Why doesnt god just show himself?

Faith is not so hard to understand. The notion of faith is tied to love. We tend to "believe in" those that we love. Our faith in them is built upon our perception of their potential as well as our perception of what we value and love about them. And when we love those that we place our faith in, we will try and move mountains for them, no matter how hard the task.

My pastor tells a story of when he met his future wife. At the time, he was not a Christian and tried to ask her out on a date. At the time she was a devoted Christian and told him that she would not date someone who was not a Christian. Of course, he did not give up and continued to make advances. What impressed him about her was her integrity and devotion to her God. To make a long story short, he converted and they later married for some 30 years or so.

Another example is a woman who was married to someone who hated all religion. She converted to Christianity and he forbade her to go to church. OF course, she ended up going anyway and when she came home she found the door bolted shut. She then spent the night on the porch. In the morning, her husband found her on the porch as she awoke. She preceeded to get up, walk into the kitchen and make him his favorite breakfast. After killing him with kindness in a humble manner, he then broke down and begged his forgiveness and later converted.

Of course, I've used happy endings to these stories, but it just goes to show that not everyone is cut from the same cloth as your examples. I would even guess that the people you mentioned are greater in number. In fact, we often see them infiltrate the church in myriads of examples. I like what the evangalist Billy Graham said when asked how he evaded scandel that destroyed many of his counterparts. He just said that he refused to be alone with any woman. He made a predetermined decision not to cheat on his wife, and saw to it that his temptations were nixed as much as possible.

We all have two choices. We can do as we please, because we love ourselves, or we can put others first because we love them more than ourselves, even if it cost us our lives. We should not find find it burdensome because we love them, even though at times it can be difficult.

Really the lack of love is what ails us. It then stands to reason that without it, our faith would then be virtually nonexistant, and our lives empty of any real meaning.

 

What I know is this, Jesus said all things are possible to him that believes and belief is a state of mind. What a person does starts in the mind, what a person believes start in the mind…..it is that simple. Show me a person that believes something where it did not come from his or her mind.

 

Correct!! Yet somehow most Christian think that when it comes to ones relationship with God faith is some religious thing that we do. The women that touched hem of Jesus’ clothing healed herself by her own faith.…….it was not Jesus that healed her and she was not converted.

 

Sorry, but I reject the assertion that I have faith that someone loves me. I am highly certain that my parents love me, not because I have faith that they do, but because their actions show it. In fact, their actions have assure me so much that I never worry about it.

 

Actions are a good indication of future behavior, but they are by no means bullet proof. There is always a Judas amongs us lurking in the shadows.

 

Yes, and I realize this, what is your point? I accept that there is that chance.

 

and take away your free will ? Just think how you might complain then.

 

what good would it do?

 

Well, for one, we'd finally know a God existed. Second, if he showed himself, we could then work to reach/communicate with him and thus solve problems.

 

I don't see why anyone would insist that something be true. It goes for anything. How does anyone ever get past the phase of "I don't really know for sure."? I can say some things seem more likely than others, while admitting I could even be wrong about that.

If I were to ever take something on faith, in my opinion, I would be lying. Because the truth will always be that I don't know anything for sure.

But I implore you: Do not trust a woman! Not every women is untrustworthy, but do you honestly think you're going to land one of the 100 or so in the world who aren't? Just keep your eyes and ears open.

 

How would that take away free will? Do you even know what free will is?

 

It wouldn't matter to me. I'm not getting stuck in that Eternal Gay Pride Parade that is Heaven anyway.

Did you guys see that there are only males in Heaven? GAY! I suppose that is the reward for all the gays who denied themselves their desires here on earth.

 

haha and the leader of heaven is a guy who impregnated a woman without marrying her, giving her any child support and then allowed the kid to be brutally executed. What a (*)(*)(*)(*) father God was.

 

Again salvation is by grace and grace alone. Everything God the son experinenced God the father experienced save one. There was no sex involved in Mary's conception.

 

How do you know? You have dealt or been dealt salvation have you?

Again, how do you know? For all we know she could have had ten orgasms that night. I suspect God's knows a few tricks.

 

you would NOT. You'd not change one iota. You'd still be full of accusations and acrimony. And hes NOT your partner, he's your CREATOR.

 

exactly what i was talking about.

 

Oh no, a tough guy who thinks he could actually defy a universal creator should that creator decide to reveal himself to him.

A man said to the universe
Sir I exist.
However, replied the universe
That does not instill in me any sense of obligation. -Stephen Crane

 

Wtf? Of course I would. We all would.

Why not?

Like? Why would I be full of that?

Prove it. You cant. At the moment he just a desert shepherd's explanation of why his sheep smelt.

 

Was something I said wrong? Certainly none of it justifies the drivel you posted above.

 

Define defy. Obviously you cant answer my question. Typical fail from squid.

Oh wow, Stephen Crane said that? Oh my... oh... oh my god, I... I... I dont give a flying (*)(*)(*)(*)! haha

 

yes, you are definitely way cool.
I can just see you puffing your chest in front of a universal creator, stating how you like to do things your way.
Well maybe, ........... if you weren't standing in your own urine.

 

You seem to be a little obsessed with me dude. No, I dont accept donations. LOL

No way, that's not my style. I'd probably just give him the finger, if he is anything like theistic texts say he is. If he was civil, I'd try and have a conversation with him. Ask him the big questions and if he can help us out - a lack of which being something I'd let him know is a (*)(*)(*)(*)ing record on his part.

...?... LOL Got a little urine fantasy as well? Jesus dude, calm down. Now I realize you are scared of God and all, but I aint. Stuff him, he's a dick. If not, let him strike me down now. See, nothing. Seems he's already 'standing in his own urine.'

 

Nothing more emtertaining than a little internet tuff tyke.

 

At least we both had fun then. haha theists are always a good laugh. Although it is disappointing you couldn't actually debate me. Not surprising, but disappointing. Seems a major problem of conservatives on PF generally.