(Denver;55886)
The answer to that is simple. It's faith. Either you believe, or you don't. That's what it comes down to, it's the very same answer to your new other thread. It's not a crutch, it's not a copout. It's the way it is, either you believe or you don't. If you don't, that's the choice you've made.
I understand that, and thank you Denver. I just have a hard time putting my foot down and planting my faith on something that may or may not be there. Faith is a tricky issue to deal with because in our every-day lives, faith is generally based on evidence and experience. When I go to sit on a chair, I trust that it will hold my weight based on my previous experiences with other chairs, seeing other people sitting on other chairs, etc. But having "experience" with God, to me, is a little more hazy of a concept, as I know that at least some of what I have felt as "God" in the past has simply been emotion or self-delusion. Not saying that all of it has been, but I know that at least some of it has been, so the rest becomes suspect. And without more concrete evidence at hand, how can I say, "Well this is God, but this isn't?"(HillTop;55888)
The underlying premise of your questions troubles me, as I see one of God's children seemingly slipping away. Prov. 3:5 tells us to "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding". People today, myself included, have a hard time with this passage because it's natural for us to think we have all the answers at our fingertips (i.e. internetz). Or maybe because we are well-educated in the secular world.I'm not addressing the amputee issue here because that's not what you are really wanting to know. You are seeking a validation of God's existence since you have no solid, recent proof that He has regrown someone's lost limb. Take a step back and ask yourself why, as a Christian, you would vehemently push this topic. Then get back in the Word and pray.
I see the amputee issue as one possible way to know God's existence, and a question that does not seem to have a good answer other than, "We must have faith that God knows what He's doing." Such an answer simply begs the question - we can't give evidence for the existence of God by assuming He already exists. I am not trying to "vehemently push this topic," but I'm looking for an answer that satisfies me better. If there is none, it's certainly not proof of God's NON-existence. But to me, it doesn't say much for his loving qualities.(HillTop;55888)
The only way to know if there is a God is to know God. And He has already done the dirty work for you. I will be praying for you, as I'm sure the rest of your brothers and sisters in Christ will also.
Again, this begs the question. You say that you have to know God before you can know if there is a God. That is identical to those people who push crazy theories like "psi energy" - they tell people that there must not be anyone skeptical in the room for it to work. Then if it doesn't work, they can blame it on a hidden skeptic. If it does work, then they've proved it - but only to the people who already believe in it. But the fact is that they see it because they want to see it. In other words, seeing no longer is believing - instead, believing is seeing. But I can't accept placing faith in God before knowing He exists any more than I can accept believing in psi energy without seeing proof of its existence first. I hope that makes sense. But thank you for the prayers - I understand that what I am doubting may or may not be true, but at the very least, I have to wrestle with it.(kriss;55889)
Why do only some loose limbs?? Would be my question. Of course God could heal them if he choose, But why does this happen to some in the first place? Life's answer, we all have something to overcome. Is someone that is extremely emotionally troubled any better off than one who has learned the value of life ?that it is more than having all ones limbs??
You're right - learning the value of life is certainly better than having all one's limbs. I never claimed it wasn't. But don't you agree that learning the value of life AND having all one's limbs would be EVEN better still?(kriss;55889)
Every amputee will tell you they still feel their limbs as if they were still there they even have phantom pains where no physical limb exists. This is because their spirit Body has all its limbs only the flesh part can be lost. As far as God is concerned, he is only concerned with the state of one's heart/soul not the flesh,
Coming from a psychology background, I know what you're talking about. However, not every amputee feels this, and essentially it is due to the nerve endings still transmitting signals as if the limb is still present. It has nothing to do with their "spirit body," as it has had great success in being relieved through the use of a "mirror box." Basically, they put their hand and their amputated limb in two sides of a box with a mirror in the middle facing toward the good limb. The brain sees the good hand twice and it sort of "tricks" the brain into releasing the pain associated with the hand.(kriss;55889)
In my experience most become more spiritual, setting amazing examples for those of us with all our limbs. Who hasn't been inspired by someone who has over come great physical disabilities.Perhaps God allows a person to lose a limb for the sake of inspiring others who have much less to deal with but do think they can overcome. Perhaps the person who lost the limb would have made really bad choices in his life had he not been forced to re-evaluate his life through this accident.
Oh, you're absolutely right. I'm not questioning God's judgment in allowing some to lose their limbs. Yet, the same logic applies to disease, illness, mental conditions, etc. To some people, God allows them to get cancer (as an example). But in other people, we hear claims of miracles - the cancer is miraculously healed! If God exists, then we can certainly say that He had reasons for healing one and not another. But why do we not see the same pattern with amputations? Certainly there should be reasons for healing SOME amputees. But here we only see God afflicting and never healing.(Alanforchrist;55919)
[1] Lack of knowledge, If they don't know that God can do it, or will do it, Then they wont have faith to receive. "Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God" Rom 10: 17.[2] Lack of faith, Jesus said, "According to your faith be it unto thee" and "Thy faith has made thee whole".[3] Disobedience, disobedience could be, disobeying the Bible, disobeying the Holy Spirit, or wrong living, If we disobey God in some area it can hinder the blessings.God loves us and is always willing to touch us with His healing power. Or work a miracle for us.
If God loves us and "is always willing to touch us with His healing power," then you are essentially claiming that all those who are not healed are not healed because they are faithless or disobedient. Am I understanding you correctly? But I have known many people who are godly, Christian people who have died from various illnesses, though they prayed and believed in healing. I'm not trying to say that it proves God doesn't exist - merely that your conditions are not nearly adequate. I am sure that there are many godly, Christian amputees out there who have faith in God's ability to heal them and are not being disobedient. Does that mean that they are all healed? Not in the slightest. So knowledge, faith, and obedience are sufficient conditions to being healed, although they may certainly be necessary ones. In other words, there is more at play here - namely, God's decision-making process.