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A ? for ex-Baptists and similar 'evangelicals'.
JeffH:
--- Quote from: Amrhrasach on September 10, 2008, 08:31:17 AM ---What has been crossing my mind on this lately is how I've created my own self as an idol of the heart.
Meaning, I lower God to my standards of expectations and reasoning, then expect him to pick up all the crumbling peices of my life and put them back together in perfect order. All the while blaming him for the disasters as they've happened.
I've yet to completely understand "no free-will". It remains in my mind that I've created a few bad situations and wonder if God actually put these things in place in my life. Some of them are pretty bad choices on my part. I actually wonder sometimes if he cares.
Hope this makes sense.
--- End quote ---
Hi Amrhrasach,
I can relate to what you wrote. I've made some pretty serious mistakes myself. I was always convinced (or convincing myself) that God wanted me to do some thing or another, so it must be right (and maybe it actually was, but not in the way I'd hoped). With me it relates to marriage and my failures are still a weight on me. But because of those failures, I've grown. I don't know how old you are - I'm 49 - but it takes how ever much time God gives you to come to understand the reasons for the path you're on. It's possible that you may never know for certain (in the flesh anyway) why things happened the way they did, but you can be sure that God is pure love. If you've come to understand that His creation will not burn in a pit of torment, then it should be easier to understand that He does care about you and everyone He's ever created.
I don't know your specific circumstances but I have to think that if you're here, someone else in the world is much worse off than you are. Nothing is more important than love and truth is part of that. It's the truth that sets us free and you're learning the truth.
It takes a lifetime to live, whether it's 90 days or 90 years. Be patient and wait on God and He'll reveal Himself to you as He decides is best.
Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
I used to think that this verse meant that if I'm close to God and obedient, that He would give me the things I wished for. As I grew in faith I started to wonder if it meant something slightly different.
I don't know this for certain, but I like to think that this verse is telling us that if we're obedient, God will set upon our hearts the desires He wants us to have - His desires. He'll give to us the desire He has for us in His plan of salvation. One of the Hebrew words in that verse (nathan) Strong's [H5414] means to put or set. Meditate on the truth that God is in control of every thought you have, every molecule in this universe we live in.
Nothing happens without His will, from life to death and beyond. He is everywhere and He knows everything and He has a plan.
You are part of that plan.
All of your mistakes and bad choices are part of the plan God has, in order to lead you to a true understanding of Who He is and What He desires.
Jeff
Kat:
Hi Amrhrasach,
Here are a few emails for you to consider, that may help you with your sticking point.
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,2099.0.html ----
NO! NO, we absolutely do not have "free will." I realize that this concept is far too deep for most to comprehend and this is because it appears, it seems like, it feels like, we have the ability to make choices that are not caused, but this is just an illusion. There is no such thing as an event that happens anywhere in the Universe without a cause. And this is just as true for a thought in your mind as it is for an exploding star. And it is absolutely, totally, and repeatedly backed up by dozens and dozens of Scriptures.
God be with you,
Ray
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3622.0.html ----
Yes, you have basically stated the facts correctly, however
your conclusion is erroneous.
You agree to believe that God does control all things in
the Universe, but then suggest, therefore GOD DOESN'T
NEED TO CONTROL ANYTHING! How do you
suppose it is that God DOES all the things He does? He
causes things to happen by the circumstances of His creation.
I HAD to write my papers, even though from my perspective,
it was I who volunteered to do so. And my paper has already
had a profound effect on thousands of people's thinking with
regards to Dr. Kennedy's evil and unscriptural sermons.
You can't decide to stay in bed and stop living unless it has
already been predetermined before the foundation of the world
that this is the course you MUST TAKE. We ARE the actors
on God's stage of life, and we WILL perform as God directs.
God be with you,
Ray
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,629.0.html -----
There is a lot going on in your mind that you do not understand. I get letters just like yours all the time.
[1] You do not understand the difference between "choice" and "free choice."
[2] You do not understand the difference between "will" and "free will."
[3] You do not understand what it means for God to be Sovereign.
[4] You don't object to God KNOWING all things in advance, but you do object to God being in CONTROL of all things in advance.
Therefore, it is impossible for you to see the truth of this subject.
You state: "While the scriptures you quoted clearly state that God knows all before it occurs, before each choice of humanity is made, that still does not preclude our free will."
First of all, it is NOT "my theory" as you suggest. I got this truth from the Scriptures.
But your statement above leaves out something else that I did over and over in the Scriptures. I not only showed where God "knew" what would happen in advance, but I showed from the Scriptures where God both propphesies and CAUSED people to do what was necessary to bring about God's desired future. Remember that whole long section on the King of Assyria, for example?
Furthermore, God's foreknowledge does prevent us from having free will. If God KNOWS that we WILL take course A in our life, we certainly are NOT FREE to take course B. No one is "free" to do something that is not open unto him to choose. Yes, it is quite simple, but not many can understand and accept the Scriptural teaching on this subject. Meditate on it for a few thousand hours in light of all the Scriptures as I have, and maybe God will open it up to your understanding. But only if God has ALREADY DETERMINED that He will open it up to you..
God be with you,
Ray
Kent:
--- Quote from: Dave in Tenn on September 09, 2008, 10:06:52 PM ---Other than hell/heaven and free will (and maybe tithing), what other idols of the heart or false doctrines have you had smashed in you since coming to B-T?
--- End quote ---
KJV "inerrancy". It's one of the biggest idols out there, IMO.
Linny:
These are some great answers here of which I am in full agreement.
Also, since you mentioned idols, I have been dealing with some other things even before finding BT and they continue.
The WORLD! All the systems of the world. I see how I was just like everybody else and following like sheep the stuff I heard in the media, the stuff I heard from whatever political party I happened to agree with (or being deceived into thinking they agreed with me :-[)
You name it, if it was begun by man, is run by man, involves any money whatsoever, or is touted as truth by man and is the concensus opinion, I question it...
I only want to be a sheep of the Lord and only hear His voice.
The blinders are off! (I hope! :-\)
Lin
Jackie Lee:
I am really struggling with freewill even though I know now there is really no freewill.
Years ago I always wondered why my plans was changed and never panned out?
I am struggling with freewill, I keep thinking surely God didn't direct me to all the sins and disobedience.
Then There is pride another issue.
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