Is it okay to blame God for stuff that is his fault?

[St. SteVen]

I found myself in a bit of a minor frustration.
My reaction was to raise a fist and blame God. All in jest of course.
I believe that God has a sense of humor and can stand a bit of honest frustration.

If we believe God is sovereign, then he is ultimately responsible for this mess we are in.
And I believe he has a plan in place to make everything right again. The age of restoration.

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[St. SteVen]

Oh boy, this is a scary topic, eh? (oops, Canadian slip) - LOL

How dare we blame God for anything? (unthinkable) Or just dangerous?
Really?

If you were God, how would you have created the universe?
What would you have done differently?

What would YOUR Logos/logic/reason/plan have been?

We don't have to trash God to discuss this.

What might you have done differently?

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[Wrangler]

The thing is the next step. The follow up thought. OK, God is at fault for everything, you say? Now what?

As Peter said to Jesus when he asked if he too would leave him in John 6:66, where else can we go?

I don’t think God would be angry if you said this. He can take what he is responsible for. The question is; can you and I take what we are responsible for?

 

[St. SteVen]

The thing is the next step. The follow up thought. OK, God is at fault for everything, you say? Now what?

As Peter said to Jesus when he asked if he too would leave him in John 6:66, where else can we go?

I don’t think God would be angry if you said this. He can take what he is responsible for. The question is; can you and I take what we are responsible for?

At fault for everything? No. There is certainly plenty that he did right. And it is our only point of reference.

But if you could change anything, what would you change?

Perhaps you are fearful that saying anything is to infer that God's creation is not perfect?

What about mosquitoes? Could we have done without them? Wood ticks? Wharf rats? - LOL

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[Lambano]

What about mosquitoes? Could we have done without them?

My Venus Flytrap says they're delicious. Definitely need to have mosquitos around.

 

[Lambano]

If you were God, how would you have created the universe?
What would you have done differently?

Spread a few 55-gallon drums of Snake-A-Way around the periphery of the Garden of Eden.

 

[Brakelite]

If we believe God is sovereign

Totally.

then he is ultimately responsible for this mess we are in

A well known Christian journalist was asked in an interview, "what is wrong with the world?". His answer, we are. He was right.

And I believe he has a plan in place to make everything right again.

Yes He does. And amen to that. But first He has to let everything play out. Satan with limited influence, but permitted to express himself sufficiently to reveal his true nature, which sadly has some profound effects on human behaviour and our present physical reality, notwithstanding the truth that God in Christ has given us all we need to discern Satan's deceptions, and overcome his temptations. One day soon, the whole world will have decided irrevocably which sure they want to stand on. Despite the true characters of both Christ and Satan open and manifest to all.
If God had chosen to destroy Lucifer when he first rebelled in heaven, the other angels would have served God from fear. And Lucifer's ideas regarding what he claimed as arbitrary rulership on God's part, proven.

 

[Windmill Charge]

I found myself in a bit of a minor frustration.
My reaction was to raise a fist and blame God. All in jest of course.
I believe that God has a sense of humor and can stand a bit of honest frustration.

If we believe God is sovereign, then he is ultimately responsible for this mess we are in.
And I believe he has a plan in place to make everything right again. The age of restoration.

[

I think it depends on the situation.
Look at Job, look at what he lost!
Note he did not sin by claiming God, but nboy did he complain.

I believe that God understands our pain and allows the resulting g frustration to be expressed.

There is nothing wrong with an anguished cry of ' Why! '

That said we need to keep firm control over our tongue when we stub our toe, get a parking or speeding ticket etc

 

[St. SteVen]

Spread a few 55-gallon drums of SnakeAway around the periphery of the Garden of Eden.

Before the Fall we would probably need SERPENT-AWAY.

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[Lambano]

I found myself in a bit of a minor frustration.
My reaction was to raise a fist and blame God. All in jest of course.
I believe that God has a sense of humor and can stand a bit of honest frustration.

If we believe God is sovereign, then he is ultimately responsible for this mess we are in.

This actually hits close to home, because I knew a young man for whom it was not a jest; he really did blame God for the various forms of suffering and degradation he endured during his all-too-short life. He believed in God's sovereignty as strongly as any Calvinist.

But it wasn't a fist he raised, it was the digitus impudicus.

I suppose atheists don't bother to curse a god they don't believe in.

 

[St. SteVen]

A well known Christian journalist was asked in an interview, "what is wrong with the world?". His answer, we are. He was right.

I would disagree with the well-known Christian journalist.
Humankind is the center of God's creation. Those created in his image.
Do you remember this quote below from a scene in the first Matrix movie?

"I'd like to share a revelation I've had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species. I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with their surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to another area, and you multiply, and you multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You are a plague, and we are the cure." - Agent Smith

Many of the planet-hugging philosophies cling to this notion of humankind being the problem with this planet.
Remove the humans and things will be fine. (genocide)

Why can't we embrace our importance to God?
We seem to be stuck back in the garden (orchard) covering our "shame" with fig leaves. (sigh)

What became of, "God so loved the world..."
Was it the planet that he loved? Terra firma?

If God had chosen to destroy Lucifer when he first rebelled in heaven, the other angels would have served God from fear.

This is an interesting point.
It seems that the angels did not fear God. Why not?
One in three decided it was a good idea to go in a different direction.
What sort of atmosphere would encourage that?

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[St. SteVen]

This actually hits close to home, because I knew a young man for whom it was not a jest; he really did blame God for the various forms of suffering and degradation he endured during his all-too-short life. He believed in God's sovereignty as strongly as any Calvinist.

And who could blame one for such an honest response?
What we assume about God's response says volumes about us.

But it wasn't a fist he raised, it was the digitus impudicus.

LOL
This forum is so educational.
Now we have the Latin for flipping the bird.
Seems to be quite a history to that gesture.
It appears that I am not the first to venture the topic question.

I suppose atheists don't bother to curse a god they don't believe in.

I've never heard an atheist respond by saying, "Who?", when someone talks about God.

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[Lambano]

What we assume about God's response says volumes about us.

This is an interesting point.

 

[St. SteVen]

Spread a few 55-gallon drums of Snake-A-Way around the periphery of the Garden of Eden.

I love the line at the top of the package: "University Tested" - LOL
Seems that proves that it doesn't work?

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[St. SteVen]

This is an interesting point.

Like a person's reaction to a bee flying near them.
We tend to swat them away. A beekeeper knows better.



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[St. SteVen]

St. SteVen said:
What we assume about God's response says volumes about us.

This is an interesting point.

Thanks.
I think "getting in God's face", as it were, is an honest and FEARLESS response to our situation.

One reason I argue against the "fear of God" idea. I think God prefers honesty.

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[St. SteVen]

--- PARODY ---

Human: I am worthless.
God (unheard): Worth less than what?
Human: I can't do anything right.
God (unheard): That's an unfortunate exaggeration.
Human: I am lower than a worm.
God (unheard): I created you in my image. Obviously, I am not a worm.
Human: When will I get it together?
God (unheard): What good would that do?
Human: I give up.
God (unheard): Good. Now we are getting somewhere.
Human: Why won't anyone help me?
God (unheard): Hello? All you need to do is ask.
Human: Where is God?
God: "I'm right here."
Human: Whoa... who said that?
God (unheard): See if you can guess.
Human: God, are you there?
God (unheard): I thought you ALREADY believed in my existence. ???
Human: Maybe I should pray about this.
God (unheard): You can talk to me anytime. No need for formality.
Human: (sigh) God, I surrender to you.
God (unheard): There we go. Always glad to help.
Human: That should help.
God (unheard): Ya think?

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[Wrangler]

But if you could change anything, what would you change?

Displace faith with knowledge and the resultant inequality of knowledge between prophets and others. God communicates directly with prophets. Others have to have faith in the claims of the prophet.

No one doubts the sun in the sky for it is seen daily. Why not such undeniable evidence for God and his Will? Adam walked with God in the cool of the night. He KNEW God and still sinned. We are to obey and love while our familiarity is not equal.

 

[St. SteVen]

Displace faith with knowledge and the resultant inequality of knowledge between prophets and others. God communicates directly with prophets. Others have to have faith in the claims of the prophet.

I am of the opinion that God loves a good story.
We need the tension of mystery to make it good. No one likes a movie story that is too obvious.

In reference to prophets, there are checks and balances. (and let's not forget the Bereans)

1 Corinthians 14:29 NIV
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

No one doubts the sun in the sky for it is seen daily. Why not such undeniable evidence for God and his Will? Adam walked with God in the cool of the night. He KNEW God and still sinned. We are to obey and love while our familiarity is not equal.

I thought it was the cool of the day?

It seems the transformed/renewed mind should avail us of the needed tools to discern (test and approve) God's will.
But I suppose that's not really "undeniable evidence for God and his Will". But then, where would faith be?
Few need to be convinced that the sky is blue.

Romans 12:2 NIV
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

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[St. SteVen]

God communicates directly with prophets. Others have to have faith in the claims of the prophet.

In the current use of prophecy in the church, my experience is that even a prophet
doesn't completely understand the message to be delivered.

Prophecies are usually delivered in humbleness.
"I don't know what this means, but here is what I think God is saying for you."

It either resonates with the hearer, or it doesn't. But it may later. Imagine this...

Someone may prophesy that I will be going on a long journey. Which may seem meaningless in the moment.
Then someone else tells me that they had a vision of me with zebra in the background. Hmm... okay.
Next I find out about a friend from another church who is going on a missions trip
to Africa that wants to know if I could go too. - LOL

Should I suppose that God is trying to say something to me?
Obviously, I need to be prayerful and check into this further, but...
Imagine what might be in store with so many nudges.

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