God is responsible for my sins

robocop (actually) · Oct 18, 2017

PopeADope said:
His will is not in front of my eyes. You are doing a great job of ruining your own credibility. I have many questions I asked God. I simply don't get answers. But the holy spirit is supposed to live within me so how can that be?

My advice is to just keep doing what you're doing, understanding that we live in a time when many people doubt religion but have their faith carry them through it anyway, try different perspectives, and don't assume that either believing or disbelieving is simply right or wrong.

Spiderman · Oct 18, 2017

robocop (actually) said:
I was told that everybody has the light of Christ no matter what. Sin stops us from seeing the future, but no matter how Satan distorts thing we still have the light of Christ to know what to do. He just distorts things but the truth is still available. You make perfect sense but I think so do some of the obvious answers to your questions.

Thank you that is good advice

Spiderman · Oct 18, 2017

robocop (actually) said:
My advice is to just keep doing what you're doing, understanding that we live in a time when many people doubt religion but have their faith carry them through it anyway, try different perspectives, and don't assume that either believing or disbelieving is simply right or wrong.

Thanks... Good advice

Jumi · Oct 18, 2017

Nakosis said:
Just felt betrayed. Why would God let this "evil" thing happen.
Intellectually I think I gained free will but that's not a feeling. It's just a hypothesis, an attempt to understand the reasoning of what happened.

My experience of God certainly made it clear that such temporary things as human ideas, worries and hopes "find" nothing there. The presence of it has the feeling of eternity.

Nakosis said:
Passive? You me not responsible? In a sense, I suppose. Not responsible for my lack of knowledge. Still responsible for whatever actions I take.

Do you think there is no plan on God's part. That God just created us to leave us to our own devices?

Are we entirely independent of God, therefore fully responsible of creating our own fate? Whatever we decide we want that to be?

We are completely on our own. The sanctuary of God is there once we've reached it, but it doesn't save us or our friends from bad things happening. It seems to bolster our resolve to do the right thing. I suppose some could think of this as guidance.

Kenny · Oct 19, 2017

PopeADope said:
His will is not in front of my eyes. You are doing a great job of ruining your own credibility. I have many questions I asked God. I simply don't get answers. But the holy spirit is supposed to live within me so how can that be?

Because you don't want to have the Holy Spirit use people?

Spiderman · Oct 19, 2017

KenS said:
Because you don't want to have the Holy Spirit use people?

I absolutely want the Holy Spirit to use people. But I don't know who speaks for the Holy Spirit.

There's a lot of people saying all kinds of things , and they have scripture to back up what they say... I used to feel everybody that was speaking about God was speaking from the Holy Spirit. I've learned differently.

If I met somebody that was doing the works of Christ and greater works, as Jesus Promised, then I would certainly believe what they had to say.

Kenny · Oct 19, 2017

PopeADope said:
I absolutely want the Holy Spirit to use people. But I don't know who speaks for the Holy Spirit.

There's a lot of people saying all kinds of things , and they have scripture to back up what they say... I used to feel everybody that was speaking about God was speaking from the Holy Spirit. I've learned differently.

If I met somebody that was doing the works of Christ and greater works, as Jesus Promised, then I would certainly believe what they had to say.

OK...

If I could share... I don't know everything, I'm not an apostle or a prophet or a great theologian. But I have learned something over the last 45 Christian years. My prayers get answered, I know God's will for my life and lives are changed. Is there anything to "Well, he has traveled further than I have... I don't have to accept everything he says but he might be worth listening to just to see if there is something I haven't learned" in your life?

It is like "Do I listen to a millionaire about business principles?" Or do I shut every millionaire off just because I'm not a millionaire?

Just a thought.

metis · Oct 19, 2017

A great piece of religious advice I picked up about 35 years ago was from Gandhi, who said that if we have a strong and recurrent feeling we should do something, first stop and ask ourselves if it's moral, and if we know it is, then just do it-- no excuses. He believed this is how God "talks" to us-- not words so much but strong recurrent feelings that are moral.

Following this advice literally changed my life, thus experiencing things I could never have imagined. My mother passed away 20 years ago, but shortly before that she said to me "You sure do get around!". I wish she could have seen what happened after she said that.

So, thank you Gandhiji.

Spiderman · Oct 19, 2017

KenS said:
OK...

If I could share... I don't know everything, I'm not an apostle or a prophet or a great theologian. But I have learned something over the last 45 Christian years. My prayers get answered, I know God's will for my life and lives are changed. Is there anything to "Well, he has traveled further than I have... I don't have to accept everything he says but he might be worth listening to just to see if there is something I haven't learned" in your life?

It is like "Do I listen to a millionaire about business principles?" Or do I shut every millionaire off just because I'm not a millionaire?

Just a thought.

What does this mean?
Matt 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

DavidFirth · Oct 19, 2017

PopeADope said:
What does this mean?
Matt 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

How many people have you known that could move mountains? Very, very few people have faith as great as a small mustard seed. The seed has substance. Sadly, our faith rarely has that much substance.

I think one reason Jesus said this is to show us just how little faith the disciples (and us) really do have.

Spiderman · Oct 19, 2017

metis said:
A great piece of religious advice I picked up about 35 years ago was from Gandhi, who said that if we have a strong and recurrent feeling we should do something, first stop and ask ourselves if it's moral, and if we know it is, then just do it-- no excuses. He believed this is how God "talks" to us-- not words so much but strong recurrent feelings that are moral.

Following this advice literally changed my life, thus experiencing things I could never have imagined. My mother passed away 20 years ago, but shortly before that she said to me "You sure do get around!". I wish she could have seen what happened after she said that.

So, thank you Gandhiji.

I believe your mother has seen what happened after she said that. Her spirit still lives

metis · Oct 19, 2017

PopeADope said:
I believe your mother has seen what happened after she said that. Her spirit still lives

After my mother passed away, I spoke at her funeral service, and what I said reflects what you say above, namely that my mother is in me, my sister, our children, our grandchildren, and so many people who knew and admired her.

She's not gone-- she's just taking on different forms.

Spiderman · Oct 19, 2017

metis said:
After my mother passed away, I spoke at her funeral service, and what I said reflects what you say above, namely that my mother is in me, my sister, our children, our grandchildren, and so many people who knew and admired her.

She's not gone-- she's just taking on different forms.

That's awesome that you're aware of that. I'm 100% convinced that is true.

Nakosis · Oct 19, 2017

Jumi said:
My experience of God certainly made it clear that such temporary things as human ideas, worries and hopes "find" nothing there. The presence of it has the feeling of eternity.

We are completely on our own. The sanctuary of God is there once we've reached it, but it doesn't save us or our friends from bad things happening. It seems to bolster our resolve to do the right thing. I suppose some could think of this as guidance.

Ok, but if we are on our own, I don't understand the need to do the "right thing". We can do whatever we want and humans pretty much do. Material things are temporary but they last as long as they last during which we can benefit from them.

The right thing is whatever is right for me? Torturing animals, bullying other folks, whatever makes me feel good. If we are on our own, I'm assuming none of this matters.

Jumi · Oct 19, 2017

Nakosis said:
Ok, but if we are on our own, I don't understand the need to do the "right thing". We can do whatever we want and humans pretty much do. Material things are temporary but they last as long as they last during which we can benefit from them.

The right thing is whatever is right for me? Torturing animals, bullying other folks, whatever makes me feel good. If we are on our own, I'm assuming none of this matters.

They do matter. What I mean is we have to make the right choices on our own regardless how it makes us feel. I assume you were not serious about the torture and bullying.

Nakosis · Oct 19, 2017

Jumi said:
They do matter. What I mean is we have to make the right choices on our own regardless how it makes us feel. I assume you were not serious about the torture and bullying.

The point is why do they matter?

I do whatever I want. What I want just happens to be making friends, family happy and helping people. These are the things I enjoy.

However that's me. There are folks who enjoy torturing, bullying, oppressing, killing. If God is not involved then why shouldn't they go about their business as well?

Jumi · Oct 19, 2017

Nakosis said:
The point is why do they matter?

I do whatever I want. What I want just happens to be making friends, family happy and helping people. These are the things I enjoy.

However that's me.

You'd do the right thing, because you already know what it is. You'd do it regardless of God, making people happy and helping them. That's the best way. If you want to find God, I think that's the mindset, the ethic you have to have. Otherwise the experience won't open up like it does. I don't know how to guide you to experience God, but I'm sure that being a good person is part of that way. All I can say is that is what I've experienced and it's a sanctuary that I can now return to. I'm sorry if that's not that helpful for you.

Rational Agnostic · Oct 19, 2017

PopeADope said:
Because I'm not able to bring myself to the point where I can believe he doesn't exist

Believe in a good god then instead of a bad god.

Kenny · Oct 24, 2017

PopeADope said:
What does this mean?
Matt 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Mark 17:19 Why could we not cast him out 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Luke 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

First rule of thumb is that you must take things in context lest one interprets it in a wrong application thus what it says before and after becomes as important as the verse one is reading.

Second rule of thumb is that it must be consistent with the rest of the Bible.

In both cases of faith as a mustard seed, we find that it had nothing to do with physical mountains but rather it is a parable to understand how faith works and, in its application, those things that they thought would be impossible and beyond their capacity to fulfill God’s will, becomes possible. In these two cases, it was forgiving and casting out devils.

1) “IF you have faith”. This isn’t mental assent that you believe but rather a spiritual force coming from the heart that believes. In Mark the disciples thought they had faith but it was still classified as unbelief.

2) A mustard seed is planted, watered and weeded, it is a process of time. Faith has patience. If someone says, “I don’t see something happening”, then they are not exercising true faith because when you plant a seed, you don’t see something happening even though something is.

3) “You would say”. Faith has a corresponding watering of words. If someone says “I believe” one moment and the next they are saying “It isn’t working”, then faith wasn’t working in the first place because from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Did you have another question on these versus?

Spiderman · Oct 24, 2017

KenS said:
Mark 17:19 Why could we not cast him out 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Luke 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

First rule of thumb is that you must take things in context lest one interprets it in a wrong application thus what it says before and after becomes as important as the verse one is reading.

Second rule of thumb is that it must be consistent with the rest of the Bible.

In both cases of faith as a mustard seed, we find that it had nothing to do with physical mountains but rather it is a parable to understand how faith works and, in its application, those things that they thought would be impossible and beyond their capacity to fulfill God’s will, becomes possible. In these two cases, it was forgiving and casting out devils.

1) “IF you have faith”. This isn’t mental assent that you believe but rather a spiritual force coming from the heart that believes. In Mark the disciples thought they had faith but it was still classified as unbelief.

2) A mustard seed is planted, watered and weeded, it is a process of time. Faith has patience. If someone says, “I don’t see something happening”, then they are not exercising true faith because when you plant a seed, you don’t see something happening even though something is.

3) “You would say”. Faith has a corresponding watering of words. If someone says “I believe” one moment and the next they are saying “It isn’t working”, then faith wasn’t working in the first place because from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Did you have another question on these versus?

I hope you are right.
Why is it so important to God that we believe without seeing results? Isn't that kind of like living in a fantasy world?

The fact that God wants us to live by faith rather than speak up to us is the reason that there's so much religious division in our world. God is asking for us to be confused. I wouldn't have confusion if God would give me the Graces I prayed for.

God is responsible for my sins

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