Yeah, good people seeing the Bible back up their goodness. They would surely be good people without the Bible as many other non-religious good people can do.
Awesome. Obviously she already had reservations and just needed a little advice. That could have come from a therapist or friend. It was HER who decided via her own wits. The Bible did nothing.
Yeah gang life in LA sucks. Most all kids HAVE to be part of the neighborhood gang just for protection. Not all kids want to be involved, but have little choice but to do things. There is a lot of social pressure to conform to norms, including gang life. So no doubt some of these kids found their way out. Lime any people in crisis that need to adjust their beliefs and attitudes they will surely attribute their changes to a God. This is classic 12 step methodology.
But you don't address all the bad theists who think they are good people but are not. What is your expanding for them IF God exists and religions are valid? Surely there is a flaw in the system somewhere. What did God do wrong?
The Bible has the transformative power to change lives. I have seen it many times over in people from all walks of life. It is God's word and thus applying its advice in your life will make you better no matter whom you are or where you are.
In today's world advice is ever changing. What was in fashion today is gone tomorrow. Yet God's word tells us exactly how to have happy family lives, better relations with our neighbors, and how to find real happiness finding a meaningful relationship with the living God Jehovah.
God tells us:
“I will give you insight and instruct you in the way you should go.
I will give you advice with my eye upon you."
-Psalm 32:8.
To answer your question as to why many people do not listen God or let his word shape their lives? Well, that is their choice. God does not force anyone to serve him or do what is right. He is not going to force them to do so any more than he is going to force you.
Jesus told us that the majority of people chose the broad and spacious road, the easy road, where the majority of all religions lead, that is to destruction:
"Go in through the narrow gate, because broad is the gate and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are going in through it; whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are finding it."-Matthew 7:13-14.
The way of the truth is not an easy way of life. The gate to the road is narrow, not a lot of people are going to find it or go in through it, and the road is cramped. Not many people are going to find it.
Remember I was telling you about freewill and how it was given us to show love, because an animal governed by instinct cannot show true love. When Jesus was on earth he empathized this fact when he was asked what was the greatest of all the commandments:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment."-Matthew 22:36-38.
Love is the fulfillment of the law. But what does it mean to love Jehovah, to really love him? John tells us:
"For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome."-1 John 5:3.
Most people when they learn what God's word teaches and what it requires of a person to have a relationship with the Creator decide not to. Most don't want to leave the vices they have, or perhaps they don't want to be ridiculed by others for serving the true God, or perhaps they are too focused on things of this world, gaining wealth, fame, power. There are many reasons people decide not to let God's word mold them.
Now Jesus said the second greatest commandment in the law is:
"The second, like it, is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’"-Matthew 22:39.
Scripture tells us that there is no law apart from love, and in the end the only law you really need is love. Because a person who uses their freewill correctly to love, love God, and love neighbor has no need for any other law. Laws in themselves are for lawless people.
"On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law."-Galatians 5:22-23.
Going back to the beginning, in the garden of Eden when humankind had perfection there was only one stipulation to the first human pair, Adam and Eve, and it was not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and bad.
It seems like a simple rule and it was. Things back then were much simpler as well. The tree and the rule given the first human pair represented God's right to rule, and humankind's willing to be obedient to him. Were they going to exercise their freewill to show God obedience, loyal love?
And that is what it really boils down to. Loyal love. That is not a common phrase in today's world. Yet God is a God not only of loyalty or of love, but of loyal love. And we, his children, have been given the capacity to display loyal love. Unfortunately the first human pair decided to abuse of their freewill and chose for themselves what was right and wrong. And that is why you are at where you are today. Confused, alienated, alone, without God. In the darkness.
The Bible reveals to us who was the real person behind the serpent who mislead Eve and got her to eat of the forbidden tree. The original serpent, Satan the Devil planted seeds of doubt in her mind as to God's motives, and she foolishly fell for it. He did so out of selfish longing for worship. Eve did not show loyal love to God, and afterward she showed her husband Adam what she had done, and he knew very well what he was doing but he also was disloyal, he did not cultivate real love for God.
Now the Bible tells us that the whole world is lying in Satan's power:
"The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one."-1 John 5:19.
It tells us that Satan, the god of this system, has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so that the glorious good news about the Christ may not shine through and they be saved:
"Among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through."-2 Corinthians 4:4.
It tells us that Satan and his wicked angels have been outsted from heaven and they are misleading the entire inhabited earth:
"So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth."-Revelation 12:9.
So that is why there are so many that do not obey the good news. Scripture tells us that Satan is transforming himself into an angel of light and his ministers act as ministers of righteousness:
"And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps disguising himself as an angel of light. It is therefore nothing extraordinary if his ministers also keep disguising themselves as ministers of righteousness."-2 Corinthians 11:14-15.
So it is of little surprise that people who are really evil and bad who claim to represent God and follow the Bible are really liars and hypocrites as you have mentioned. The last part of the scripture should be of note to you for it says:
"But their end will be according to their works."
And so by their works you will discern whether they are really from God or not.
This is the light of the world. Humankind is in darkness because Satan is the ruler of the world and he has blinded the minds of the unbelievers. There is a universal war being waged and we, you and me, and everyone else alive today were born smack dab in the middle of this war.
The Psalmist declared:
"Give thanks to Jehovah, for he is good; His loyal love endures forever."-Psalms 136:1.
Unlike disobiedent humans and angels who have disregarded showing love, and being loyal in love God will always show loyal love forever. And he impels us also to display loyal love to him and to others:
"This is what Jehovah of armies says, ‘Judge with true justice, and deal with one another in loyal love and mercy."-Zechariah 7:9.
Not everyone will display loyal love. Because God does not force any of his free moral agents to do so. But he sets the divine pattern of love and he does expect us to follow it. It is your choice if you will or not. These words are true. And they are divine. Loyal love is not of human origin, and it is not a trait animals can show.
You have the choice to display loyal love to the Creator, and to your fellow humans. If you did so, and if everyone else did there would be no more racism, no more war, no more hatred. That is a divine command. It is beyond human origin.
And the Bible tells us the day is very near that only those who display loyal love will remain on earth. All the wicked and ungodly will be removed. And then there will be no more need of Jehovah's Witnesses to tell the people who Jehovah is for everyone will know him, from one end of the earth to the other:
“And they will no longer teach each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know Jehovah!’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them,” declares Jehovah. “For I will forgive their error, and I will no longer remember their sin.”-Jeremiah 31:34.
Jehovah's Witnesses have the distinguished honor of bearing the name of the living God. They dispel many of the lies that false religion has placed on his name. Out of their loyal love of Jehovah and of neighbor they declare the name of Jehovah and they tell others who he really is! Imagine if a dear friend you loved was slandered, would you not stand up for his name and defend it? People that teach that God condones bad, that he tortures people, that he is the cause of evil, these people are wicked and slander the name of a good and loving God.
God is not the cause of suffering:
"When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.” For with evil things God cannot be tried, nor does he himself try anyone."-James 1:13.
Heed this word if you wish life:
"Know this, my beloved brothers: Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about God’s righteousness. Therefore, put away all filthiness and every trace of badness, and accept with mildness the implanting of the word that is able to save you."-James 1:19-21.
