Not at all, it’s agreement. As u/spiceyfries alluded, our rewards come from more than blind faith thinking God will just fix it. We must work hard to achieve our goals IN FAITH.
ah I was going to say the same thing to you, but you said it first.
I like to use the family praying to God for help during a flood. They are on top of the house, surrounded by rushing water, the river has breached its banks tremendously.
God hears their prayers and sends a helicopter.
The father says, "No, we prayed and God will save us!"
Before the helicopter leaves, a fire truck shows up on the side of the hill and tells the father they will be sending down a basket for the family to get into and will be lifted up and away from the water.
The father says, "No, we prayed and God will save us!"
With the helicopter and the firetruck loathe to leave, a boat shows up and the captain tells the father they are there to rescue him and his family. They will send over life jackets and they need only put the jackets on and get in the boat.
The father says, "No, we prayed and God will save us!"
The first responders leave, having others to save.
As the water rises and the family sits alone on their house, the father cries out to God, "Have you foresaken us? We prayed and you did not save us!"
And God said, "I heard you and sent a helicopter, a fire truck, and a boat! You have to do your part!"
No harm, no foul Bill!! Actually I had to analyze my original comment in reference to what I was commenting about & that’s healthy banter. I wish we could all go to worship together in the same house; but GAw is the next best place!!
And consider this: in a massive expanding Galaxy full of stars and solar systems, on one specific planet in a specific Galaxy, out of 7 billion people and 6 thousand religions, you just happened to score the correct one?
Or maybe God only reveals Himself in more than one way... and this is just your perspective... maybe Faith isn't about believing unconditionally, but what you do with the knowledge you have been bestowed and more importantly, how you use it towards others...
I’m fascinated with these concepts. When atheists say “if the soul is the root of our awareness, and it existed before we were born why can’t we remember it or for that matter any previous lives”? I believe God wants us to tread in innocence and to be sharing our awareness of Him in A CHILDLIKE WAY. Just as Jesus said. If we strutted around all prideful saying well in my other lives I did this n that and witnessed miracles etc etc then where’s the impact? Everything tarnishes & “gets-old” as far as the human condition. Plus those negative attributes of being human (pridefulness) are the antithesis of the AWAKENING JOURNEY. We’re supposed to revel in this grand mystery in innocence so His splendor never “fades”, or having less consequence. I’m SURE of this tho…these mysteries have been pondered by those more eloquent than I?!!
I don’t get it. Is this supposed to be some sort of counterpoint to anything I just said?
Not at all, it’s agreement. As u/spiceyfries alluded, our rewards come from more than blind faith thinking God will just fix it. We must work hard to achieve our goals IN FAITH.
Agreed 100%. Sorry, I originally took your comment for the usual “doesn’t matter GOD WINS!” Arguments I often see here.
People need to understand that faith without works is dead.
ah I was going to say the same thing to you, but you said it first.
I like to use the family praying to God for help during a flood. They are on top of the house, surrounded by rushing water, the river has breached its banks tremendously.
God hears their prayers and sends a helicopter.
The father says, "No, we prayed and God will save us!"
Before the helicopter leaves, a fire truck shows up on the side of the hill and tells the father they will be sending down a basket for the family to get into and will be lifted up and away from the water.
The father says, "No, we prayed and God will save us!"
With the helicopter and the firetruck loathe to leave, a boat shows up and the captain tells the father they are there to rescue him and his family. They will send over life jackets and they need only put the jackets on and get in the boat.
The father says, "No, we prayed and God will save us!"
The first responders leave, having others to save.
As the water rises and the family sits alone on their house, the father cries out to God, "Have you foresaken us? We prayed and you did not save us!"
And God said, "I heard you and sent a helicopter, a fire truck, and a boat! You have to do your part!"
No harm, no foul Bill!! Actually I had to analyze my original comment in reference to what I was commenting about & that’s healthy banter. I wish we could all go to worship together in the same house; but GAw is the next best place!!
God is a teacher. Not a do-everything-for-you-er.
And consider this: in a massive expanding Galaxy full of stars and solar systems, on one specific planet in a specific Galaxy, out of 7 billion people and 6 thousand religions, you just happened to score the correct one?
Or maybe God only reveals Himself in more than one way... and this is just your perspective... maybe Faith isn't about believing unconditionally, but what you do with the knowledge you have been bestowed and more importantly, how you use it towards others...
I’m fascinated with these concepts. When atheists say “if the soul is the root of our awareness, and it existed before we were born why can’t we remember it or for that matter any previous lives”? I believe God wants us to tread in innocence and to be sharing our awareness of Him in A CHILDLIKE WAY. Just as Jesus said. If we strutted around all prideful saying well in my other lives I did this n that and witnessed miracles etc etc then where’s the impact? Everything tarnishes & “gets-old” as far as the human condition. Plus those negative attributes of being human (pridefulness) are the antithesis of the AWAKENING JOURNEY. We’re supposed to revel in this grand mystery in innocence so His splendor never “fades”, or having less consequence. I’m SURE of this tho…these mysteries have been pondered by those more eloquent than I?!!