Is God GOOD?

jmlidea · Mar 28, 2013

so God is showing off his power, telling Job how awesome he is, as a reminder of who Job is dealing with, that's pretty vain.
This passage sounds more like a bully kicking Job while he's down...

Job 35:9-13 says that God will not listen to those who are wicked. He will simply not listen to their pleas for help... like during the Holocaust?

jmlidea · Mar 28, 2013

Hebrews 12:7-8 -- if you aren't going to be punished for your sins, then you aren't God's children?
Hebrews 12:10 -- God knows better huh? ookay... he's going to make you feel like crap, like a worthless maggot and make you hate yourself. (That's called abuse) then he's going to say 'Trust in me' (again, abuse) then, if you don't follow his commands, he's going to cast you out and disown you.
Hebrews 12:11 -- so it's alright to beat your children, because they'll respect you for it? no, it's alright if God curses you and disciplines you, and even causes your family to die before you (like with Job), and you should be thankful OR ELSE!

I feel like i'm going in circles here... nobody has a legitimate answer!

here's what I want to hear: You're wrong, I'm wrong, we're all wrong, what's important is we're all wrong together!
... but God has every right to destroy the world he created, so ... yeah

jmlidea · Mar 28, 2013

i'm here to make sense of all this! I WANT to know the truth, but the truth that is presented in the Bible is so STRANGE

God commanded Abraham to slay his son Isaac... it was a test, a very cruel test of allegiance.

jmlidea · Mar 28, 2013

look, all we have is a 2000 year old book, that's been translated from an ancient language, and read out of context of a very different time and age in human history... everyone, even those amongst you disagrees with passages from time to time... that's fine... I'm not speaking out of ignorance because, unless you have a time machine, nobody can know the truth as to what REALLY happened... all we have are texts written by men who were supposedly inspired by God... I'm just trying to make sense of it all.

FYI: I was a christian all my life, until I read the Bible in detail. pretty weak, right? well, first, actually, I became a believer in Universalism. But people here think that Universalism is the work of the devil, so yeah...

Radius · Mar 28, 2013

I did not read every response, so forgive me if I repeat something that has already been said.

God is always GOOD. Period. He does things we cannot comprehend from our earthly perspective, and though it may "appear" wicked (your words--not mine), your knowledge of why He does things is veiled to understanding. It is always for a greater good purpose. Rom 8:28 (the first verse I ever learned in Sunday school =) "And we know that in all things, God works for the Good of those that love Him."

Ariel82 · Mar 28, 2013

jmlidea said:

Moses questioned God and God didn't strike him down. Perhaps you have a twisted view of God?

He punishes people for committing crimes. If He did not punish bullies and murderers and sinners for their crimes you would be complaining that they were oppressing you. NO matter what God does you will say its not good enough. ..........The Bible records the deeds of sinful humanity and shows how God answers and teaches them to do good beyond their human fleshly desires...........will you IGNORE the fact that GOD provided a SUBSIsTUTE sacrifice?

jody50 · Mar 28, 2013

jmlidea said:

You might want to be careful how you talk about God. God loves everyone and wants all to be saved but he gave us free will to believe and obey Him It's a serious thing. It means eternity in Heaven or Hell. If you know you are a sinner then why don't you do something about it?

jmlidea · Mar 28, 2013

Thanks, but do you not also see my frustration with what you just said? Do you believe that God is all powerful? All knowing? Wouldn't that mean that God is ultimately responsible for everything that happens in the universe?
If a soldier commits a crime, isn't his superior in part responsible? Especially if his superior officer knew about the crime and turned a blind eye?

Like the thousands of firstborns God murdered in Exodus 11:4–6?

Genesis 4:12 - "You [Cain] will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
Genesis 4:16-17 - So Cain went out and lived in the land of Nod where he made love to his wife and had a son, Enoch. Then Cain build a city and named it after his son...
this doesn't sound like a man who is a restless wanderer on the earth, the dude owns a city named after his son

You bet I do!
"FATHER GOD, KING OF ALL KINGS, LORD OF ALL LORDS, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND OF EARTH, COME INTO MY HEART! I BEG YOU LORD! I BEG YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS!"
You don't know how many times I've prayed that prayer in my life... !!! I prayed that prayer as a child... I prayed that prayer as a teenager... I prayed that prayer as a young man... I prayed that prayer as a man and I still do!!! Guess what though? God. Is. Silent.

jmlidea · Mar 28, 2013

Okay, I'll gain humility from my mistakes and move on. If I have done someone wrong, I'll make amends. If I have committed a crime I'll pay for it.
I'm going to tell my children that it's alright if they are gay or if they are straight.
I'm going to tell them that it's wrong to believe in something that makes you feel scared every night.
I'll tell them that there is hope for everyone! I will tell them that I love them!
I'm going to tell them that they are beautiful and they have SO MUCH to live for.
I'm going to tell them that life is important, and I am glad to be alive!

Ariel82 · Mar 28, 2013

Job 34
................

[SUP]21 [/SUP]“For His eyes are on the ways of man,
And He sees all his steps.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]There is no darkness nor shadow of death
Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
[SUP]23 [/SUP]For He need not further consider a man,
That he should go before God in judgment.
[SUP]24 [/SUP]He breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry,
And sets others in their place.
[SUP]25 [/SUP]Therefore He knows their works;
He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]He strikes them as wicked men
In the open sight of others,
[SUP]27 [/SUP]Because they turned back from Him,
And would not consider any of His ways,
[SUP]28 [/SUP]So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him;
For He hears the cry of the afflicted.
[SUP]29 [/SUP]When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?
And when He hides His face, who then can see Him,
Whether it is against a nation or a man alone?—
[SUP]30 [/SUP]That the hypocrite should not reign,
Lest the people be ensnared.

[SUP]31 [/SUP]“For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more;
[SUP]32 [/SUP]Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
[SUP]33 [/SUP]Should He repay it according to your terms,
Just because you disavow it?
You must choose, and not I;
Therefore speak what you know.

Ariel82 · Mar 28, 2013

jmlidea said:

Those are things God tells us, His children as well.

I have a feeling you have been taught some strange doctrines concerning the BIble...

God doesn't want us to be afraid. He wants us to repent if we sin, and know He will forgive us and teach us how to overcome those sins.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

teuful_hunden · Mar 28, 2013

human morality does not match up with the morality of God.

hattiebod · Mar 28, 2013

jmlidea said:

God's desire is for you, a sinner, like us all, to find Him..He is asking you, calling to you. I would suggest that is why you are here on a Christian Site....and I (and I know SOOOOOooooo many others here) are so delighted you are here , posting, asking and getting a little bit cross, frustrated...

many of us can relate to exactly where you are right now. We are here, we do want to answer your questions and respond to your opinions.

<><

terminator · Mar 28, 2013

Guy's got a point. I mean was it really necessary to drown every man, woman, child, and animal on the planet save Noah's family?

savedNblessed · Mar 28, 2013

jmlidea said:

So if everything opposite of this occured, that would make God, good? Now, aren't we measuring Him by human standards

Angela53510 · Mar 28, 2013

Here's a neat passage from the Message that kind of sums it up.

"God is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, No matter how desperate the trouble. But cozy islands of escape He wipes right off the map. No one gets away from God. Why waste time conniving against God? He’s putting an end to all such scheming. For troublemakers, no second chances. Like a pile of dry brush, Soaked in oil, they’ll go up in flames." Nahum 1:7-10

Sin is a big issue. Everyone wants a God who turns a blind eye to sin, and therefore can accept anyone and anything. But God is HOLY. That is part of his character. That means separated (from sin!).

Therefore, look at every passage in the Bible you don't like, that you think is a mean God and ask yourself,

"WERE THESE PEOPLE SINNING?"

They pretty much always are. So yes, God is good. God is love. But he hates sin, and he is good to get rid of sin. And yes, it is his definition of sin, not the world's or the media.

teuful_hunden · Mar 28, 2013

terminator said:

in a simple answer... yet

terminator · Mar 28, 2013

teuful_hunden said:

Well, considering He's all powerful and all, couldn't he just blink all the bad people out of existence?
I mean does it have to be so dramatic? Drowning is a terrible way to go. I can't really see the good
in that. Anyone who is intelligent and powerful enough to create the entire universe surely could
have come up with a better plan.

Ariel82 · Mar 28, 2013

jmlidea said:

name some that you have read recently in context that support your false claims and we'll talk.

Meshullam · Mar 28, 2013

You know the real God inside. The God that doesnt do those things. Read your bible metaphorically and you'll understand it all.

God doesn't kill people. People do.

Is God GOOD?

Banned

Banned

Banned

Banned

Senior Member

Ariel82

Guest

jody50

Guest

Banned

Banned

Ariel82

Guest

Ariel82

Guest

Banned

hattiebod

Guest

Banned

savedNblessed

Guest

Senior Member

Banned

Banned

Ariel82

Guest

Banned