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If God Loves Us All...
- Thread starter skills101
- Start date
cardero
Citizen Mod
Parapraktri, interesting post. I think as humans, some people see themselves lower than GOD instead of equal. When people pray or talk to GOD a common perspective is to look up instead of beside. I am beginning to believe that some people do not think that they are deserving of GOD's LOVE.
Well no wonder some people think that! I have heard many differnt pastors say exactly that! That we don't deserve god's love and we should all rot it hell, but he's going to give us a chance anyway.carrdero said:
How come Christians don't believe in reincarnation? Don't any of you think that maybe God would give us a few lives to get the whole living, caring, loving thing down so we don't have to go to hell? Just a thought....
If you have kids are you never going to let them go to a friends house by themselves, are you always going to stand right by your child to make sure he/she does nothing you don't like? If you read the OT the Lord WAS there making sure that we didn't "play in the street" as it were. Now He has let us make descisions, He has said ok goto your friend's house, but don't run into the street. If we run into the street it is our own descision and He lets us make it, just like when/if you let your child leave your vision you are giving him/her that same descision.
I am not the equal of the Lord, thinking that he was, was what got Lucifer thrown out. Also, I do not. Also, I do not believe I am deserving of the Lord's love any more than a man who continually cheats on and beats his wife is deserving of her love.
cardero
Citizen Mod
The only differences between GOD and I are the moments we existed (and the UNDERSTANDING that comes with it), our personal PURPOSES/agendas and our individual locations.
I do not believe that I am deserving of GODs love any more than a man who continually cheats on and beats his wife is deserving of her love but I also believe I am not deserving of any less of GOD's LOVE either.
Rozs
Member
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que ha dado á su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que en él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna
John 3:16
Sapagkat gayon na lamang ang pag - ibig ng Diyos sa sanlibutan na ibinigay niya ang kanyang tanging Anak, upang ang sinumang sa kanya'y sumampalataya ay huwag mapahamak kundi magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan.
Juan 3:16
Porque Deus amou o mundo de tal maneira que deu o seu Filho unigênito, para que todo aquele que nele crê não pereça, mas tenha a vida eterna.
John 3:16
John 3:16
Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que ha dado á su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que en él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna
John 3:16
Sapagkat gayon na lamang ang pag - ibig ng Diyos sa sanlibutan na ibinigay niya ang kanyang tanging Anak, upang ang sinumang sa kanya'y sumampalataya ay huwag mapahamak kundi magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan.
Juan 3:16
Porque Deus amou o mundo de tal maneira que deu o seu Filho unigênito, para que todo aquele que nele crê não pereça, mas tenha a vida eterna.
John 3:16
Exactly. The first six words explain. When we die, we are not of this world anymore.Rozs said:For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
God seds us to hell as a "punishment" to those who do not believe in Him, or follow His ways.
Paraprakrti
Custom User
No, God prescribes that you "play within the safety of the yard", but He does not force it. Your contradiction will be that on one hand you want to be free, but on the other hand you want God to keep you in the yard. God is welcoming you to the yard but you aren't accepting. Actually, you will be more free inside the yard than otherwise. The problem is people generally want to be the proprietors and enjoyers of all they survey. They want to take with no regard to God. But by accepting the reactions of our actions we remain in them, perpetually, until we choose to surrender to God. In that way we give up the fruitive results of our actions.Ceridwen018 said:
Being in the lion's pit is our desire. God isn't concerned with how we fend for ourselves. Actually, God would rather have us turn to Him rather than think that we can fend for ourselves. But God does not force this on anyone. If you do not like the situation then you should seek God. God allows us to be ignorant, doubtful and hateful, but He isn't responsible for our afflictions. We've been playing this material game for God knows how long. We have been up and down continuously and have little to show for it. Eventually we do realize self, then we start our trip back to God. The bottomline is, God cannot be held responsible for our poor decisions. If you are angry at God then you go become your own God. Actually, that you have already tried and are still trying to do. If we hadn't made the decision that caused us to be here, we wouldn't be prone to death in the first place. So we can point the finger of blame at ourselves.Ceridwen018 said:
Paraprakrti
Custom User
It is good that we always understand ourselves to be subordinate to God. The sense of equality with God in the form of friendship is given to us out of love. If we develop a sense of ego to think that we are truly equal to God due to His love then we are fools. We are always dependent on God, but there are different transcendental stages of our relationship with Him. A few people are Christian here so I will give such an example: Jesus told His disciples that they were all his friends. He even washed their feet. Now, from an outside perspective it might appear that Jesus has taken the subordinate position in doing this, but the fact is that this is a transcendental relationship God has with His devotees. Another example in what I follow is that Krsna drives Arjuna's chariot. This may make Krsna appear as the servant of Arjuna, but we should understand that God serves those who serve and are devoted to Him. Also, the notion that one is undeserving of God's love is a transcendental emotion. We should respect people who, out of such thoughts, seek only to be closer and closer to God.carrdero said:
cardero
Citizen Mod
What does this understanding of subordination accomplish for both the entity and GOD?
Though I do leave my ego at the door when I speak with GOD I am allowed to pick it up after we are done or at least what is left of it. I do not believe that it is egotistical to feel equal to GOD.
What do you feel we are dependant on GOD for?
Simon the Cat
Member
I don't think that if there is a God, that that entity really is around for a specifically personal relationship - kinda like the Pope or the President or something. These people don't care about the all purpose individual - if they run into you, they care about your for that moment - but to think that they actually spend all of their time watching, judging and interacting with one is a little unrealistic in my opinion.
jewscout
Religious Zionist
Ronald props to you man you get some frubals!:jiggy:Ronald said:
He's right G-d, though He punishes us for our mistakes, He is always quick to forgive. None of us are sinless but as long as we strive to be better people and work toward understand the Divine we can gain a place in the World to Come.
Jacobs ladder.
croak
Trickster
Even though I'm not Christian, I think it would be a good idea to show my beliefs. If you believed that Jesus (pbuh) died on the cross for our sins, that's considered a lie, because it says that he wasn't crucified in the Qur'an. Also, if we ask Him for forgiveness, He may grant it, but He can choose not to. And it's funny, because being a Christian means, okay, I know Jesus (pbuh) died for me, I could kill everyone on the face of this Earth, but as long as I say, you are my savior, etc......I'll go to Heaven.skills101 said:
Why don't we make a new Monopoly game? Get out of Hell free card. :bonk:
jewscout
Religious Zionist
There isn't much in Judaism about the afterlife. Jews try not to focus so much on the afterlife and concern themselves with being good people now since, we really don't know what the "World to Come" is all about.Linus said:
And of course all righteous people, not just jews, will get a place in this World to Come.
Paraprakrti
Custom User
carrdero said:
What it accomplishes for the living entity is the dispelling of false ego. God is never under illusion so there is no question of God obtaining benefit from this. God is eternally understanding and thus eternally benefited.
A sense of equality with God can only be given by God. And in that sense we can understand how we are subordinate. We cannot falsely think ourselves equal to God. That is my point. Even when one is given that sense of fraternal equality with God, they always know that the only reason they have been exalted to that position is by Gods grace. If your plea is that we are factually equal to God then I must ask, why do we fall into ignorance? Why do we suffer from this ignorance? God never falls into ignorance. So if we are equal how come we are not our own God?carrdero said:
The most specific answer to this question would be everything.carrdero said:
The real question is how are we not dependant? If we are not dependent on God then how is it that we are dependant on minor things in this material world like food and water? If we are our own independent God-type beings then how come we have fallen to be dependant on food?? Are you seriously going to tell me that despite the fact that we are dependant on so many material things for the sustenance of our material well being, that we are not dependant on God? First of all, who has ordained that we be fed? I mean, ultimately. Who gives us the facility to do whatever it is that we do? If we are dependant at all, in any way, on any thing, then we are dependant on the Being who owns and controls those things, God. Also, if we are fallen in any capacity then in order to return to our constitutional position we must depend on something. If you say that we are not fallen, then why are we not full of knowledge? Why are we forced to take birth and to die? Why are we having this conversation?
cardero
Citizen Mod
What I may have been insisting here is not the equality of GODs personality/individualism/PURPOSE/position but the same opportunities for UNDERSTANDING (wisdom), the same opportunities in developing GOD-like qualities (LOVE, consideration, TRUTH, RESPECT) may exist (if desired) and can BE equaled (though not as easily) even in the physical. If we are to believe the account of Jesus life as a fact, I think Jesus was trying to teach humans this exact equality. I apologize for any misunderstanding.
I think it is our NATURAL human physicality that is dependant on food and water. I have heard some people proclaim that this may indeed BE an imperfection in GODs human creation. I do not think that the dependency on food and water is an imperfection of GOD though I would have to question his methods of disposal.
I have never received a phone, water, food, electric, air, heating bill from GOD. I have received utility bills from other gods though.
I do not believe that we are forced to accept (take) on any experience that we do not desire. You may CORRECT me if I am mistaken but somehow I get the feeling that you do not feel you are a free willing participant towards your physical experience.
I cannot speak for everyONE on this matter but I believe one of the reasons we choose a physical incarnation is for the challenge to acquire knowledge which in itself is probably a very unique experience in this physical realm. Also the experiences of birth and death (though I assume are mandatory experiences if you choose a physical existence) are also non-evident as a resident of the spiritual realm. War, vacationing to different locations, going to a laborious job, the feeling of getting up in the morning, starving, suffering, creating art, writing a book, reading a book, tasting different foods, encouraging and evolving physical relationships, the challenge of learning an instrument, developing talent, renewing our UNDERSTANDING of LOVE, raising a family, jumping out of a plane, recognizing GOD in an another state of BEing, going to a musical concert are all experiences that may just BE exclusive to this physical existence.
Maybe the whole ritual/tradition/practice/decision of living a physical existence is not to get away from GOD but to exist independently from him/her.
I do not think that the word fallen is the CORRECT verb I would choose to describe the entrance into this existence. I think of it more like a tub/basin filled with hot water and we are just easing into it slowly until our bodies become adjusted to the temperature. This may BE a more appropriate way to visualize it.