Decisional Regeneration

[Radiant1]

And don't get me wrong, I'm glad he did, but this is the conundrum I have with Christianity... if a loving, caring, forgiving god would save not just you personally, but folks that in a justice filled world wouldn't be here...prime example is a drunk driver who survives multiple wrecks and tickets, gets "saved" and professes "the Lord saved me! Looking out for me!" yet how many children die each year at St. Judes from cancer? How many families lose a life of a relative in a senseless crime or accident?

That's the penultimate and ageless inquiry. A helpful read if you're so inclined -- The Problem of Pain: C. S. Lewis

 

[hotcoffee]

And don't get me wrong, I'm glad he did, but this is the conundrum I have with Christianity... if a loving, caring, forgiving god would save not just you personally, but folks that in a justice filled world wouldn't be here...prime example is a drunk driver who survives multiple wrecks and tickets, gets "saved" and professes "the Lord saved me! Looking out for me!" yet how many children die each year at St. Judes from cancer? How many families lose a life of a relative in a senseless crime or accident?

Again, hotcoffee, I am not demeaning you personally, I'm glad you survived your hard times, but honestly, wasn't that really more your perseverance and will to survive? I have to believe that your version of the Creator is similar to mine, a force of creation but also created free will and randomness. I can't really believe a professed "caring" god could pick and choose amongst his creatures.

Bad things happen... no doubt about it.... I'm not so sure that God is picking and choosing in the same light we are....

Let's look at the looser drunk.... one of the best preachers I ever heard was once a looser drunk....

The children who die of cancer.... maybe God was being kind to them... we don't know what the future might have held for those children....

God is in control of time and He alone knows the future... not us.... so who's to say the future for those children wasn't going to be much much much worse. My cousin died at the age of 18.... turns out if she had lived, she would probably have been a vegetable...

I begged God to let me die one night. I thought my life was totally unbearable. I couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel.... for that matter my life was so sad and dark, I couldn't even see the tunnel.... and when I woke up the next morning I cursed Him for making me live. Then I demanded that He show me what was worth living for... that next night He did... and although I couldn't remember what it was.... I knew the next morning that there was a reason.... then the following night I told Him I wanted Him to show me again and let me remember something the next morning so I would have something to hang on for.... and He did. I met the man He showed me in the dream within 6 months.... and we've been together for over 25 years.... because I lived a whole lot more has happened and most of it has been excellent....

Jeremiah 33:3 is a wonderful verse....

I enjoy peace and I have hope because of My Lord's protection... He has my name engraved in the palm of His hand.... and I am so thankful....

It's rough sometimes when you don't know what the future holds.... but at least with the protection of My Lord... I know the future is better than if I didn't have Him looking out for me...

 

[StoneThrower]

And don't get me wrong, I'm glad he did, but this is the conundrum I have with Christianity... if a loving, caring, forgiving god would save not just you personally, but folks that in a justice filled world wouldn't be here...prime example is a drunk driver who survives multiple wrecks and tickets, gets "saved" and professes "the Lord saved me! Looking out for me!" yet how many children die each year at St. Judes from cancer? How many families lose a life of a relative in a senseless crime or accident?

God is not the author of sin, but he does use it for his plans and purpose.
He is aware of it, and he allows it.
Does that make God unjust, no.
I think the issue you are dealing with is who is God.
Who is Man?
And is man good or evil at his very core, most people think man is good but the standard they use is comparing themselves to other and not Gods standard of moral perfect.
God owes us nothing, not one hour, one day or one week. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away blessed be the name of the Lord.
So no matter if our joy is cut short and replaced by sorrow, we thank god for what He provided, even if it is pain and sorrow as regardless it was for our good. Everyone faces the storms of life at some point, its our job to get our theology right ahead of time so we look to Him in them.

 

[cheezgrits]

Thank you for a very good response. Something to think about.