No matter how hard we pound our little chubby fists, that darn big Goddy just doesn't do things our way. Why is that?
If He loves us so much, why is all this bad stuff around, why do people hurt and suffer and die? Why aren't our prayers answered...and RIGHT NOW?? dammit!
I'm reading Yancy, The Jesus I Never Knew. He covers some of this stuff. The answer to that question is, well, God allows this stuff to happen because He is a God of Free Will. We have the choice to do good, to love in this world. Some people do, some people don't. Illness happens, death happens, evil happens...it's part of life.
Then, He doesn't seem to answer our prayers.
What about that?
Well, some folks think He's teaching us to wait. Some folks say He answers, just not the way we want.
Doesn't all this seem like a big, fat fake-out-cop-out-non-answer sometimes? An omnipotent God would BE HERE, right? He would flex His muscles and show us what's what and who's who in the universe. None of this guessing stuff....
Are You there, Lord?
Can Ya hear me, Lord?
Hellloooooo?
There are some out there that say that because there is no scientific proof of the existence of God, that He is not there. In fact, some medical and religious people did a study to see if prayer or non-prayer for heart patients, would make any difference. Turns out, that the results were "undetermined." They couldn't tell if it made any difference or not. (Sorry I don't have the link. I'll dig it up if you want it.) Some "scientific" minds felt that this was proof positive that prayer is useless.
Well, I think we're defining God in our own image with these conclusions. Is God like a marionette on strings for us if He is all powerful? Is He looking down on this study thinking, "Geez...guess I better hop to and do what they ask." Don't think so...
So, anyway. What's my point...what's my point....
It's just that God wants us to worship Him, love Him. But He's not going to force us. That wouldn't be a loving God, that would be a tyrant.....and instead He sent His Son, who, when tempted in the Desert by Satan, refused to buckle and perform. And here we sit, often playing the part of the enemy by expecting everything we want dropped down on us at our whim....not at His discretion. Countries with dictators and communism have discovered that you can't legislate love, caring, or sharing. Just doesn't work. It has to come from inside, from a deep, knowing place that recognizes what is good and right behavior. It has to come from a place that recognizes a God who is not a tyrant or a dictator, but a loving creator who only wants our true love...and to love Him for what He does...and doesn't do. That's the way He loves us, isn't it?
I know I'm preaching to the choir. I just thought I was supposed to say that....
7 comments:
Interesting rant. I have been thinking along those same lines the last few days because of something a friend of mine is dealing with - doubts about the "goodness" of God who would allow certain things to happen. It's hard to get people to change their focus when they are suddenly consumed with all of this doubt. I'm still trying to pull my thoughts together.
Thanks for the post.
B~
PS - HOT, ain't it.
well, as you can tell, my thoughts weren't really pulled together!
yeah, it's HOT....so I washed the cars so it would rain.
NICE...really loved all of it and what I have been thinking as well......
Have you ever read John Piper's Desiring God...alot of what you said I remember reading there....
keep on ranting!
Clap, Clap, Clap,
I love it Karen.
Our brain sure does like to take us to the places of doubt.
But there is something about Him that hovers over and abides within that pulls at the very core of truth and it doesn't need to shout. It just IS, It is Him.
Hugs :)
Lori
I love it that it is all about knowing Jesus and I sometimes hate what it takes to know Him ... and the fellowship of His sufferings (Phil 3:10).
I like what you have written we will never know the mind of God and the reason why things happen, I get angry when I see those I love hurting or seriously ill and don't understand it but I am reminded of His prescence in my life and the difference knowing Him makes each day, we do have hope thankfully.
By the way it is really unusually very hot here in England, us Brits just don't know what to do with ourselves!!
probably rain tomorrow!
I'm coming back to read this again later.
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