by jimwalton » Thu Dec 14, 2017 11:00 am
Glad to talk. I hope no one removes your post.
> God controls everything, right?
No, that's not right. In the Bible God is portrayed as a king and as sovereign, but there's no notion that he controls everything. We have free will, so he doesn't control us. We're not robots. God doesn't make people sin, so he doesn't control that. Often God lets nature take its course—it's where we get cause-and-effect and can have science. So he doesn't control everything.
> He can do anything
No, this isn't correct either. There's a lot that God can't do. He can't do absurd things, like make a square circle or a married bachelor. He can't sin; he can't act contradictory to his own nature; he can't change the past; he can't know what it's like to be ignorant, etc. So it's a misunderstanding that "he can do anything and controls everything."
> why would god allow me to be gay and endure constant hate and threats?
As you read the Bible, you'll read that God teaches us as Christians to love everyone. If you are getting constant hate and threats, those aren't coming from God or from anyone being obedient to what God commands (Love each other; don't judge anyone; be a person of grace; be a peacemaker). I could say with confidence that God is not pleased that anyone is treating you with constant hate and threats. The Bible is quite clear. It doesn't give anyone the right to hate anyone else.
Glad to talk. I hope no one removes your post.
> God controls everything, right?
No, that's not right. In the Bible God is portrayed as a king and as sovereign, but there's no notion that he controls everything. We have free will, so he doesn't control us. We're not robots. God doesn't make people sin, so he doesn't control that. Often God lets nature take its course—it's where we get cause-and-effect and can have science. So he doesn't control everything.
> He can do anything
No, this isn't correct either. There's a lot that God can't do. He can't do absurd things, like make a square circle or a married bachelor. He can't sin; he can't act contradictory to his own nature; he can't change the past; he can't know what it's like to be ignorant, etc. So it's a misunderstanding that "he can do anything and controls everything."
> why would god allow me to be gay and endure constant hate and threats?
As you read the Bible, you'll read that God teaches us as Christians to love everyone. If you are getting constant hate and threats, those aren't coming from God or from anyone being obedient to what God commands (Love each other; don't judge anyone; be a person of grace; be a peacemaker). I could say with confidence that God is not pleased that anyone is treating you with constant hate and threats. The Bible is quite clear. It doesn't give anyone the right to hate anyone else.