Posted on 01/09/2010 8:06:11 AM PST by RGirard
... Is there a God who can bring the rain, heal or cure people, or make those little white lotto balls fall into just the right place for you?
If you don't believe in God, or any gods, then the answer would be a resounding "No!" because God doesn't exist so expecting a non-existant entity to do anything for you is simply a waste of time.
If you do believe in God, or multiple gods, then the answer would be a definite "Yes!" because either you have heard stories or had a personal experience which caused you to believe.
... Jesus was known for working miracles, including healing people of incurable disease. He reportedly said: "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father."
So today many people who believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord God will pray for healing, but they don't always get what they want. Many times their prayers are unanswered and sometimes they get discouraged or sad. Some get downright angry when God doesn't work a miracle for them. Others are convinced they do not have enough faith.
But the Bible tells us that some people are sick because they take communion unworthily ... others pray "amiss" (inaccurately). Many are seperated from God because of their sinful behavior, so He will not even listen to their prayers...
... it would be irresponsible of God to answer everyone's prayers in the affirmative ...
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
Er, there's a little more to it than that.
From the beginning, since Lucifer was created, the evil one has been trying to manipulate God. Using people praying is but one method the nasty hater of life employs. ... ‘Ever heard an atheist spittle the question, ‘So, if God is love, why does He allow all the suffering in the world; why does He allow people to do evil, murderous, despicable things to innocent people?’
From the beginning, since Lucifer was created, the evil one has been trying to manipulate God. Using people praying is but one method the nasty father of lies murderer from the start employs. ... Ever heard a scoffer spittle the question, ‘So, if God is love, why does He allow all the suffering in the world; why does He allow people to do evil, murderous, despicable things to innocent people?’
Nah, I think anecdotal evidence is the best they've got. I especially like the part about people getting sick because they took communion unworthily : )
Yeah. I'd like to see the Bible verse on that one!
I once heard in a sales seminar that fear of loss is a greater motivator than opportunity for gain.
If I am wrong, and there is no God, what have I lost? Nothing.
If the atheist is wrong and there is a God, what has he lost? Everything!
I hope you will read the rest of the article. :-)
Ever heard an atheist spittle the question, So, if God is love, why does He allow all the suffering in the world; why does He allow people to do evil, murderous, despicable things to innocent people?
You've got it. It's not God. We die because of sin, and no one is immune from the suffering of dying...not the Pope, nor even my poor wife, who like the Pope, has lingered for more than a year. Death for her would be a blessing.
28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
I Corinthians 11: 27-30
Ask and ye shall receive.
Yeah. I'd like to see the Bible verse on that one!
Just for reference you may want to check out I Corinthians 11, verses 23 through 30.
The answer of course, is James 5:15.
I’ve know people who’ve had life-threatening diseases that were prayed over and made amazing recoveries that left the Doctors scratching their heads in bewilderment.
On the other hand, I’ve also seen many people prayed over that have made no recovery at all and died anyway.
Some prayers simply go unanswered. I just don’t know why.
Once, I asked my oncologist how is it that MY prayers were answered and yet, I witnessed many faithful people passing thru his waiting room that we both knew were not going to get better.
He simply said "I don't know why God chooses to heal some people, and not others".
It seemed the good Doctor's faith was not shattered or even diminished by those who were not healed, but instead fortified when he saw people who were told "no" by God, yet they still remained stead fast in their love for the Lord.
I've often wondered if those who weren't blessed with a healing and still rejoiced in the Lord were the very people that God chose to spend eternity with him in heaven. The rest of us are still being tested.
sw
Yikes.
Thanks for pointing this out. But can we ever be worthy? That really scares me.
I still struggle with healing in regards to my own faith.
I have a friend from my church who moved last year, and he is going to a new church in Redding, California. He claims that lots of people have been healed at his new church. He’s a good guy, so I don’t know what to make of his claims.
Then, I had one strange event. My twin daughters almost died when they were 6 weeks old. We didn’t have any family where we were living, and we were fairly new to our neighborhood. I knew of a Christian family across the street. They took care of my 2 year old on Christmas Eve until my mom could fly out.
Then I got horrible news when my husband was not with me. The doctors sat me down, and said one of my daughters probably had a brain injury.
When I told our neighbors this news, the man said he had a dream the night before and God told him to tell me that everything was going to be okay. I really did not know him well at the time. However, when he told me this I was overcome with calm.
Now, my daughters are 13 and neither one of them died. One does have a brain injury, but she is okay. She is not in a wheelchair. She is in a good private Christian school. She has speech problems and she had a seizure a few years ago and has been on anti-seizure medication, but she is a great kid.
Her faith is also very strong. Her favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I was a very weak Christian before this happened, and I’ve never doubted my own faith afterward. I don’t know if God healed my daughter, but He did not give me more than I could handle, and He’s used her problems wisely. I’m also great friends with the family that helped us. The woman is one of my very dearest friends, and the man who had the dream still talks about that night.
Still don’t know about all the miraculous healings. I’m very mistrustful of men. I know it can happen, but I think there are men that take advantage of other men.
Are you equally mistrustful of women?
And not only have you lost nothing by believing in God, the rest of society has probably received better behavior from you in general for the time you did believe in God. Because you were trying to live as you understood God wanted you to live with others.
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