God's Will
Sep. 9th, 2005 01:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
billroperSo let's talk about God's will.
This is maybe not the best example to use in this particular week, but it's the one that makes my point, so:
There was a man in an area that was starting to flood. An SUV came down the street full of water and the driver called out to the man saying, "There's a flood. Let me get you out of here."
And the man replied, "God will provide for me." And the truck drove away.
The water continued to rise and the man had to take refuge on his roof. A boat came past his house, through his flooded yard, and the pilot of the boat called out, "Swim over here and we'll take you to safety."
And the man replied, "God will provide for me." And the boat headed off.
The water was washing over the roof and the man was clinging to the chimney when a helicopter came by and hovered over the house. "Grab the ladder," the pilot said, "and we'll get you off that roof."
And the man replied, "God will provide for me." And the helicopter flew away.
The water continued to rise and shortly thereafter the man drowned.
In heaven, the man confronted God. "God," he asked, "why didn't you save me?"
And God said, "I sent you a truck, a boat, and a helicopter. What more was I supposed to do?"
Now, elsewhere on my friends list, someone posted something today on the subject of idiots who say it's God's will that Katrina hit New Orleans. And there were many people (not all) who responded in an approving manner, including one person who said something to the effect of, "Yeah, and those people who talk so much about God's will don't hesitate to use in-vitro fertilization when they can't have a kid."
So let's talk about God's will. God gave us two hands and a brain and I believe that's because He intended for us to use them. If the sum of the efforts of various members of the human race has made it possible for us to make a baby via in-vitro fertilization, then what's wrong with our having collectively used our two hands and a brain to make it possible?
God has sent us a truck, and a boat, and a helicopter. Given the opportunity, I intend to have the sense to climb on board.
Do good. Avoid evil.
And try to ignore the idiots.
The last being advice that I should take myself, because it's obviously cutting into my sleep time.
This is maybe not the best example to use in this particular week, but it's the one that makes my point, so:
There was a man in an area that was starting to flood. An SUV came down the street full of water and the driver called out to the man saying, "There's a flood. Let me get you out of here."
And the man replied, "God will provide for me." And the truck drove away.
The water continued to rise and the man had to take refuge on his roof. A boat came past his house, through his flooded yard, and the pilot of the boat called out, "Swim over here and we'll take you to safety."
And the man replied, "God will provide for me." And the boat headed off.
The water was washing over the roof and the man was clinging to the chimney when a helicopter came by and hovered over the house. "Grab the ladder," the pilot said, "and we'll get you off that roof."
And the man replied, "God will provide for me." And the helicopter flew away.
The water continued to rise and shortly thereafter the man drowned.
In heaven, the man confronted God. "God," he asked, "why didn't you save me?"
And God said, "I sent you a truck, a boat, and a helicopter. What more was I supposed to do?"
Now, elsewhere on my friends list, someone posted something today on the subject of idiots who say it's God's will that Katrina hit New Orleans. And there were many people (not all) who responded in an approving manner, including one person who said something to the effect of, "Yeah, and those people who talk so much about God's will don't hesitate to use in-vitro fertilization when they can't have a kid."
So let's talk about God's will. God gave us two hands and a brain and I believe that's because He intended for us to use them. If the sum of the efforts of various members of the human race has made it possible for us to make a baby via in-vitro fertilization, then what's wrong with our having collectively used our two hands and a brain to make it possible?
God has sent us a truck, and a boat, and a helicopter. Given the opportunity, I intend to have the sense to climb on board.
Do good. Avoid evil.
And try to ignore the idiots.
The last being advice that I should take myself, because it's obviously cutting into my sleep time.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 08:46 am (UTC)As are those who use indoor plumbing, wear anything other than fig leaves for clothing, avail themselves of antibiotics or fail to lose most of their teeth by middle age. Or reach middle age.
And don't get me started on the people who put ketchup in those tiny little packets...
Sam Winolj
no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 09:06 am (UTC)But in any case, while I'm still undecided on whether I think God exists or not, I am pretty confident that if he does exist, he gave us minds because he wants us to use them. I also find myself on fairly firm ground identifying good and evil without resorting to my opinion of God's opinion, and I wholeheartedly agree with do good, avoid evil. Unfortunately, I find myself called in some small way to try to do good by pointing out to the idiots the error of their ways. I suspect I'd be happier if I could just avoid them.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 12:22 pm (UTC)You know Bill, I thought the exact same thing..
Guy: God? Why don't you help those people?
God: I gave people brains and compassion and strong backs and willing hands to help.. see them putting them to use? What else do you need?
God Doesn't Send Out Hurricanes to Smite us... really.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 12:30 pm (UTC)The God I believe in has better things to do than send hurricanes specifically to wipe out New Orleans.
And that last bit about ignoring the idiots sure is hard sometimes... I seem to be surrounded.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 02:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 03:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-11 12:33 am (UTC)And God said, "That's what I made you for. To think. You're not big drooling idiots. For that, I made dogs."
no subject
Date: 2005-09-11 06:41 am (UTC)God creates worlds - God has an entire universe to look after.
God does not care if you go to church on Sunday.
God does not have time to record, ponder, or forgive you for each of your little foibles in life. Oh, and neither does Jesus.
God wants you to be happy, just not at the expense of others.
God has given you all the tools to succeed, and a playing field to use them on.
God does not want credit for your dinner, your touchdown, your home run, or your promotion. He also is not to blame for your failures, and has not "forsaken" you when you have them.
God wants you to be kind, and good, and helpful to others, and loving to your family and neighbors, true. But I'll bet an omnipotent being understands if you cut loose with some choice words at the dick who cut you off in traffic.
God is too busy to personally speak to any human being. Even (perhaps ESPECIALLY) Pat Robertson, or George Bush.
Priests are not following "God's calling" they are following the Church's calling.
God is omniscient and all, but DUDE - 5 BILLION people to watch out for - only ONE diety, you know? how much personal face time you expecting, yo?