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How do we handle the hard truths?

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TimothyVI:
Recently one of these threads had some disturbing posts by one of our brothers who was angry, and in obvious pain, because of recently learning that God did some pretty horrendous things in the old testament. A new Christian will generally start learning about the love of Jesus, reading about how God is love and about all of the wonderful things that God does for us out of love. The new testament is chock full of such glorious things.
A new Christian starts to look at Christianity through rose colored glasses.

Then all of a sudden this new believer sees a different God in the old testament. This God is very disturbing to us. Then as we read more about Him we may at first feel disgusted that our God could do these kinds of things that are told in the first five books of the bible. Eventually we may even become angry. Angry at God for what he did, angry with ourselves that we were fooled into believing how good God was when this God does not seem to be that good at all. Eventually this anger may turn into disbelief. You want to believe that the bible just plain isn’t even true. That the terrible things that God was supposed to have commanded were just made up.

When this happens the person may not know who to turn to for an explanation.
They do not want to hear things like “if God did it, then it had to be good, or it had to be moral”.  If it was clearly an immoral act by any standard, that person does not want to hear that he must accept it because he can not question God’s methods.
God, after all, gave us a mind and a conscience for a reason, He intends for us to use them.

If that person is a member of this forum family, then he very well may not have an actual church family to help him. This may be the only place for that person to turn.

I am not questioning the closing of the thread by the moderators. Lord knows I appreciate how difficult their job must be. I realize that they have an obligation to maintain some semblance of harmony on this forum. I love them all for what they do.
I just wonder what we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, should do with the truly hard questions, the questions that Sorin had on his mind. If the actual scriptures that were posted are so distasteful that we must close down a thread rather than have to read them, or if the questions are so hard that we can not answer them, then perhaps the problem lies with each of us, and not with the person asking the questions.

When we deny that a problem exists because we are unable to deal with it, we are not much different than the Pharisees to whom Jesus said “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Moderators, feel free to close this thread, or delete it if you wish.
I love Rays teaching and the bibletruths site. I am just saddened that there is not more that we can do to help a brother who is obviously in spiritual pain.

Tim

gmik:
I feel the pain for our brother Sorin.  I wonder about those questions but just not to that extent....Tim, what IS the answer?

That thread was loaded w/ love & wisdom.  But it didn't answer the question.  Maybe we don't know it yet. 

There has to come a time in our walk where we give all those questions to God, humbly, and by faith, just knowing that we are nothing and He is Everything.  Lord, tho you slay me yet will I follow thee...

DWIGHT:
Dear Tim,

Although I appreciate your sensitivity concerning Sorin, I must admit that if I was a moderator I would have done the same as they.  This isn't the first time this has happened, and who knows how many times they may have warned him.  I think Tim, they are looking at the big picture and how many people we have looking at us each day.  You have to say brother, that some of the things that were said were close to blasphemy.  I do not think this forum should allow such negativity..that's not the purpose.  Plus who's not to say that such a rebuke won't be beneficial.  This was done many times in the New Testament.  It doesn't mean that we don't love him.  I understand that it is not the most pleasant way, but if there is another maybe some could recommend.

In Him,

Dwight

Kat:
Hi Tim,

The subject that was being discussed was not and easy topic, and sometimes we need to discuss these type things, that we may come to a better understanding of a matter.  
That subject, in my opinion, was used to call into question God's righteousness.  It was not immediately closed, but gave people a chance to answer this, which was done by quite a few.  The answers were not excepted and the discussion began to heat up, as a cycle was beginning to develop of questioning God and people replying to that.  
I do not feel that this kind of debate is appropriate or helpful for the forum.  It is not a place to air your grieves against God.  This forum is mainly a haven for those who want to fellowship and discuss BT.  When there is discord and lack of agreement this disturbs the peace of the forum.  
Nobody here can give someone else understanding unless God opens their eye, we can only share what we believe.  The discussions we have are a good way to share what we believe, but if it erupts into a debate, then this needs to be resolved soon or it must be closed.
This is my personal understanding of how to apply the rules of this forum.  If anyone disagrees with anything I have stated, please pm me and we will discuss it futher.

mercy, peace, and love
Kat

Redbird:
Hello everyone,

May I suggest that we pray for our brother Sorin ~ as he is clearly going through spiritual warfare.

Love in Christ,
Lisa

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