Then you would be saying GOD does not know our days, not when we will die individually. On issue of Earthquakes, etc. Your mocking JESUS own words. Did you know that? Let me guess, you grew up in the church?
4 years is surely not a sad thing. Spent 15 months reading bible 10-12 hours everyday w/out missing once. 2nd, the day you get persectuted for CHRIST then you will surely feel the power of the HOLY SPIRIT! Not one thing I said you could give an inklying of implicaction that I blame GOD. Matter of fact, the opposite. I did say we have free choice, didn't I. Matter of fact. I thank GOD when problems come and I get sick, etc. B/C I realize if these things cannot come about. Adam and Eve would not have had the choice to obey or disobey, sin or not to sin. Preach this to kids... No choice, no love. What we have here is the question of predestination. That's pretty simple to, God knows our future and we don't!
let's put it this way. If the truth has set one free then what could one ever blame GOD for?
Blaming GOD is an easy thing to do for those who don't know and understand. God did create evil and he did know Adam and Eve would disobey. But w/o the option of evil and free choice, There is no love. We would have been programmed like a robot. Now that just would not be love. Best example I can bring is my 2 year-old I know exactly what she's going to do. She will disobey somewhere along the line. But yet she still must be punished for it. I cannot lock her in her room to shield her away from sin and this world. That would not be love. In knowing that GOD didn't program us, which he could have easily did. We can tell one thing, he wants to be loved!
What you say about God predicting earthquakes, famines,etc. and therefore controls them is equivalent to me predicting rain because of an overcast sky. Does that mean I control that as well? God in His infinite wisdom indeed knows events that will occur prior to them doing so. But to say that he controls them would mean everybody who was or will be killed in a natural disaster from infant to elderly, God-fearing or not, died by God's own hand? I think not. That is inconsistent with the nature of God which is LOVE.
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"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."--John 17:3 "Eternal life is perhaps the most elusive of all the promises of God."--Donald
What is sad is that your profile states that you've been a Christian only four years and yet you think that you are more wise than me. The Bible is divided by two periods of the dispensation of God's dealings with man. You can't just run both testaments together because they're in the same book!
The Bible does in fact teach that God is limited by man. Psalm 78:41 makes it clear that God's will does not automatically come to pass in every person's life because of their disobedience. I know it is comforting to you to ascribe blame to God for everything that happens in this world. That way you can put all life's problems in your little box and you don't have to deal with it. But that line of thinking doesn't bear up with scripture.
If it were all grace then everybody would be saved. Titus 2:11 says the grace of God which brings salvation has appeared unto all men and yet all men won't be saved. Why? Because faith appropriates the grace that was made manifest in Christ Jesus. God is not dispensing His wrath and at the same time give us grace. When God's wrath is truly revealed at the end of the church age, it won't be just on Haiti. Everybody on earth will feel the effects of it. You got a Bible? Read it for yourself and let the Holy Spirit lead you instead of you leading Him.
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"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."--John 17:3 "Eternal life is perhaps the most elusive of all the promises of God."--Donald
Here is some sripture to back me up~the whole book! You do believe in sin, righteousness and judgement right? Exactly what your supposed to be teaching our youth. I see you limit GOD and his capabilities. Looks like a narrow view to me. No, here is exactly what I see your half in and half out. Just pick a side, so you don't confuse them who are trying to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Your teaching our youth I see. Are you teaching Matthew. Have you read chapter 24. Now let's remember something simple here: If the LORD didn't know and predict it, he could not control it.
Verse 7) Famines(no precip) and Earthquakes in divers places.
Verse 28) Earth in complete darkness, the unbelievers will be mourning.
Mark chapter 13, Luke chapter 21 as well. Revelation chapter 6,8, 11, 16 w/the 7 vials. This should be enough for now. If you really do look upon these.
Wrath and Judgement are not the same. What is sad is I seen you are a youth pastor. I knew you would say exactly what you did about o.t. My advice to you is teach the whole bible! Not just Matthew. Does everything need explained. Could the LORD have stopped adam and eve? according to you, NO. I see you limit GOD to what he can do. If GOD intervenes w/adam and eve, then we don't have free choice. We don't have love. Do you think GOD changed changed his standards for judgement after CHRIST was crucified? Come on man, use your brain. Here is a big no, no I see as well, quite comparing others to others as a means to judgement, by that reasoning we would all die @ roughly the same age! Have you not also read GOD will have mercy on who he will. In both old and new. The bible says compare life to scripture. If this is not clear enough, let me know. Instead of coming, with what some unbelievers love to do... which is be arguementative for what one's words don't say! You can be sure of this if the LORD knows you and you him. You will also know and understand his character. Last but not least, have you not read? the new testament is the same as the old! The one and only difference the savior has been revealed and were under grace because of it.
What scriptures do you have to support YOUR view that a person is not a Christian if they don't believe that God uses the weather to vent His wrath? I think that is too simplistic of an approach that is based in narrow-mindedness. There are numerous events that occur which are not a part of God's will. 2 Pet 3:9 states that God is not willing that any should perish and yet many are perishing.
Now to address your issues.
1) Job didn't have a covenant with God. The text does not say Job was a Hebrew and neither a Christian. He was a just man who believed in God. There are a multitude of people today who are the same way. The book of Job also states that it was Satan who destroyed all that Job had, not God. So does that mean Satan controls the weather as well? According to Job 1 he does.
2) Was God in control when He told Adam and Eve NOT to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowlege of good and evil? Why would He tell people that He has control over not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and then rebuke them for doing it if He could have stopped the whole situation?
3) and 6)There is a difference between God having authority over the weather and controlling it. He is the creator of the laws which govern weather but He does not control what gets destroyed in a storm and what does not. Also how is that man is able to control some aspects of weather in the form of cloud seeding for example.
4) and 7) All Old Testament examples. How about in the New Testament where Paul is shipwrecked by a mighty storm at sea? Did God send a hurricane to vent His wrath on Paul as well?
5) God's wrath was vented on people in the OT in the form of weather among other things. In the New covenant all of God's wrath on sin has been satisfied through the death of Jesus Christ. Jesus death was in vain if God is still reacting to sin in the same way He did in under the Old Covenant.
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"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."--John 17:3 "Eternal life is perhaps the most elusive of all the promises of God."--Donald
Just as a parent disciplines children differently for different infractions, so God chooses when he will tolerate, when he will correct and when he will VISIT HIS WRATH upon the wayward. I believe that God would have poured out His wrath much more generally over the United States if it hadn't been for the prayers of our founders ... especially Washington who prayed daily that God would preserve our nation. Someday, God will "come to the end of his rope" and I believe that day is fast approaching. To use a famous line from a Bette Davis movie, "Fasten your seatbelts ... it's gonna be a bumpy ride!"
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
Also, by your logic how could any of the biblical figures ever be killed or persecuted? Refer to proverbs, ecclesiastes, job, and isaiah as to the righteous suffering along with the wicked. The patience and struggles of the discples for they said GOD is slow to anger. Study history as well, the most oppresive conquerors stayed in power for sometime. Using your thinking should they have been wiped out in one day? maybe two? Just for starters and general stuff. We can go a little deeper if you would like? What the world would call dumb luck. CHRIST proclaimed that it rains on the just and the unjust. And here is the core of his message, proclaim the gospel to the unjust so that they might believe and not perish. Are you missing Americas judgement at hand right now? and it's only the beginning. Were preaching prosperity and teetering on the brinks of a depression, judgement is coming for that just alone! Church's are doubling there debts and saying were doing well. While members homes are being lost and sin is running rampant. Let me stop for now.
Stephanos, keep reading, praying, and listening. Let me make this simple, If one does not believe GOD controls the weather, then you are not a CHRISTIAN. Quite simply the core of your beliefs will be GOD is not in control and he is chaos.
Here is what it means to say the LORD doesn't control the weather:
1) Contrary to everything the LORD proclaimed to JOB. Illustrations to show his power and JOB was just a man. Read chapter 38 and on.
2) Contrary to the LORD controlling ALL things.
3) Contrary to story of creation which allowed things to be put into order for the weather.
4) Contrary to Joshua, Jeremiah, and Hezekiah w/ref to sun and shadows~(Hezekiah)
5) Contrary to exodus where undoubtedly the "weather" played a role.
6) Contrary to the LORD creating all things.
7) Contrary to Noah's day and age.
This should be enough for starters. The question is how can one miss all this and yet be a CHRISTIAN? There not!!!
If God decides the impact that natural forces have on the earth then why did He stop with Haiti? Why not destroy the United States as well for our increasing acceptance of immorality? Or maybe some parts of Africa where innocent people are massacred for tribal beliefs? Or Asia where idols are in almost every home being worshipped? Better yet, there have been some churches struck by lightening or destroyred in tornadoes in the region where I live. Is that God's judgment too? Is it because they weren't devout Christians like you think you are? When the wrath of God is poured out it won't be over certain regions, the entire world will feel His hot displeasure!
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"This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."--John 17:3 "Eternal life is perhaps the most elusive of all the promises of God."--Donald
Now christians on here are you afraid to speak, seriously what and who could one possibly be afraid off! Does the LORD control the weather or does he just say go ahead weather and do as you please? Haiti was judgement from the LORD. With the relief efforts should not part of the relief be the gospel? Isn't the gospel worth more than silver and gold? Let's put it simple for the bleeding hearts who may disagree with Haiti being judgement and you say your a CHRISTIAN, if the weather is not controlled by GOD. Then quite simply there is no GOD. Get it or shall I explain further? Here is the thing you call yourself a CHRISTIAN, if you are , how did you get there? Nobody wakes up and says well I'll try being a CHRISTIAN today. Something happened to cause you to turn away from your sin and being wrapped in yourself. This something was a form of judgement. So you better love it. It saved you!
No adverse replies needed as you will be speaking into air or in this case typing just for finger exercise.
Since when has it become a sign of insanity to believe that God may be a God of love, but He also is a righteous God who visits disaster on those who repeatedly participate in purely evil pursuits?
Think of those filth-mongers out there who believe its just fine to find love with children of any age How long before people are clamoring for the right to marry their 8-year-old girl- (or boy-) friends? Since this type of behavior is what brought about the destruction of Sodom, how can we hope to escape similar retribution. Oh I know, were in the age of Grace but, according to the New Testament, God is the same forever, never changing Can we really believe that God will withhold forever his great wrath at such evil abominations as our nation(s) is/are now practicing? Does the New Testament also not carry the warning, My spirit will not always strive with man? I know its unpopular to cry, This is retribution from an righteous God! but I believe that many of the current avalanche of disasters that have taken place around the world are exactly that. How long is long enough? Only God knows and that is what strikes me with the FEAR of God!
How about you? Is there anything that would cause you to cry out the warning that GOD is a God of Righteousness, Holiness and Purity and that He will not tolerate evil forever?
Pat Robertson may have "jumped the gun" with his pronouncement about Haiti ... (and, by the way, what he clearly said was that the deal Haiti's "forefathers" supposedly made with SATAN was behind all the bad things in Haiti) but at least he isn't afraid to speak out when he believes God is responding to the evil in the world.
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
