What should we expect from God? - If it's not asking too much...

[St. SteVen]

Some would say NOTHING.

They would say NOTHING because God has already given so much.
Okay, there's something to that. But is that it?

In Christian culture there's an unwritten rule that we aren't allowed to criticize God.
Who are we as mere humans to be so bold? What right do we have to question the almighty?

We have expectations of our earthly fathers,
way can't we have expectations of our heavenly Father?

For instance, does God operate at a lower standard than He expects of us?
Many seem to think so. As if being God frees Him from observing His own standards.

When I point this out, people saying I am viewing God from a carnal mindset. Really?
Why shouldn't I expect Him to live up to His own standards?
Does "Love your enemies" only apply to us?

Discussion questions:
- Should we expect anything from God?
- If "Yes", what?
- If "No", why not.
- What is fair to expect from God?

 

[Randy Kluth]

Some would say NOTHING.

They would say NOTHING because God has already given so much.
Okay, there's something to that. But is that it?

In Christian culture there's an unwritten rule that we aren't allowed to criticize God.
Who are we as mere humans to be so bold? What right do we have to question the almighty?

We have expectations of our earthly fathers,
way can't we have expectations of our heavenly Father?

For instance, does God operate at a lower standard than He expects of us?
Many seem to think so. As if being God frees Him from observing His own standards.

When I point this out, people saying I am viewing God from a carnal mindset. Really?
Why shouldn't I expect Him to live up to His own standards?
Does "Love your enemies" only apply to us?

Discussion questions:
- Should we expect anything from God?
- If "Yes", what?
- If "No", why not.
- What is fair to expect from God?

We do experience angst when we have a certain sense of God's justice, and then see something quite different from Him. So, we do have to ask questions, even if logically we know that God cannot make any mistakes, cannot be inconsistent, cannot be unholy.

Habakkuk asked questions, and they can be a sort of rule. We are indeed allowed to ask questions--otherwise, God cannot give us answers.

But it is dangerous to set our ideas up over and against God and His reasons. We have to begin with the idea He doesn't make mistakes and is utterly good. So, when we go through awful, grueling experiences that don't look like "love," then it is natural to ask questions of God even while knowing that there must be an answer.

Habakkuk 1.2 How long, Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?
3 Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?

 

[soberxp]

Some would say NOTHING.

They would say NOTHING because God has already given so much.
Okay, there's something to that. But is that it?

In Christian culture there's an unwritten rule that we aren't allowed to criticize God.
Who are we as mere humans to be so bold? What right do we have to question the almighty?

We have expectations of our earthly fathers,
way can't we have expectations of our heavenly Father?

For instance, does God operate at a lower standard than He expects of us?
Many seem to think so. As if being God frees Him from observing His own standards.

When I point this out, people saying I am viewing God from a carnal mindset. Really?
Why shouldn't I expect Him to live up to His own standards?
Does "Love your enemies" only apply to us?

Discussion questions:
- Should we expect anything from God?
- If "Yes", what?
- If "No", why not.
- What is fair to expect from God?

What we expect from God that is when you ask our God and get the answer, could you hold the position where you start from the beginning and keeping the The original attitude and initial intention.

I bet you will Shake your initial thoughts.
What if God truly love his enemies.

 

[St. SteVen]

What if God truly love his enemies.

Well, I think He should, since He expects us to.
Unless He operates at a lower standard than He holds us to.

 

[soberxp]

Well, I think He should, since He expects us to.
Unless He operates at a lower standard than He holds us to.

Well, bro, I see the "anger" in your #1,post, but I don't know why.
Because I don't know if you want the answer, or if you are feeling wronged, or whatever.

I want to ask you, can you endure to the end. No matter what problems and situations arise in the process.

I can't give you the answer even if I have, but I know that I should endure everything whatever it is till the end.

Sometimes just relax and enjoy the enemies brings whatever to you, it will makes us learning more about the truth,sometimes I even want to give a thx to the enemies.

 

[St. SteVen]

Well, bro, I see the "anger" in your #1,post, but I don't know why.
Because I don't know if you want the answer, or if you are feeling wronged, or whatever.

It's not toward God, but to the majority that doesn't dare to ask the difficult questions.

I want to ask you, can you endure to the end. No matter what problems and situations arise in the process.

No worries. We're all in this together.

Atheist Dies; Shocked by Who She Met on the Other Side (Powerful NDE)

What do you make of this NDE? I see strong ties to my Universalist beliefs.

www.christianityboard.com

 

[Lizbeth]

Some would say NOTHING.

They would say NOTHING because God has already given so much.
Okay, there's something to that. But is that it?

In Christian culture there's an unwritten rule that we aren't allowed to criticize God.
Who are we as mere humans to be so bold? What right do we have to question the almighty?

We have expectations of our earthly fathers,
way can't we have expectations of our heavenly Father?

For instance, does God operate at a lower standard than He expects of us?
Many seem to think so. As if being God frees Him from observing His own standards.

When I point this out, people saying I am viewing God from a carnal mindset. Really?
Why shouldn't I expect Him to live up to His own standards?
Does "Love your enemies" only apply to us?

Discussion questions:
- Should we expect anything from God?
- If "Yes", what?
- If "No", why not.
- What is fair to expect from God?

"Who are you o man to talk back to God?"

"God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whosoever would believe on Him will have eternal life." He has shown as much love as it is possible to show and yet many reject His love sadly, so it's on them.

But you and anyone who agrees with you please feel free to expound from the scriptures how God's word is teaching universal salvation.

 

[Gottservant]

I think the example of David in the Psalms is telling. David didn't say "I love you God, do whatever you want" no, he said "God I am suffering as if you don't exist, hurry up and help!"

Jesus was on the Cross and He wanted to know "why your abandonment?" in other words "don't you want to be there, for your Son?"

I'm not saying "harass" God, just that God is bigger than we give Him credit for sometimes.

 

[Randy Kluth]

I think the example of David in the Psalms is telling. David didn't say "I love you God, do whatever you want" no, he said "God I am suffering as if you don't exist, hurry up and help!"

Jesus was on the Cross and He wanted to know "why your abandonment?" in other words "don't you want to be there, for your Son?"

I'm not saying "harass" God, just that God is bigger than we give Him credit for sometimes.

Exactly what I was thinking. Sometimes God trusts His People to go through very dark experiences. At such times we can only say, "Why?" Many who have not been in that Dark Place will preach and say, "It's easy--just trust God." But they're lacking compassion, and lacking experience. It isn't that easy, and Jesus showed us that on the cross.

 

[St. SteVen]

"Who are you o man to talk back to God?"

So, you have no expectations of God?
What can you count on Him for?

Will the sun rise tomorrow?

 

[Lizbeth]

So, you have no expectations of God?
What can you count on Him for?

Will the sun rise tomorrow?

There is a vast difference between trusting the Lord and thinking He "owes" us or anyone anything.

"God so loved the world", yet He tells us to "love not the world" . So what "standard" are you talking about that we should "hold" God to?

 

[St. SteVen]

There is a vast difference between trusting the Lord and thinking He "owes" us or anyone anything.

I think our heavenly parent has some parental responsibilities.

"God so loved the world", yet He tells us to "love not the world" . So what "standard" are you talking about that we should "hold" God to?

He holds us to a standard. It should be His standard as well. Love your enemies.

 

[Randy Kluth]

I think our heavenly parent has some parental responsibilities.

He holds us to a standard. It should be His standard as well. Love your enemies.

Yes, the standards we have are given us by God, since He made us in His own image. The trouble comes when we stop using His standard of judgment, and apply that to God improperly.

I don't think God has any concern when people try to apply His own standards to Him--they are, after all, His own standards.
"Come let us reason together."

The real issue is the matter of judging God by the "appearance" of impropriety. This has the danger of separating us from God's spiritual essence, which enables us to understand His standard of judgment at all. That is, when we separate ourselves from God's essence it becomes impossible to properly judge God by His own standards.

I would just suggest that when you try to scrutinize God and His rationale in judgment that you mainttain your connection with God precisely so that you may obttain an answer from God. To obtain an answer apart from God causes you to fail to understand God properly. Questioning God is a great way of getting answers from Him, but not a way of judging God independent of Him.

 

[St. SteVen]

The real issue is the matter of judging God by the "appearance" of impropriety. This has the danger of separating us from God's spiritual essence, which enables us to understand His standard of judgment at all. That is, when we separate ourselves from God's essence it becomes impossible to properly judge God by His own standards.

Explain.

I would just suggest that when you try to scrutinize God and His rationale in judgment that you mainttain your connection with God precisely so that you may obttain an answer from God. To obtain an answer apart from God causes you to fail to understand God properly. Questioning God is a great way of getting answers from Him, but not a way of judging God independent of Him.

I'm more interested in the questions than the answers.
Participants weigh in with their POV.

 

[Randy Kluth]

Explain.

I'm more interested in the questions than the answers.
Participants weigh in with their POV.

We have to draw upon something when asking questions. The Christian draws upon divine revelation. If we try to judge that revelation apart from it, what are we drawing upon? In my opinion it will be a counterfeit revelation, based on what we want to believe.