The point of this blog thread is simple.
What are your doubts? (Post as a "Comment")
To make it fun: try posting something in 111 words or less. The Apostles Creed contains exactly 111 words. It is the essential statement of the Christian belief that goes back to the origins of Christianity.
"My confidence and certainty have been rattled by a couple of things: first, growing in the faith, and going through dark valleys of doubt; and second, raising 'second generation' Christians and seeing my children voice questions and doubts that I never felt the permission to voice. So I have come to a new appreciation of Thomas -- this doubter who achieved sainthood."
ReplyDeleteJames K. A. Smith
in "The Devil Reads Derrida
and other Eassays on the University, the Church, Politics and the Arts."
"What happened to all those folks in the old testament who didn't happen to be the "chosen ones". Seems like they didn't have a chance. God just didn't happen to chose them, so they all went to hell? Doesn't seem like a very loving God. Doesn't He say he loves ALL of his creation? And why are all mankind held responsible for Adam's sin. Doesn't seem very fair. At all. Who would want to serve a god who plays favorites with his kids. And why does he tell his chosen kids to slaughter the ones he didn't chose? Why is he so blood thirsty? And why did he "harden Pharoh's heart"? Just in case the guy went soft and had mercy on the Isrealites? I could go on forever. I'll stop for now."
ReplyDeleteOr how about...if God knows what I am going to do before I do it and I cannot surprise Him then how can I ever do anything that He did not already create me to do, how can I ever disappoint Him and what happens to the idea of free will? And what kind of loving God who is all powerful, all knowing create me to do anything that is not pleasing to Him, especially since He knows what I do before I do it and does nothing to prevent me from doing what is displeasing to Him...
ReplyDeleteBelieving the claims of supernatural acts performed thousands of years ago. As Jesus says in the gospel John - "Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believe...".
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the comments on "the chosen ones" Seems more like a cop-out to me; a excuse to ignore those "not of your group". Following Jesus and following the Bible are different things
ReplyDeleteOne interesting thing I read this week about the "chosen israelites" of the Old Testament is that, although they were given a special place & others were driven out for the purpose, eventually God drove the Israelites out for the same reason. There was a lack of peace, failure to protect the weak & poor, failure to trust God alone. God's people were given a special calling to stand out & represent him... in other words: it wasn't a free ticket. They were given a chance (by grace) to be that people, but they failed as well. That's just one thought. This will come into play a little bit in Sunday's message on the violence of the Old Testament.
ReplyDelete