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Running From God

PureX

PureX

Veteran Member
Lightkeeper said:
The Bible talks about us running from God, because we want to be autonimous. We are also told that when we stray God comes after us. I.e. the story of the 99 sheep, if one strays God will look for the one. Do we run? What do you think?
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I don't think anyone is running from God. I think they're running from religion. And I suppose that those who run from religion probably are doing it to be free (autonomous) of it. Religions often use images of God that are frightening abd oppressive so that they can control people's minds and lives. And some people don't want to be controlled in that way. I don't. So they "run from religion", and from the religious images of God that they find so frightening and oppressive.

I have noticed that most of the people I've met who call themselves atheists, are actually not at emnity with God, but with religion, and religious depictions of God.
 
sojourner

sojourner

Annoyingly Progressive Since 2006
PureX said:
I don't think anyone is running from God. I think they're running from religion. And I suppose that those who run from religion probably are doing it to be free (autonomous) of it. Religions often use images of God that are frightening abd oppressive so that they can control people's minds and lives. And some people don't want to be controlled in that way. I don't. So they "run from religion", and from the religious images of God that they find so frightening and oppressive.

I have noticed that most of the people I've met who call themselves atheists, are actually not at emnity with God, but with religion, and religious depictions of God.
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Yet, some atheists, at their core, are in enmity with God.

And, what do you do with those who espouse a religion, but who wrestle with a call from God to enter into a certain ministry? People run from God all the time, without necessarily running from religion. God calls us, both through the religion and from outside the religion.
 
michel

michel

Administrator Emeritus
Staff member
I look upon this much as I do with my dealings with my sons; sometimes they do things they know I am totally "against" - one of them - for example - with money problems, no matter how much we taught him how to save.

Every so often, I have a chat with him to try and find out how he is doing; I think he is too proud to admit he is still floundering. But he knows I will always be there for him if he needs me........
 
PureX

PureX

Veteran Member
sojourner said:
Yet, some atheists, at their core, are in enmity with God.

And, what do you do with those who espouse a religion, but who wrestle with a call from God to enter into a certain ministry? People run from God all the time, without necessarily running from religion. God calls us, both through the religion and from outside the religion.
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I don't do anything with them, as their relationship with God is not my business. And anyway, my concept of God includes forgiveness, so it doesn't really matter if they "run from God" or not. They're still just as loved and forgiven as those who serve at God's feet (so to speak).
 
sojourner

sojourner

Annoyingly Progressive Since 2006
PureX said:
I don't do anything with them, as their relationship with God is not my business. And anyway, my concept of God includes forgiveness, so it doesn't really matter if they "run from God" or not. They're still just as loved and forgiven as those who serve at God's feet (so to speak).
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Of course they are. The Father didn't turn his back on the Prodigal...
 
joeboonda

joeboonda

Well-Known Member
That is true, Jesus said that any who come to Him He will in no wise cast out. In the Greek I hear that it contains 5 negatives: He will never, no never, no never cast out, or something like that. Of course, a person has to have come to Him at some point in their earthly life for sonship to apply, but once its done, it can never be undone. PTL!
 
sojourner

sojourner

Annoyingly Progressive Since 2006
joeboonda said:
That is true, Jesus said that any who come to Him He will in no wise cast out. In the Greek I hear that it contains 5 negatives: He will never, no never, no never cast out, or something like that. Of course, a person has to have come to Him at some point in their earthly life for sonship to apply, but once its done, it can never be undone. PTL!
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Can't argue with you here.
 
R

Rolling_Stone

Well-Known Member
Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Or shall a saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? (Isaiah 10:15) Can the axe run from he that wields it? Does a saw's boasting make it less dependent on its user? There is no running from God, only from accountability.
 
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