that Satan showed Jesus ALL, all the kingdoms of the world.....in a moment of time, and instant of time, blink of an eye showed him every kingdom that was then, and ever will be on the face of this earth, even in our own time including the USA....that is power....GOT IT ?
All in all, the point I am trying to make, is that yes God does allow bad things to happen in our individual lives and corporally as in Families, and of Nations & Countries, and so on. Is not God still in control, does not God know what He is doing? Why question God of these things, as if God must give us, an account has do what He is doing and what He allows to come to pass, He did not give account of Himself in Genesis (the beginning) and He will not in the eschatology, (the end) !!
Summary of above, God will be glorified and worshiped , all praise , all honor be ascribed unto the Lord God for all His great & mighty works which He has done... is doing.... and will do, in dealing with the creature created in His own image, in His own likeness.....mankind!!!
Any questions ?
Bruce /'/ servant to Kng Jesus, who is God, my Savior,, redeemer of man's soul!!!
For those saying that religion is man made, you are correct. If you read the Bible, God walked with man in the garden. There was a relationship there between God and man. During this time frame, you will notice that there is never any mention of the "Church" or "Synagogue", only until after the fall.
While the Bible says that we should have corporate fellowship, God desires each of us to develope a personal relationship with Him, as he is our Heavenly Father. Jesus destroyed the Temple not to be rebellious, but rather because of the disgrace that it had become to God. The Church should be a place of healing, unfortunately the Church has become a place of judgement where we condem our neighbors, all the while we are equally as screwed up. The problem with most Christians is this, we offer nothing to attract the secular world, when in actuality, the world should be looking at us and saying, "What is that they have, because I want some of it". Now, how can God allow bad things? He's a gracious God, and when he's told to go away, he graciously steps aside.
Just my take, I could write a novel for you guys but I must hit the rack.
Good Night
-White Cheddar
Hey White,
Very good post, I do agree with all but about Jesus destroying the Temple (Synagogue), He did however go in and cleaned it out, turning over the money changer's tables, chasing out all those who were selling goods in God's House, yes and rightfully so. However, He had not destroyed any Synagogue in any City He traveled too,
when he spoke of destroying "this temple",(John 2:19) and that in three days He would raise it up again, He was prophesying of His own death, and resurrection to come, but the Jews there knew not what He was speaking of !
Anyway , I am glad to see you speaking boldly the things of God, for certainly in our Nation today there is need for a great revival, a turning back to God, (Amos 4), and repentance of our falling away from God over the last 100 years !!!!
Keep up the good fight ( 1 Tim. 6:12 )
Bruce // servant to King Jesus, redeemer of men's soul
Bruce. Thank you for your post! You hit the nail right on the head. I know there are some on this site that would argue strenuously with you, but the last time I checked, we still have freedom of speech and religion.
Greetings Michael,
You are correct, here in America we still have our Freedom of speech, and the right to practice whatever religion is chosen, individually, and corporately as a family. However, we learn in God's Word that the time will come (maybe now) that there will be a great falling away of the Truth, and I do see this happening in our day. Also, recorded in Holy Scripture is the coming of the 'One World Order", a world Government, a world court, a world religion,(most likely out of the Vatican in Rome, which is "mystery Babylon" , Revelation 17: 5 ) but not Catholicism, no but something else perhaps not known today.
Folks, as Bible believing Christians (" followers"... of Christ Jesus ) we need to be on praying ground, for it is certain that within our own Government there are the enemies seated who appose our freedoms & liberties, and are indeed enemies of our Nations Constitution !!!
To God be all glory ascribed !!
Bruce // servant to King Jesus, who is the only way to God, the only "door" ; John 10 : 9
Well written Bruce
Greetings White,
I write to encourage, I do not write very much here in these forums, but at times am moved by the Holy Spirit of God to respond to certain post, in addressing what things are said apropos to God, and His Word.
One thing I will make mention of, and that is the truth of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ghost) of God in a believers life, and Know, all who read, that this is a literal possessing of the Holy Spirit ! The Spirit of God entering into a person who has bowed the knee to Christ Jesus. Having surrendered their own will for God's will in their life, being regenerated by the quickening (making alive) their own spirit (for we are spiritual beings) back to God ( wherein time past were dead to God) by the indwelling spirit of God, thus re-newing a right relationship with God, and being saved by God, through Faith in Christ Jesus, having received him as Lord & Savior of their Life.........hence,, the Gospel Message !!!!
Thank you White for your acknowledgment, and Kind words,
All glory be unto God !
Bruce // servant to King Jesus , my King and my God !!
You're right that when it comes to religion i am more inclined to think about the moral side of things. This is really the point of many religions. All the stories and rules come down to good morals. When i said that other religions accept people for who they are i was talking more along the lines of acceptance of demographics like homosexuals and atheists. They still hold them to what most consider to be universal moral codes. Do not rape, do not kill, do not steal, etc. Pretty much everyone can embrace the big ones regardless of whether they are atheist, christian, buddhist, wiccan, or whatever else. These religions challenge humanity to be better, but instead of doing it because god says we should, why not do it because WE think we should. That carries a lot more weight in my opinion.
My Dear Friend DH (and I mean that literally) You say: All the stories and rules come down to good morals; They still hold them to what most consider to be universal moral codes. Do not rape, do not kill, do not steal, etc. Pretty much everyone can embrace the big ones. But instead of doing it because god says we should, why not do it because WE think we should. Where did those moral codes come from in the first place? GOD. When? Thousands of years before the time we find ourselves in now. Where are they written? In the Bible. Where in the Bible? Exodus 20. Now from the very first forum in which I started to engage with you, you have been forever asking me (and all others) to prove the bible as fact or science. DH, you and many others on here ARE proving it as fact along with what is going on in world events. What you and others do here is try and prove their is no GOD. You try and belittle us for our faith, This is called PERSECUTION. This is predicted throughout the bible that in the end days this would happen. Just like many of the world events that are happening were predicted also, IE; earthquakes. Did God cause the earthquake to happen? I don't know. He only predicts them through His Word. You always talk as if our faith is about hate, but in all our postings to you (well from must) we talk about the love God has for you and also the love WE have for you. Why would I have love for you? Someone I don't even know. Who wants to constantly put me down or degrade me (and yes some do it to you also) I probably have not put my words to you as well as I should have at times when I get aggravated. When you jump and post and don't even remember the post you put down yourself, for that I am sorry, but in all my post, I always end with telling you that I am praying for you and/or give you Blessings. Why? Because God gives me the ability to love all. My family, friends, neighbors and even mine enemies (especially mine enemies). And I still hold the analogy for you and all others on here that don't believe. If all of us Christians who believe in God, Jesus, Holy Spirit/Three in One, find ourselves in Heaven one day because of it, Then we have lost nothing, but you and all others, according to the bible, will have ETERNAL DAMNATION, have lost everything. Now, and that is the most fictitious now for me, if we as believers choose to live this way, believing in God, and someday after we die and find ourselves, where I don't know. Not finding ourselves anywhere, or coming back as a what, a snake, ant, another human being that is of the worst kind, or maybe of the good kind that thinks for oneself and just lives their life doing good and being good. If that was to happen, then in your analogy, we have lost nothing there either. See in any case it is a win win for us. But like I said the latter is fictitious for me. Have you ever stopped and thought about the words ETERNAL? Never ending, Forever and ever. Going on and on and on and on...............................I could make those dots clear the page. Have you ever read the description of HELL? Well if you can't understand it in the bible, the book "23 Minutes in Hell" gives a very good description that even the simplest mind can understand. Even if when you were to read it, and you don't think it happened (I do) it does describe HELL exactly the way the bible does. HELL. Those 4 letters put together are is the scariest word in this world. I went to a church that every Sunday all I heard was money, money, money. I wanted to hear God, God, God. So when we moved I was determined that I would find that church no matter how many I had to walk in first to find it. The very first church I walked into I am now a member and all I get from it is Love, Fellowship, Friends, Brothers and Sisters in Christ who just want to hear the Word of God. And every Sunday when I sit and listen to my minister it has something pertaining to what exactly is going on in my life. Before I walked in that church, I had not been to church for over 3 years except for Holidays. God led me where I was suppose to go because you see, even though I believed, I wasn't living in the Faith, In his spirit, Living for Him first and my life was in the crapper. I was discontent, depressed all the time, had not patience, everything else was the other guys fault. In short (or long) I was not a Happy Person. What a difference when you let God lead your life. If you could only know the feeling. I am putting a video on here. It is a music video of a concert. It is Michael Smith and I know that don't mean anything to you, but when he starts playing the first notes the audience are the ones who start singing. Watch it and look at the expressions, the love and devotion on their face. How can something that powerful be fake. How can something that makes people feel so good be bad. I love this song for two reasons. One it tells how I feel about God and two, I was the biggest Davy Allison fan (Nascar for those who don't follow it). Well one weekend in July 1993 and the morning before a race he went to the church service that they hold for the racers. mechanics. families, etc. This song was played at the end of the service and one person observed Davy singing and just starring at the sky in reverence. 6 days later he was dead. Killed in a helicopter accident. Now in my belief, I feel that God has a way of preparing each and everyone of us for what is about to come. What we choose to do with it is up to us. Still Praying for you DH and Loving ya and Sending Blessing to ya!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF7H9Ri7o-0
DH, I do not go to church. Haven't for a number of yrs. For me it's not others who make me feel good. The only way I can say what I want to say is to say it. For a number of yrs. I did what the church said I should do, which was to ask Jesus into my heart. I did this thing and got baptised and worked real hard at being a good christian. Then 10 yrs later thing changed. I asked to be baptised again and had to go before the deacons and explain why I was there again. I told them that for the last 10 yrs I worked hard at being a good christian and now I was worked through. Now I don't know if this makes sense to you and I for one will not try to change your mind about your beliefs. Gods the only one who can do that. the point to all this is not the people, But God; he's the one who makes me feel good.
Gail
