Granite, what is your story?

Response to comment [from a Satanist]:  "...[T]he death of my grandparents within months of one another, which forced me to grapple with their eternal damnation versus the goodness of their lives..."

Today, the author of Breaking Up with God: A Love Story, Sarah Sentilles, was on Dennis Prager's radio program.  She struggled with the suffering of the world and a good God. 

Dennis asked her if she hoped there was an afterlife.  She would only say that she hoped that people would be made aware of the suffering that they caused others.  She said if she were in charge there would be no suffering on earth in this life.  Ge 1:31

I was surprised to hear Dennis say that he did not believe that God cares for and protects his own.  He said that anyone who could be made aware of the Holocaust and still believe that must have a screw loose. 

They agreed that "good people" shouldn't go to hell.  Seemingly, they both believed that they were "good" people (Ro 3:12).

[Is God in Everything? In Touch Romans 8:28-29] "Is God involved in everything that happens throughout the world?  How you answer that question is important.  What people believe about the Lord's sovereignty affects both their trust in Him and their reactions to struggles.  Moreover, believers' thoughts on God's dominion influences their compliance with His requirement.  For instance, "In everything give thanks" (1 Thess. 5:18) would be an impossible standard if God were only partially in control of what's going on.

Believing God is present in the positive aspects of our lives is easy.  Reconciling hardship to His promises of provision and love is tougher.  But think about this:  If the Lord has reason to provide a joy promotion, might He not also have reason to orchestrate a job loss?  If He gives good health, might He not also allow sickness, as He permitted in Job's life (Job 2:6-7)?

The Bible says that the Lord's ways are not like our ways (Isa. 55:8).  He has a master purpose for involving Himself in every aspect of believer's lives--namely, conforming them to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29).  Jesus' life was no easy or sweet.  He suffered shame, abuse, ill will, and perpetuation even before He faced the cross.  If we are to be like Him, then we must expect that God's loving hand will sometimes hold a tool for reshaping us...

...Every believer is encircled by God's protection (Psalm 34:7), so nothing touches our lives unless He permits or directs it.  Bitterness and blame cannot take root if we accept that every good and bad thing comes with God's knowledge and permission.  We can trust Him to do right by us (Rom. 8:28)."  Is God in Everything? In Touch Romans 8:28-29

"...Predestined torment for some of the finest people I'd ever known (and who had loved, and helped, my family through immensely tough times) was an idea I found, and still find, irreconcilable with any manner of decent, just, and righteous deity."
 

Most people believe that they are good. God says otherwise (Ro 3:12).

[God's Provision In Touch Matthew 14:22-34] "No one gets through life without trials. Realistically, you are either in a storm, just getting out of one, ore about to enter a turbulent time. That is the bad news. Thankfully, we serve a good God who provides beautifully--especially during the dark periods of life.

Today's, passage tells of a stormy night on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus provides for us today just as he did for His disciples in that unsettling situation. Today, we will focus on the ways that He does this.

First, the Father gives Christians His presence and the promise that He will never leave (Heb. 13:5-6). This is, perhaps, the greatest gift because from this awareness, He offers a sense of comfort, courage, and confidence.

Second, the Lord blesses His children with a pathway through trouble. He is in total control our storm and will use the trial for His purpose. We may not understand, but we can trust His hand to guide us and accomplish good. Sometimes the reason and benefit of a difficulty will become obvious, while in other cases, it may never be clear.

Third, the Father offers believers the potential to grow. Hardships are exercises in trust and times to learn more fully who God is and how great His power and love are...

...No one enjoys trails. But remember to express gratitude for God's hand in your life and the way He will use the adversity. Hardships are chances to trust your Creator and to know Him better. Of course, they are painful, but don't waste the opportunity to become all the Lord has planned for you." God's Provision In Touch Matthew 14:22-34

Response to comment [from a Christian]: "Granite, I understand your rejection of the literal Biblical "God", but why did you reject the idea of "God" all together? Why not simply let go of the literal Biblical interpretation? You could have chosen to read the Bible as a collection of mythical and symbolic texts, or you could have dropped the Bible as a guide completely and worked out a concept of "God" on your own..."

GodRulzRandomThoughts (2 Pe 2:1) does this every day.

"Man's own religion usually descends to the fleshly life to which they themselves practice." ~ Jim Andrews

[Does God Cause Us to Sin In Touch Isaiah 45:6-9] "...God is in everything from natural disasters to family disputes. Nothing touches a believers' life unless it comes through His permissive hand. And He brings about good from even our worst experiences (Rom. 8:28). But believing in divine sovereignty over all the events of earth implies a connection between holy God and our sin. Then, just how are they related?

Read this carefully: God neither instigates sin nor leads anyone into temptation. He is holy, so He can't be in the presence of sin. He is just, so He demands payment for wrongs. And He's loving and merciful, so He desires that all people know Him and His saving grace. To lure people into wrongdoing and then judge them for disobedience would be contrary to His character.

At time people point out the King James translation of Isaiah 45:7, which says that God makes peace and creates evil. While I love the KJV's poetic language, I teach from the New American Standard Bible because I believe it's the most accurate translation. The NASB says God is the One "causing well-being and creating calamity..." Even before we make a wrong choice, the Lord knows that the repercussions will be. And He uses the evil circumstances related to our sin as a teaching tool...

...We have a certain amount of free will--the Lord allows us to step out of His will and pursue our own agenda. He knows that sin reveals the flesh's weakness and arrogance. Once we realize our frailty, He teaches us to die to self and to rely upon Christ's strength (Gal. 2:20)." Does God Cause Us to Sin In Touch Isaiah 45:6-9

"Man's own religion usually descends to the fleshly life to which they themselves practice." ~ Jim Andrews

Response to comment [from a Satanist]: [Angel4Truth quote: ...[H]ow did you become born again? What led to that, something from you, or something your parents expected you to do?] "Reading Luke's account of the crucifixion was what directly led to the prayer I said. It was something I did on my own."

Being a raised in a Christian family doesn't make you a Christian. Attending church doesn't make you a Christian. Saying a prayer doesn't make you a Christian. Granite has never been born again (Jn 3:5, Titus 3:5).

See:

1 Jn 2:19 by J. Vernon McGee

[Gratitude in the Storms of Life In Touch 1 Thessalonians 5:18] "If you are not in a difficult time, you likely will encounter one soon. Jesus promised that we will have many hardships in this life (John 16:33). And was He right.

As unpleasant as trials are, there's still much reason for giving thanks....[W]e looked at three provisions believers can count on during adversity: God's presence, a pathway through the trouble, and potential to grow....Let's explore two more.

Protection. God doesn't necessarily keep believers from suffering or disappointment. Stopping the storms may be our goal, but from His point of view, the adversity may be necessary to mature us spiritually. But the Father offers protection by staying with us in the struggle. Once we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are promised that God indwells us and will never leave. What's more, we have assurance that nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:38-39). So our ever-present God walks with us through the hardships, providing guidance and speaking truth into the situation.

Peace. While difficulties cause many people anxiety, believers have God's peace. This inner serenity does not depend on whether circumstances improve. Rather, it's a result of our relationship with Him. Our main focus shouldn't be on fixing the problem but on our dependence upon God...

...As we recognize the Lord's provision during trials, we can genuinely express gratitude. Doing so will enable us to fix our eyes on Him rather than on our circumstance. We often don't know what the purpose is for each trial, but we do know that our God is good and trustworthy." Gratitude in the Storms of Life In Touch 1 Thessalonians 5:18

"...I don't feel the yearning for a greater power or the comfort in such a belief. We're here. We make it up as we go along. We're lucky."

"Move over Sophocles." ~ Laura Ingraham

[Equipped for the Valley In Touch Psalm 27:11-14] "If a sermon is worth listening to, make it a habit to write down the important points. Writing etches wisdom deeper into you heart and mind, which is where you build a foundation of biblical theology.

Christians cannot afford to let a message wash over their eras and drift away: believers who aren't listeners may panic upon walking into a spiritual valley. Since they've retained very little teaching, their understanding of the Lord will be limited. People with a shaky theological foundation don't realize: 1) God is upholding them through their difficulty (Isa. 41:10); 2) it has purpose (Rom. 8:28-29); and 3) they must surrender to His work in their life or be set aside--still a believer but useless to the kingdom (Rom. 12:1-2). Consequently, a believer without a solid biblical foundation may seek out counsel from worldly "problem solvers" who offer only temporary release from pain and fear.

David, the psalm's author, said tat he did not fear evil (Ps. 23:4). He knew God. What did he have to be scared of when the One who controls everything was on his side? How could he be stifled by anxiety while in the Spirit's comforting presence? The writer held God to His promises and God delivered (Ps. 23). But the psalmist had to know those pledges in order to believe that the Lord would keep them...

...A spiritual relationship heavy on emotion but light on facts falters in a valley. Believers must know how Scripture applies to life. Unless you have a belief system that can withstand pressure, pain, and criticism, you are at risk. Start building your biblical foundation so it will help you in times of need." Equipped for the Valley In Touch Psalm 27:11-14

Response to comment [from a Jew]: "I've still yet to figure out why Christians think everyone else is full of pain and fear."

Have you ever experienced pain or fear?

Response to comment [from a Christian]: "[S]erpentdove, I don't conceive of "God" as a person, or a personality, so it's nearly impossible for me to translate your concept and language regarding "God" into something that I can understand or identify with."

God is: living, personal, relational, good and loving. "...[T]hough the fullness of the Trinity is far beyond human comprehension, it is unquestionably how God has revealed Himself in Scripture—as one God eternally existing in three Persons..." Full text: Our Triune God by John MacArthur

Also see:

What is the Godhead? Is the Godhead the same thing as the Trinity? Is the idea of a Godhead biblical?

Response to comment [from a Satanist]: [Why were you so certain that your grandparents were going to Hell according to your old creed?] "They weren't believers when they died. Fairly cut and dry."

If you were certain that they went to hell, then why do you say that you do not believe in hell or God? 2 Thess 1:9

Response to comment [from a Jew]:

Dena: "I've still yet to figure out why Christians think everyone else is full of pain and fear."
SD: "Have you ever experienced pain or fear?"
Dena: "Yes, of course."

Recommended:

A free online bible study: Setting Captives Free. Find freedom from: anxiety, depression, fear, homosexuality, substance abuse, gambling, gluttony/eating disorders, self-injury, etc.

Response to comment [from an atheist]: "Ah, "projection".  That's a psychology thing, it means you naturally assume everyone is just like you. (they aren't)..."

Not quite.

Granite, what is your story?