The "Dot" Thoery

Vidy · Jan 17, 2010

Hey, this came up in a conversation with my girlfriend yesterday, so i may a well bring ti up in discussion here =p

So just so ya know what it is, since I'm not sure if this is a real topic people discuss (since I learned it from a single person in a D-now weekend)... The "dot" theory is pretty much that God has ONE way for you. One husband/wife that you are supposed to choose. One career path. Ect.

Now, I personally don't believe the "dot" theory. I believe that God has given us a variety of choices that are ALL correct, and any of them are right... Kinda like Adam and Eve in the garden. You can eat of any tree but those two ^_^

But my girlfriend says that she believes the "dot" theory to some extent. She says that there are many "good" paths, but that God only has one PERFECT plan for you that is better than all of the others, but if you don't choose that path, it's not bad, it just won't be as good.

Just wondering the opinions of CC ^_^ You don't have to side with either of us, and if you could give us scripture supporting/not supporting this, then that'd be wonderful!

ilovehillsong · Feb 1, 2010

Interesting... I would probably disagree with the dot theory to some extent, cos if you do one thing that is different from God's plan, then you might not even meet the 'one'. I would go with the several right choices thing i think, because if there is only one person out there who is perfect for you, then the chance of you finding them and it working out are really bad!!!

Vidy · Feb 1, 2010

Maybe, but you're underestimating God. God know what you're going to do, and saying you will never meet "the one" ignores his ability to foresee your actions. You're still likely to meet "the one," even if you don't follow a completely perfect plan. There's probably always a way to get back on track, though there may be some places along the way that a mistake will prevent you from following the "Perfect" plan... Like pursing a relationship you know you shouldn't, and in the process, you miss out on "the one" who ends up marrying someone else.

But then in that case, if she/he was YOUR one, then you are THEIR one, and YOUR mistakes messed with THEIR perfect plan?... lol, I'm so confused XD

On an unrelated, personal note, I'm just trying to argue both points, it's part of what I do ~_o Even if I don't agree with something, I'll defend it if it's attacked in the wrong way lulz. E.G.- "Scientists say we all just came from a bunch of monkeys." I do not believe in evolution, but I will defend evolution against that statement because it's NOT what evolution claims. See how I work? =P

Cako53 · Feb 1, 2010

Vidy said:

God has given us freewill. Keep that in mind. No matter the situation I cna always choose to go against God's will for me. I believe that God has a plan for me, but that is just a plan, I don't have to follow it if I don't want to. I believe that if we don't go the way God has for us planned he just re-routes us, kinda like a GPS does after you miss a turn.

NoTearsShed · Feb 1, 2010

I believe theres one Path that he chose for us =)
Theres MANY choices & many paths we can go but theres one that God would like us to follow.

Vidy · Feb 1, 2010

Yes, but what leads you to that conclusion? Is there anything biblical in that? Is there really only ONE path that God expects of you, and you can either choose to do it or not? Does he not give a variety of choices, where many of them are right?

For instance, in the story of Adam and Eve, there were HUNDREDS of trees that had good fruit on them. They could have eaten from any of those trees, and been in the right with God. However, the two trees that God said not to eat, they are from, and thus sin. Is it not the same in other aspects of life? Won't God give you many choices, and there are many right, as well as many wrong, choices to make?

Of course, wrong choices can often be fixed and put you back on track, but this isn't what the topic is about. The topic is about the question- "Is there one "perfect" plan to follow, or do you have freedom to make choices where more than one choice will be right with God?"

Cako53 · Feb 1, 2010

Vidy said:

Ohhhh okay. My bad, I answered a different thing then. Let's put it this way. If there was only one way, why do people still go to hell? If God had only one way for everyone, wouldn't everyone be going to heaven? God has given us freewill. What you are saying sounds like and inbetween of Christianity and Calvinism.

NoTearsShed · Feb 1, 2010

First off i din't see anything of him mentioning of the two trees... At least not that i remember of, I opened my bible & this is what i read.

c. Allowing Man to have Free Choice
vv 16-17
16. And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may eat freely,

17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, of it you shall not eat; for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.

I dint see anything about "dont eat from those two trees" He said of that tree of "Knowledge of good and evil" which is one tree. Please link the verse & chapter were you read that about what two trees to not eat off.

Theres is one & ONLY one path that leads you to God & thats accepting Jesus as your saviour.
[SIZE=-1]John 14:6[/SIZE][SIZE=-1] [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Jesus answered, “[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]I am the way[/SIZE][SIZE=-1] and the truth and the life. [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]No one[/SIZE][SIZE=-1] comes to the Father [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]except through me[/SIZE][SIZE=-1].”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][/SIZE]
As for the right & wrong,
Well you say theres many right paths...
A person can't be like "im going to shoot that guy over there but not kill him" wheter you shoot him or kill him its still wrong the only right way is to NOT shoot him.
Theres another
I can choose to go to a club, You have three choices, dance dirty which is what the type of music is they are playing to, you can just stand there & watch or you can do the right one which is not go. Yes you can go to a differnet place but either way you dint go to the club which is good that you dint go.
Dancing grinding on each other is bad, standing & looking at them grinding is also bad since you might be sinning in your head thinking something nasty & because your still in a place the Lord does not like.

As for different paths, I read somewere in the bible that God already had a plan for us before we were even born sadly i cant find it T_T
We have free will to do whatever we please.
Now is it pleasing to God that we hurt others/oneself or do bad things? No.
The only RIGHT path is to walk the path God chose for you,
You can keep thinking that theres many & you know what there is But as for the "RIGHT & CORRECT path" only With God we can find it & only the one God chose for us.
We may not want to do that because were caught up with other things but God knows whats best =)
The path he wants us to walk is MUCH, MUCH More better than all the rest =)
Yes we sometimes make wrong turns but God can help us by fixing those wrong turns & help us by putting us on in the right path.

Vidy · Feb 15, 2010

Uhhhhm... you kinda missed the point. First, about the tree thing, OK... so it's one tree and not two (even though there was also a tree of life, huh?...). The point is that there can be many paths that please God...

Your example of clubbing is not what I'm talking about. I'm saying that you choose between, say... Going clubbing, seeing a G or PG movie with some friends, spending the night home with family, or just taking a night to relax. Now, obviously the clubbing choice isn't pleasing to God, but is there one specific choice that God expects you to take out of the three clean ones? I'm sure in some cases God could place a conviction on you, and tell you that you need to be with your family or something, but in most cases, you're free to choose and you'll still be right with God, correct?

I believe that it works the same way in even bigger, sometimes more permanent choices, like college or a marriage. This is where it gets kinda iffy... I mean, it is definitely something that should be prayed about before a decision is made, but do you think it'll be like "This is the ONE," or will it be more like, "God, I want this one," and he OKs it? Ya see where I'm coming from?

Also, on a side-note, my girlfriend pulled a scripture her mom uses to push the "Dot Theory" point. Jeramiah 9:11... I looked it up, and in the context, it's Jeramiah talking to a certain town about their current situation in slavery or something, and was not a message to believers as a whole. It was a circumstantial message... I still want more scripture on the topic if possible, and context would be very nice ^_^

NoTearsShed · Feb 27, 2010

Vidy said:

No i still dont get what you mean if you dont mean what i was thinking you were talking about.
Yes theres many things that please God like Not cheating on your husband or wife, Only praying to God & jesus who are one, Helping out the poor, Telling people about God...

As for your jeremiah 9:11

11"I will make Jerusalem a (AA)heap of ruins,
A haunt of (AB)jackals;
And I will make the cities of Judah a (AC)desolation, without inhabitant."

How is that us following many different paths?
Yes if his people choose to turn away & repent God will forgive them but either way its either you repent or perish for being evil.
It cant be "Oh well ill repent & then continue doing the evil things i did"
Because that wont please God i mean yeah maybe that you repented but at the same time if you dint plan on changing you really dint repeant & mean it.

Please provide bible versus to proof your point or please explain to me more of what you mean...
If you like...

NoTearsShed · Feb 27, 2010

As for paths we choose well
Theres 3 main, We can choose to live for God , live & believe in God but not read the bible everyday, pray everyday or go to only every couple of sundays.
Then theres Not believe...

Nevermind i re read your post & i think this is a answer you are looking for that is related MORE to what your asking...

If your too busy focusing on your career then well you know you really are not living for God but to do your career...

Matthew 10:39
"He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it"

So if you leave your work & all to go preach the word of God & to be closer to God you are losing yourself but finding your life with God =D
As for those who try to gain a career & money & all, still praying to God But not really reading the bible or going to church well... not so good...

NoTearsShed · Feb 27, 2010

NoTearsShed said:

Sorry i meant to edit my post but i took to long to type & went over the 5min so here i go quoting it trying to remember the editing i did/re typing some of it again & adding some more.

I see 3 main paths
We can choose to live for God
Live & believe in God but not read the bible everyday, pray everyday or go to only every couple of sundays to church while being too attached to your job, money or wants to let it go.
Then theres Not believe...

The main path is Believing in the Lord, Loving the Lord MORE THAN ANYONE OR ANYTHING.
Read Mark 11:28-34

Mark 11:30
And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart and from your whole soul and from your whole mind and from your whole strenght.

Thats what Is most important & Since jesus told him "You are not far from from the kingdom of God"
Mark 11:34
Its a sentence in that verse please read it yourself =)
It means that that is MOST important & main commandement ( it talks about it being the first commandement in Mark 11:28

Mark 11:28
And one of the scribes approached and heard them disputing; and perceiving that He answerd them well, he questioned Him, Which is the first commandment of all?

As for if we choose to have or not have kids well If God wants us to then it will be possible or it will happen if were ready =)
Same with wether we go & preach the word or have a family & preach to them about God.
yes theres two different paths but both of them involve that person Preaching the Word =)

sportygirl · Feb 27, 2010

This is a topic I really struggle with, I really believe God does have a plan and a perfect plan. But I believe we do stray, and go off this plan, I feel like I see it this way you come across a cross roads and can take plan a or plan b God knows the ending of both plans and then you choose. I really struggle with the idea that there is one plan and nothing will change this plan, cause then some people would never come to christ cause its not in their "plan" but I do believe God is all knowing and I feel like these two things conflict against one another. So overall its confusing...but i explained me thought above haha.

NoTearsShed · Feb 27, 2010

sportygirl said:

Thats true theres MANY paths one can take,

As for that taught about people never coming to christ theres ALWAYS a chance they will =) As long as they are alive theres hope, & a way.

Just like God gave israel (i think it was isreal ... maybe another country) time to change their ways by warning them with his prophets & sending them prophets to tell them to change their ways.
He can give people time to change or in other words second or third or fourth chances.
Theres been people who dint believe and end up dying believing in the Lord, theres others who believed & then stop believing ( dont know if they die non believing still or believe again before they die)
Then theres people who have hated christians, then ended up coming to know God & changing.
So for that theres always a chance that people can believe in God or come to know God =)
We can pray for Christians to go to countries were people dont know about God & to tell them about God & pray for them =) & pray for those people in those countries hearts to be open or eyes to be opened =)
So they can come ot know God =)

Presley250 · Feb 27, 2010

I beleive that God wants us to beleive the "dot" theory because there are many choices and paths out there but we need to go to Him to find our own perfect path

MilkNHoney · Nov 20, 2011

To say there are many paths, whether 'good' or 'bad' is a lie from Hell!

The Word of God makes it VERY CLEAR, there are ONLY TWO paths a person can ever take in their life.

SEE Matthew 7:13, 14

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Ugly · Nov 21, 2011

MilkNHoney said:

Hi Milk, i know you're new here, so I'll give you a tip. This thread was created in Jan 2010. The last post in it was Feb 2010. Most of the people posting in it are no longer on CC, their accounts closed. Notice the ones that say 'guest' and have no flag. Those are closed accounts. Just a little tip to help you navigate the forums easier.

violakat · Nov 21, 2011

Vidy said:

Let's see, there was Jonah, who God told to go to Nineveh. Jonah, however rebelled, got tossed off a boat, swallowed by a whale, and then still went to Nineveh.

God told Noah to build a boat. He did. Then after it was completed, it rained for 40 days.

Moses lived his first 40 years as a prince of Egypt, the next 40 years isolated, cause he choose to murder an Egyptian for killing a Hebrew. And then God called him to go lead the people of Israel out of bondage.

The people of Israel, were suppose to go to the Promised Land, however, because of the rebellion, they wandered in the desert for 40 years, until almost all of the original generation (Caleb and Joshua being the exceptions) died. The children inherited the Promise Land.

The blind man in the Bible that Jesus healed. Some of the disciples asked what sin caused him to be blind from birth. Jesus said it was not sin, but that he would be used to reveal God's glory through his blindness.

So yes, I do believe there is Biblical evidence for the "Dot" theory. However, I believe that there is a perfect path, an acceptable path, and an unacceptable path that each person can follow. We are and are not given free choice. It's a hard concept to grasp. God knows the paths that we will follow, yet still allows us a choice to follow what path we choose. Saying that God allows us free choice, and does not know what we are going to do, or that he predetermines every action, and therefore have no choice over anything, including whether we are saved or not, is putting God in a box. Remember, God Himself says that "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." (Isaiah 55:8)

Laura4060 · Nov 24, 2011

I can see the "dot" theory is kinda logical. One main point I will make is the saying, "GOOD is the enemy of GREAT!" So yes there may be a lot of "good" paths for us to take, but there is only one "great" path. But at the same time I believe God can change the paths around and make it so we can get to the "great" path from just a "good" path. So basically God has everything set for us, but since we all have free will, we can do what we want and God will accommodate for us. That's just what I believe.

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The "Dot" Thoery

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