So I have a question.....
Comments
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Phil, I know you said thatPhillieG said:We are free to believe whatever we want
Sheryl, many choose to believe the Bible, that seems to work and explain things for many. I, along with many others don't believe the bible is the word of God or even that God, as described in the bible, exists.
I'm a believer that our lifestyles (diet and environment being major contributors) cause cancer. If it were based on "bad behavior" why are so many murderers and dictators and the like alive and regular folk like most of us have the disease. Please don't reply "it's the work of Satan" or if that's what you believe then...I guess good for you. You have an explanation as to why you or someone you know has cancer.
-phil
Phil, I know you said that you don’t believe in the Bible, but the bible agrees, in part, with your statement.
Job said: “Why is it that the wicked themselves keep living, Have grown old, also have become superior in wealth? Their offspring are firmly established … Their houses are peace itself, free from dread, And the rod of God is not upon them. … They continue raising [their voice] with the tambourine and harp, And keep rejoicing at the sound of the pipe. They spend their days in good times…” (Job 21:7-13)
He said this in response to what his false comforters had said. They said that Job’s suffering was a result of his “bad behavior” or wrong acts.
They said: “. . .Who that is innocent has ever perished? And where have the upright ever been effaced? According to what I have seen, those devising what is hurtful And those sowing trouble will themselves reap it. (Job 4:7-8)
They were not speaking truthfully concerning God and his dealing with people. God rebuked them for their faulty thinking.
He said: . . .“My anger has grown hot against you and your two companions, for YOU men have not spoken concerning me what is truthful as has my servant Job. (Job 42:7)
In short, the Bible does not support the idea that God gave us cancer.
My explaination as to why I have Breast Cancer stage IV is this:
The Bible tells us that God made the first man, Adam, perfect, healthy, and having the prospect of living forever. His continued enjoyment of all of this depended on his obeying his Creator. Adam chose to rebel and thus cut himself off from God, with whom “is the source of life.” Hence, the first man became imperfect, vulnerable to sickness, and eventually died.—Gen. 2:17; 3:1-19; Ps. 36:9.
It is well known that certain diseases can be inherited. Similarly, sin, imperfection and death are inherited. “Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned.” (Rom. 5:12) The heritage Adam gave his children was an imperfect life with vulnerability to sickness and death. That is the basic reason why disease exists today.
Sheryl
Does God Really Care About Us? - Why God Has Permitted Suffering
http://www.watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_06.htm0 -
Romans 8:1lindaprocopio said:"The wages of sin are death", I was told.
I live nearby a rural church and on a recent Sunday, a youth leader and several teenagers stopped by my front yeard while I was outside cleaning my rabbit's cage. They told me who they were and said that they were taking a survey, and would I participate. I agreed and was asked if I knew the 10 Commandments and if I had ever broken any of them. I told them that of course I tried to follow the Commandments, but that I had lied, and surely broken others. I told them that I had cancer (in case the bald head wasn't a give-away!), and they offered to pray with me. I agreed. But the prayer they said was for me to be cured of my cancer, and when we finished, I told them that I never prayed anymore to be spared, that I felt it was inappropriate. I told them that I looked around at the people getting chemo with me, knowing each one was praying hard to be spared, each one throwing up "help me; help me, God!" to the heavens. And how could I ask for preferential treatment, knowing how wonderful so many of these people were, or remembering the little bald children coming in for radiation with me? What would make me more worthy than they were? So instead, I told him, I felt the appropriate communication with God at this point in my life, should be one of praise and thanks for the wonderful life I have lived. I told him that I would not want to risk my eternal soul by asking God for something He may deny me, and risk ending my days bitter and disappointed in His response to my begging.
The man from the church told me that several people in his congregation had been cured of their cancer through prayer. I told him that many who pray to be cleaned of their cancer die anyway, and that I just didn't think God GAVE people cancer OR took the burden of cancer away. I think cancer falls under the 'free will' category of earthly existence, and that we have polluted our earth, allowing these cell mutations. I just don't see God's hands in this cancer business.
(I'm finally getting to my point, I promise.) The man from the church actually said to me, "Well, the wages of sin are death, and you admitted earlier that you have lied and broken some of God's Commandments." Apparently this 'man of faith' believes that I brought my cancer on myself as God's punishment for my sins. How else could I take this?? I'm no saint, but I never did anything black enough to deserve THIS punishment!
I just said "THAT"s it. This conversation is over. Get off my lawn.", and went inside. I am thankful that my faith is strong and that such twisted thinking does not make me bitter with God or shake my faith in salvation. I'd love your comments.
This will help you with his comment. He needs to go read it, for he was out of line.
Stay strong in your faith and your relationship with God and don't let religous nonsense side track you.
Blessings,
Angel_4_James0 -
Hi Sherylsure_hope said:Phil, I know you said that
Phil, I know you said that you don’t believe in the Bible, but the bible agrees, in part, with your statement.
Job said: “Why is it that the wicked themselves keep living, Have grown old, also have become superior in wealth? Their offspring are firmly established … Their houses are peace itself, free from dread, And the rod of God is not upon them. … They continue raising [their voice] with the tambourine and harp, And keep rejoicing at the sound of the pipe. They spend their days in good times…” (Job 21:7-13)
He said this in response to what his false comforters had said. They said that Job’s suffering was a result of his “bad behavior” or wrong acts.
They said: “. . .Who that is innocent has ever perished? And where have the upright ever been effaced? According to what I have seen, those devising what is hurtful And those sowing trouble will themselves reap it. (Job 4:7-8)
They were not speaking truthfully concerning God and his dealing with people. God rebuked them for their faulty thinking.
He said: . . .“My anger has grown hot against you and your two companions, for YOU men have not spoken concerning me what is truthful as has my servant Job. (Job 42:7)
In short, the Bible does not support the idea that God gave us cancer.
My explaination as to why I have Breast Cancer stage IV is this:
The Bible tells us that God made the first man, Adam, perfect, healthy, and having the prospect of living forever. His continued enjoyment of all of this depended on his obeying his Creator. Adam chose to rebel and thus cut himself off from God, with whom “is the source of life.” Hence, the first man became imperfect, vulnerable to sickness, and eventually died.—Gen. 2:17; 3:1-19; Ps. 36:9.
It is well known that certain diseases can be inherited. Similarly, sin, imperfection and death are inherited. “Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned.” (Rom. 5:12) The heritage Adam gave his children was an imperfect life with vulnerability to sickness and death. That is the basic reason why disease exists today.
Sheryl
Does God Really Care About Us? - Why God Has Permitted Suffering
http://www.watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_06.htm
I'm glad that you figured out why you have/had cancer. I would imagine that it gives you comfort knowing this. Why I have cancer isn't too important to me. I have it until I no longer have it and I will live until I die.
I'm not sure if I was clear before so I'll try to be clearer now. I do believe that the bible was written (by man) but I do not believe that it is the word of God. I don't know if there is a God, it's not something that I put a lot of thought into. I'm more interested in the here and now and I look to science for explanations as to the questions I might have. I imagine that this may be a surprise to you and I respect you and your faith but I am not a believer so quoting passages from a book that to me, is no more than words of "regular guys" telling a bunch of stories. This may sound horrible and I don't mean it to be but I don't believe. That's me. When all is said and done we shall see what happens to us all.
Faith is a gift I have not yet received.
Be well and enjoy life!
-phil0 -
just a commentPhillieG said:Hi Sheryl
I'm glad that you figured out why you have/had cancer. I would imagine that it gives you comfort knowing this. Why I have cancer isn't too important to me. I have it until I no longer have it and I will live until I die.
I'm not sure if I was clear before so I'll try to be clearer now. I do believe that the bible was written (by man) but I do not believe that it is the word of God. I don't know if there is a God, it's not something that I put a lot of thought into. I'm more interested in the here and now and I look to science for explanations as to the questions I might have. I imagine that this may be a surprise to you and I respect you and your faith but I am not a believer so quoting passages from a book that to me, is no more than words of "regular guys" telling a bunch of stories. This may sound horrible and I don't mean it to be but I don't believe. That's me. When all is said and done we shall see what happens to us all.
Faith is a gift I have not yet received.
Be well and enjoy life!
-phil
A lot of different faiths and cultures preach what happens when we're BAD or sinful. This seems to keep alot of people in a state of fear. It feels like we are to constantly beg for forgiveness. I have come to feel that helping others, trying to keep body, mind and spirit in accord and to show love is what's important. Religion can be so heavy on the heart. Love and caring lifts the Spirit.0 -
Oh, KC, I completely agreefaithandprayer said:My Answer
Whenever this dialogue comes up, I simply say:
"I don't know if God GAVE me the cancer but I believe he's ALLOWING me to have it"
I have had countless blessings since my diagnosis and, honestly, I wouldn't trade who I am today for who I was prior to diagnosis. That means, I wouldn't trade my cancer. It's all in the perspective. So, for me, if God GAVE me cancer, it was a gift horse and I'm not looking it in the mouth. God knows what he's doing.
Someone once told me that we only use 1/3 of our brains. Maybe the other 2/3's are reserved for eternal life. If that's the case, perhaps only then can we really understand these things...and sadly, as in the yard incident, it doesn't seem as if some of us even use the full 1/3 we have here ;-)
Blessings,
KC
Oh, KC, I completely agree with you!
Since my diagnosis in Dec 2009, I have drawn closer to my relationship with God. A few weeks before my surgery (when I still thought my tumor was benign), friends of ours lost their teenage daughter to a drunk driver. After my diagnosis, her story gave me so much perspective! Because of her, I never had a 'why me?' moment. I kept thinking, 'why not me? who am I?'. My cancer diagnosis was affecting me. Not my husband. Not my kids. I could handle it!
God has used this time to test my faith and draw me closer to Him like I never knew possible. He has provided countless support thru friends and family. This has been the most amazing experience of my life and I wouldn't trade it for all the lessons I've learned.
Thanks for your post, I'm glad someone else shares the same point of view!0 -
Sometimes We Make Things TOO Complicated...
I don't believe God "gives" anyone cancer. I believe that the world we live in is full of sin (simply put, full of imperfect people and events) and is NOT what God originally inteneded for his children. Because of this fallen world, natural events (good and bad) happen. And unfortunately, that means cancer. God never wanted any of us to suffer. But when Adam and Eve chose to go their own way, God said "fine" have it your way. Our choice. Our free will. Thus...here we are. We will not live in perfection until God comes back and makes it right with man.
No one ever promised life would be easy. In fact, God himself said "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ~John 16:33
In short, this present world ISN'T what God intended. This isn't the way the story was suppose to play out. It's what happened because mankind decided to do things their way instead of listening to God. So...here we are stuck in the cesspool until GOD decides to make it all GOOD.
Blessings to all,
Sally0 -
Sally very well said and many otherssal314 said:Sometimes We Make Things TOO Complicated...
I don't believe God "gives" anyone cancer. I believe that the world we live in is full of sin (simply put, full of imperfect people and events) and is NOT what God originally inteneded for his children. Because of this fallen world, natural events (good and bad) happen. And unfortunately, that means cancer. God never wanted any of us to suffer. But when Adam and Eve chose to go their own way, God said "fine" have it your way. Our choice. Our free will. Thus...here we are. We will not live in perfection until God comes back and makes it right with man.
No one ever promised life would be easy. In fact, God himself said "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ~John 16:33
In short, this present world ISN'T what God intended. This isn't the way the story was suppose to play out. It's what happened because mankind decided to do things their way instead of listening to God. So...here we are stuck in the cesspool until GOD decides to make it all GOOD.
Blessings to all,
Sally
We also don't know why some are healed and some are not. Our place is to trust that God CAN heal us and believe in His healing power because the New Testament is filled with stories of people God did heal and also raised from the dead so we know He is well able to do whatever He wants. I mean He actually 'spoke' the world into existence! However, if you remember the apostle Paul, he had an infirmity and asked God 3 times to remove it from him but God did not...instead He told Paul that 'My grace is sufficient for you'. It has been said that maybe this infirmity kept Paul humble and dependent on God...how many of us have a constant awareness of God's presence when everything in our lives is like a bowl of cherries? We draw much closer to Him and dependent on Him when there are things not so pleasant going on in our lives hence, we reach out to Him for help because we cannot control it. Therefore, in the midst of infirmity or adversity in life, God is with us to carry us through whatever the storm is and our place is to trust what He allows for His purpose and not try to figure out why.
be blessed!
Lorrie0 -
I think you're missing the point. There is a HUGE difference between "religion" and Christianity! Religion is something someone does to "gain" favor with God. Jump through hoops, work to be "good enough", follow all the "rules." Christianity is the opposite. It's coming to realize that you will NEVER be "good enough"! BUT that you don't have to be because Christ took the hit for you when he died for you on the cross. It's about a RELATIONSHIP with God. It's about KNOWING God, not just knowing ABOUT God. It's about having that heaviness and burden of trying so hard taken off your shoulders. It's about KNOWING and feeling the love of Christ in your heart. It's about FREEDOM. It's about LOVE. It's about CARING. It's about having your world rocked and life changed!!tiny one said:just a comment
A lot of different faiths and cultures preach what happens when we're BAD or sinful. This seems to keep alot of people in a state of fear. It feels like we are to constantly beg for forgiveness. I have come to feel that helping others, trying to keep body, mind and spirit in accord and to show love is what's important. Religion can be so heavy on the heart. Love and caring lifts the Spirit.
Sally0 -
Well,sal314 said:Sometimes We Make Things TOO Complicated...
I don't believe God "gives" anyone cancer. I believe that the world we live in is full of sin (simply put, full of imperfect people and events) and is NOT what God originally inteneded for his children. Because of this fallen world, natural events (good and bad) happen. And unfortunately, that means cancer. God never wanted any of us to suffer. But when Adam and Eve chose to go their own way, God said "fine" have it your way. Our choice. Our free will. Thus...here we are. We will not live in perfection until God comes back and makes it right with man.
No one ever promised life would be easy. In fact, God himself said "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ~John 16:33
In short, this present world ISN'T what God intended. This isn't the way the story was suppose to play out. It's what happened because mankind decided to do things their way instead of listening to God. So...here we are stuck in the cesspool until GOD decides to make it all GOOD.
Blessings to all,
Sally
I like having free will and personally, while I don't like cancer, I don't think the world is a cesspool either.0 -
Free Will(y)dasspears said:Well,
I like having free will and personally, while I don't like cancer, I don't think the world is a cesspool either.
I know that you initially started this thread dasspears. I agree that the world is not a cesspool, it's not perfect but people are in it so what do we expect? I know that you started the thread talking about God but there are plenty of people out there who do not subscribe to the same religion or the same God or even the idea of a/the God for that matter.
Cancer has been around ever since there were cells around. It's a mutation that occurs in nature. Some people, like myself, believe in evolution. There have been mutations that have been good (like us losing our tails) and others that have not been good like getting cancer. I can not fathom the idea of being given cancer or having it cured by a supreme being.
On another note, comparing religion to Christianity is like comparing religion or Christianity to spirituality. They are totally different things. You can be one and not the other and being one does not make you the other. To me the important one is spirituality, the others are man-made in my opinion.0 -
This, in a nutshell is how I
This, in a nutshell is how I had it explained to me...
God created man and woman to live on earth, forever. He gave them a perfect, beautiful planet, completely equipped to sustain human life unendingly. There was no disease, nothing to prevent them from continued life. Nothing but choice, that is. They were told that IF they took from only 1 thing which God claimed as his own, they would lose their perfection, and the penalty to them would be they would forfeit the prospepct of living life forever on the planet. There was nothing magical about that one thing; it simply was a prohibition and perhaps a test of dependance/faithfulness/obedience to the one who created it all for them. They eventually stole from God by taking the fruit from the banned tree. In the course of less than 1000 years, their bodies stopped working and they became what they had been before they had the breath of life breathed into them, namely the elements of the earth itself. During that 1000 year time, they had children, as did their children, etc etc. They, in the law of genetics, could only pass on what they themselves had~ and as now they missed the mark of perfection, humans inherited sickness and death.
Cramming more into that nutshell, I also learned that the Bible calls Jesus "The last Adam" who by giving up his perfect life ( which he had the right to keep) bought back what Adam lost. And that eventually, in some stream of time that God sees fit, the earth and its inhabitants will be restored to what originally was.
So, God doesn't cause, but does allow~ until various prophecies which are still unfulfilled come to fruition...
I am not saying if I believe this or if I don't. What I believe was not really the question, was it? Simply that this is what I once learned.0 -
LOL. OK...maybe "cesspool" was a poor choice of words? But what else do you call a world that was suppose to be "perfect" and is now full of death, disease, crime, murder, et.???? Guess you could just say a major screw up!:)dasspears said:Well,
I like having free will and personally, while I don't like cancer, I don't think the world is a cesspool either.
Sally0 -
interesting.....chenheart said:This, in a nutshell is how I
This, in a nutshell is how I had it explained to me...
God created man and woman to live on earth, forever. He gave them a perfect, beautiful planet, completely equipped to sustain human life unendingly. There was no disease, nothing to prevent them from continued life. Nothing but choice, that is. They were told that IF they took from only 1 thing which God claimed as his own, they would lose their perfection, and the penalty to them would be they would forfeit the prospepct of living life forever on the planet. There was nothing magical about that one thing; it simply was a prohibition and perhaps a test of dependance/faithfulness/obedience to the one who created it all for them. They eventually stole from God by taking the fruit from the banned tree. In the course of less than 1000 years, their bodies stopped working and they became what they had been before they had the breath of life breathed into them, namely the elements of the earth itself. During that 1000 year time, they had children, as did their children, etc etc. They, in the law of genetics, could only pass on what they themselves had~ and as now they missed the mark of perfection, humans inherited sickness and death.
Cramming more into that nutshell, I also learned that the Bible calls Jesus "The last Adam" who by giving up his perfect life ( which he had the right to keep) bought back what Adam lost. And that eventually, in some stream of time that God sees fit, the earth and its inhabitants will be restored to what originally was.
So, God doesn't cause, but does allow~ until various prophecies which are still unfulfilled come to fruition...
I am not saying if I believe this or if I don't. What I believe was not really the question, was it? Simply that this is what I once learned.
I have never heard of the "the Last Adam" but I'm not a Bible reader or believer. Too many contradictions in the book. If God being all knowing, why didn't he see the apple thing coming??0 -
I amPhillieG said:Free Will(y)
I know that you initially started this thread dasspears. I agree that the world is not a cesspool, it's not perfect but people are in it so what do we expect? I know that you started the thread talking about God but there are plenty of people out there who do not subscribe to the same religion or the same God or even the idea of a/the God for that matter.
Cancer has been around ever since there were cells around. It's a mutation that occurs in nature. Some people, like myself, believe in evolution. There have been mutations that have been good (like us losing our tails) and others that have not been good like getting cancer. I can not fathom the idea of being given cancer or having it cured by a supreme being.
On another note, comparing religion to Christianity is like comparing religion or Christianity to spirituality. They are totally different things. You can be one and not the other and being one does not make you the other. To me the important one is spirituality, the others are man-made in my opinion.
spiritual not religious. I made my original comment over lunch to a "born again" and that what her reply. If God created all, then why didn't he also create cancer? Maybe it does serve a purpose? I don't know...0 -
I don't know! I don't havedasspears said:interesting.....
I have never heard of the "the Last Adam" but I'm not a Bible reader or believer. Too many contradictions in the book. If God being all knowing, why didn't he see the apple thing coming??
I don't know! I don't have too many original thoughts! So, what else have I heard as to why an all-knowing creator didn't foresee this happening? It was likened to having a book and deciding to read it from page 1 to the end; instead of turning to the last chapter to find out how it all ends without reading any more of the book!
Just because we can, doesn't always mean we will..or something like that! LOL0 -
I'm just curious what "contradictions" you are talkiing about. Lot's of people say that but when asked "what contradictions?" they have a hard time coming up with them. Just wondering:)dasspears said:interesting.....
I have never heard of the "the Last Adam" but I'm not a Bible reader or believer. Too many contradictions in the book. If God being all knowing, why didn't he see the apple thing coming??
And...God did see the "apple thing" coming! That the beauty of a God who gave us and Adam and Eve FREE WILL. He gave them the choice to listen to him and follow him, or go their own way! God wants his children to love HIM unconditionally as much as we want to love unconditionally. If we "force" people to love us, it isn't really "Love"!! God knew exactly what was coming, but created us to people who has free will. God said... "Love they Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."~ Mark 12:30
God knows EXACTLY what has been, what is and what will be.
Best,
Sally0 -
Phil...PhillieG said:Hi Sheryl
I'm glad that you figured out why you have/had cancer. I would imagine that it gives you comfort knowing this. Why I have cancer isn't too important to me. I have it until I no longer have it and I will live until I die.
I'm not sure if I was clear before so I'll try to be clearer now. I do believe that the bible was written (by man) but I do not believe that it is the word of God. I don't know if there is a God, it's not something that I put a lot of thought into. I'm more interested in the here and now and I look to science for explanations as to the questions I might have. I imagine that this may be a surprise to you and I respect you and your faith but I am not a believer so quoting passages from a book that to me, is no more than words of "regular guys" telling a bunch of stories. This may sound horrible and I don't mean it to be but I don't believe. That's me. When all is said and done we shall see what happens to us all.
Faith is a gift I have not yet received.
Be well and enjoy life!
-phil
If you have you don't any reading on how the bible came to be? There is plenty of information out there about how the books of the bible came came together. Some of the history behind them is pretty amazing and has no explaination other than being of and from God.
There is a set of great books written by a guy named Lee Strobel. They are pretty interesting reads. And may I add Mr. Strobel is no slouch. He's a Yale Law School grad and former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune. He was a self-proclaimed atheist and spirtual skeptic who spent several years researching the claims of the bible.
Anyway... the books are "The Case for Creation", "The Case for Faith", and "The Case for Christ." There is also a really good book by Dr. Hugh Ross called "The Genesis Question" which addresses both science and the Bible.
Hope I don't seem too pushy. I just thought if you were interested these are good books to read:)
Best,
Sally0 -
How Sadtrish07 said:My husband thinks God is
My husband thinks God is punishing him for not living a better life.
That's SO NOT true! As for living a "better life"...no one can live a life "good enough"! That's why we all need a saviour and to be forgiven. Jesus offers that to ALL who ask for forgivens and receive his FREE gift of eternal life!
"For everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." ~Matthew 7:8
I'll be praying for you and your husband!
Best,
Sally0 -
Does God Foreknow Everything?sal314 said:I'm just curious what "contradictions" you are talkiing about. Lot's of people say that but when asked "what contradictions?" they have a hard time coming up with them. Just wondering:)
And...God did see the "apple thing" coming! That the beauty of a God who gave us and Adam and Eve FREE WILL. He gave them the choice to listen to him and follow him, or go their own way! God wants his children to love HIM unconditionally as much as we want to love unconditionally. If we "force" people to love us, it isn't really "Love"!! God knew exactly what was coming, but created us to people who has free will. God said... "Love they Lord Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."~ Mark 12:30
God knows EXACTLY what has been, what is and what will be.
Best,
Sally
Does God Foreknow Everything Before It Happens?
God has often used his power of foreknowledge to warn the wicked of coming judgment as well as to give his servants hope for salvation. But does He use this power to foreknow everything, including the future actions of every individual?
The Bible says that “God put Abraham to the test” by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering. When Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac, God stopped him and said: “Now I do know that you are God-fearing in that you have not withheld your son, your only one, from me.” (Genesis 22:1-12) Would God have made that statement if he knew in advance that Abraham would obey this command? Would it have been an honest test?
The Bible also says that God repeatedly spoke of himself as ‘feeling regret’ over something he had done or was thinking of doing. For example, when He made Saul King of Israel (1 Samuel 15:11, 35) Since God is perfect, it cannot mean that he made a mistake when he selected Saul to be Israel’s first king. So it must mean that God felt sorry that Saul turned out to be faithless and disobedient. God's using such an expression in referring to himself would be nonsensical if he had foreknown Saul’s actions.
Also Genesis 6:6, 7 says that God “felt regrets that he had made men in the earth, and he felt hurt at his heart. So Jehovah said: ‘I am going to wipe men whom I have created off the surface of the ground . . . because I do regret that I have made them.’” God felt regret, grief, and even hurt because man’s wickedness had become widespread. The Creator regretted that it had become necessary to destroy all mankind except Noah and his family. This indicates that God selectively uses his power of foreknowledge.
The Holy Scriptures do not reveal that our individual future is foreknown in advance, but it does reveal that God has foretold two possible destinies for man. God gives to every man the free will to choose which destiny will be his. Jesus talked about it at Matthew 7:13, 14. He said that there are two roads one is “broad and spacious … leading off into destruction” and the other is “cramped … leading off into life.”
Two roads, two destinies. Our future is contingent upon our own actions. To obey God means life, to disobey him means death.
Sheryl0 -
Hi Sallysal314 said:Phil...
If you have you don't any reading on how the bible came to be? There is plenty of information out there about how the books of the bible came came together. Some of the history behind them is pretty amazing and has no explaination other than being of and from God.
There is a set of great books written by a guy named Lee Strobel. They are pretty interesting reads. And may I add Mr. Strobel is no slouch. He's a Yale Law School grad and former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune. He was a self-proclaimed atheist and spirtual skeptic who spent several years researching the claims of the bible.
Anyway... the books are "The Case for Creation", "The Case for Faith", and "The Case for Christ." There is also a really good book by Dr. Hugh Ross called "The Genesis Question" which addresses both science and the Bible.
Hope I don't seem too pushy. I just thought if you were interested these are good books to read:)
Best,
Sally
That's correct, I do not know much about how the bible came to be. I know it is a compilation of many different stories written by many different men. I am very interested in Joseph Campbell and his writings on religion/mythology. At first I was surprised at how many other cultures have very similar stories about creation and also how the snake/serpent has a role in it. After reading and listening to his work, it is very interesting to read how many common themes exist in different faiths even though the cultures are so diverse as tribes in West Africa to the "main" religions that came out of the Middle East.
I will take a look at the books you mention.
-phil0
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