Why Do Christians Think God is Walt Disney?

[seoulsearch]

Hey Everyone,

Something is bothering me. Why is it that we, as Christians, always seem to believe that God wants us to have "a happy ending"? Yes, yes, I know about the passages that say Jesus came so that we might have "an abundant life". I also know about putting God first and that He will give us "the desires of our heart."

But why do we overlook the other passages that tell us not to be surprised when trials and suffering come? Why do we ignore things such as being told to be careful what we ask God for, in that we don't ask simply out of our own selfishness?

If I've learned anything in life, it's that life usually doesn't have happy endings. I don't mean that to sound negative, I just think that we as Christians seem to tell ourselves that "God wants His best for us" and to us, that surely means God's best is someone who looks like (insert favorite model or movie star here), makes as much money as (insert favorite business idol here), and will be as well-known of a Christian role model as (insert favorite Biblical character here.)

If we look at the Bible, have you ever seen what God's best was for people? I know of 3 people who were so important that angels foretold of their birth: Samson, John the Baptist, and Jesus. Yes, I know Samson chose to do his own thing instead of God's thing, but what about John and Jesus? Surely they followed God's will. Surely God loved them and wanted "the best" for them. And we all know the rest of the story.

Why do we, as Christians, feel that people like this suffered so that we will receive anything and everything we ever want?

The reason this has been on my mind so much is that I see so many people posting here that they have something very specific in what they want in a spouse, and they believe surely God will give it to them. How many people in the Bible got the happy ending they were looking for?

I am just curious to know--why is it that we think that? With missionaries being killed around the world; with places of worship being gunned down; with Christians having to meet in underground networks in other countries...

Why do we who live in comfort and (relative) peace believe we have the right to expect our lives to turn out like a Walt Disney Fairy Tale? ("Someday... God is Going to Bring Me My Prince or Princess and He or She Will Be Everything I Always Wanted!")

God's own marriage with Israel was littered with their constant spiritual adultery... Yet God always forgave and took them back. Why is it that we always think we will be the big exception?

 

[seoulsearch]

P.S. The reason this has been on my mind so much is because Christians, more than anyone, seem to be very rigid about who/what they want because of course, they feel that God is on their side and is going to "grant them their wish."

I'm not saying that's necessarily wrong. I'm just saying... I think a lot of people are setting themselves up for extreme disappointment because they don't look at life realistically--it's what I call, "Christian Magical Thinking"--and then wonder why they're sad, lonely, and depressed. I'm just as guilty as anyone, as I wave in and out of this kind of thinking all the time. I would just like to see a lot of people spared from the disappointment I felt when I did not have my Wishes Granted.

Yes, God tells us to ask... But He also tells us that ultimately, we have to pray that our desires align with His, along with wisdom and discernment. I just think it's always important to keep a balance between what God will do and what's realistic.

What I mean is, people always point to the miracles of the Bible--which are wonderful--but how common are they? As I wrote in another post: several years ago, a 66-year-old woman who was desperate to have a child finally pushed the boundaries of medical science and gave birth to twin sons. HALLELUJAH! A miracle! Sarah all over again!!!

The woman had no significant other and no relatives. She died less than three years later, leaving no one to care for her infant sons. Was it God's will for her to have children... or did she want something so badly that she pushed her own will across boundaries that should not have been crossed?

I don't mean that as a judgment. I just mention it in order to get us all thinking about the fact that we may be pushing our will right across God's will and nullifying what He may choose for us instead.

 

[Ritter]

I was thinking about something along these lines today.

Consider the new 007 movie, or, come to think of it, many of today's films and television series. It seems that they continue to grow darker and two questions came to mind.

1. Why?

2. What is the value in this?

A1. Well I think the why is that we as a society are being mugged by historical reality. We don't necessarily know it, but we can feel it. Some of it has to do that we are also more debase and corrupt in that we parade these images before it. Many causes.

A2. The value is that we view things as what they are though we run the risk of the opposite: see things for worse than what they actually are.

Cynicism is the bastard child of wisdom. It seems healthy because it looks at the world in a clear and sobering fashion. It is the knee-jerk reaction of a dreamer and idealist to a world that does not conform to their vision. They sulk in it and begin to invert their utopias into dystopias when there is a catch: the dystopias do not exist either.

Cynicism gets to a point where it bites itself in the hind-quarters and turns itself into a faux wisdom. It closes the loop and, in so doing, the mind.
This was, of course, a tangent, but not unrelated to the main course.

The attraction of Disney and other positive myth has to do with an idea of something nicer and sweeter. Is it real? No. But it is preferable to cynicism. Things Disney stood for: true love, community, happy families, etc do exist. To be honest, I don't think these are bad ideals to live up to. They are sweet. And in an age of broken homes, school shootings, and the like, is it really so bad for people to look back to these wonderful and culturally significant pieces of story-telling and say "this is what I want?"

I don't think so.

One writer, I forget who it was, said that it is important to remind one-self what they would do in an emergency situation.

Take a statement like this: if a grenade were tossed into a room, I would jump on it for the sake of those around me.

Can I really know, with absolute certainty what I would do? No. There is a chance I will run away and let everyone take the chance equally. There is a chance that despite my landing on the grenade,everyone else in the room dies. But saying I would conditions me to take the more honorable action the one that is, in fact, the best choice at the time.

Not to compare marriage and family to a grenade, but sometimes the "pretending" we do actually leads to success as long as you know what steps to take and sacrifices to make to fulfill that dream.

I'm not in entire disagreement with your post. It is good to be sober, but I feel as though it is important to show the other side of the coin before others pile on.

 

[seoulsearch]

Ritter--where can I even start??? I wish I had even a pinch of your wisdom!

Points I especially liked:

1. "There is a catch--dystopias do not exist either."

2. "Cynicism... turns itself into faux wisdom."

3. "Not to compare marriage and family to a grenade"...

I do realize we all need an escape. And I'm sorry for always sounding so negative lately--it has to do with the time of year and events in life.

Maybe, underneath it all, I'm envious of people who can still think that way. to my own fault, I get annoyed with people who live with their head in clouds all the time (and I used to be one of them), especially when those clouds seem to have angels sitting on them and stringing harps.

I'm also writing these threads on very little sleep, which isn't helping the cause much, I know .

I'm not much into fairytales or sweet little movies anymore... The realities of life are kind of getting in the way at the moment. Maybe someday I'll fall back into balance. Thank you for reminding me!

 

[arwen83]

I was thinking about something along these lines today.

Consider the new 007 movie, or, come to think of it, many of today's films and television series. It seems that they continue to grow darker and two questions came to mind.

1. Why?

2. What is the value in this?

A1. Well I think the why is that we as a society are being mugged by historical reality. We don't necessarily know it, but we can feel it. Some of it has to do that we are also more debase and corrupt in that we parade these images before it. Many causes.

A2. The value is that we view things as what they are though we run the risk of the opposite: see things for worse than what they actually are.

Cynicism is the bastard child of wisdom. It seems healthy because it looks at the world in a clear and sobering fashion. It is the knee-jerk reaction of a dreamer and idealist to a world that does not conform to their vision. They sulk in it and begin to invert their utopias into dystopias when there is a catch: the dystopias do not exist either.

Cynicism gets to a point where it bites itself in the hind-quarters and turns itself into a faux wisdom. It closes the loop and, in so doing, the mind.
This was, of course, a tangent, but not unrelated to the main course.

The attraction of Disney and other positive myth has to do with an idea of something nicer and sweeter. Is it real? No. But it is preferable to cynicism. Things Disney stood for: true love, community, happy families, etc do exist. To be honest, I don't think these are bad ideals to live up to. They are sweet. And in an age of broken homes, school shootings, and the like, is it really so bad for people to look back to these wonderful and culturally significant pieces of story-telling and say "this is what I want?"

I don't think so.

One writer, I forget who it was, said that it is important to remind one-self what they would do in an emergency situation.

Take a statement like this: if a grenade were tossed into a room, I would jump on it for the sake of those around me.

Can I really know, with absolute certainty what I would do? No. There is a chance I will run away and let everyone take the chance equally. There is a chance that despite my landing on the grenade,everyone else in the room dies. But saying I would conditions me to take the more honorable action the one that is, in fact, the best choice at the time.

Not to compare marriage and family to a grenade, but sometimes the "pretending" we do actually leads to success as long as you know what steps to take and sacrifices to make to fulfill that dream.

I'm not in entire disagreement with your post. It is good to be sober, but I feel as though it is important to show the other side of the coin before others pile on.

Wow, very interesting point about cynicism!! As a dreamer/ idealist, I'm definitely guilty of it. I don't watch the news anymore because of how down I get. Cynicism is a reaction to helplessness, but it also sees no hope either. Just stone-cold 'reality'.

 

[kayem77]

I was thinking about something along these lines today.

Consider the new 007 movie, or, come to think of it, many of today's films and television series. It seems that they continue to grow darker and two questions came to mind.

1. Why?

2. What is the value in this?

A1. Well I think the why is that we as a society are being mugged by historical reality. We don't necessarily know it, but we can feel it. Some of it has to do that we are also more debase and corrupt in that we parade these images before it. Many causes.

A2. The value is that we view things as what they are though we run the risk of the opposite: see things for worse than what they actually are.

Cynicism is the bastard child of wisdom. It seems healthy because it looks at the world in a clear and sobering fashion. It is the knee-jerk reaction of a dreamer and idealist to a world that does not conform to their vision. They sulk in it and begin to invert their utopias into dystopias when there is a catch: the dystopias do not exist either.

Cynicism gets to a point where it bites itself in the hind-quarters and turns itself into a faux wisdom. It closes the loop and, in so doing, the mind.
This was, of course, a tangent, but not unrelated to the main course.

The attraction of Disney and other positive myth has to do with an idea of something nicer and sweeter. Is it real? No. But it is preferable to cynicism. Things Disney stood for: true love, community, happy families, etc do exist. To be honest, I don't think these are bad ideals to live up to. They are sweet. And in an age of broken homes, school shootings, and the like, is it really so bad for people to look back to these wonderful and culturally significant pieces of story-telling and say "this is what I want?"

I don't think so.

One writer, I forget who it was, said that it is important to remind one-self what they would do in an emergency situation.

Take a statement like this: if a grenade were tossed into a room, I would jump on it for the sake of those around me.

Can I really know, with absolute certainty what I would do? No. There is a chance I will run away and let everyone take the chance equally. There is a chance that despite my landing on the grenade,everyone else in the room dies. But saying I would conditions me to take the more honorable action the one that is, in fact, the best choice at the time.

Not to compare marriage and family to a grenade, but sometimes the "pretending" we do actually leads to success as long as you know what steps to take and sacrifices to make to fulfill that dream.

I'm not in entire disagreement with your post. It is good to be sober, but I feel as though it is important to show the other side of the coin before others pile on.

This is just awesome. I think noone could've have explained it better than you. I always felt that this thing that some people call reality is actually way worse than reality, and I felt it in my heart that it just wasn't righ, but I didn't know exactly why. I insist on calling it a fantasy instead of ''sober reality''. My oldest brother is one of those people..and as much as I love him, being an idealist and someone who loves and pursues noble virtues, he can give me some terrible headaches every once in a while. The pursuing of an ideal reality is the goal, not the actual success at gettin it.

 

[kayem77]

P.S. The reason this has been on my mind so much is because Christians, more than anyone, seem to be very rigid about who/what they want because of course, they feel that God is on their side and is going to "grant them their wish."

I'm not saying that's necessarily wrong. I'm just saying... I think a lot of people are setting themselves up for extreme disappointment because they don't look at life realistically--it's what I call, "Christian Magical Thinking"--and then wonder why they're sad, lonely, and depressed. I'm just as guilty as anyone, as I wave in and out of this kind of thinking all the time. I would just like to see a lot of people spared from the disappointment I felt when I did not have my Wishes Granted.

Yes, God tells us to ask... But He also tells us that ultimately, we have to pray that our desires align with His, along with wisdom and discernment. I just think it's always important to keep a balance between what God will do and what's realistic.

What I mean is, people always point to the miracles of the Bible--which are wonderful--but how common are they? As I wrote in another post: several years ago, a 66-year-old woman who was desperate to have a child finally pushed the boundaries of medical science and gave birth to twin sons. HALLELUJAH! A miracle! Sarah all over again!!!

The woman had no significant other and no relatives. She died less than three years later, leaving no one to care for her infant sons. Was it God's will for her to have children... or did she want something so badly that she pushed her own will across boundaries that should not have been crossed?

I don't mean that as a judgment. I just mention it in order to get us all thinking about the fact that we may be pushing our will right across God's will and nullifying what He may choose for us instead.

Going back to this.....I can see what you're saying. We all can pick a nice-sounding verse and twist it and make it match our own selfish desires, and then we ask God to bless those desires. We go our way without asking Him and then we just tell him ''Okay God, now here comes your part: bless this''. I can't say that I've never done this, as much as I hate seeing some people doing it all the time. I'm guilty too. I'm not gonna lie, I would love God giving me my desires. But I have to check if my desires are in line with His. I think this is what God meant when he said he would give us our desires. They have to match His first.

You mentioned something about missionares being killed around the world. I don't know if this is one of those desires God implanted on me, but I feel a heavy burden for them and for the persecuted church in general. For some months I felt so disappointed because it seems like people in general JUST DON'T CARE. I don't know....maybe I was being too critical? But I couldn't help it. I remember looking at other Christians saying things like ''we are being attacked because we don't have a Bible in our classrooms!''(not saying that I wouldn't like Bibles in schools) and I just thought.....dude, in some places you can't have Bibles in your own home, are you serious?. I saw people spending money on things that, in my OWN opinion, weren't important, not as important as people dying and being tortured because of their faith in Pakistan, India, Iran,etc.

Considering all that is happening in the world I can say that yes, we are blessed. We are one of the most blessed people in the world actually. We live in luxury compared to other countries, even if you are poor according to the national standard. God's story was never and never will be a fairy-tale until Jesus comes back.

Being that said..... what I'm NOT saying is that having a decent and comfortable life means that you're a bad Christian. God blesses us, and just like the Father he is, He wants us to be happy with those blessings. My dad would smile when he saw me opening my birthday presents when I was little, and I like to think our Father smiles when we enjoy his gifts But what he wants the most is , that we, ALL of us, not just you as an individual, are conformed to the image of his Son and that sometimes requires suffering, or even death .

I think there's a balance when it comes to wishing ''the best'' . I know what I want when it comes to finding a husband, which I don't think will happen soon...but who knows, right? But I won't settle for less than a man after God's heart. And this is not because I think I'm a perfect princess that needs to be treated like if I were made of porcelain. I will fight for the best as much as I can, and if I don't get what I thought was the best, I will trust God with it.

 

[Liamson]

Hey Everyone,

Something is bothering me. Why is it that we, as Christians, always seem to believe that God wants us to have "a happy ending"? Yes, yes, I know about the passages that say Jesus came so that we might have "an abundant life". I also know about putting God first and that He will give us "the desires of our heart."

But why do we overlook the other passages that tell us not to be surprised when trials and suffering come? Why do we ignore things such as being told to be careful what we ask God for, in that we don't ask simply out of our own selfishness?

If I've learned anything in life, it's that life usually doesn't have happy endings. I don't mean that to sound negative, I just think that we as Christians seem to tell ourselves that "God wants His best for us" and to us, that surely means God's best is someone who looks like (insert favorite model or movie star here), makes as much money as (insert favorite business idol here), and will be as well-known of a Christian role model as (insert favorite Biblical character here.)

If we look at the Bible, have you ever seen what God's best was for people? I know of 3 people who were so important that angels foretold of their birth: Samson, John the Baptist, and Jesus. Yes, I know Samson chose to do his own thing instead of God's thing, but what about John and Jesus? Surely they followed God's will. Surely God loved them and wanted "the best" for them. And we all know the rest of the story.

Why do we, as Christians, feel that people like this suffered so that we will receive anything and everything we ever want?

The reason this has been on my mind so much is that I see so many people posting here that they have something very specific in what they want in a spouse, and they believe surely God will give it to them. How many people in the Bible got the happy ending they were looking for?

I am just curious to know--why is it that we think that? With missionaries being killed around the world; with places of worship being gunned down; with Christians having to meet in underground networks in other countries...

Why do we who live in comfort and (relative) peace believe we have the right to expect our lives to turn out like a Walt Disney Fairy Tale? ("Someday... God is Going to Bring Me My Prince or Princess and He or She Will Be Everything I Always Wanted!")

God's own marriage with Israel was littered with their constant spiritual adultery... Yet God always forgave and took them back. Why is it that we always think we will be the big exception?

Why did the Shulamite leave Solomon, in the Song of Solomon?


The problem that I see, is the Mixing of the external with the internal. Circumstances which are outside of our inner spiritual self, like Christians being killed tortured, making money or treating the acquisition of a spouse as if its a commodity, these have NOTHING to do with our happiness and our contentment.


You say that life does not have happy endings. Well maybe its because you are basing your measure of life on stuff and things or the absence of conflict. All of these things are external to people.

Jesus said its not what enters a mans mouth that corrupts him but rather what comes out that defiles him. Its the same then as it is now. If I lived in a hovel in Mexico, my expectations of my God and myself would not change. I would be thankful for what I have been given and grateful for the grace that God has given me.

If I am obstinate and stubborn about who I am to marry, it is not for any external reason (though there are external signs that internal problems exist). I am stubborn because I will not accept anything less than someone who is grateful for life, not materialistic, not shallow, not cynical, and not poisoned with spite. I will only settle for someone who is filled with life, grace, love and contentment. Call it selfish if you will but,

Whatever problem that exists before the relationship starts will endure within the relationship. Selfish expectations, bitterness, darkness and grudges, have nothing to do with circumstances and everything to do with a person's spirit. It will not be fixed with Money, Marriage, Romantic Missionary adventures or eliminating the factors which push our buttons. It is the fault of the buttons themselves, in the soul of the person who allows the darkness to continue to fester. Where there is no darkness, there are no buttons which would have any effect when pushed.

 

[zeroturbulence]

 

[djness]

Fortunately for me I have never believed God desired me to have any happiness in my life.

 

[LightningClap0002]

I actually didn't think I had anything to add to this thread, mostly because I've never been driven to seek happiness, but while at church God gave me something short to share. It's sort of like what I think Ritter was getting at.

Joy, real joy comes with Jesus. It isn't the reason to believe, far from it, but it was part of why Jesus came. His coming brought "great joy" and His entering of your life brings that great Joy to you. I was reminded this morning that God doesn't hate happily ever afters. What little we know about Joseph and Mary certainly seems to be a story of happily ever after (relationship wise). Was it the happily ever after they expected? Certainly didn't seem like it, Joseph was seriously considering 'divorcing' Mary while they were still betrothed. Perhaps at one point he even saw his happily ever after crumbling, but God reassured Joseph; He directed Joseph directly to that happily ever after with Mary.

On a related note, hopefully not one that causes a derail, the new Christian Mingle commercial drives me nuts! They pulled out part of "Love Song For a Savior" and made it about finding a man to marry. Maybe it affected me more than most simply because it's one of my very favorite songs, but... grrr

 

[Indubitably]

My life is simple: God is sovereign. I submit to his will. It always works out fror my good!

 

[Liamson]

I actually didn't think I had anything to add to this thread, mostly because I've never been driven to seek happiness, but while at church God gave me something short to share. It's sort of like what I think Ritter was getting at.

Joy, real joy comes with Jesus. It isn't the reason to believe, far from it, but it was part of why Jesus came. His coming brought "great joy" and His entering of your life brings that great Joy to you. I was reminded this morning that God doesn't hate happily ever afters. What little we know about Joseph and Mary certainly seems to be a story of happily ever after (relationship wise). Was it the happily ever after they expected? Certainly didn't seem like it, Joseph was seriously considering 'divorcing' Mary while they were still betrothed. Perhaps at one point he even saw his happily ever after crumbling, but God reassured Joseph; He directed Joseph directly to that happily ever after with Mary.

On a related note, hopefully not one that causes a derail, the new Christian Mingle commercial drives me nuts! They pulled out part of "Love Song For a Savior" and made it about finding a man to marry. Maybe it affected me more than most simply because it's one of my very favorite songs, but... grrr

Yes, I saw that commercial too. Grrr!!

 

[Jullianna]

John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

I think perhaps the problem is that some folks don't understand the sort of abundance that is being spoken of here. Context is so important, huh?

I know that God has and will continue to bless me however He chooses, and I'm so very thankful, but the most important thing to me is knowing that He blesses me in ways that are eternal.

I had an amazing husband. I had a fairytale life. It disappeared in the blink of an eye. Am I bitter or angry or cynical about it? No. Could I be? Easily. If I didn't have Christ in my life.

Does God care about the desires of my heart? Yes. Is He a genie a bottle? No.

I don't ask Him for material things. I don't even ask Him for a husband. Why? Because He knows what I can and cannot handle. He covers me. He protects me. He guides me. He provides for me. He teaches me. And, sometimes, He surprises me...with puppies...pianos...jobs....opportunities....and joy/peace in times of tribulation. When He does, it is not the blessing itself that touches me. It's the knowing that HE, the mighty God of all creation, cares to know the desires of my heart that I have never spoken or requested. It's His way of saying...I know. I'm here.

I have known the sort of loving relationship I want with a man. God knows this. I also know that He is using everything in my life, the good and the bad, for either my good or the good of someone else. So, if having that sort of loving relationship with someone else will not hinder me or my walk with Him in any way, I believe it will come. If it WOULD hinder my relationship with Him in any way, I trust that He will not let me have it.

Those of us who are parents know how awesome it is when we are able to bless our children. I think that God allows us to know that feeling to give us understanding of the longing of His heart to bless us as well. The problem is that mankind has a different vision of what that treasure box looks like, as well as the contents thereof.

 

[Ugly]

Lets see, whats the message some of our biggest 'pastors' have for us....

 

[zeroturbulence]

 

[arwen83]

Lets see, whats the message some of our biggest 'pastors' have for us....

Ugh. Joel Osteen. This guys has fake all over his cheesy smile. "Buy my book: my teeth need to be whiter and I gotta pay for my plastic surgery. The bigger they can make my smile, the happier I look and the more books I will sell about how people can be as happy as I am". And really, who poses like that?! ugh.

Yes, I just judged a book by its cover...literally.

 

[violakat]

I don't know if anyone has already mentioned this, but God's will may include for someone to be single for their entire life. Also, He can change the desires of our heart to match His. He's been known to do this.

 

[LightningClap0002]

Ugh. Joel Osteen. This guys has fake all over his cheesy smile. "Buy my book: my teeth need to be whiter and I gotta pay for my plastic surgery. The bigger they can make my smile, the happier I look and the more books I will sell about how people can be as happy as I am". And really, who poses like that?! ugh.

Yes, I just judged a book by its cover...literally.

Pun much???

 

[violakat]

What I was going to say earlier, before I was distracted by cinnamon rolls, (Ah, the smell.) was that too often we ask God for earthly desires, such as, "Oh Give me a million dollars!" Etc.. But God knows us better, and maybe He doesn't give us the millions dollars, simply because it would be the very worst thing for us. So God, instead of giving us our earthly desires, He changes them to match His, "God help us to live Holy lives before you, to be content in whatever state you have called us."

Too often people misquote or fail to completely read Psalms 37:4. It does say "that God will give us the desires of heart." However, before it says that, the Psalmist wrote that we are to delight in the Lord. That means we are to seek God with all heart, to live for Him. It is then and only then do we truly discover the deepest desires of our hearts.