Is God Happy?

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S

Seedz

Guest
#1
First of all, I want to introduce myself.

My name is not important, but I am a 25 year old man, married, with a baby on the way.

I grew up in a pretty strict christian household (couldn't even go to the movies type deal...). My dad became a believer in '97 and dragged the whole family down the Jesus path.

I have always believed the word (since it was taught to me), and have always had faith in our creator, but as I get older, more and more questions rise up.

As a kid, things are much easier to understand, and to believe, but then of course life comes in and can change your points of view quite drastically. Not to mention, the enemy is always firing his fiery darts of thought....(Right?)

So I guess it is now time to address the post's title, "Is God Happy?"

The reason I ask this is because I cannot help but to wonder why everything is so complex when it comes to the story of creation and humanity. If God is a god of peace, love and order, then why is everything the way it is?

Why did there have to be sin?

Why did there have to be rebellion?

Why did there have to be beings of greater intelligence and greater strength that torment us dumber, and frantic humans?

Why would God not show himself in a palpable way for everyone to see?

Why is there so much mystery as to who and what God is?

Why are there so many wildly different interpretations of the word? (Not to mention the tons of different translations)

God is omniscient, so he must have foreseen all of the "bugs" with the system right?

Why did he even allow the possibility for his creation to rebel? Why?


I just cant't help but to ask myself if God is happy with how things turned out.

Sure, it probably has only been a couple of days for God since he created adam, but we are stuck in this time lapse, and WE HAVE TO LIVE HERE, LIKE THIS.....

Sure, God wants us to depend on him, and develop our faith, etc....

But it is not fun.
 

loveme1

Senior Member
Oct 30, 2011
8,083
190
63
#2
Welcome to CC...

Who can speak on behalf of GOD?

We can pick up much about the evil Rebellion.. but GOD is above all things and the Battle is won.. everything in due season.. when the crop is ripe the harvest will come.. to some the end is frightening but for others it is time to go home... many prefer the temporary and love life here in separation.. but the Children of GOD abide waiting for His return..
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
113
#3
Because God created the best possible world and this best possible world requires some amount of evil to be present.
Similar to an artistic picture that needs some minimal amout of black paint to look perfect.
 
S

Seedz

Guest
#4
Welcome to CC...

Who can speak on behalf of GOD?

We can pick up much about the evil Rebellion.. but GOD is above all things and the Battle is won.. everything in due season.. when the crop is ripe the harvest will come.. to some the end is frightening but for others it is time to go home... many prefer the temporary and love life here in separation.. but the Children of GOD abide waiting for His return..
Well,

I am not speaking on behalf of anybody but my own observations/thoughts..

All I am saying is that we as humans have to live in this time frame, and in this reality/dimension.

We have earthly bodies and minds, filled with anxieties, fears, and worries.

God designed all of these emotions and abilities to move about in this world, so again, why make it so difficult to make it to heaven?

I by no means mean to question God or his sovereignty, but I am baffled by how it all works and how many people will suffer for ever.

I just want to know if anyone else feels this way, or has at some point thought about this in this context.

BTW thank you for the welcoming greeting.
 
S

Seedz

Guest
#5
Because God created the best possible world and this best possible world requires some amount of evil to be present.
Similar to an artistic picture that needs some minimal amout of black paint to look perfect.
If God hates evil, why is it necessary?
 

shrume

Senior Member
Jun 26, 2017
2,193
463
83
#6
First of all, I want to introduce myself.

My name is not important, but I am a 25 year old man, married, with a baby on the way.

I grew up in a pretty strict christian household (couldn't even go to the movies type deal...). My dad became a believer in '97 and dragged the whole family down the Jesus path.

I have always believed the word (since it was taught to me), and have always had faith in our creator, but as I get older, more and more questions rise up.

As a kid, things are much easier to understand, and to believe, but then of course life comes in and can change your points of view quite drastically. Not to mention, the enemy is always firing his fiery darts of thought....(Right?)

So I guess it is now time to address the post's title, "Is God Happy?"

The reason I ask this is because I cannot help but to wonder why everything is so complex when it comes to the story of creation and humanity. If God is a god of peace, love and order, then why is everything the way it is?
Primarily, because there is Satan. We are living in a war zone.

Why did there have to be sin?

Why did there have to be rebellion?
In many ways, those are the same thing. God created beings, both spirit beings (angels) and humans with free will. Neither angels nor people are preprogrammed robots. Satan, even though he was perfect when he was created, decided to rebel. He wanted to be just like God. He tried to usurp the throne of God (Isa 14:12ff and Eze 28:12ff).

When God created this earth, he gave dominion of it to Adam and Eve (Gen 1:26). When Adam sinned, he transferred the dominion of this world to Satan, who still has it (Luke 4:5-6; 2 Cor 4:4; 1 John 5:19).

Why did there have to be beings of greater intelligence and greater strength that torment us dumber, and frantic humans?
People are tormented and oppressed by the devil (John 10:10; Acts 10:38; 1 Pet 5:8) and those who work for him.

Why would God not show himself in a palpable way for everyone to see?
Creation itself should be sufficient evidence of God. Nobody is without excuse (Rom 1:20).

Why is there so much mystery as to who and what God is?
I believe it's possible to learn quite a bit about Him.

Why are there so many wildly different interpretations of the word? (Not to mention the tons of different translations)
I believe many people are not willing to put forth the effort to study and rightly divide the Bible. Most believe what they were taught at church, whatever that church happened to believe, and they adopted those beliefs for themselves. I believe that it is possible to know the truth, or at least a great deal of it. There are areas of scripture that are not crystal clear.

God is omniscient, so he must have foreseen all of the "bugs" with the system right?
Most of them, yes. That's why Jesus Christ was sent, to provide the means for everything to be set right. One day it will be.

Why did he even allow the possibility for his creation to rebel? Why?
Because He gave us free will. He wants his creation to love Him. In order for them to do that, there had to be the possibility they wouldn't. If we were forced to love God, it would not be love.

I just cant't help but to ask myself if God is happy with how things turned out.
I'm convinced He will be very pleased when everything is said and done. We aren't there yet, but victory is assured because of Jesus Christ.

Sure, it probably has only been a couple of days for God since he created adam, but we are stuck in this time lapse, and WE HAVE TO LIVE HERE, LIKE THIS.....
Yep. What's the alternative?

Sure, God wants us to depend on him, and develop our faith, etc....

But it is not fun.
Often it is, but sometimes it's not. But keep the goal in mind. Everlasting life with God in a perfect new heaven and earth. No more sin, sickness, death, tears, oppression, crime, famine, war, etc, etc. The things we go through now will pale in comparison to what's coming.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
10,684
794
113
#7
If God hates evil, why is it necessary?
For example, to be understood also by created beings as something what we should not desire for.

Or, because good is bigger after evil.

Etc.
 

loveme1

Senior Member
Oct 30, 2011
8,083
190
63
#8
Well,

I am not speaking on behalf of anybody but my own observations/thoughts..

All I am saying is that we as humans have to live in this time frame, and in this reality/dimension.

We have earthly bodies and minds, filled with anxieties, fears, and worries.

God designed all of these emotions and abilities to move about in this world, so again, why make it so difficult to make it to heaven?

I by no means mean to question God or his sovereignty, but I am baffled by how it all works and how many people will suffer for ever.

I just want to know if anyone else feels this way, or has at some point thought about this in this context.

BTW thank you for the welcoming greeting.

The Great Potter formed you and now you are wondering after the Great Potter... well.. you have a choice to be forgiven and Reconciled or remain in unbelief and condemned..

All things work for good.. Trust Love and obey and be at peace..

GOD does not need disobedient unruly creations and we in the mortal vessel are able to be destroyed.. we have to be given the Right to the Tree of Life by the Lord when we are born again of the Holy Spirit which can enter into the Kingdom of GOD..

GOD is GOOD and Righteous always and forever..
 
S

Seedz

Guest
#10
Primarily, because there is Satan. We are living in a war zone.


In many ways, those are the same thing. God created beings, both spirit beings (angels) and humans with free will. Neither angels nor people are preprogrammed robots. Satan, even though he was perfect when he was created, decided to rebel. He wanted to be just like God. He tried to usurp the throne of God (Isa 14:12ff and Eze 28:12ff).

When God created this earth, he gave dominion of it to Adam and Eve (Gen 1:26). When Adam sinned, he transferred the dominion of this world to Satan, who still has it (Luke 4:5-6; 2 Cor 4:4; 1 John 5:19).


People are tormented and oppressed by the devil (John 10:10; Acts 10:38; 1 Pet 5:8) and those who work for him.


Creation itself should be sufficient evidence of God. Nobody is without excuse (Rom 1:20).


I believe it's possible to learn quite a bit about Him.


I believe many people are not willing to put forth the effort to study and rightly divide the Bible. Most believe what they were taught at church, whatever that church happened to believe, and they adopted those beliefs for themselves. I believe that it is possible to know the truth, or at least a great deal of it. There are areas of scripture that are not crystal clear.


Most of them, yes. That's why Jesus Christ was sent, to provide the means for everything to be set right. One day it will be.


Because He gave us free will. He wants his creation to love Him. In order for them to do that, there had to be the possibility they wouldn't. If we were forced to love God, it would not be love.


I'm convinced He will be very pleased when everything is said and done. We aren't there yet, but victory is assured because of Jesus Christ.


Yep. What's the alternative?


Often it is, but sometimes it's not. But keep the goal in mind. Everlasting life with God in a perfect new heaven and earth. No more sin, sickness, death, tears, oppression, crime, famine, war, etc, etc. The things we go through now will pale in comparison to what's coming.
I know that we were created with freewill, but why put things in front of our face while having freewill that God knows will hurt us? I have a terrible analogy for this, but it kinda gets the point across.

Lets say you have a pet monkey, and that pet monkey when you receive it is free of preconceptions and ideas. You put that monkey in a very fancy house filled with expensive items and artifacts. You tell the monkey that he cannot touch anything and that if he does he will be in trouble.

You leave the house and the monkey and you go away for a few months. You trained the monkey to phone you, but he does not hear your voice directly, he only knows that you are listening.

The monkey grows bored, desperate, anxious, what have you....

You return and the house and its items are in shambles...

Who do you blame? The monkey for having free will, or do you blame yourself for leaving the monkey to his own devices?

All I am saying is that God could have made it a bit easier for his creation to be saved.
 

shrume

Senior Member
Jun 26, 2017
2,193
463
83
#11
The Great Potter formed you and now you are wondering after the Great Potter... well.. you have a choice to be forgiven and Reconciled or remain in unbelief and condemned..
Many of his questions are legit. No need to castigate him because he's wondering about things and has questions.

I believe people misunderstand the whole potter/clay analogy. Maybe another thread for another day :)

All things work for good.. Trust Love and obey and be at peace..
No, not all things work for good. For example, it is not good when a woman is raped and murdered, or when a child dies of cancer.

The verse is that God works FOR the good in all situations. In any situation we may find ourselves, God is working for us.

GOD does not need disobedient unruly creations and we in the mortal vessel are able to be destroyed.. we have to be given the Right to the Tree of Life by the Lord when we are born again of the Holy Spirit which can enter into the Kingdom of GOD..
People are given the right to the tree of life when they decide to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, to confess him as Lord and believe God raised him from the dead (Rom 10:9).

GOD is GOOD and Righteous always and forever..
Amen!
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#12
First of all, I want to introduce myself.

My name is not important, but I am a 25 year old man, married, with a baby on the way.

I grew up in a pretty strict christian household (couldn't even go to the movies type deal...). My dad became a believer in '97 and dragged the whole family down the Jesus path.

I have always believed the word (since it was taught to me), and have always had faith in our creator, but as I get older, more and more questions rise up.

As a kid, things are much easier to understand, and to believe, but then of course life comes in and can change your points of view quite drastically. Not to mention, the enemy is always firing his fiery darts of thought....(Right?)

So I guess it is now time to address the post's title, "Is God Happy?"

The reason I ask this is because I cannot help but to wonder why everything is so complex when it comes to the story of creation and humanity. If God is a god of peace, love and order, then why is everything the way it is?

Why did there have to be sin?

Why did there have to be rebellion?

Why did there have to be beings of greater intelligence and greater strength that torment us dumber, and frantic humans?

Why would God not show himself in a palpable way for everyone to see?

Why is there so much mystery as to who and what God is?

Why are there so many wildly different interpretations of the word? (Not to mention the tons of different translations)

God is omniscient, so he must have foreseen all of the "bugs" with the system right?

Why did he even allow the possibility for his creation to rebel? Why?


I just cant't help but to ask myself if God is happy with how things turned out.

Sure, it probably has only been a couple of days for God since he created adam, but we are stuck in this time lapse, and WE HAVE TO LIVE HERE, LIKE THIS.....

Sure, God wants us to depend on him, and develop our faith, etc....

But it is not fun.
How do you "believe the word" if you don't understand it? And which creator do you have faith in and why?

Your questions tell me you've got neither -- belief nor faith. Your level of belief and faith equals my level of belief and faith in Manchester United. I know there is such a team. I know they play soccer, (but call it football.) I know they;re in England. But I don't follow them, care one way or another about them, and don't particular spend my time trying to find out if they're happy.

There are no second-generation Christians. What you grew up in doesn't mean that's what you are.

And, since you want this easier, why not do the logical thing? You believe there is a creator? Then ask him to prove himself to you! Ask him to become real to you. And once asked, do according to what should become nature. Check him out to see if he did. (Some actual reading of the Bible is probably needed, since it sounds like you think you know what it says from being taught some of the stories in it.)

If God is real, than he will make himself known to you.

(Warning: God is real, so he will. But that does not mean you tell him to hand-deliver you an ice cream hoagie to your door. And, I realize it is unlikely that you know what a hoagie is, but trust me enough to believe they don't come in ice cream. lol)

Having people spoon-feed you answers to those questions is only going to get you asking more and more questions without ever facing the question yourself.
 
S

Seedz

Guest
#13
The Great Potter formed you and now you are wondering after the Great Potter... well.. you have a choice to be forgiven and Reconciled or remain in unbelief and condemned..

All things work for good.. Trust Love and obey and be at peace..

GOD does not need disobedient unruly creations and we in the mortal vessel are able to be destroyed.. we have to be given the Right to the Tree of Life by the Lord when we are born again of the Holy Spirit which can enter into the Kingdom of GOD..

GOD is GOOD and Righteous always and forever..

So now you know who is condemned and who isn't?

Why not give life and forgiveness to all without condition?
 

bluto

Senior Member
Aug 4, 2016
2,023
505
113
#14
First of all, I want to introduce myself.

My name is not important, but I am a 25 year old man, married, with a baby on the way.

I grew up in a pretty strict christian household (couldn't even go to the movies type deal...). My dad became a believer in '97 and dragged the whole family down the Jesus path.

I have always believed the word (since it was taught to me), and have always had faith in our creator, but as I get older, more and more questions rise up.

As a kid, things are much easier to understand, and to believe, but then of course life comes in and can change your points of view quite drastically. Not to mention, the enemy is always firing his fiery darts of thought....(Right?)

So I guess it is now time to address the post's title, "Is God Happy?"

The reason I ask this is because I cannot help but to wonder why everything is so complex when it comes to the story of creation and humanity. If God is a god of peace, love and order, then why is everything the way it is?

Why did there have to be sin?

Why did there have to be rebellion?

Why did there have to be beings of greater intelligence and greater strength that torment us dumber, and frantic humans?

Why would God not show himself in a palpable way for everyone to see?

Why is there so much mystery as to who and what God is?

Why are there so many wildly different interpretations of the word? (Not to mention the tons of different translations)

God is omniscient, so he must have foreseen all of the "bugs" with the system right?

Why did he even allow the possibility for his creation to rebel? Why?


I just cant't help but to ask myself if God is happy with how things turned out.

Sure, it probably has only been a couple of days for God since he created adam, but we are stuck in this time lapse, and WE HAVE TO LIVE HERE, LIKE THIS.....

Sure, God wants us to depend on him, and develop our faith, etc....

But it is not fun.
Look at it this way seedz in regard to all your why questions? God created man and He created man in His image. The word "image" here does not mean what God looks like physically. It has to do with we having some of His characteristics and not His attributes like omnipresence etc.

He gave Adam and Eve "FREE WILL" to choose and Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and that disobedience is what we call sin. This sin nature is what Adam and Eve passed down to all of humanity and as each generation passed the sin got worse and this is where we are today. In fact, I of the opinion that it's going to get even more worse or as one of my daughters use to say, "worser."

God then had a plan to bring back mankind into His good graces so to speak. At the appointed time God sent forth His Son and you already know the rest of the story. My focus is to leave each day to bring people to Jesus Christ as best I can despite the world's problems because He has prepared a place for us and that is what I have in view, not this upholstered cesspool we call earth. It's going to pass away whenever. And btw, God did show Himself in the person of His Son Jesus Christ right from the beginning starting with Adam and Eve. Who was walking in the garden? Btw, welcome to the forums. :eek:

IN GOD THE SON,
bluto
 

shrume

Senior Member
Jun 26, 2017
2,193
463
83
#15
I know that we were created with freewill, but why put things in front of our face while having freewill that God knows will hurt us? I have a terrible analogy for this, but it kinda gets the point across.

Lets say you have a pet monkey, and that pet monkey when you receive it is free of preconceptions and ideas. You put that monkey in a very fancy house filled with expensive items and artifacts. You tell the monkey that he cannot touch anything and that if he does he will be in trouble.

You leave the house and the monkey and you go away for a few months. You trained the monkey to phone you, but he does not hear your voice directly, he only knows that you are listening.

The monkey grows bored, desperate, anxious, what have you....

You return and the house and its items are in shambles...

Who do you blame? The monkey for having free will, or do you blame yourself for leaving the monkey to his own devices?
Realistically speaking, you should blame yourself for leaving a monkey alone in a house full of valuables. :)

People aren't monkeys. Monkeys don't love and cannot make decisions to obey. And monkey's were not tempted by the devil.

All I am saying is that God could have made it a bit easier for his creation to be saved.
How? Make us all robots, incapable of sinning (or loving)?

Also, getting saved is easy. Jesus Christ did all the heavy lifting for us. Note that I'm not saying it's always easy to live as a Christian... But becoming a Christian is not hard, thanks to the work of Jesus.
 
S

Seedz

Guest
#17
How do you "believe the word" if you don't understand it? And which creator do you have faith in and why?

Your questions tell me you've got neither -- belief nor faith. Your level of belief and faith equals my level of belief and faith in Manchester United. I know there is such a team. I know they play soccer, (but call it football.) I know they;re in England. But I don't follow them, care one way or another about them, and don't particular spend my time trying to find out if they're happy.

There are no second-generation Christians. What you grew up in doesn't mean that's what you are.

And, since you want this easier, why not do the logical thing? You believe there is a creator? Then ask him to prove himself to you! Ask him to become real to you. And once asked, do according to what should become nature. Check him out to see if he did. (Some actual reading of the Bible is probably needed, since it sounds like you think you know what it says from being taught some of the stories in it.)

If God is real, than he will make himself known to you.

(Warning: God is real, so he will. But that does not mean you tell him to hand-deliver you an ice cream hoagie to your door. And, I realize it is unlikely that you know what a hoagie is, but trust me enough to believe they don't come in ice cream. lol)

Having people spoon-feed you answers to those questions is only going to get you asking more and more questions without ever facing the question yourself.

There is only one creator, that is the God of Israel, the one who gave his only begotten son, Jesus.

I am not a "generational Christian" I am only sharing some of my background for reference, I have made my own decisions and have had my own thoughts in regards to the word and to God.

I have been on both sides of the fence. I have ministered, preached, opened my heart wide and have been good with God, but I have also gone down the wrong path. I am a sinner, and so is every single human ever created.

I am here to be honest with a very real feeling, and I am presenting very obvious and REAL observations that are valid through common sense.

You do not know me enough to assume anything of what you have said, and frankly you should be ashamed for doing so.

You do not have to understand something to believe it. Just like I believe in nuclear energy, but do not understand it.
 

loveme1

Senior Member
Oct 30, 2011
8,083
190
63
#18
So now you know who is condemned and who isn't?

Why not give life and forgiveness to all without condition?
The Bible states this..

You are questioning much as if you have a better way... I trust GOD. I don’t need to question.. we know where that leads..
 

Prov910

Senior Member
Jan 10, 2017
880
47
0
#19
Hi Seedz. Welcome to CC! Your initial posts asks a lot of good, and hard to answer, questions. I'm not sure anyone knows the answers to all of them with certainty. But perhaps I can offer my 2 cents worth on some of them.

Why did there have to be sin?
Why did there have to be rebellion?
God gave us a choice. And we screwed up. He put a giant toggle switch in the middle of the Garden of Eden and told Adam, "anytime you want to strike out on your own and quit following me, just throw this giant toggle switch."
.
No, wait. It was an apple they were forbidden to eat, not a toggle switch.

Why did there have to be beings of greater intelligence and greater strength that torment us dumber, and frantic humans?
If you're talking about Satan and the fallen angels, that's an EXCELLENT question. I have a theory that I've been mulling over on this, but it's just my own theory--not biblical. Namely, I sometimes wonder if it's not all about us. Perhaps we are here to serve as an example for the angels. To demonstrate what happens when we stray from obeying and serving God. /jmho

Why would God not show himself in a palpable way for everyone to see?
Those fortunate enough to have been imbued with the Holy Spirit would tell you the He does reveal himself.

Why is there so much mystery as to who and what God is?
I'm aware of a pretty good book that explains who He is.

Why are there so many wildly different interpretations of the word? (Not to mention the tons of different translations)
Good question. I often wonder this myself.

God is omniscient, so he must have foreseen all of the "bugs" with the system right?
What makes you think He didn't foresee?

Why did he even allow the possibility for his creation to rebel? Why?
See above. Toggle switch.
 

loveme1

Senior Member
Oct 30, 2011
8,083
190
63
#20
You see this thread was not about is GOD happy it was a let us question GOD.. you give an inch they take a mile..

im going to leave.. I want no part in this.