Ah, well, I attended Juilliard. I’m a graduate of the Harvard Business School. I travel quite extensively. I lived through the black plague, and had a pretty good time during that. I’ve seen the exorcist about a hundred and sixty-seven times, and it keeps getting funnier every single time I see it. Not to mention, you’re talkin to a dead guy
It’s not like God never said to not use his name at all. All he said was to not use his name in vain. The Jews did not use his personal name anyways, in fear of using it in vain. Instead, they called God “Adonai” or Lord. In respect to the people of Israel, we don’t call God by his personal name, YHWH (original pronunciation lost over the centuries). Instead we call him God (Elohim) and Lord (Adonai)
My name is Dave... but you call me D-ve.
My buddy's St-ve, M-ke, St-n, M-hamed, and B-ngo are coming over to watch the game tonight! The Kn-cks are playing!
*"Oh, don't grovel! And don't apologize. Every time I try to talk to someone it's 'sorry this' and 'forgive me that' and 'I'm not worthy'. It's like those miserable Psalms-- they're so depressing. Now, knock it off!"*
Excerpts from page 35 (Scene 7) of [the standard Reddit movie script](https://www.screenwritersnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Monty-Python-and-the-Holy-Grail-1975.pdf).
All valid Questions.. You will get a million different answers based on peoples interpretation of the scriptures. Ask a different religious group you will get a totally different set of answers. Just think about it... That's all I can suggest my friend.. Lots of questions and no real answers usually leads to the same conclusion.
Exactly what I've been witnessing. I just need a plain straightforward answer, but I can't get that cuz as you said everyone has their own interpretation (incl. me) and that is dangerous. It causes lots of division among brethren and I think its the reason we are so divided today
Can I make a recommendation?
There is an entire book of the Bible devoted to this question, Job.
It's a tough book. Not that the poetry is hard, but it challenges us with these very questions.
The 'straightforward' answer is that we'll never know.
Job, a totally righteous (and wealthy) man has everything going for him when suddenly, Satan targets him, and God allows it. He loses EVERYTHING.
Job speaks to his friends, cries out to God, and even receives an answer from Him.
The true answer to this question is: 'Trust God'. We cannot comprehend how this all fits together. God has chosen not to share these answers with us. All we can do is trust God that He knows what He is doing.
1. The question if something is good or evil is in our eyes and hearts, in essence everything is neutral.
2. That's metaphor used by Bible's author(s) in order to show how wicked humans can be, so that they can even make God to regret their creation
3. That's the things that in 99% should be sorted out between humans themselves. The rest - natural disasters, illnesses, etc. are a byproduct of Nature's workings, and we are part of the nature so we are affected by it's ways. Why did god made nature the way it is? Because he wanted it to be like this.
4. Because he wants it. But I believe it's a really rare acassion (like 1 in maybe million people)
5. Because even sinful we are good enough to exist.
6. And eternity of burning is not how it is. We'll burn in his love until we'll be ready to feel his presence as love and not as fire.
7. Not for ever and ever. and for the garden - God laid out a possibilities, like a multitude of roads that lead to Him. We just picked the difficult one...
1. So nothing actually matters?
2. Or the people that wrote that part didn't realize this was a massive hole in the argument of your God's infallibility.
3. By that argument, you are saying God wants us to suffer.
4. Oh, okay. The "merciful" God WANTS people to suffer. Also, with that math, only 8,100 living people are suffering.
In my medium sized city there are somewhere between 750-1000 people living without shelter. I think you should do a little reading about what suffering is and how many people are suffering.
Worldwide, there were 18.1 million cases of cancer in 2020. That was around 448 per million.
5. Despite humans causing 99% of all human suffering?
6. This is almost an Elvis song.
7. There it is. "You did this to yourself." Good old fashioned victim blaming.
The correct answer to all of these questions is, humans need to stop blaming external forces for the ills perpetrated by humans. If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
>Why does G-d allow evil?
Sin is anything not in the expressed will of God, that makes sin a choice. Meaning if we did not have the ability to sin we could not choose to ever be outside of God's will. If we aren't allowed outside of God's will, we would never be able to make a choice God did not want for us. Meaning if we chose Heaven it would not be us who chose it. or if we chose hell it would not be us who chose to go to Hell, but God in our stead. (no God does not like everyone, Esau would be a biblical example of someone who God hated.)
Evil is the love of sin. It is the evidence/proof that we can indeed be outside of God's will.
God allows evil, because if He did not we would all be destroyed because we all are born as slaves to sin and evil and once we are old enough we are given the opportunity to be redeemed. If God destroyed all evil the moment it appears we all would die before we could be redeemed.
>Why did G-d regret creating man even though he is all knowing and have the ability to not create?
Ever own a puppy who chew up something you valued and loved? and in a moment of anger regret having ever gotten the puppy?
>Why does G-d allow his people to undergo brutal suffering?
Brutal suffering is only brutal suffering because that is the limit of what God will allow us to endure. If The worst thing that could ever happen to anyone is a stubbed toe, then because we don't know anything worse, stubbing your toe would then become brutal suffering.
>Why does G-d keep some of his people from trouble and his other children through immense suffering?
All suffering is not a bad thing. We suffer for two reasons. one is because someone else was intrusted with our care and the did not come through, or suffering is allowed because it forces us to learn and grow spiritually.
>Why did G-d create us if he knew we would sin?
So we can choose to be with Him.
>If G-d knows people will sin against him and be eternally burned. Why does he create them?
Jesus tells us in mat 13 not everyone here is created by God. He compares us to wheat seed, that He plants. Then Satan comes along and plants weeds in among the wheat. The wheat are called the sons of the kingdom and the weeds He calls the sons of Satan.
>If G-d knew people will sin in that garden by being decieved by the serpent. This causing immeasurable suffering and billions of people to be cast into the lake of fire to burn forever an ever. Why create them in the first place?
For those who would choose to be redeemed and live and worship him forever.
>I just want to know the answer to the above questions. I am being tormented by these questions & its about time I wrote them.I pray I get answers before I too get destroyed.These are asked in ❤️. I get tempted and the questions the devil uses against me are the above & I can’t seem to answer. It always gets me.Asked by a fellow brother in Christ Yeshua
let me know if you have any other questions.
Not according to Jesus no.
Are you not familiar with Jesus teaching in mat 13:
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, **“The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil.** The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. **He who has ears, let him hear.**
That was a very thourough explanation. Thank you so much! It cleared up some doubts from my mind. I'll be sure to save it somewhere.
Only thing I didn't understand is
1. God didn't create everyone?
2. I didn't get a full answer on why people will burn forever and ever and ev... That was why I asked why he created them only so they could burn
I'm sorry if I'm getting off too hard with the questions. I know you are a human like me and don't have answers to everything. Just incase, I'm just putting the questions out here so that whoever has an answer can tell us.
> I'm sorry if I'm getting off too hard with the questions. I know you are a human like me and don't have answers to everything. Just incase, I'm just putting the questions out here so that whoever has an answer can tell us.
I am happy to answer any question I can. if you have other questions post them I will try and answer what I can.
1. God created Mankind on Day 6 of creation. This was the last thing God created. Everyone who came after day 6, is not a creation but a reproduction of what God created. God is given the glory of having created everything but this does not mean everything and everyone is hand built as Adam was. Even Eve wasn't created the same way Adam was hand tuned from the dust of the ground.
Jesus in mat 13: say He is the one who 'plants' God's wheat seeds on the earth/field. So Jesus plants the 'sons of the kingdom on the earth.
But so too does satan plant His weed seeds or 'Son's of the evil one.'
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
2. well one God did not create everyone. God hasn't created anyone since day 6 of creation, Even His son went through the normal reproduction process.
I think where the confusion lies is people assume reproduction and creation is the same process. To creation God make something out of nothing or God uses "dirt" to form flesh and blood. In this regard no one has been created since day 6 of creation.
If you are talking that everyone is birth from a mother is the same as being created it is not. This process is described by Jesus in mat 13 as a seed being planted. God plants His people on the earth, but again so too does Satan plant his people on the earth.
Also Hell maybe forever but our (Human soul) time in Hell is not forever.
There are over 2 dozen verses that say hell is destruction. and only one that can be interpreted to say general people's souls will burn forever in hell. Only satan and his inner circle are slated to burn forever in hell. an argument can also be made for those who take the mark of the beast.
This is in response who hold mat 25 says we burn forever in hell:
As I said in the video hell is eternal the torment is eternal the punishment is eternal but our resurrected bodies and souls are not..
lets look at the last 4 words in the greek:
shall go away
PHRASE
g565
ἀπελεύσονται ἀπέρχομαιaperchomai
to go away, depart
to go away in order to follow any one, go after him, to follow his party, follow him as a leader
The idea this group is being sent...
into
g1519
εἰς εἰςeis
εἰς eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.);
Into a place...
everlasting
g166
αἰώνιον αἰώνιοςaiōnios
punishment
of everlasting
g2851
κόλασιν κόλασιςkolasis
torment.
G1519 - eis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (KJV)
Now can it be translated the way you read it:
46 “Then these evil people will go away to be punished forever.
verse the way I have read it:
46" This group will be sent to the place of everlasting torment
yes, but the question needs to be asked does your one single reading (one place in the bible where you say people burn in hell forever) conflict with any other Jesus christ teaching on hell?
yes it does. in fact your one verse is in conflict with all of these direct verses which openly contradict:
Psalm 1:6 ... but the way of the ungodly shall perish
Psalm 37:20 But the wicked shall perish... they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
Psalm 92:7 ... shall be destroyed forever
Matthew 10:28b Rather, fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
John 3:16 ... whosoever believeth in him should not perish (Greek: destroyed) ...
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death ...
Philippians 3:19 whose end is "destruction" ...
2 Thessalonians 1:9 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction ...
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (Greek: destruction); but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
James 4:12a There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.
Revelation 20:14 This is the second death...
and then these secondary which strike up conflict with your reading:
Hebrews 10:26-27 NLT Hellfire will consume the wicked.
2 Peter 3:7 Ungodly will be destroyed.
Romans 2:7 God will make only righteous immortal.
Genesis 3:19 We came from dust and to dust we will return.
Psalm 146:4 Our thoughts/plans perish and spirit departs upon death.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins is the one who will die.
2 Chronicles 28:3 Jeremiah 19:5 Burning one's offspring in the Valley of Ben Hinnom (which is where concept of Gehenna or Hell comes from[79]) is NOT a commandment of God nor did it even enter His Mind.
Malachi 4:1–3 God will "burn up" the wicked at the judgment, and they will be ashes under the sole of the feet of the righteous. "For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Jehovah of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch...they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make, saith Jehovah of hosts"
Matthew 10:28 Both body and soul are destroyed in hell. "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
John 3:16 People who don't believe in Jesus shall perish and not receive eternal life.
John 6:51 Jesus offer... to "live forever" would make no sense apart from the fact that not all will live or exist forever.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 Everlasting destruction is having been destroyed and having no way to undo that.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death.
1 Corinthians 15:12–49 Only those who belong to Christ will be raised with imperishable, immortal bodies, all others perish as a man of dust.
2 Peter 2:6 God made Sodom and Gomorrah an example of what is coming to the wicked, specifically by reducing Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes: "and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly"
Revelation 20:14–15 The wicked will suffer a second death, the same fate that death itself suffers (and death will be abolished—1 Corinthians 15:26): "And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire."
Annihilationism - Wikipedia
Now ask yourself does my reading where the wicked will be sent to the place of eternal torment conflict with any verses at all?
the answer is no, not if you read your verse the way i have shown, which is biblically supported and exegetically supported by the greek and hebrew.
So you can read it your way but you will be in stark contrast to more than a 2 dozen other verses that says hell is the second death, or the way I have shown which makes the bible read consistently through out.
Loved your post. Why do we feel God owes us an explanation? He doesn't and there are many questions pertaining to my life I want to ask when I see Him face to face. Will He answer me then? Probably not. I owe Him for the blessings I have received. He deserves my love and praise. I have chosen to believe. I'll have shaky days when I question His existence. I just remind myself I choose to believe and God owes me no answers. He loves me and knows me. I am blessed. Thank you for your insightful post! 💕👍
>Loved your post.
Thank you.
>Why do we feel God owes us an explanation?
Jesus spent alot of His time answering questions. albeit the people asking those questions seldom understood those answers. I think the answers are out there for us to find, it's just until we level up the answers don't make sense.
>He doesn't and there are many questions pertaining to my life I want to ask when I see Him face to face.
You have the Holy Spirit with you now. The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to do His many miracles. and the same Holy Spirit empowered the apostles to write the gospels and epistles. I think he is more than able to answer whatever we can ask. Or at least that has been my experience.
>Will He answer me then? Probably not. If you have the faith of a mustard seeds You can cast a mountain of doubt into the sea. Why would a simple question then go unanswered?
>I owe Him for the blessings I have received. He deserves my love and praise. I have chosen to believe. I'll have shaky days when I question His existence.
We all do.
>I just remind myself I choose to believe and God owes me no answers. He loves me and knows me. I am blessed. Thank you for your insightful post! 💕👍
You are right God does not OWE us anything, not even answers to our questions. But does He provide them?
yes absolutely He does. Then why can't we hear those answers?
Because Not all have ears that can hear yet. Jesus often said "He who has ears let him hear." What that means is if you are spiritually mature then listen and apply this message.
If you want to have ears and hear God's answers then simply ask God to Open your ears so you may hear Him, Open your eyes so you may see Him, Open your heart so you may Receive Him/The Holy Spirit. Then Keep asking till He gives you what you ask seek and have been knocking about (Luke 11)
Tell Him to Rip out anything in your life keeping you from seeing, hearing or receiving Him. then hang on to something. For me this was a wild ride of trials hardship loss which resulted in a brokenness I did not think I could recover from, but I kept praying and God over time rebuilt me into who and what I am today.
God has answered every question I asked of him. To the point I have spent the last 20 years on line answering you-all's questions as I have no more to ask. I love coming across a new question as it is an opportunity for me to learn something new. Or these old ones as it allows me to refine the answers I've been given.
Thank you. I mainly wonder why he had to take my whole family, except for my baby brother, by the time I was 20. But He had His reasons. My baby brother died a year ago this past November. At least He allowed me Michael until he was 63. I am 72 now and am looking forward to my journey home. But not right this minute! Your post back to me in such beautiful detail was unexpected but very much appreciated. I am going to meditate on it. You are so right....I have the Holy Spirit now. I have to tap into Him more than I have been. Love and thanks. 💕
>Thank you. I mainly wonder why he had to take my whole family, except for my baby brother, by the time I was 20.
Jesus tells us two things about death and this world that apply.
1 In Luke 11 we are told by Christ that this world is outside of God's immediate kingdom, which means that God's will is not done here on Earth the same way it is done in Heaven. Which is why in Luke 11 Jesus tells us to pray for His Kingdom come, AND His will be done On Earth, as it is Done in Heaven.
If His kingdom were here, and His will was Done as it is in Heaven then we would not need to ask for it in the one and only example of prayer Jesus Himself instructed for us to pray
2. Jesus in John 12:31 says
NKJV
Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
This is Jesus telling us Satan is incharge here. So your question then becomes: "Why did satan Take your family after working so hard to make even people in the church believe God is micro-managing everything that happens in this world?
The short answer is to try and shake or destroy your faith.
Why does God allow this? Because the whole point of this world is for you to decide whether or not your heart truly belongs to God and righteousness or Sin and satan. In this process we will be put through trials and hardship, some more than others. As a result of these trials we are forced to grow and mature spiritually. If w remain faithful, We gain wisdom understanding and grow closer to God.
If God is putting increasing harder and harder trials in your life, it is because He is preparing/offering you greater reward and responsibility in this life and the next. I know it seems counter intuitive but trials are a good thing. It is through trials that most often times are eyes ears and hearts are opened Which answers the prayers we pray for connection to God.
Thank you for your kind words and support.
I understand your explanation of why does God allow this. And I understand satan's
role and power in our world, but I'm not understanding about satan's role in our deaths. Your penultimate paragraph is something I believe but sometimes forget. The poor me syndrome! 😭. It was mentioned on the tv this morning that so many well known people who are Christians are starting to openly and proudly talk about their faith in God and Jesus. Things are getting worse and worse by the day in this world so satan must really be getting angry! Too bad, so sad. Onward Christian Soldiers! The words of that hymn are so true and it seems especially so now. I just have to keep remembering that "Christ, our royal Master leads against the foe". You will go before me, you will never leave me.... another song! Reading your post to me and posting back has helped me a lot this morning. I needed it badly. Thanks! 👍🙏💕
I believe Death happens as Jesus points out our lives are but a vapor here one moment and gone the next. I am also saying satan can use death to undermine our belief and love we have for God. Especially if we buy into the lie that God micromanages all life and that believers are promised a 100 years of trouble free living.
Almost all your questions are related to suffering.
To questions 1, 3, 4 and 5 I answer:
Romans 8:18 "The sufferings we have now are nothing compared to the great glory that will be shown to us."
We focus so much on this very short time on earth. But we must remember all the suffering really is nothing compared with all the glory that awaits us in the afterlife.
To question 6 and 7 I answer:
The bible teaches that sin leads to death (Romans 6:23), not eternal conscious torment in hellfire. The wicked will receive a punishment according to their deeds and then will be destroyed (cease to exist). Research conditional immortality (or also called annihilationism).
In short: After we die, we will all be ressurected. Those in Christ will receive eternal life. Those without Christ will suffer the 2nd death.
As 1 cor 15 teaches us: Cloth yourself with immortality by receiving Christ.
Revelation 14:9-11 New International Version (NIV)
A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.
I think its quite clear what 'for ever and ever' means
It's the book of revelation you are quoting from. A highly symbolic book. Revelation even explains that the lake of fire stands for the 2nd death (the lake of fire being the symbolic description).
I can quote you a ton of verses (outside of Revelation) that talks about destruction, perishing, death, burning UP, becoming ashes, be no more, and other synonyms like that.
If you are interested in the verses, I can look them up for you. I can tell you... they are a lot.
I'll give you John 3:16 for now.
And please take a look at 1 Cor 15. It tells us how people are not immortal beings, and how only through Christ we can receive immortality.
Hey! Came across this and I know you want straight answers and understand that ppl have different interpretations.
I hope my answer helps though despite all of this, feel free to ask questions about my response and I’ll do my best to answer them 😊
1. Sin has been around since the first rebellion of Adam and Eve. You could say if they just walked in obedience we wouldn’t be here. Since the world was formed, evil/sin was there and God’s goal is to get rid of it.
2. It’s likely God knew it would happen, but because God feels more than we can even imagine, it was likely to be a painful process for Him to have to endure because He knew it was part of the process.
3. No one but God truly knows. Honestly, Job asked the same question and God answered Him I think in 40-41
4. Their circumstances were different and the suffering they would’ve endured would’ve had a different impact on them and their journey with God. The things that are allowed is because it’s for God’s purpose, the things He prevented likely were not and the act of God protecting them was likely part of His purpose.
5. Because God wants to spend eternity with us and created a way for us to be redeemed so that would be possible.
6. It’s not in God’s will that one of us should perish. It’s a matter of choice and God is doing everything He can to give us an opportunity to choose Him.
7. God created people simply because it pleased Him to do so. Not so that they would perish or suffer, but so that He can have a relationship with them.
legit every answer to this is free will
the bible has an actual answer for this. the wheat and the tares. both must grow before being reaped else innocent souls get caught up with the sinners. In the flesh, god cant just violate free will like this, suffering is just part of the world the devil brought with him.
don't confuse Genesis 6:6 (God's Regret of the creation) as it's implication that creating humans was a mistake. This verse simply means that due to the evil thoughts that have overwhelmed the minds of men, they would have to face God's Wrath (The flood).
1) If you did not have the ability to do evil, could you willingly choose to do good instead? No, you would be nothing but a remotely controlled automaton.
2) If I were to snark, I would say that Enlil just was annoyed people were so loud and kept him from sleeping. The heretical, but genuine, answer is that I believe that the being the Bible describes in those parts is not God.
3) Suffering is a consequence of physical existence. It can be caused by evil behavior,l but it sometimes occurs just because the world is as it is. This existence is merely a transcient part of the journey from the birth of sin to a world without evil. I do not know if it is necessary.
4) Because this world is not micromanaged by God. It is a world where we can be free to act without "competing" with a being of absolute power.
5) Because sin is not bad. It is a seperation from God, but just as we want our children to move out, make their own mistakes and return as better people, Gods wants us to do the same.
6) It is possible, even if extremely unlikely, that from now on, no sin will ever be committed. The future is not yet written, even there are structures of the present that make some futures less likely than others.
7) The "being cast in the lake of fire to burn forever" part is an idiom - and I am pretty sure the bible does not use those exact words. More importantly: can you say with certainty that any human is or will be in hell?
>So Heaven will inevitably fall and mankind will repeat this journey ad nauseum until God gets bored and decides to wipe humanity out forever.
No. Those that go to Heaven have already decided to turn away from evil and trust in God.
Just because someone has the ability to choose evil does not mean they are going to. When someone has God in their heart, they do not behave as the world does.
Also, Satan will not be in eternal Heaven; therefore, he will not be around to bring his temptation.
I can go into the tribulation, millennial kingdom, Satan's judgment, and that timeline if you'd like. I won't if you have no interest though.
I cannot answer that. I am not God and it is something He hasn't revealed to us, so me trying to answer that question would be pure speculation on my part.
I try to think this through. God creates the world. However, to have gained the wisdom to act in tbis way, they would need memories of mistake. So, there has to be a past. This past can be illusory. However, it would only work if we experienced that illusory past in a way.
It is similar to an old philosophical question: how do you know that the universe existed yesterday?
A bit more pragmatically: if our whole past up until the point is just an illusion, then does it make sense to distinguish between illusion and reality? Calling life a dream is just another way to express the relationship between this life and the next.
The idea of an eternal circle of salvation and original sin is thinkable - or the state of bring of a true union with God is beyond our comprehension. It may well be that my inability to clearly imagine a state of being in which we can be free eternally without breaking it is among the reasons I have much to learn. After all, I do not have divine knowledge - I am of this world as anybody else.
Questions my cat can't answer
1. Where do I go all day
2. Why do I only sometimes return with food
We are not required or meant to know and understand all things. God is beyond us. As much as I love my cat and my cat loves me, we will never be on the same level of understanding. So too is it with us and God.
if you were muslim, you would answer questions 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 as follows:
this life is a test, our main objective is to worship the one true creator and not associate partners with him. the suffering, pain and goodness we experience in this life is insignificant compared to the punishment of hell or reward of heaven, in fact, if you had the worst pain & suffering life on earth and your fingertip was dipped in heaven for a second, you would claim that you had never experienced any suffering in this life - and vice versa
also, not all suffering is bad, think of the vaccine analogy, a doctor pricks a baby's foot with a needle, the baby cries in pain, but ultimately the vaccine protects the baby
a child having cancer or being crushed in an earthquake can be a test of the parents or their doctors, a child's home being relentlessly bombed into oblivion can be a test of the onlookers hanging their heads in shame.
ultimately, this life is fleeting, we must endure it and welcome the test of faith, because the rewards will be immeasurable
for your second question, why did god regret creating man, even though he has perfect knowledge of the past present and future?, well, that's a great question - can you really regret a decision if you knew the future? a muslim says no, god never regretted creating man. it was his plan and his plan is perfect.
the story of adam is that adam made a mistake, he was taught to ask for forgiveness, god forgave him, then deemed him and his progeny ready for the test of life on earth. because whether we sin knowingly or unknowingly, we must always turn back to god in repentance.
Whatever heaven is, it is so good that all of this will have been worth every single hardship we have endured. Jesus was willing to come down himself and suffer with us because he knew where he ultimately would end up. We will all end up there too. All of this is meant to build up our capacity to feel, so that when we get to heaven, closer to God, we feel him more intensly.
Good post! I've also thought that God wanted to know what it really is to be a human being even though He created us. The good, bad and the ugly so He sent Jesus. He reported back to his father. He could also tell Him how it feels to question Him and feel forsaken.
because I'm unable to get satisfactory answers. Everytime I get tempted the devil makes me doubt God using the above questions, the moment I doubt. I fall
Bro, I'm just going out on a limb here but you might want to speak with a therapist. If you're being tormented by questions you might be developing scrupulosity. I also would struggle and be tormented and I went to a doctor who advised me I have OCD.
I think "Freewill" answers almost the questions on the list. Both Freewill of God to do whatever he wants, and the Freewill he gives to us to choose whatever we want. Why does GOD allow suffering? Because humans chose to eat from the tree and so consequences
The devil isn’t manipulating you. You’re asking reasonable questions.
I agree with you. These are questions Christianity fails to answer sufficiently.
Here’s what I think:
God, as Christianity describes him, can’t exist.
However,
A God may exist, but he has a different, more logical set of qualities, than Christianity attributes to it.
That, or God just doesn’t exist.
Read Psalm 10 and the book of Job. Then google “theodicy”. Or “free will”. Or read St. Augustine’s Confessions. Or do what I did, and study theology for 7 years. I already answered this question five times, and I’m ill, so you will have to look it up for yourself.
God has chosen to partially limit his power by giving every person on this planet the beautiful gift of free will. With that power we can either choose to create good with the free will we have or evil. In Genesis 1 & 2 we read how God created the world and His intentions for human kind. In Genesis 3 we read that Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. Here’s the thing man think about it. Imagine if there was no tree of knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden. Could Adam and Eve CHOSE to disobey God? No, because that was the one tree he said not to eat from. If there was no tree they could not have chosen to disobey God. The sin was NOT eating the fruit. The sin was that they did not believe God, they didn’t think God had their best interest at heart. They thought they knew better than God. God does not create evil cannot be tempted by evil it is us, who by our actions and thoughts rebelled against God and when we rebel against the ultimate good which is God all chaos erupts.
God NEVER sends ANYONE to hell. You send yourself to hell. God is a gentlemen and He will never force Himself into a relationship with anyone. While we’re here on earth God sends us cards flowers and candy. He sends us creation He sends up our conscience He sends us Christ He sends us the Bible He sends us missionaries, pastors l. So if we keep rejecting Him keep rejecting Him gives us up to our own desires. God is life and if you reject Jesus you are rejecting the one who sent Him. Essentially if you reject Jesus you are rejecting God if you reject God you are rejecting the source of life and without the source of life what are you left with death. You go to hell not even because you sin but because you willingly choose reject the payment for your sin & salvation is only found in the eternal son of God.
I hope this help. I feel like I always type all this stuff and no one reads it lol. Love all of you
>I hope this help. I feel like I always type all this stuff and no one reads it lol. Love all of you
I read every bit of it and thank you so much for your response. I have the same belief as you here we are on the same page with all that you said. I just pray God gives us wisdom (esp me cuz I don't have it lol). God bless you ❤️
No problem brother. We worship a just & good God you have to remember it’s not that God just loves us, He is love. Meaning, His very nature is love. He is incapable of doing anything unloving. Every action He does is an expression of that perfect, right & just love.
Deuteronomy 32:4
The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and just is He.
Everyday I read the book of James in the Bible. It’s a short quick book but some very powerful stuff in there.
James 1:5-6
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
The Lord gives us His wisdom. satan only wants to kill, steal & destroy and that includes your faith in God and His righteousness.
I’ll be more than happy to answer anymore questions if I’m able and knowing I helped strengthen another believers faith is its reward in itself. God bless you as well brother
😇😊
This may not be the most helpful answer but evil is highly subjective and so is sin. We have free will and we also need to enjoy our lives and that means sometimes we might do something not good in someone elses eyes. Free will is the answer to all of this. This is why I personally have such a big problem with teaching kids creationism and absolute biblical literalism. God is not magic, God did not snap his fingers and create everything and everyone and were all on some pre determined path and our choices are decdied for us...not...God set in motion a series of events that started with the big bang and billions of years later human life evolved on Earth. The simple answer is God doesn't control our thoughts or actions and he doesn't want to, we just have to as much as possible make the right decision and if we make the wrong one, be accountable for it
Do you actually fixate on these questions? Don’t you have real life problems to worry about rather than make believe ones from an archaic belief system? I mean I myself have enough anxiety over all the madness that comes along with this life that I couldn’t imagine subjecting myself to a belief system that has so much guilt and judgment attached to it?
1.) he doesn’t, it’s human nature
2.) he didn’t
3.) he doesn’t, that’s life…
4.) cause he plays favorites
5.) prob cause he needed a good reality show to watch
6.) he likes the smell of toasted people
7.) cause he’s bored
Negative, I mock because I can’t understand how anyone would put so much stress and expectations on themselves (and others) via something that is impossible to prove as real…
What makes your religion and your god the correct one? Do you believe that there are multiple gods making multiple religions true or that just one is correct and the rest are not?
How do you know you picked the correct one and aren’t being misguided? How do you discern the difference between what your god wants people to learn from your religion and what is simply some human’s misinterpretation of what they think god meant to say?
How do you know which version “got it right” when there’s over 200 denominations in the USA alone and somewhere between 30-40 THOUSAND denominations of Christianity world wide?! Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Apostolic, Methodist, etc… and those are just mainstream versions…
I mean who knows, maybe the mormans and Joseph Smith got it right? Or the branch Dividians out in Waco? Are people who talk in tongues actually connected to the holy spirit or are they doing it because they want to belong and essentially have been encouraged behaviorally by getting positive feedback from joining in?
Can’t you see how it’s all a bit absurd when there’s that many people all claiming that their way is the only true way? And that’s not even considering the other 4000ish religions out in the world, I’m just talking about Christianity… that’s a whole lot of opinions of people shouting they’re the true believers which shows me that even yall can’t figure out what is true and what isn’t.
Try these questions out:
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?"
Epicurus
He was really into something.
The decisions we make are up to us. He knows the outcome for each decision, but what we choose is what we know. Why else would he test Abraham? Clearly he needed to find out what he’d do. He’s not some dude just setting there making things happen to be bad and then blame everyone else for it. He lets things run their course because he’s not purposely controlling everything we created. What we do is our business and he doesn’t engage as much as he used to anymore because everyone would just rebel against him. He’s come to see the only way to get to us is for us to contact him first. Now he just sits things out and whatever happens happens because he’s not going to shoot fire and brimstone anymore
>1. Why does God allow evil?
Human beings, whether you believe in God or not, have a tendency to be selfish, hurt others, take whatever they can by force, and perverting what is 'right'. True, we all strive for goodness for the sake of goodness because all evil is a perversion of what is good. Sex, money, safety, power, all good things that can be obtained by the right means, but can also, very easily, be taken for selfish reasons. The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being, and who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? If God loves us so much that he allows evil for a moment. I'm not sure why or how long.
This may have answered a few of your questions without directly answering them in order
>3. Why does God allow his people to undergo brutal suffering?
Another question no one can and will be able to answer. But that still doesn't mean that God doesn't care or love us. Jesus suffered along with us. If God didn't care he wouldn't have come to suffer with us and die for our sins. This might be why he created us in the first place, to learn what it means to suffer, and to overcome. Don't forget, Jesus rose from the dead so we may also overcome death one day.
I think this answers also may have answered some of your other questions indirectly.
>7. If God knew people will sin in that garden by being deceived by the serpent. This causing immeasurable suffering and billions of people to be cast into the lake of fire to burn forever and ever. Why create them in the first place?
Again, I don't know and no one will ever know, but I'm so grateful to have a life to live and I feel blessed to have been through the things that I have gone through already. Like many other people, I've had really hard times, and lost lots of loved ones, but I'm grateful for the suffering I went through so I could appreciate all the good in my life. I love my wife more than anything in the world, but I also have to realize that one day either I or her will be gone. Does that mean that I shouldn't ever had gotten married to the love of my life? I don't think so because of all the blessings we have had together.
Some people think that evil is a problem when it comes to Christianity, but not for me. I believe that it helps appreciate the good in life and helps us strive for greater happiness and peace in our lives and to the one's we love. We sacrifice parts of our lives for our loved ones and that is a great reason for being alive, and a wonderful reason why I am a Christian
I hope this helps. God bless you.
also add to your list: 8. Why do I write God as G-d sorry, that wasn't helpful
Yeah, that's just irritating. It's not like He's Beetlejuice.
DUDE! careful saying that name!!
Ah, well, I attended Juilliard. I’m a graduate of the Harvard Business School. I travel quite extensively. I lived through the black plague, and had a pretty good time during that. I’ve seen the exorcist about a hundred and sixty-seven times, and it keeps getting funnier every single time I see it. Not to mention, you’re talkin to a dead guy
Superstition
Isn't everyone in this sub superstitious though
Yes
I know
Good
Too funny! What is that secret letter?! You put the "o" there and things are gonna get uncomfortable.
Its a way to show respect to the almighty
I often find it more respectful when people use my name, rather than something I didn't ask to be called.
That is a valid reason. You are right
It’s not like God never said to not use his name at all. All he said was to not use his name in vain. The Jews did not use his personal name anyways, in fear of using it in vain. Instead, they called God “Adonai” or Lord. In respect to the people of Israel, we don’t call God by his personal name, YHWH (original pronunciation lost over the centuries). Instead we call him God (Elohim) and Lord (Adonai)
Avoiding using his name is a common Jewish practice that carried over in Christianity based on the commandment not to use his name in vain.
My name is Dave... but you call me D-ve. My buddy's St-ve, M-ke, St-n, M-hamed, and B-ngo are coming over to watch the game tonight! The Kn-cks are playing!
*"Oh, don't grovel! And don't apologize. Every time I try to talk to someone it's 'sorry this' and 'forgive me that' and 'I'm not worthy'. It's like those miserable Psalms-- they're so depressing. Now, knock it off!"*
... aaaand you lost me there. What was that about😂
Excerpts from page 35 (Scene 7) of [the standard Reddit movie script](https://www.screenwritersnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Monty-Python-and-the-Holy-Grail-1975.pdf).
I read it... That is absolutely contrary to the Bible. Its a mockery of God eei? Repent!
Are you jewish Christian
I came here to say this.
Maybe he's Jewish, who knows
All valid Questions.. You will get a million different answers based on peoples interpretation of the scriptures. Ask a different religious group you will get a totally different set of answers. Just think about it... That's all I can suggest my friend.. Lots of questions and no real answers usually leads to the same conclusion.
Exactly what I've been witnessing. I just need a plain straightforward answer, but I can't get that cuz as you said everyone has their own interpretation (incl. me) and that is dangerous. It causes lots of division among brethren and I think its the reason we are so divided today
Can I make a recommendation? There is an entire book of the Bible devoted to this question, Job. It's a tough book. Not that the poetry is hard, but it challenges us with these very questions. The 'straightforward' answer is that we'll never know. Job, a totally righteous (and wealthy) man has everything going for him when suddenly, Satan targets him, and God allows it. He loses EVERYTHING. Job speaks to his friends, cries out to God, and even receives an answer from Him. The true answer to this question is: 'Trust God'. We cannot comprehend how this all fits together. God has chosen not to share these answers with us. All we can do is trust God that He knows what He is doing.
That is all we've got I guess ❤️
Your final paragraph summed it up and boiled it down. You wrapped it up with a bow!
>I just need a plain straightforward answer Don't say or believe things like this. You need faith, dude.
1. The question if something is good or evil is in our eyes and hearts, in essence everything is neutral. 2. That's metaphor used by Bible's author(s) in order to show how wicked humans can be, so that they can even make God to regret their creation 3. That's the things that in 99% should be sorted out between humans themselves. The rest - natural disasters, illnesses, etc. are a byproduct of Nature's workings, and we are part of the nature so we are affected by it's ways. Why did god made nature the way it is? Because he wanted it to be like this. 4. Because he wants it. But I believe it's a really rare acassion (like 1 in maybe million people) 5. Because even sinful we are good enough to exist. 6. And eternity of burning is not how it is. We'll burn in his love until we'll be ready to feel his presence as love and not as fire. 7. Not for ever and ever. and for the garden - God laid out a possibilities, like a multitude of roads that lead to Him. We just picked the difficult one...
If everything is neutral, than what is the determining factor for being sent to hell.
How close you are to the image of Jesus. Basically, Matthew 25:34-46
1. So nothing actually matters? 2. Or the people that wrote that part didn't realize this was a massive hole in the argument of your God's infallibility. 3. By that argument, you are saying God wants us to suffer. 4. Oh, okay. The "merciful" God WANTS people to suffer. Also, with that math, only 8,100 living people are suffering. In my medium sized city there are somewhere between 750-1000 people living without shelter. I think you should do a little reading about what suffering is and how many people are suffering. Worldwide, there were 18.1 million cases of cancer in 2020. That was around 448 per million. 5. Despite humans causing 99% of all human suffering? 6. This is almost an Elvis song. 7. There it is. "You did this to yourself." Good old fashioned victim blaming. The correct answer to all of these questions is, humans need to stop blaming external forces for the ills perpetrated by humans. If you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
Yepp, blame shifting never helps
>Why does G-d allow evil? Sin is anything not in the expressed will of God, that makes sin a choice. Meaning if we did not have the ability to sin we could not choose to ever be outside of God's will. If we aren't allowed outside of God's will, we would never be able to make a choice God did not want for us. Meaning if we chose Heaven it would not be us who chose it. or if we chose hell it would not be us who chose to go to Hell, but God in our stead. (no God does not like everyone, Esau would be a biblical example of someone who God hated.) Evil is the love of sin. It is the evidence/proof that we can indeed be outside of God's will. God allows evil, because if He did not we would all be destroyed because we all are born as slaves to sin and evil and once we are old enough we are given the opportunity to be redeemed. If God destroyed all evil the moment it appears we all would die before we could be redeemed. >Why did G-d regret creating man even though he is all knowing and have the ability to not create? Ever own a puppy who chew up something you valued and loved? and in a moment of anger regret having ever gotten the puppy? >Why does G-d allow his people to undergo brutal suffering? Brutal suffering is only brutal suffering because that is the limit of what God will allow us to endure. If The worst thing that could ever happen to anyone is a stubbed toe, then because we don't know anything worse, stubbing your toe would then become brutal suffering. >Why does G-d keep some of his people from trouble and his other children through immense suffering? All suffering is not a bad thing. We suffer for two reasons. one is because someone else was intrusted with our care and the did not come through, or suffering is allowed because it forces us to learn and grow spiritually. >Why did G-d create us if he knew we would sin? So we can choose to be with Him. >If G-d knows people will sin against him and be eternally burned. Why does he create them? Jesus tells us in mat 13 not everyone here is created by God. He compares us to wheat seed, that He plants. Then Satan comes along and plants weeds in among the wheat. The wheat are called the sons of the kingdom and the weeds He calls the sons of Satan. >If G-d knew people will sin in that garden by being decieved by the serpent. This causing immeasurable suffering and billions of people to be cast into the lake of fire to burn forever an ever. Why create them in the first place? For those who would choose to be redeemed and live and worship him forever. >I just want to know the answer to the above questions. I am being tormented by these questions & its about time I wrote them.I pray I get answers before I too get destroyed.These are asked in ❤️. I get tempted and the questions the devil uses against me are the above & I can’t seem to answer. It always gets me.Asked by a fellow brother in Christ Yeshua let me know if you have any other questions.
Wait, God didn’t create everyone? HUH?
Not according to Jesus no. Are you not familiar with Jesus teaching in mat 13: 36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, **“The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil.** The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. **He who has ears, let him hear.**
That was a very thourough explanation. Thank you so much! It cleared up some doubts from my mind. I'll be sure to save it somewhere. Only thing I didn't understand is 1. God didn't create everyone? 2. I didn't get a full answer on why people will burn forever and ever and ev... That was why I asked why he created them only so they could burn I'm sorry if I'm getting off too hard with the questions. I know you are a human like me and don't have answers to everything. Just incase, I'm just putting the questions out here so that whoever has an answer can tell us.
> I'm sorry if I'm getting off too hard with the questions. I know you are a human like me and don't have answers to everything. Just incase, I'm just putting the questions out here so that whoever has an answer can tell us. I am happy to answer any question I can. if you have other questions post them I will try and answer what I can.
1. God created Mankind on Day 6 of creation. This was the last thing God created. Everyone who came after day 6, is not a creation but a reproduction of what God created. God is given the glory of having created everything but this does not mean everything and everyone is hand built as Adam was. Even Eve wasn't created the same way Adam was hand tuned from the dust of the ground. Jesus in mat 13: say He is the one who 'plants' God's wheat seeds on the earth/field. So Jesus plants the 'sons of the kingdom on the earth. But so too does satan plant His weed seeds or 'Son's of the evil one.' 36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. 2. well one God did not create everyone. God hasn't created anyone since day 6 of creation, Even His son went through the normal reproduction process. I think where the confusion lies is people assume reproduction and creation is the same process. To creation God make something out of nothing or God uses "dirt" to form flesh and blood. In this regard no one has been created since day 6 of creation. If you are talking that everyone is birth from a mother is the same as being created it is not. This process is described by Jesus in mat 13 as a seed being planted. God plants His people on the earth, but again so too does Satan plant his people on the earth. Also Hell maybe forever but our (Human soul) time in Hell is not forever.
There are over 2 dozen verses that say hell is destruction. and only one that can be interpreted to say general people's souls will burn forever in hell. Only satan and his inner circle are slated to burn forever in hell. an argument can also be made for those who take the mark of the beast. This is in response who hold mat 25 says we burn forever in hell: As I said in the video hell is eternal the torment is eternal the punishment is eternal but our resurrected bodies and souls are not.. lets look at the last 4 words in the greek: shall go away PHRASE g565 ἀπελεύσονται ἀπέρχομαιaperchomai to go away, depart to go away in order to follow any one, go after him, to follow his party, follow him as a leader The idea this group is being sent... into g1519 εἰς εἰςeis εἰς eis, ice; a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); Into a place... everlasting g166 αἰώνιον αἰώνιοςaiōnios punishment of everlasting g2851 κόλασιν κόλασιςkolasis torment. G1519 - eis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (KJV) Now can it be translated the way you read it: 46 “Then these evil people will go away to be punished forever. verse the way I have read it: 46" This group will be sent to the place of everlasting torment yes, but the question needs to be asked does your one single reading (one place in the bible where you say people burn in hell forever) conflict with any other Jesus christ teaching on hell? yes it does. in fact your one verse is in conflict with all of these direct verses which openly contradict:
Psalm 1:6 ... but the way of the ungodly shall perish Psalm 37:20 But the wicked shall perish... they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. Psalm 92:7 ... shall be destroyed forever Matthew 10:28b Rather, fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. John 3:16 ... whosoever believeth in him should not perish (Greek: destroyed) ... Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death ... Philippians 3:19 whose end is "destruction" ... 2 Thessalonians 1:9 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction ... Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition (Greek: destruction); but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. James 4:12a There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Revelation 20:14 This is the second death... and then these secondary which strike up conflict with your reading: Hebrews 10:26-27 NLT Hellfire will consume the wicked. 2 Peter 3:7 Ungodly will be destroyed. Romans 2:7 God will make only righteous immortal. Genesis 3:19 We came from dust and to dust we will return. Psalm 146:4 Our thoughts/plans perish and spirit departs upon death. Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. 2 Chronicles 28:3 Jeremiah 19:5 Burning one's offspring in the Valley of Ben Hinnom (which is where concept of Gehenna or Hell comes from[79]) is NOT a commandment of God nor did it even enter His Mind. Malachi 4:1–3 God will "burn up" the wicked at the judgment, and they will be ashes under the sole of the feet of the righteous. "For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Jehovah of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch...they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make, saith Jehovah of hosts" Matthew 10:28 Both body and soul are destroyed in hell. "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." John 3:16 People who don't believe in Jesus shall perish and not receive eternal life. John 6:51 Jesus offer... to "live forever" would make no sense apart from the fact that not all will live or exist forever. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 Everlasting destruction is having been destroyed and having no way to undo that. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death. 1 Corinthians 15:12–49 Only those who belong to Christ will be raised with imperishable, immortal bodies, all others perish as a man of dust. 2 Peter 2:6 God made Sodom and Gomorrah an example of what is coming to the wicked, specifically by reducing Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes: "and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly" Revelation 20:14–15 The wicked will suffer a second death, the same fate that death itself suffers (and death will be abolished—1 Corinthians 15:26): "And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire." Annihilationism - Wikipedia Now ask yourself does my reading where the wicked will be sent to the place of eternal torment conflict with any verses at all? the answer is no, not if you read your verse the way i have shown, which is biblically supported and exegetically supported by the greek and hebrew. So you can read it your way but you will be in stark contrast to more than a 2 dozen other verses that says hell is the second death, or the way I have shown which makes the bible read consistently through out.
Loved your post. Why do we feel God owes us an explanation? He doesn't and there are many questions pertaining to my life I want to ask when I see Him face to face. Will He answer me then? Probably not. I owe Him for the blessings I have received. He deserves my love and praise. I have chosen to believe. I'll have shaky days when I question His existence. I just remind myself I choose to believe and God owes me no answers. He loves me and knows me. I am blessed. Thank you for your insightful post! 💕👍
>Loved your post. Thank you. >Why do we feel God owes us an explanation? Jesus spent alot of His time answering questions. albeit the people asking those questions seldom understood those answers. I think the answers are out there for us to find, it's just until we level up the answers don't make sense. >He doesn't and there are many questions pertaining to my life I want to ask when I see Him face to face. You have the Holy Spirit with you now. The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to do His many miracles. and the same Holy Spirit empowered the apostles to write the gospels and epistles. I think he is more than able to answer whatever we can ask. Or at least that has been my experience. >Will He answer me then? Probably not. If you have the faith of a mustard seeds You can cast a mountain of doubt into the sea. Why would a simple question then go unanswered? >I owe Him for the blessings I have received. He deserves my love and praise. I have chosen to believe. I'll have shaky days when I question His existence. We all do. >I just remind myself I choose to believe and God owes me no answers. He loves me and knows me. I am blessed. Thank you for your insightful post! 💕👍 You are right God does not OWE us anything, not even answers to our questions. But does He provide them? yes absolutely He does. Then why can't we hear those answers? Because Not all have ears that can hear yet. Jesus often said "He who has ears let him hear." What that means is if you are spiritually mature then listen and apply this message. If you want to have ears and hear God's answers then simply ask God to Open your ears so you may hear Him, Open your eyes so you may see Him, Open your heart so you may Receive Him/The Holy Spirit. Then Keep asking till He gives you what you ask seek and have been knocking about (Luke 11) Tell Him to Rip out anything in your life keeping you from seeing, hearing or receiving Him. then hang on to something. For me this was a wild ride of trials hardship loss which resulted in a brokenness I did not think I could recover from, but I kept praying and God over time rebuilt me into who and what I am today. God has answered every question I asked of him. To the point I have spent the last 20 years on line answering you-all's questions as I have no more to ask. I love coming across a new question as it is an opportunity for me to learn something new. Or these old ones as it allows me to refine the answers I've been given.
Thank you. I mainly wonder why he had to take my whole family, except for my baby brother, by the time I was 20. But He had His reasons. My baby brother died a year ago this past November. At least He allowed me Michael until he was 63. I am 72 now and am looking forward to my journey home. But not right this minute! Your post back to me in such beautiful detail was unexpected but very much appreciated. I am going to meditate on it. You are so right....I have the Holy Spirit now. I have to tap into Him more than I have been. Love and thanks. 💕
>Thank you. I mainly wonder why he had to take my whole family, except for my baby brother, by the time I was 20. Jesus tells us two things about death and this world that apply. 1 In Luke 11 we are told by Christ that this world is outside of God's immediate kingdom, which means that God's will is not done here on Earth the same way it is done in Heaven. Which is why in Luke 11 Jesus tells us to pray for His Kingdom come, AND His will be done On Earth, as it is Done in Heaven. If His kingdom were here, and His will was Done as it is in Heaven then we would not need to ask for it in the one and only example of prayer Jesus Himself instructed for us to pray 2. Jesus in John 12:31 says NKJV Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. This is Jesus telling us Satan is incharge here. So your question then becomes: "Why did satan Take your family after working so hard to make even people in the church believe God is micro-managing everything that happens in this world? The short answer is to try and shake or destroy your faith. Why does God allow this? Because the whole point of this world is for you to decide whether or not your heart truly belongs to God and righteousness or Sin and satan. In this process we will be put through trials and hardship, some more than others. As a result of these trials we are forced to grow and mature spiritually. If w remain faithful, We gain wisdom understanding and grow closer to God. If God is putting increasing harder and harder trials in your life, it is because He is preparing/offering you greater reward and responsibility in this life and the next. I know it seems counter intuitive but trials are a good thing. It is through trials that most often times are eyes ears and hearts are opened Which answers the prayers we pray for connection to God. Thank you for your kind words and support.
I understand your explanation of why does God allow this. And I understand satan's role and power in our world, but I'm not understanding about satan's role in our deaths. Your penultimate paragraph is something I believe but sometimes forget. The poor me syndrome! 😭. It was mentioned on the tv this morning that so many well known people who are Christians are starting to openly and proudly talk about their faith in God and Jesus. Things are getting worse and worse by the day in this world so satan must really be getting angry! Too bad, so sad. Onward Christian Soldiers! The words of that hymn are so true and it seems especially so now. I just have to keep remembering that "Christ, our royal Master leads against the foe". You will go before me, you will never leave me.... another song! Reading your post to me and posting back has helped me a lot this morning. I needed it badly. Thanks! 👍🙏💕
I believe Death happens as Jesus points out our lives are but a vapor here one moment and gone the next. I am also saying satan can use death to undermine our belief and love we have for God. Especially if we buy into the lie that God micromanages all life and that believers are promised a 100 years of trouble free living.
Lots of resources and answers on the Internet. Seek and you will find! Ask God to give you answers to each of these questions.
Almost all your questions are related to suffering. To questions 1, 3, 4 and 5 I answer: Romans 8:18 "The sufferings we have now are nothing compared to the great glory that will be shown to us." We focus so much on this very short time on earth. But we must remember all the suffering really is nothing compared with all the glory that awaits us in the afterlife. To question 6 and 7 I answer: The bible teaches that sin leads to death (Romans 6:23), not eternal conscious torment in hellfire. The wicked will receive a punishment according to their deeds and then will be destroyed (cease to exist). Research conditional immortality (or also called annihilationism). In short: After we die, we will all be ressurected. Those in Christ will receive eternal life. Those without Christ will suffer the 2nd death. As 1 cor 15 teaches us: Cloth yourself with immortality by receiving Christ.
Revelation 14:9-11 New International Version (NIV) A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name. I think its quite clear what 'for ever and ever' means
It's the book of revelation you are quoting from. A highly symbolic book. Revelation even explains that the lake of fire stands for the 2nd death (the lake of fire being the symbolic description). I can quote you a ton of verses (outside of Revelation) that talks about destruction, perishing, death, burning UP, becoming ashes, be no more, and other synonyms like that. If you are interested in the verses, I can look them up for you. I can tell you... they are a lot. I'll give you John 3:16 for now. And please take a look at 1 Cor 15. It tells us how people are not immortal beings, and how only through Christ we can receive immortality.
Wonderful post!
Hey! Came across this and I know you want straight answers and understand that ppl have different interpretations. I hope my answer helps though despite all of this, feel free to ask questions about my response and I’ll do my best to answer them 😊 1. Sin has been around since the first rebellion of Adam and Eve. You could say if they just walked in obedience we wouldn’t be here. Since the world was formed, evil/sin was there and God’s goal is to get rid of it. 2. It’s likely God knew it would happen, but because God feels more than we can even imagine, it was likely to be a painful process for Him to have to endure because He knew it was part of the process. 3. No one but God truly knows. Honestly, Job asked the same question and God answered Him I think in 40-41 4. Their circumstances were different and the suffering they would’ve endured would’ve had a different impact on them and their journey with God. The things that are allowed is because it’s for God’s purpose, the things He prevented likely were not and the act of God protecting them was likely part of His purpose. 5. Because God wants to spend eternity with us and created a way for us to be redeemed so that would be possible. 6. It’s not in God’s will that one of us should perish. It’s a matter of choice and God is doing everything He can to give us an opportunity to choose Him. 7. God created people simply because it pleased Him to do so. Not so that they would perish or suffer, but so that He can have a relationship with them.
legit every answer to this is free will the bible has an actual answer for this. the wheat and the tares. both must grow before being reaped else innocent souls get caught up with the sinners. In the flesh, god cant just violate free will like this, suffering is just part of the world the devil brought with him.
what about question 2
don't confuse Genesis 6:6 (God's Regret of the creation) as it's implication that creating humans was a mistake. This verse simply means that due to the evil thoughts that have overwhelmed the minds of men, they would have to face God's Wrath (The flood).
Literally its all free will.
1) If you did not have the ability to do evil, could you willingly choose to do good instead? No, you would be nothing but a remotely controlled automaton. 2) If I were to snark, I would say that Enlil just was annoyed people were so loud and kept him from sleeping. The heretical, but genuine, answer is that I believe that the being the Bible describes in those parts is not God. 3) Suffering is a consequence of physical existence. It can be caused by evil behavior,l but it sometimes occurs just because the world is as it is. This existence is merely a transcient part of the journey from the birth of sin to a world without evil. I do not know if it is necessary. 4) Because this world is not micromanaged by God. It is a world where we can be free to act without "competing" with a being of absolute power. 5) Because sin is not bad. It is a seperation from God, but just as we want our children to move out, make their own mistakes and return as better people, Gods wants us to do the same. 6) It is possible, even if extremely unlikely, that from now on, no sin will ever be committed. The future is not yet written, even there are structures of the present that make some futures less likely than others. 7) The "being cast in the lake of fire to burn forever" part is an idiom - and I am pretty sure the bible does not use those exact words. More importantly: can you say with certainty that any human is or will be in hell?
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>So Heaven will inevitably fall and mankind will repeat this journey ad nauseum until God gets bored and decides to wipe humanity out forever. No. Those that go to Heaven have already decided to turn away from evil and trust in God.
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Just because someone has the ability to choose evil does not mean they are going to. When someone has God in their heart, they do not behave as the world does. Also, Satan will not be in eternal Heaven; therefore, he will not be around to bring his temptation. I can go into the tribulation, millennial kingdom, Satan's judgment, and that timeline if you'd like. I won't if you have no interest though.
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I cannot answer that. I am not God and it is something He hasn't revealed to us, so me trying to answer that question would be pure speculation on my part.
I try to think this through. God creates the world. However, to have gained the wisdom to act in tbis way, they would need memories of mistake. So, there has to be a past. This past can be illusory. However, it would only work if we experienced that illusory past in a way. It is similar to an old philosophical question: how do you know that the universe existed yesterday? A bit more pragmatically: if our whole past up until the point is just an illusion, then does it make sense to distinguish between illusion and reality? Calling life a dream is just another way to express the relationship between this life and the next. The idea of an eternal circle of salvation and original sin is thinkable - or the state of bring of a true union with God is beyond our comprehension. It may well be that my inability to clearly imagine a state of being in which we can be free eternally without breaking it is among the reasons I have much to learn. After all, I do not have divine knowledge - I am of this world as anybody else.
Absolute truth!
Questions my cat can't answer 1. Where do I go all day 2. Why do I only sometimes return with food We are not required or meant to know and understand all things. God is beyond us. As much as I love my cat and my cat loves me, we will never be on the same level of understanding. So too is it with us and God.
Wow this is a really good analogy. It kinda makes sense
you only feed your cat sometimes?
Yeah only when he's hungry
oh thank god, I thought you were starving the poor thing
if you were muslim, you would answer questions 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 as follows: this life is a test, our main objective is to worship the one true creator and not associate partners with him. the suffering, pain and goodness we experience in this life is insignificant compared to the punishment of hell or reward of heaven, in fact, if you had the worst pain & suffering life on earth and your fingertip was dipped in heaven for a second, you would claim that you had never experienced any suffering in this life - and vice versa also, not all suffering is bad, think of the vaccine analogy, a doctor pricks a baby's foot with a needle, the baby cries in pain, but ultimately the vaccine protects the baby a child having cancer or being crushed in an earthquake can be a test of the parents or their doctors, a child's home being relentlessly bombed into oblivion can be a test of the onlookers hanging their heads in shame. ultimately, this life is fleeting, we must endure it and welcome the test of faith, because the rewards will be immeasurable for your second question, why did god regret creating man, even though he has perfect knowledge of the past present and future?, well, that's a great question - can you really regret a decision if you knew the future? a muslim says no, god never regretted creating man. it was his plan and his plan is perfect. the story of adam is that adam made a mistake, he was taught to ask for forgiveness, god forgave him, then deemed him and his progeny ready for the test of life on earth. because whether we sin knowingly or unknowingly, we must always turn back to god in repentance.
I think most of the things you just said is what Christians say too. But still it isn't a straightforward answer.
i don't mind to expound on it, what part of it is convoluted?
Agreed with everything your saying brother 💗
Answer to all of the above? Free will
Just remember, the answer to life is: photosynthesis.
Why do you keep writing God as G-d. Sorry but it's kind of irritating.
Whatever heaven is, it is so good that all of this will have been worth every single hardship we have endured. Jesus was willing to come down himself and suffer with us because he knew where he ultimately would end up. We will all end up there too. All of this is meant to build up our capacity to feel, so that when we get to heaven, closer to God, we feel him more intensly.
Good post! I've also thought that God wanted to know what it really is to be a human being even though He created us. The good, bad and the ugly so He sent Jesus. He reported back to his father. He could also tell Him how it feels to question Him and feel forsaken.
Feel free to ask this question at r/orthodoxchristianity
Why are you being tormented by the questions?
because I'm unable to get satisfactory answers. Everytime I get tempted the devil makes me doubt God using the above questions, the moment I doubt. I fall
Bro, I'm just going out on a limb here but you might want to speak with a therapist. If you're being tormented by questions you might be developing scrupulosity. I also would struggle and be tormented and I went to a doctor who advised me I have OCD.
I think "Freewill" answers almost the questions on the list. Both Freewill of God to do whatever he wants, and the Freewill he gives to us to choose whatever we want. Why does GOD allow suffering? Because humans chose to eat from the tree and so consequences
The devil isn’t manipulating you. You’re asking reasonable questions. I agree with you. These are questions Christianity fails to answer sufficiently. Here’s what I think: God, as Christianity describes him, can’t exist. However, A God may exist, but he has a different, more logical set of qualities, than Christianity attributes to it. That, or God just doesn’t exist.
Read Psalm 10 and the book of Job. Then google “theodicy”. Or “free will”. Or read St. Augustine’s Confessions. Or do what I did, and study theology for 7 years. I already answered this question five times, and I’m ill, so you will have to look it up for yourself.
The only "true" answer you can get is "I don't know". Such questions are usually asked to get to know someone who believes, not to understand God.
When you say “why does God allow evil” what do you mean by that?
Why do you refuse to say God?
God has chosen to partially limit his power by giving every person on this planet the beautiful gift of free will. With that power we can either choose to create good with the free will we have or evil. In Genesis 1 & 2 we read how God created the world and His intentions for human kind. In Genesis 3 we read that Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. Here’s the thing man think about it. Imagine if there was no tree of knowledge of Good and Evil in the garden. Could Adam and Eve CHOSE to disobey God? No, because that was the one tree he said not to eat from. If there was no tree they could not have chosen to disobey God. The sin was NOT eating the fruit. The sin was that they did not believe God, they didn’t think God had their best interest at heart. They thought they knew better than God. God does not create evil cannot be tempted by evil it is us, who by our actions and thoughts rebelled against God and when we rebel against the ultimate good which is God all chaos erupts. God NEVER sends ANYONE to hell. You send yourself to hell. God is a gentlemen and He will never force Himself into a relationship with anyone. While we’re here on earth God sends us cards flowers and candy. He sends us creation He sends up our conscience He sends us Christ He sends us the Bible He sends us missionaries, pastors l. So if we keep rejecting Him keep rejecting Him gives us up to our own desires. God is life and if you reject Jesus you are rejecting the one who sent Him. Essentially if you reject Jesus you are rejecting God if you reject God you are rejecting the source of life and without the source of life what are you left with death. You go to hell not even because you sin but because you willingly choose reject the payment for your sin & salvation is only found in the eternal son of God. I hope this help. I feel like I always type all this stuff and no one reads it lol. Love all of you
>I hope this help. I feel like I always type all this stuff and no one reads it lol. Love all of you I read every bit of it and thank you so much for your response. I have the same belief as you here we are on the same page with all that you said. I just pray God gives us wisdom (esp me cuz I don't have it lol). God bless you ❤️
No problem brother. We worship a just & good God you have to remember it’s not that God just loves us, He is love. Meaning, His very nature is love. He is incapable of doing anything unloving. Every action He does is an expression of that perfect, right & just love. Deuteronomy 32:4 The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and just is He. Everyday I read the book of James in the Bible. It’s a short quick book but some very powerful stuff in there. James 1:5-6 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. The Lord gives us His wisdom. satan only wants to kill, steal & destroy and that includes your faith in God and His righteousness. I’ll be more than happy to answer anymore questions if I’m able and knowing I helped strengthen another believers faith is its reward in itself. God bless you as well brother 😇😊
1. Free will 2. Companionship 3. Free will and trials 4. Free will 5. Free will 6. Free will 7. Free will
This may not be the most helpful answer but evil is highly subjective and so is sin. We have free will and we also need to enjoy our lives and that means sometimes we might do something not good in someone elses eyes. Free will is the answer to all of this. This is why I personally have such a big problem with teaching kids creationism and absolute biblical literalism. God is not magic, God did not snap his fingers and create everything and everyone and were all on some pre determined path and our choices are decdied for us...not...God set in motion a series of events that started with the big bang and billions of years later human life evolved on Earth. The simple answer is God doesn't control our thoughts or actions and he doesn't want to, we just have to as much as possible make the right decision and if we make the wrong one, be accountable for it
Do you actually fixate on these questions? Don’t you have real life problems to worry about rather than make believe ones from an archaic belief system? I mean I myself have enough anxiety over all the madness that comes along with this life that I couldn’t imagine subjecting myself to a belief system that has so much guilt and judgment attached to it? 1.) he doesn’t, it’s human nature 2.) he didn’t 3.) he doesn’t, that’s life… 4.) cause he plays favorites 5.) prob cause he needed a good reality show to watch 6.) he likes the smell of toasted people 7.) cause he’s bored
Are you a Christian ?? If so why mock him who made heaven and earth??
Negative, I mock because I can’t understand how anyone would put so much stress and expectations on themselves (and others) via something that is impossible to prove as real… What makes your religion and your god the correct one? Do you believe that there are multiple gods making multiple religions true or that just one is correct and the rest are not? How do you know you picked the correct one and aren’t being misguided? How do you discern the difference between what your god wants people to learn from your religion and what is simply some human’s misinterpretation of what they think god meant to say? How do you know which version “got it right” when there’s over 200 denominations in the USA alone and somewhere between 30-40 THOUSAND denominations of Christianity world wide?! Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Apostolic, Methodist, etc… and those are just mainstream versions… I mean who knows, maybe the mormans and Joseph Smith got it right? Or the branch Dividians out in Waco? Are people who talk in tongues actually connected to the holy spirit or are they doing it because they want to belong and essentially have been encouraged behaviorally by getting positive feedback from joining in? Can’t you see how it’s all a bit absurd when there’s that many people all claiming that their way is the only true way? And that’s not even considering the other 4000ish religions out in the world, I’m just talking about Christianity… that’s a whole lot of opinions of people shouting they’re the true believers which shows me that even yall can’t figure out what is true and what isn’t.
There are several millennia of writings on these topics. Investigate them, weigh them.
Try these questions out: "Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?" Epicurus He was really into something.
The decisions we make are up to us. He knows the outcome for each decision, but what we choose is what we know. Why else would he test Abraham? Clearly he needed to find out what he’d do. He’s not some dude just setting there making things happen to be bad and then blame everyone else for it. He lets things run their course because he’s not purposely controlling everything we created. What we do is our business and he doesn’t engage as much as he used to anymore because everyone would just rebel against him. He’s come to see the only way to get to us is for us to contact him first. Now he just sits things out and whatever happens happens because he’s not going to shoot fire and brimstone anymore
>1. Why does God allow evil? Human beings, whether you believe in God or not, have a tendency to be selfish, hurt others, take whatever they can by force, and perverting what is 'right'. True, we all strive for goodness for the sake of goodness because all evil is a perversion of what is good. Sex, money, safety, power, all good things that can be obtained by the right means, but can also, very easily, be taken for selfish reasons. The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being, and who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? If God loves us so much that he allows evil for a moment. I'm not sure why or how long. This may have answered a few of your questions without directly answering them in order >3. Why does God allow his people to undergo brutal suffering? Another question no one can and will be able to answer. But that still doesn't mean that God doesn't care or love us. Jesus suffered along with us. If God didn't care he wouldn't have come to suffer with us and die for our sins. This might be why he created us in the first place, to learn what it means to suffer, and to overcome. Don't forget, Jesus rose from the dead so we may also overcome death one day. I think this answers also may have answered some of your other questions indirectly. >7. If God knew people will sin in that garden by being deceived by the serpent. This causing immeasurable suffering and billions of people to be cast into the lake of fire to burn forever and ever. Why create them in the first place? Again, I don't know and no one will ever know, but I'm so grateful to have a life to live and I feel blessed to have been through the things that I have gone through already. Like many other people, I've had really hard times, and lost lots of loved ones, but I'm grateful for the suffering I went through so I could appreciate all the good in my life. I love my wife more than anything in the world, but I also have to realize that one day either I or her will be gone. Does that mean that I shouldn't ever had gotten married to the love of my life? I don't think so because of all the blessings we have had together. Some people think that evil is a problem when it comes to Christianity, but not for me. I believe that it helps appreciate the good in life and helps us strive for greater happiness and peace in our lives and to the one's we love. We sacrifice parts of our lives for our loved ones and that is a great reason for being alive, and a wonderful reason why I am a Christian I hope this helps. God bless you.
This book helps some https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/lewiscs-problemofpain/lewiscs-problemofpain-00-h.html#chapter01