Saturday, December 8, 2007
"Arguments for God's Existence?" ~Voltaire
I have great respect for religion and the morality it can inspire, but I also do not accept things blindly. Do you have any well-reasoned arguments for the existence of God?
a. Anselm’s Ontological argument for the existence of God says that God must exist by His own definition. Anselm defines God as “that of which nothing greater can be conceived” and so would possess all the best qualities including true existence over being simply imagined.
b. Kant’s Transcendental argument says that “every fact of human experience and knowledge) are not meaningful apart from a preconditioning belief in the existence of the Christian God”. The clearest demonstration of this is found in morality. I have yet to see a satisfactory source for morality apart from a moral God.
c. Plato’s Cosmological argument follows this line of reasoning, “Every finite/contingent being has a cause + Nothing contingent can cause itself + A causal chain cannot be of infinite length = There must be a first cause (or necessary being).” Anselm would say it is greater to be a “necessary” being than a “contingent” one, so God must be a necessary being by definition. The infinite recurrence theory obviously takes issue with the 3rd statement and I believe the string theory takes issue with the 2nd.
d. Aquinas’s Teleological argument comes from Romans 1:20, which Paul says, “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse”. This is the primary basis for the Intelligent Design movement, which follows an “inference to the best explanation” that an information rich system necessitates design. William Dembski’s Design Inference explains how science approaches the question of whether or not a thing was designed. He cites “improbability” and “specificity” as the two major variables. This is how they avoid the tendency to read design into something.
e. Lee Strobel wrote his book The Case for Christ based on the legal evidence that Jesus Christ existed, claimed to be God, and demonstrated His claims to be true. John 1:18 says that we can see God through His son Jesus. Believers and non-believers alike reported His miracles, He fulfilled almost 200 prophecies and was witnessed by over 500 people as risen from the dead, many of whom died rather than recant this testimony. Strobel puts it well when he says, “people may be willing to die for something they mistakenly believe to be true, but no one would die for something they know to be UNtrue.” For more on that, I suggest reading his book or at least viewing the website.
f. My theory of “Emotional Denial” is based partially on Paul, who states in Romans 1:18-19 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” I believe that all humans inherently know that God exists (somewhat similar to Jung’s archetypes). However, before this truth can truly reach our consciousness, it passes through our emotions (which battle between honesty, selfishness, etc). Jesus said that anyone who truly wants to find God will (Matthew 7:7). I believe that atheism and all false religions are a result of human reasoning seeking to find a way to deny God without feeling guilty. I am, however, open to criticism J
g. Though I think each of these has validity, I don’t believe that any of them truly change a person’s mind. The Bible says that it is only God who can truly change a heart, and it is personal experience of God’s presence in my life that convinces me more than anything. There’s a camp song that says “don’t try to tell me that God is dead, I spoke with Him this morning.” Though no one has seen God any more than they can see gravity or honesty, we can see how He affects things, and we can understand His qualities. I will gladly share more on this if you ask, but this email is long enough already.
You say “I have great respect for religion and the morality it can inspire”, and I appreciate that, but I want to point out that the helpfulness of religion is not the point, but only a side-effect. There was a time when the best defense for Christianity we could present to hard evolutionists was “the Bible makes promises that I have experienced to be fulfilled in my life.” However, these days the helpfulness of religion can be a major distraction from the central point of whether or not it is true. CS Lewis said that if Christianity is true, then we all need to follow it whether it is helpful or not, and if it is false then we need to know that as well and stop living a lie even if it’s a nice one. That being said, I can’t see a basis for morality apart from God, and I can’t see a purpose to life apart from the mission of God on this earth, but I’d cherish your perspective on this.
I hope you find this helpful, or at least somewhat coherent. I don’t claim to have all the answers, and I’m nowhere near as well read on these issues as some others, but I hope you have seen that I have not accepted this blindly. It’s a big deal to commit your life to something you can only believe to be true. Hebrews 11:1 calls faith “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. Ultimately, I believe there will never be irrefutable proof either way while we are on this earth. Evidence can only get you to the point where it is reasonable. The Bible is God saying “I’ll catch you,” but we can’t be sure until we jump.
Please feel free to respond (positively or negatively) and if you need someone closer to the research or to the article you mentioned, I will try to connect you that way.
Your cojourner in the quest for truth,
Jeff Grant
a. Anselm’s Ontological argument for the existence of God says that God must exist by His own definition. Anselm defines God as “that of which nothing greater can be conceived” and so would possess all the best qualities including true existence over being simply imagined.
b. Kant’s Transcendental argument says that “every fact of human experience and knowledge) are not meaningful apart from a preconditioning belief in the existence of the Christian God”. The clearest demonstration of this is found in morality. I have yet to see a satisfactory source for morality apart from a moral God.
c. Plato’s Cosmological argument follows this line of reasoning, “Every finite/contingent being has a cause + Nothing contingent can cause itself + A causal chain cannot be of infinite length = There must be a first cause (or necessary being).” Anselm would say it is greater to be a “necessary” being than a “contingent” one, so God must be a necessary being by definition. The infinite recurrence theory obviously takes issue with the 3rd statement and I believe the string theory takes issue with the 2nd.
d. Aquinas’s Teleological argument comes from Romans 1:20, which Paul says, “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse”. This is the primary basis for the Intelligent Design movement, which follows an “inference to the best explanation” that an information rich system necessitates design. William Dembski’s Design Inference explains how science approaches the question of whether or not a thing was designed. He cites “improbability” and “specificity” as the two major variables. This is how they avoid the tendency to read design into something.
e. Lee Strobel wrote his book The Case for Christ based on the legal evidence that Jesus Christ existed, claimed to be God, and demonstrated His claims to be true. John 1:18 says that we can see God through His son Jesus. Believers and non-believers alike reported His miracles, He fulfilled almost 200 prophecies and was witnessed by over 500 people as risen from the dead, many of whom died rather than recant this testimony. Strobel puts it well when he says, “people may be willing to die for something they mistakenly believe to be true, but no one would die for something they know to be UNtrue.” For more on that, I suggest reading his book or at least viewing the website.
f. My theory of “Emotional Denial” is based partially on Paul, who states in Romans 1:18-19 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” I believe that all humans inherently know that God exists (somewhat similar to Jung’s archetypes). However, before this truth can truly reach our consciousness, it passes through our emotions (which battle between honesty, selfishness, etc). Jesus said that anyone who truly wants to find God will (Matthew 7:7). I believe that atheism and all false religions are a result of human reasoning seeking to find a way to deny God without feeling guilty. I am, however, open to criticism J
g. Though I think each of these has validity, I don’t believe that any of them truly change a person’s mind. The Bible says that it is only God who can truly change a heart, and it is personal experience of God’s presence in my life that convinces me more than anything. There’s a camp song that says “don’t try to tell me that God is dead, I spoke with Him this morning.” Though no one has seen God any more than they can see gravity or honesty, we can see how He affects things, and we can understand His qualities. I will gladly share more on this if you ask, but this email is long enough already.
You say “I have great respect for religion and the morality it can inspire”, and I appreciate that, but I want to point out that the helpfulness of religion is not the point, but only a side-effect. There was a time when the best defense for Christianity we could present to hard evolutionists was “the Bible makes promises that I have experienced to be fulfilled in my life.” However, these days the helpfulness of religion can be a major distraction from the central point of whether or not it is true. CS Lewis said that if Christianity is true, then we all need to follow it whether it is helpful or not, and if it is false then we need to know that as well and stop living a lie even if it’s a nice one. That being said, I can’t see a basis for morality apart from God, and I can’t see a purpose to life apart from the mission of God on this earth, but I’d cherish your perspective on this.
I hope you find this helpful, or at least somewhat coherent. I don’t claim to have all the answers, and I’m nowhere near as well read on these issues as some others, but I hope you have seen that I have not accepted this blindly. It’s a big deal to commit your life to something you can only believe to be true. Hebrews 11:1 calls faith “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. Ultimately, I believe there will never be irrefutable proof either way while we are on this earth. Evidence can only get you to the point where it is reasonable. The Bible is God saying “I’ll catch you,” but we can’t be sure until we jump.
Please feel free to respond (positively or negatively) and if you need someone closer to the research or to the article you mentioned, I will try to connect you that way.
Your cojourner in the quest for truth,
Jeff Grant
"Evolution vs. Design" ~Voltaire
In response to the EveryStudent essay,
The theory of evolution has been developed over the centuries and is currently supported by millions of examples both from artificial experiments and in the natural world. Analogizing the human eye to a bag of screws is ridiculous. You write that evolution proposes that "the human eye just came about from elements in the atmosphere". Evolution is not a random process that just takes a really long time. It is not at all like shaking a bag of screws in the hope of getting a watch. Evolution selects the best adaptations for an environment, gradually producing greater and greater complexity. The eye, for instance, did not just appear in a puff of smoke; rather, it originated as a small patch of photoreceptors in a primitive invertebrate, eventually developing an optic nerve, rods and cones, and so on. This process took billions of years and was completely non-random.
However, the larger argument--how the universe itself originated without the help of an intelligent designer--has not yet been resolved as intuitively as Darwin's. Scientists have come up with a number of possible solutions, from string theory to multiverse, but all are supported more by discrete mathematics than by intuition. The deepest questions, I find, rarely have easy answers. The problem with your deceptively easy solution is this: The universe may be miraculous and improbable--but whoever designed it must be even more miraculous and thus more improbable! Who designed the Designer? Religion is no solution to the paradox of infinite regress.
The theory of evolution is often oversimplified, but true or not it fails to replace theism as an explanation for the origin of life:
a. I agree that there are plenty of examples of MICRO-evolution (adaptation), but I am completely unconvinced by any evidence of MACRO or cross-species evolution that I've seen so far. If you have any such evidence, please direct me to it.
b. If natural selection breeds out the less helpful qualities, why do species that are many levels “less evolved” still exist?
c. Evolution cannot handle systems that irreducibly complex (“a single system… wherein the removal of any one of the parts causes the system to effectively cease functioning”). The eye may be a poor example of this, but there have been plenty of better ones (ex. Bacterial flagellum). In order for evolution to work, it must make tiny steps that can be common mutations, but even the eye requires huge leaps to get from a patch of photoreceptors to an optic nerve.
d. Even if macro-evolution could be proven, it fails to explain how life began or how circumstances could be lined up to allow life to begin. You do talk about solutions that they are developing (string theory to a multiverse) and I’d be very interested in hearing more about these along with the “discrete mathematics” that support them.
e. You state that “the deepest questions rarely have easy answers”, but the commonly accepted theory of Ockham’s Razor (“All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the right one”) leans against you there. I did not accept Christianity as true simply based on proof, but I have been continually convinced that the ad hoc responses from Atheists require more faith than an intelligent designer. I also disagree about the increased complexity of a designer. An infinite regress is unarguably more complicated and unimaginable than an unmoved mover. In these days of Quantum physics, we’re seeing how thought and immaterial truth has more grounding in reality than the physical world itself. These ideas reach popular expression in films like “The Matrix” that illustrate how our senses can no longer be trusted completely, sending us down the path of Descartes which lead to certainty of God’s existence as well.
The theory of evolution has been developed over the centuries and is currently supported by millions of examples both from artificial experiments and in the natural world. Analogizing the human eye to a bag of screws is ridiculous. You write that evolution proposes that "the human eye just came about from elements in the atmosphere". Evolution is not a random process that just takes a really long time. It is not at all like shaking a bag of screws in the hope of getting a watch. Evolution selects the best adaptations for an environment, gradually producing greater and greater complexity. The eye, for instance, did not just appear in a puff of smoke; rather, it originated as a small patch of photoreceptors in a primitive invertebrate, eventually developing an optic nerve, rods and cones, and so on. This process took billions of years and was completely non-random.
However, the larger argument--how the universe itself originated without the help of an intelligent designer--has not yet been resolved as intuitively as Darwin's. Scientists have come up with a number of possible solutions, from string theory to multiverse, but all are supported more by discrete mathematics than by intuition. The deepest questions, I find, rarely have easy answers. The problem with your deceptively easy solution is this: The universe may be miraculous and improbable--but whoever designed it must be even more miraculous and thus more improbable! Who designed the Designer? Religion is no solution to the paradox of infinite regress.
The theory of evolution is often oversimplified, but true or not it fails to replace theism as an explanation for the origin of life:
a. I agree that there are plenty of examples of MICRO-evolution (adaptation), but I am completely unconvinced by any evidence of MACRO or cross-species evolution that I've seen so far. If you have any such evidence, please direct me to it.
b. If natural selection breeds out the less helpful qualities, why do species that are many levels “less evolved” still exist?
c. Evolution cannot handle systems that irreducibly complex (“a single system… wherein the removal of any one of the parts causes the system to effectively cease functioning”). The eye may be a poor example of this, but there have been plenty of better ones (ex. Bacterial flagellum). In order for evolution to work, it must make tiny steps that can be common mutations, but even the eye requires huge leaps to get from a patch of photoreceptors to an optic nerve.
d. Even if macro-evolution could be proven, it fails to explain how life began or how circumstances could be lined up to allow life to begin. You do talk about solutions that they are developing (string theory to a multiverse) and I’d be very interested in hearing more about these along with the “discrete mathematics” that support them.
e. You state that “the deepest questions rarely have easy answers”, but the commonly accepted theory of Ockham’s Razor (“All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the right one”) leans against you there. I did not accept Christianity as true simply based on proof, but I have been continually convinced that the ad hoc responses from Atheists require more faith than an intelligent designer. I also disagree about the increased complexity of a designer. An infinite regress is unarguably more complicated and unimaginable than an unmoved mover. In these days of Quantum physics, we’re seeing how thought and immaterial truth has more grounding in reality than the physical world itself. These ideas reach popular expression in films like “The Matrix” that illustrate how our senses can no longer be trusted completely, sending us down the path of Descartes which lead to certainty of God’s existence as well.
"Do we see design where there is none?" ~Voltaire
Humans have a natural psychological tendency to see design in natural things. Our brain takes a short-cut: if we see a tiger, we don't waste time analyzing its neural impulses; we assume it's designed to eat us. Our ability to find patterns in the world is unparalleled; it's the reason why, in spite of the fact that I am small and weak and hairless, I can type this message to you at all. Unfortunately, it also leads us astray, making us find patterns in what may be a purely random universe.
You are certainly right that it can taint our objectivity, and that's a danger we all must seek to avoid. We must recognize also, however, that there are many such tendencies that can lead to error in the opposite direction. At the route of all humans is an undeniable source of pride and independence that says, “I’m in charge of my life.” Though it would take some time to cite them properly, I have read many atheist scientists as saying “I don’t believe that God exists because I’m afraid that He does.” Living in NJ, it is easy to see thousands of examples of how people always long to deny God simply so that they are not held accountable to a higher authority. In fact, all other religions offer ultimate control over your life to you. If you make it to the end of this email, I’ll explain more on that, but there’s no use denying that no one can be trusted with objectivity even in scientific research. We look to prove what we wish to be true (whether in the way we do research or the way we interpret results).
You are certainly right that it can taint our objectivity, and that's a danger we all must seek to avoid. We must recognize also, however, that there are many such tendencies that can lead to error in the opposite direction. At the route of all humans is an undeniable source of pride and independence that says, “I’m in charge of my life.” Though it would take some time to cite them properly, I have read many atheist scientists as saying “I don’t believe that God exists because I’m afraid that He does.” Living in NJ, it is easy to see thousands of examples of how people always long to deny God simply so that they are not held accountable to a higher authority. In fact, all other religions offer ultimate control over your life to you. If you make it to the end of this email, I’ll explain more on that, but there’s no use denying that no one can be trusted with objectivity even in scientific research. We look to prove what we wish to be true (whether in the way we do research or the way we interpret results).
"Christianity is good, but truth is subjective" ~John Doe
Hello John Doe,
Thanks so much for writing. I really enjoyed the message you wrote, and I love to talk about this subject. I've answered your statements in turn (your comments in blue), and I would dearly appreciate your feedback. I hope you find my responses entertaining, if not enlightening. I am certainly not qualified to answer for Christianity, God or the Bible as a whole, but think of me as someone making the same journey of discovery as you and just here to compare notes from the paths I've travelled with yours...
Every human being has a universal right to his or her own supernatural beliefs. I will not attempt to disprove your message, but instead give insight as to why it does not work for my own life.
That is very respectful, and I appreciate where you're coming from.
The human brain has an incredible need to structure and organize information coming from the world. The question "Is there really a god?" really boils down to "why are we here?" An uncountable number of beliefs and religions spawned from this very question. People need to answer this question for themselves, based on what is right for them.
While I agree that humanity likes to categorize and define, and I agree that we're all imprinted with a strong desire to find out "why we are here" and what purpose there is to life, I'd like you to clarify this idea of "what is right for them". What do you think makes an answer right for one person and not for another?
Once you believe something fully, in faith, it becomes truth, and it is truth. Truth is subjective to the individual. What is true for one person may not be true for another. God does exist; he will exist as long as people believe in him. People will find an answer to the eternal question if that is what he or she is set out to do. "You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you." (Jeremiah 29: 13-14)
I'm afraid the statement "Truth is subjective to the individual" especially the implying "all truth" is impossible. Since the statement itself is one of truth, in order for it to be true, it would have to be subjective itself and not always true (click here for more info or visit www.rzim.com). In philosophy, this is known as a "self-defeating" statement. By it's own definition, it cannot be so.
Even moreso, if something is true to those who believe it, I believe that God is real and that those who reject Him are REALLY going to Hell (not because I or even God wants that to happen). If you are right, Christianity is true for those who believe it. But Christianity says that there is only one truth. In other words, if you are right then you are wrong. My grandfather claims to believe in relativism, and my mother asked him "so, you believe that I will go to Heaven when I die because that's what I believe, and that you will go to nothing because that's what you believe?" He admitted, "No, I don't think you'll go to heaven" thus admitting that he doesn't in fact ascribe to relativism or subjective truth. I pose the same question to you.
In my own life, I spent my childhood years in the church, and I still respect the institution for what it does. Community outreach programs are fantastic for the world. The saying "what goes around comes around" is true on a global scale. The world is like a messy bedroom. People throw dirty laundry everywhere and then wonder where the stench is coming from. As John Donne writes in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' that "No man is an Island, entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main." We're all stuck on this rock together, and our actions will undoubtedly affect other humans. The institution of the church understands better than any other.
I appreciate your respect for the church. Scripture tells us that God loves all people and in fact that God is Love. It even says that a Christian who fails to love his brother (anyone) is not actually a Christian (1 John 4:20). However, CS Lewis makes a good point that Christianity is not about being helpful primarily. He says "Christianity claims to give an account of facts - to tell you what the real universe is like… If Christianity is untrue, then no honest man will want to believe it, however helpful it mioght be: if it is true, every honest man will want to believe it, even if it gives him no help at all… Here is a door behind which, according to some people, the secret of the universe is waiting for you. Either that's true, or it isn't. And if it isn't, then what the door really conceals is simply the greatest fraud, the most colossal 'sell' on record. Isn't it obviously the job of every man (that is a man and not a rabbit) to try to find out which, and then to devote his full energies either to serving this tremendous secret or to exposing and destroying this gigantic humbug? Faced with such and issue, can you really remain wholly absorbed in your own blessed 'moral development'?"
Unfortunately, there are some beliefs that just do not work for me. One is that there is a single correct way of thinking, one way in and one way out.
I'd like to hear your opinions on why this doesn't work. For me, it makes sense that if someone created us, they would want us to know and have a relationship with him, not just come up with whatever we want and have nothing to do with him. The idea of "whatever you feel like is fine" only works if there in fact is no God at all. Besides, everything else in life works the same. You can't expect to keep a job if you break your employers rules no matter how hard your own beliefs differ. And, unlike in Bugs Bunny, the force of gravity doesn't cease to make you fall just because you don't believe in it.
My personal truths are different in some areas. To me, the conclusion cannot be drawn that because something is very complex, it means it had to be created by God. If medieval knights saw a commercial airline jet, they would attribute it in some way to a vehicle of a supernatural being.
That's true, complexity alone doesn't prove God's existence. It is, however, a strong piece of evidence. As you say, if knights saw an airplane, they'd think it was created by God and they'd be wrong (at least not directly). However, they would be correct to identify it as designed by someone. Complexity may not prove God Himself, but I believe it does necessitate a designer.
The Earth is a near perfect place for life to exist. What are the odds that out of billions of galaxies that just one star may have a planet, say, about 93million miles from the sun? Chances are there are a few.
It's true that chances are good that there are a few other planets with the right distance from a star, but that is only one of several dozen specific requirements that must be met in order for life to be possible. The chances of all of these being met in one planet are astronomically against. The number of galaxies in space doesn't come anywhere even close to providing the number of planets it would take to produce even one by chance (I don't have a source to quote off-hand, but if you're interested, I believe I can find it again).
On the subject of biology, I believe there are holes in both evolution and creation. Not enough is known about evolution to trace back to the very first living organism. In my personal belief, I believe neither is completely true, and without sufficient evidence, leave it at that.
I don't disagree with you about evolution and creation not having enough knowledge to prove either way. I believe there will never be enough evidence to produce 100% certainty, at least until judgment day. If there were, and God could be totally proven, then we'd have no choice but to believe in Him, no need for faith and no free will.
God pursues those who pursue him, and those who need him, will follow him.
Please elaborate on "those who need him, will follow him." Do you mean what Marx and Nietsche meant that people believe in God because they want there to be someone there taking care of them, or did you mean something else? I would respond to that, but I don't want to waste your time if that's not what you meant.
In conclusion, I believe that God is real for those who believe in him, and has had a greater impact on the world than any other ideal. True subjectivity means there is more than more answer to the question, and it varies for each person. In my own believe, since no conclusion can be drawn, I will leave it at that and take life as it comes.
So, you have not drawn a conclusion for yourself. But, just because you don't know what the answer is, does not mean there is no single answer. Does it not strike you that to "take life as it comes" is just to ignore an issue that you really don't have settled for yourself? I may be wrong in what I believe, but I am actively seeking the truth. I don't ever want to shut out possibilities without considering them, because I may find out after it's too late that there was something vitally true that I was too lazy to investigate.
One final question for you. If you believe that truth is relative, then you must also believe that morality is subjective. If that is true, how can you claim anything to be unfair or unjust? How can you say that the murder of innocent children or a stranger punching you in the nose is wrong?
Again, I hope this helps in some way, and I'd love to hear your response. I hope to hear from you soon, and continue this path of mutual discovery!
Your friend,
~Jeff
Thanks so much for writing. I really enjoyed the message you wrote, and I love to talk about this subject. I've answered your statements in turn (your comments in blue), and I would dearly appreciate your feedback. I hope you find my responses entertaining, if not enlightening. I am certainly not qualified to answer for Christianity, God or the Bible as a whole, but think of me as someone making the same journey of discovery as you and just here to compare notes from the paths I've travelled with yours...
Every human being has a universal right to his or her own supernatural beliefs. I will not attempt to disprove your message, but instead give insight as to why it does not work for my own life.
That is very respectful, and I appreciate where you're coming from.
The human brain has an incredible need to structure and organize information coming from the world. The question "Is there really a god?" really boils down to "why are we here?" An uncountable number of beliefs and religions spawned from this very question. People need to answer this question for themselves, based on what is right for them.
While I agree that humanity likes to categorize and define, and I agree that we're all imprinted with a strong desire to find out "why we are here" and what purpose there is to life, I'd like you to clarify this idea of "what is right for them". What do you think makes an answer right for one person and not for another?
Once you believe something fully, in faith, it becomes truth, and it is truth. Truth is subjective to the individual. What is true for one person may not be true for another. God does exist; he will exist as long as people believe in him. People will find an answer to the eternal question if that is what he or she is set out to do. "You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you." (Jeremiah 29: 13-14)
I'm afraid the statement "Truth is subjective to the individual" especially the implying "all truth" is impossible. Since the statement itself is one of truth, in order for it to be true, it would have to be subjective itself and not always true (click here for more info or visit www.rzim.com). In philosophy, this is known as a "self-defeating" statement. By it's own definition, it cannot be so.
Even moreso, if something is true to those who believe it, I believe that God is real and that those who reject Him are REALLY going to Hell (not because I or even God wants that to happen). If you are right, Christianity is true for those who believe it. But Christianity says that there is only one truth. In other words, if you are right then you are wrong. My grandfather claims to believe in relativism, and my mother asked him "so, you believe that I will go to Heaven when I die because that's what I believe, and that you will go to nothing because that's what you believe?" He admitted, "No, I don't think you'll go to heaven" thus admitting that he doesn't in fact ascribe to relativism or subjective truth. I pose the same question to you.
In my own life, I spent my childhood years in the church, and I still respect the institution for what it does. Community outreach programs are fantastic for the world. The saying "what goes around comes around" is true on a global scale. The world is like a messy bedroom. People throw dirty laundry everywhere and then wonder where the stench is coming from. As John Donne writes in 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' that "No man is an Island, entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main." We're all stuck on this rock together, and our actions will undoubtedly affect other humans. The institution of the church understands better than any other.
I appreciate your respect for the church. Scripture tells us that God loves all people and in fact that God is Love. It even says that a Christian who fails to love his brother (anyone) is not actually a Christian (1 John 4:20). However, CS Lewis makes a good point that Christianity is not about being helpful primarily. He says "Christianity claims to give an account of facts - to tell you what the real universe is like… If Christianity is untrue, then no honest man will want to believe it, however helpful it mioght be: if it is true, every honest man will want to believe it, even if it gives him no help at all… Here is a door behind which, according to some people, the secret of the universe is waiting for you. Either that's true, or it isn't. And if it isn't, then what the door really conceals is simply the greatest fraud, the most colossal 'sell' on record. Isn't it obviously the job of every man (that is a man and not a rabbit) to try to find out which, and then to devote his full energies either to serving this tremendous secret or to exposing and destroying this gigantic humbug? Faced with such and issue, can you really remain wholly absorbed in your own blessed 'moral development'?"
Unfortunately, there are some beliefs that just do not work for me. One is that there is a single correct way of thinking, one way in and one way out.
I'd like to hear your opinions on why this doesn't work. For me, it makes sense that if someone created us, they would want us to know and have a relationship with him, not just come up with whatever we want and have nothing to do with him. The idea of "whatever you feel like is fine" only works if there in fact is no God at all. Besides, everything else in life works the same. You can't expect to keep a job if you break your employers rules no matter how hard your own beliefs differ. And, unlike in Bugs Bunny, the force of gravity doesn't cease to make you fall just because you don't believe in it.
My personal truths are different in some areas. To me, the conclusion cannot be drawn that because something is very complex, it means it had to be created by God. If medieval knights saw a commercial airline jet, they would attribute it in some way to a vehicle of a supernatural being.
That's true, complexity alone doesn't prove God's existence. It is, however, a strong piece of evidence. As you say, if knights saw an airplane, they'd think it was created by God and they'd be wrong (at least not directly). However, they would be correct to identify it as designed by someone. Complexity may not prove God Himself, but I believe it does necessitate a designer.
The Earth is a near perfect place for life to exist. What are the odds that out of billions of galaxies that just one star may have a planet, say, about 93million miles from the sun? Chances are there are a few.
It's true that chances are good that there are a few other planets with the right distance from a star, but that is only one of several dozen specific requirements that must be met in order for life to be possible. The chances of all of these being met in one planet are astronomically against. The number of galaxies in space doesn't come anywhere even close to providing the number of planets it would take to produce even one by chance (I don't have a source to quote off-hand, but if you're interested, I believe I can find it again).
On the subject of biology, I believe there are holes in both evolution and creation. Not enough is known about evolution to trace back to the very first living organism. In my personal belief, I believe neither is completely true, and without sufficient evidence, leave it at that.
I don't disagree with you about evolution and creation not having enough knowledge to prove either way. I believe there will never be enough evidence to produce 100% certainty, at least until judgment day. If there were, and God could be totally proven, then we'd have no choice but to believe in Him, no need for faith and no free will.
God pursues those who pursue him, and those who need him, will follow him.
Please elaborate on "those who need him, will follow him." Do you mean what Marx and Nietsche meant that people believe in God because they want there to be someone there taking care of them, or did you mean something else? I would respond to that, but I don't want to waste your time if that's not what you meant.
In conclusion, I believe that God is real for those who believe in him, and has had a greater impact on the world than any other ideal. True subjectivity means there is more than more answer to the question, and it varies for each person. In my own believe, since no conclusion can be drawn, I will leave it at that and take life as it comes.
So, you have not drawn a conclusion for yourself. But, just because you don't know what the answer is, does not mean there is no single answer. Does it not strike you that to "take life as it comes" is just to ignore an issue that you really don't have settled for yourself? I may be wrong in what I believe, but I am actively seeking the truth. I don't ever want to shut out possibilities without considering them, because I may find out after it's too late that there was something vitally true that I was too lazy to investigate.
One final question for you. If you believe that truth is relative, then you must also believe that morality is subjective. If that is true, how can you claim anything to be unfair or unjust? How can you say that the murder of innocent children or a stranger punching you in the nose is wrong?
Again, I hope this helps in some way, and I'd love to hear your response. I hope to hear from you soon, and continue this path of mutual discovery!
Your friend,
~Jeff
"Paul wasn't an Apostle of Jesus. He was an enemy" ~Mumuni
You are right that as Saul, he was not an apostle, but an enemy of Christ and His followers. However, in Acts 22, Paul gives the testimony of how he went from enemy to apostle because of God's divine intervention. Since that time, Paul signed his letters "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God" (Ephesians 1:1) and Peter himself (the disciple Jesus entitled "the rock on which I will build my church") says to listen to Paul who was given wisdom by God and equates Pauls writings with the rest of God-breathed scripture (2 Peter 3:15-17). Paul as well as all of the disciples and many others died painful deaths because the believed Jesus was and is God. Though some people may be willing to die for what they believe to be true and may be mistaken, no one would die for what they know to be false and made up themselves.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to give me feedback or ask any other questions. If any of this has had an impact on your view of God or Jesus, please read this article with an open heart and let me know if there's anything more I can do to help you.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to give me feedback or ask any other questions. If any of this has had an impact on your view of God or Jesus, please read this article with an open heart and let me know if there's anything more I can do to help you.
"Was Jesus God?" ~Mumuni
Was Jesus God or god?
The Christian claim is that Jesus is God (not just a god), an equal part of the trinity (Father, Son and Spirit).
Then who ruled the world while Jesus was in the womb?
The trinity is a tricky concept. So tricky, in fact, that it is beyond human reason to fully understand while bound to mortality and rooted in time (eternity is similarly beyond us to fully grasp). However, the best I have been able to explain it is to say that the Father, Son and Spirit are three distinct beings but one God at the same time. Some scriptures that depict this concept are:
Genesis 1:26 where God says "let US make man in OUR image" using plural words for describing Himself, but a singular word for "image".
Mark 1:9-11 where all three members of the trinity are present in separate forms.
The term "trinity" is not found in the Bible explicitly, the term was coined in one of the first church councels in the 1st or 2nd century BC, but is clearly demonstrated in Jesus' command to baptize people in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). It was recognized as complete blasphemy to baptize someone in the name of anyone but God.
Where did Jesus claim to be God?
Jesus never says the phrase "I am God" in the scriptures to my knowledge, but he does very clearly claim to be God on several occassions. My favorite is Mark 2:5-12, where he forgives the paralytic of his sins and is accused of blasphemy because "who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus then demonstrates his Godly authority by healing the man. In John 5:18, people are ready to kill Jesus because he was "making himself equal to God."
For more on this, check out this this article.
Where did Jesus say "worship me"?
Jesus never told people to worship him. In fact, He said not to glorify Him, but to give all glory to the Father who sent Him. It is likewise inappropriate to pray to or worship the Holy Spirit. The point is that each aspect of God has a different purpose:
God the Father created us and receives our prayers and all glory
God the Son showed us how to live and died to redeem our relationship with the Father by paying the price for sin
God the Spirit lives inside us, giving us understanding of the scriptures, convicting us of sin, and urging us to become more like Jesus
"Where Adam and Eve the 1st Humans on Earth?" ~Johnnie
Hello Johnnie,
The short answer is: "Yes!" Genesis 2 is an account of God creating the earth and Adam and Eve. Tell me though, why do you ask? If you have doubts that God could create the world from two people, or other aspects of the beginning of humanity, I can go into further detail. I just don't want to give you a speech without knowing what question you really are asking.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to give me feedback or ask any other questions. If this has had an impact on your view of God or Jesus, please read this article with an open heart and let me know if there's anything more I can do to help you.
Take care, and may God bless your life, that you may be a blessing to others!
The short answer is: "Yes!" Genesis 2 is an account of God creating the earth and Adam and Eve. Tell me though, why do you ask? If you have doubts that God could create the world from two people, or other aspects of the beginning of humanity, I can go into further detail. I just don't want to give you a speech without knowing what question you really are asking.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to give me feedback or ask any other questions. If this has had an impact on your view of God or Jesus, please read this article with an open heart and let me know if there's anything more I can do to help you.
Take care, and may God bless your life, that you may be a blessing to others!
"Who was Cain's wife?" ~Ralph
If there were only 4 people on earth, who was Cain's wife?
This is an intriguing question, but certainly not a barrier to faith in God.
There's a really neat article on this if you follow the link below, but the short answer is that Cain would have married another of Adam's descendants. according to Genesis 5:4, Adam lived at least 930 years and had other sons and daughters. Some historians say that he had as many as 56 kids. If you consider 14-20 years per generation (since women became mothers very early until recent years) the number of possible descendents Adam would have had in his own lifetime would be staggering. The Bible doesn't say when Cain killed Able, or how many children Adam had at the time. We don't even know whether Able was the second born, though he was probably the second son at least.
It seems to me that this issue is not the source of your doubts, but just fuel to the fire. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like your true struggle is with the goodness of God. We cannot fully understand God, but we do get some pretty good clues as to why God allows us to suffer on earth. Check out this Everystudent article and a follow-up conversation I had with someone.
For further evidence of God's existence, surf the EveryStudent website, particularly the articles at this page this page.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to give me feedback or ask any other questions. If any of this has had an impact on your view of God or Jesus, please read this article with an open heart and let me know if there's anything more I can do to help you.
This is an intriguing question, but certainly not a barrier to faith in God.
There's a really neat article on this if you follow the link below, but the short answer is that Cain would have married another of Adam's descendants. according to Genesis 5:4, Adam lived at least 930 years and had other sons and daughters. Some historians say that he had as many as 56 kids. If you consider 14-20 years per generation (since women became mothers very early until recent years) the number of possible descendents Adam would have had in his own lifetime would be staggering. The Bible doesn't say when Cain killed Able, or how many children Adam had at the time. We don't even know whether Able was the second born, though he was probably the second son at least.
It seems to me that this issue is not the source of your doubts, but just fuel to the fire. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like your true struggle is with the goodness of God. We cannot fully understand God, but we do get some pretty good clues as to why God allows us to suffer on earth. Check out this Everystudent article and a follow-up conversation I had with someone.
For further evidence of God's existence, surf the EveryStudent website, particularly the articles at this page this page.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to give me feedback or ask any other questions. If any of this has had an impact on your view of God or Jesus, please read this article with an open heart and let me know if there's anything more I can do to help you.
"Why won't God give me what I ask?" ~Ralph
Doubting God
First, let me say that questioning the existence of God and the validity of the Bible is not shameful. Many Christians feel like they need to hide their feelings of doubt, because it means they're not being faithful to God, not being "good Christians" and that they'll be judged by their churchmates. Well, they may be judged, because Christians are sinful and silly sometimes, but doubt doesn't make you a rebel against God, I think He encourages us to investigate, question and struggle with the mysteries He's lain before us (Philippians 2:12). If God is the God of truth, then your search for truth will lead you to Him more strongly than ever in the end. I pasted links to some great articles about proof of God near the bottom of this email.
Why don't I get what I prayed for?
I have often thought about this confusing situation myself. It seems in one instance, that God promises to do whatever we ask Him (Matthew 17:20), but in others God clearly denies people their requests (2 Samuel 12:16-18, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9). I think a verse that helps clear this up is John 15:16. At first, it just looks like another example of Matthew 17:20, but there's a key detail Jesus explains here. He says "the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." A commentary I read said that "This is equivalent to saying on my account, or for my sake." Name in Bible culture means the entirety of who a person is, and includes their will and mission. Some translations say "whatever you ask in my will" which doesn't get the whole meaning, but is more helpful for this concept. In other words, when our hearts are truly aligned with God, we will ask for the things God wants to give us. It is a common error that praying to God is like writing a letter to Santa, and that He's there to give us everything we want. Though He does love us and wants to give us the desires of our hearts, it is we that were created for Him. Think of it more like approaching your king with a humble request. Though He's also your Father, He is still the King, and He must make the final decisions about what is right for us to have.
Why would God give me a stone, when I ask for bread? (Matthew 7:9)
This sounds more like a doubt about the character of God than of the existence of God. Still, you're not alone in your struggle! In fact, CS Lewis (the author of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) said that he disbelieved God for years because of the unfairness of life. In his books Mere Christianity and Surprised by Joy he explains that he came to realize that he couldn't call anything fair or unfair or even good or bad if God didn't exist.
You can also try googling "when God says no" and turn up a bunch of interesting resourcs. There's a great "Nooma" video on this subject called "Kickball". The basic point of this is that, like we know what's best for our children more than they do, God knows best what's best for us, and for the whole world. In addition to being way smarter than we are, God can see the big picture of everyone else's lives (how they intertwine) and all of history (how one event will lead to another). I don't know why God has chosen to say "no" or "not yet" to your request, I don't even know what your request is, but I know it's not because He doesn't love you (more likely it's because He does). Let me explain, or rather let CS Lewis explain...
I've often struggled with why God sometimes feels so absent in my life. Sometimes I can feel Him so clearly at work, and other times, no matter how hard I pray, I just feel like I'm talking to myself. I've wondered if it was my fault, if some sin or idol was getting in the way, and sometimes I think that is true. Other times, though, it seems like I'm really giving my best and getting nothing back. Oddly enough, I found some real encouragement from the words of a demon :). CS Lewis wrote a book called The Screwtape Letters which are from the perspective of one demon to another on how to best keep people away from God. In one letter, he talks about how people's spiritual feelings have ups and downs, and explains:
"He [God] will set them [people] off with communications of His presence which, though faint, seem great to them, with emotional sweetness, and easy conquest over temptation. But He never allows this state of affairs to last long. Sooner or later He withdraws, if not in fact, at least from their conscious experience, all those supports and incentives. He leaves the creature [person] to stand up on its own legs—to carry out from the will alone duties which have lost all relish. It is during such trough periods, much more than during the peak periods, that it [the person] is growing into the sort of creature He wants it to be. Hence the prayers offered in the state of dryness are those which please Him best... He cannot "tempt" to virtue as we [demons] do to vice. He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles... Our cause [Satan's cause] is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys."
First, let me say that questioning the existence of God and the validity of the Bible is not shameful. Many Christians feel like they need to hide their feelings of doubt, because it means they're not being faithful to God, not being "good Christians" and that they'll be judged by their churchmates. Well, they may be judged, because Christians are sinful and silly sometimes, but doubt doesn't make you a rebel against God, I think He encourages us to investigate, question and struggle with the mysteries He's lain before us (Philippians 2:12). If God is the God of truth, then your search for truth will lead you to Him more strongly than ever in the end. I pasted links to some great articles about proof of God near the bottom of this email.
Why don't I get what I prayed for?
I have often thought about this confusing situation myself. It seems in one instance, that God promises to do whatever we ask Him (Matthew 17:20), but in others God clearly denies people their requests (2 Samuel 12:16-18, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9). I think a verse that helps clear this up is John 15:16. At first, it just looks like another example of Matthew 17:20, but there's a key detail Jesus explains here. He says "the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." A commentary I read said that "This is equivalent to saying on my account, or for my sake." Name in Bible culture means the entirety of who a person is, and includes their will and mission. Some translations say "whatever you ask in my will" which doesn't get the whole meaning, but is more helpful for this concept. In other words, when our hearts are truly aligned with God, we will ask for the things God wants to give us. It is a common error that praying to God is like writing a letter to Santa, and that He's there to give us everything we want. Though He does love us and wants to give us the desires of our hearts, it is we that were created for Him. Think of it more like approaching your king with a humble request. Though He's also your Father, He is still the King, and He must make the final decisions about what is right for us to have.
Why would God give me a stone, when I ask for bread? (Matthew 7:9)
This sounds more like a doubt about the character of God than of the existence of God. Still, you're not alone in your struggle! In fact, CS Lewis (the author of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) said that he disbelieved God for years because of the unfairness of life. In his books Mere Christianity and Surprised by Joy he explains that he came to realize that he couldn't call anything fair or unfair or even good or bad if God didn't exist.
You can also try googling "when God says no" and turn up a bunch of interesting resourcs. There's a great "Nooma" video on this subject called "Kickball". The basic point of this is that, like we know what's best for our children more than they do, God knows best what's best for us, and for the whole world. In addition to being way smarter than we are, God can see the big picture of everyone else's lives (how they intertwine) and all of history (how one event will lead to another). I don't know why God has chosen to say "no" or "not yet" to your request, I don't even know what your request is, but I know it's not because He doesn't love you (more likely it's because He does). Let me explain, or rather let CS Lewis explain...
I've often struggled with why God sometimes feels so absent in my life. Sometimes I can feel Him so clearly at work, and other times, no matter how hard I pray, I just feel like I'm talking to myself. I've wondered if it was my fault, if some sin or idol was getting in the way, and sometimes I think that is true. Other times, though, it seems like I'm really giving my best and getting nothing back. Oddly enough, I found some real encouragement from the words of a demon :). CS Lewis wrote a book called The Screwtape Letters which are from the perspective of one demon to another on how to best keep people away from God. In one letter, he talks about how people's spiritual feelings have ups and downs, and explains:
"He [God] will set them [people] off with communications of His presence which, though faint, seem great to them, with emotional sweetness, and easy conquest over temptation. But He never allows this state of affairs to last long. Sooner or later He withdraws, if not in fact, at least from their conscious experience, all those supports and incentives. He leaves the creature [person] to stand up on its own legs—to carry out from the will alone duties which have lost all relish. It is during such trough periods, much more than during the peak periods, that it [the person] is growing into the sort of creature He wants it to be. Hence the prayers offered in the state of dryness are those which please Him best... He cannot "tempt" to virtue as we [demons] do to vice. He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles... Our cause [Satan's cause] is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys."
"Why does God allow evil rulers?" ~R
Hello R,
Thanks again for writing! You ask some very important questions, and I can see that you're in a lot of pain. I can understand your frustrations, and I share them quite a bit. I don't claim to have a 100% answer for you, as I am on this journey of discovery as much as you are, but I'll share what I have seen through my journey, and I hope it helps you. At the same time, I am praying that God reveal Himself to you and bring understanding, or at least comfort through this difficult and painful life. I can tell you that the primary way to persevere through this life is to seek the Creator of all life, discover who He is and what He is like, and to strive to come alongside His grand mission for this world.
Does God have no control over Governments? Why does God allow evil people to get authority?
To answer this first question, yes He does have control. Daniel 2:21 actually says that God has the power to set up kings and despose of them. This 2nd question is much tougher. We cannot completely understand why God takes specific actions, because He is so far beyond us (Isaiah 55:9). It's like trying to know what a puzzle looks like, when you're just one of the pieces. What we do know is that God is good and that He loves us (1 John 4:8). He is willing to allow us to suffer for a time, though, if it means accomplishing something greater.
Common man has to suffer for leaders' mistakes.
There's a great EveryStudent article on Why Do Bad Things Happen. The short of it is: if God took away our ability to do evil in this world, we wouldn't have free will. This doesn't explain natural disasters (there are many very good reasons why God allows temporary suffering to achieve eternal good), but human-incurred evil is a necessary result of free will. If you want to know more about those other ideas about God allowing evil, check out my message to another EveryStudent question: problem of evil.
Why do the wicked flurish, and not the righteous? Will God punish them?
King David struggled through the same feelings throughout the Psalms and Lamentations. Psalm 10 is a great example of this. This passage answers your second question, with David's absolute confidence that God will make things right. Much of the book of Revelation also shows God bringing justice and setting things right. One answer to your first question is that the Devil is Prince of this sinful world (John 14:29-31). Don't worry, though, the devil will not remain in control forever (John 16:11), nor will evil men (Isaiah 24:21).
The question remains, "why doesn't God just kill all evil people?" I believe the answer is found in Matthew 13:24-29; 36-43. Jesus compares evil men to weeds and those who follow Him as wheat, saying they are sown together. The key is verse 29, where God tells the angels not to destroy the weeds for fear of damaging the good plants. God is waiting until all are grown and have had a chance to repent and follow Him. The explanation in 36-43 is another assurance that justice will come to the evil and the righteous when the time is right.
I do not like my life and this bad world, because God has not given me any power or authority, but has given it to the wrong people.
I'm sorry that you are unhappy, my friend! I'm afraid you will always be unhappy if you rely on your worldly circumstances for that happiness. Trust me, I went through all that (see my story for details). True and lasting Joy comes from a right relationship with the one who made us and fulfilling the purpose for which He created us (John 17:4). Phillipians 3:19-21 also explains that we weren't really made for this world, so we shouldn't and probably won't feel at home here.
You have more power than you think, though. Political authority is actually very limited. You have the power to affect the lives of those around you for good or ill. That's incredible power! This is why I chose to work for Campus Crusade for Christ. God has placed me in position to help change the hearts of thousands of college students (many of whom will go on to be major influencers in world government, media, etc). Rather than despairing with the lot God's given you, concentrate on using what He's given (contacts, job, location, resources, time) to do the most good you can. Remember the words of the serenity prayer.
So can you do something for me so that what I want will start to happen?
The point is not for what WE want to happen, but to help fulfill God's mission and plan, that is way bigger than our desires and even our lives. We look for immediate and temporary satisfaction, but God is aiming for eternal goodness and purity. Since we can't even achieve either of these in ourselves apart from Him, we need to trust God to lead us and instruct us in how to bring about His kingdom, and not get hung up on our limited expectations (Proverbs 3:5).
Our job as Christians is to show the world the truth and light by example... to reflect and radiate the love and presence of God, that people may see us and praise God, falling in love and obedience with the Creator of the Universe who also wants to be our Father. To do this, we are not to rebel and topple authorities, as the Jews hoped Jesus would come to do, but to submit to those authorities, knowing that God placed them there during this time (even if we don't understand why) Romans 13:1. Life on this sinful earth is not fair (that's our fault), but this life is a VERY short training ground compared to eternity.
The Bible actually says to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-3). We are not fit to judge any other man's heart. When God moves in a person's life, even the worst person can become a mighty servant of the Almighty and All-Loving God.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to give me feedback or ask any other questions.
If any of this has had an impact on your view of God or Jesus, please read this article with an open heart and let me know if there's anything more I can do to help you.
Take care, and may God bless your life, that you may be a blessing to others!
Jeff Grant
God Questions
Original Message
My Greetings to you!
In this world their are people who are corrupt or are enemy of freedom. They want to take or curb individual's personal freedom.
Well I do not understand why God permits such peopleto come into power. Because such people when they get authoritythey misuse their powers. They do not do what they should doinstead they do wrong things. Such person come to serve their own selfish interests or they try to curb the freedom which common man like me enjoy all in the name of morality, values or traditions. They basically do things which is "right" according to them which is usually based upon their upbringing although a significant part of population does not agrees to it at all.They have their own prejudices which are wrong.
Who are these to take away the freedom and decide for a billion people?
So God has no influence, control over such such Governments and Government personnels? Has God left them on their free will?They do wrong thing but common man has to suffer for it.
I wish God to immediately kill them or make them severely sick so they will be forced to step down. God must punish such people. Will God do this?
Instead such people are prospering. God did not save my father but has given them a very long life.
Infact this is also one of the reason I do not like my life and thisbad world. God has not given me any power or authority. But has given itto wrong people.
I have just disapporoved this God created world.
So can you do something for me so that what I want will start to happen?
~R
Thanks again for writing! You ask some very important questions, and I can see that you're in a lot of pain. I can understand your frustrations, and I share them quite a bit. I don't claim to have a 100% answer for you, as I am on this journey of discovery as much as you are, but I'll share what I have seen through my journey, and I hope it helps you. At the same time, I am praying that God reveal Himself to you and bring understanding, or at least comfort through this difficult and painful life. I can tell you that the primary way to persevere through this life is to seek the Creator of all life, discover who He is and what He is like, and to strive to come alongside His grand mission for this world.
Does God have no control over Governments? Why does God allow evil people to get authority?
To answer this first question, yes He does have control. Daniel 2:21 actually says that God has the power to set up kings and despose of them. This 2nd question is much tougher. We cannot completely understand why God takes specific actions, because He is so far beyond us (Isaiah 55:9). It's like trying to know what a puzzle looks like, when you're just one of the pieces. What we do know is that God is good and that He loves us (1 John 4:8). He is willing to allow us to suffer for a time, though, if it means accomplishing something greater.
Common man has to suffer for leaders' mistakes.
There's a great EveryStudent article on Why Do Bad Things Happen. The short of it is: if God took away our ability to do evil in this world, we wouldn't have free will. This doesn't explain natural disasters (there are many very good reasons why God allows temporary suffering to achieve eternal good), but human-incurred evil is a necessary result of free will. If you want to know more about those other ideas about God allowing evil, check out my message to another EveryStudent question: problem of evil.
Why do the wicked flurish, and not the righteous? Will God punish them?
King David struggled through the same feelings throughout the Psalms and Lamentations. Psalm 10 is a great example of this. This passage answers your second question, with David's absolute confidence that God will make things right. Much of the book of Revelation also shows God bringing justice and setting things right. One answer to your first question is that the Devil is Prince of this sinful world (John 14:29-31). Don't worry, though, the devil will not remain in control forever (John 16:11), nor will evil men (Isaiah 24:21).
The question remains, "why doesn't God just kill all evil people?" I believe the answer is found in Matthew 13:24-29; 36-43. Jesus compares evil men to weeds and those who follow Him as wheat, saying they are sown together. The key is verse 29, where God tells the angels not to destroy the weeds for fear of damaging the good plants. God is waiting until all are grown and have had a chance to repent and follow Him. The explanation in 36-43 is another assurance that justice will come to the evil and the righteous when the time is right.
I do not like my life and this bad world, because God has not given me any power or authority, but has given it to the wrong people.
I'm sorry that you are unhappy, my friend! I'm afraid you will always be unhappy if you rely on your worldly circumstances for that happiness. Trust me, I went through all that (see my story for details). True and lasting Joy comes from a right relationship with the one who made us and fulfilling the purpose for which He created us (John 17:4). Phillipians 3:19-21 also explains that we weren't really made for this world, so we shouldn't and probably won't feel at home here.
You have more power than you think, though. Political authority is actually very limited. You have the power to affect the lives of those around you for good or ill. That's incredible power! This is why I chose to work for Campus Crusade for Christ. God has placed me in position to help change the hearts of thousands of college students (many of whom will go on to be major influencers in world government, media, etc). Rather than despairing with the lot God's given you, concentrate on using what He's given (contacts, job, location, resources, time) to do the most good you can. Remember the words of the serenity prayer.
So can you do something for me so that what I want will start to happen?
The point is not for what WE want to happen, but to help fulfill God's mission and plan, that is way bigger than our desires and even our lives. We look for immediate and temporary satisfaction, but God is aiming for eternal goodness and purity. Since we can't even achieve either of these in ourselves apart from Him, we need to trust God to lead us and instruct us in how to bring about His kingdom, and not get hung up on our limited expectations (Proverbs 3:5).
Our job as Christians is to show the world the truth and light by example... to reflect and radiate the love and presence of God, that people may see us and praise God, falling in love and obedience with the Creator of the Universe who also wants to be our Father. To do this, we are not to rebel and topple authorities, as the Jews hoped Jesus would come to do, but to submit to those authorities, knowing that God placed them there during this time (even if we don't understand why) Romans 13:1. Life on this sinful earth is not fair (that's our fault), but this life is a VERY short training ground compared to eternity.
The Bible actually says to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-3). We are not fit to judge any other man's heart. When God moves in a person's life, even the worst person can become a mighty servant of the Almighty and All-Loving God.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to give me feedback or ask any other questions.
If any of this has had an impact on your view of God or Jesus, please read this article with an open heart and let me know if there's anything more I can do to help you.
Take care, and may God bless your life, that you may be a blessing to others!
Jeff Grant
God Questions
Original Message
My Greetings to you!
In this world their are people who are corrupt or are enemy of freedom. They want to take or curb individual's personal freedom.
Well I do not understand why God permits such peopleto come into power. Because such people when they get authoritythey misuse their powers. They do not do what they should doinstead they do wrong things. Such person come to serve their own selfish interests or they try to curb the freedom which common man like me enjoy all in the name of morality, values or traditions. They basically do things which is "right" according to them which is usually based upon their upbringing although a significant part of population does not agrees to it at all.They have their own prejudices which are wrong.
Who are these to take away the freedom and decide for a billion people?
So God has no influence, control over such such Governments and Government personnels? Has God left them on their free will?They do wrong thing but common man has to suffer for it.
I wish God to immediately kill them or make them severely sick so they will be forced to step down. God must punish such people. Will God do this?
Instead such people are prospering. God did not save my father but has given them a very long life.
Infact this is also one of the reason I do not like my life and thisbad world. God has not given me any power or authority. But has given itto wrong people.
I have just disapporoved this God created world.
So can you do something for me so that what I want will start to happen?
~R
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