SoGospelNews Forums

How Do You See God?

2008-05-02T14:23:15-06:00

I can’t say I’m a perfect father by any stretch of the imagination. But, I can definitely say that being a father has given me a whole new perspective on the heart of God.

I used to have the perspective that God WAS very loving....but that he was also very demanding and that He would not hesitate to strike if He felt that you were operating below His standard. It’s a pretty harsh view of God and definitely one that doesn’t include a lot of “mercy”. But it was consistent with the attitudes and fears about God that I picked up from many of the Christians I was around.

In other words, some things aren’t ‘taught’; they’re ‘caught’.

Then I became a father.

We had our youngest son just a little under two years ago. Even though I’d gone through it before nine years earlier, I was still in awe of how unprepared I was for the emotions. I remember how amazing it was to hold Easton in my arms.

In fact, if you could watch the video of his first few minutes of life, I could barely do anything but laugh. Absolutely giddy with delight that my son was finally here and I was holding him. It’s funny to go back and watch now. The laughter just kept bubbling out of me!

I’ve learned more about love in the delivery room than I ever have in church, Bible college or my own study time.

And, time hasn’t done much to dilute the feeling, either. I still sneak into the boys’ rooms at night and watch them sleep. Tuck them in when they don’t know it. In Easton’s room, I’ll stand over his crib and watch him sleep. If his covers are kicked off, I’ll pull them up. If the room is too cold, I’ll turn off his ceiling fan. I’ll rub his hair. And every night since he’s been here I always whisper “Good night buddy, I love you” even though he doesn’t hear it and wouldn’t know what it meant if he could.

Every once in a while, I’ll hear a story about some father killing his child. It’s one of the few things that can get such an immediate emotional reaction out of me. It’s literally out of my comprehension how a man could do that. I can’t fathom any father rejecting his own child.

In fact, if you’re a parent, you’re probably nodding along with me. But, I’ll ask: could you destroy your own child? Could you turn your back on your own child and refuse to ever see them again?

Of course, if you could, then it’s probably not disturbing to think that God could do the same to His creation. If that’s a little offensive, it’s worth asking yourself seriously what that means about God.

See, I believe that no matter how much I love my sons....no matter how my heart fills with joy to see them living, breathing, laughing, talking, playing and growing.....no matter how my love is unrelated to their behavior.....

....I believe God’s love for us makes me look like a wimp. I’m a lousy, lousy parent compared to God.

I didn’t really agree with much of Jerry Falwell’s theology but someone once asked him what he’d do if his son were gay. He said, “I’d tell him homosexuality is wrong. But nothing would make me reject my children. I would tell him that I loved him and he could go on back to his bedroom. You live here. You’re my son. What I have is yours.” (paraphrased)

I feel the same way. And I think God is even more gracious than me or Jerry Falwell. I believe He loves us more perfectly than I love mine. I know how much I love my children, so I’m absolutely staggered by how much God loves us.

So, being a parent has completely changed my perspective of how God deals with His creation. And it’s caused me to reject some of the long-held beliefs about how He supposedly deals with His creation.

I’m convinced that God has no higher commitment than His love for us. The Bible doesn’t say that God can be loving...or that He wants to be loving if you’ll let Him....or that He’s often loving...or that He’s usually loving....

...it says that God IS love.

Period. End of story.

How cool is that?

Tony

Got this today—sounds about right! LOL

2008-05-01T13:21:20-06:00

I got this today. Sounds about right! LOL

==
I was walking across a bridge one day, and saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off.

I ran over and said, “Stop! Don’t do it!”

“Why shouldn’t I?” he said.

I said, “Well, there’s so much to live for!”

He said, “Like what?”

I said, “Well...are you religious or atheist?”

He said, “Religious.”

I said, “Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?”

He said, “Christian.”

I said, “Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?”

He said, “Protestant.”

I said, “Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?”

He said, “Baptist!”

I said, “Wow! Me too! Are you Southern Baptist or Independent Baptist?”

He said, “Independent Baptist!”

I said, “Me too! Do you use the King James Bible or the NIV?”

He said, “The NIV”

I said, “Die, heretic scum!” and pushed him off.

Religious People

2008-02-22T08:03:11-06:00

I had a strange encounter with a church person last night.

First of all, I live in a dry county. For those unfamiliar with that term it means that alcohol is not sold in stores or restaurants. We have a little restaurant in town that hosts live music every Thursday night. Its just a very informal jam session in a family environment. We play everything from classic country to gospel to Elvis. It is no pressure and lots of fun.

One of the guys that plays bass has never been born again. I’ve been trying to plant seeds in his life and I am seeing small changes. Every night we play he asks me to sing a gospel song for him.

Last night as I was setting up, I saw an older gentleman who I have seen at churches going to gospel singings. He made it a point to come up to where I was setting up and try to open a confrontation. He said, “I didn’t know you played country music.” I replied that I play with those guys every Thursday. He replied, “We’ll that just shocks me” and walked off. Now keep in mind, he is there to HEAR country music and if I were a betting man, I’d bet he had country music on in his vehicle.

Why are church people OK with them listening to country music, buying country records, and even going to country events, but they’ll stone you if you play a country song?

What sends a person to hell?

2008-04-28T13:35:43-06:00

I beleive in a literal Heaven and Hell.

What sends a person to Hell? I’m interested in hearing everyones view.

Posts closed because of insults to different viewpoints

Wine, Strong drink in the Bible

2008-04-22T10:39:20-06:00

Let’s start a discussion on this. Maybe Cliff and RevTabasco can get in on this. I am around a lot of Christians that are ok with drinking alcohol (social drinkers, per say). There are lots of scriptures that pertain with wine (alcohol, strong drink) :
Prov. 20:1,23:29-35,31:4-7 Ephe. 5:15-18
Hosea 4:11 II Sam. 11:13
Dan. 1:8 Gen. 9:20,27
I Cor. 8 Gen. 19:30-38
Rom. 14:21 Isaiah 5:11
Mic. 2:11 Lev. 10:9
John 2:9-10 Jer. 2:21
among others

I, personally, do not drink alcohol and am against it. I have seen how it makes a person act and its dangerous consequences. What are your feelings on the matter? Is it ok to have a glass of wine with your meal? I personally think that you have to realize in what context the term “wine” is used in the Bible. Sometimes it is talking about fermented and others it is talking about unfermented. Example : I believe that the wine that Noah & Lot drank was fermented - they both became drunk. I believe that when Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding was unfermented. I would like to dig deeper in the scriptures to learn more of this and if I am wrong on any of this please let me know, in a CHRISTIAN way, of course

Too much money in the plate

2008-01-04T09:52:19-06:00

Recently several large ministries have been under federal investigation for making too much money. They include Joyce Myers, Creflo Dollar, Paula White, Kenneth Copeland, and others. What do you think? Are these ministries making too much money? Should the feds be able to regulate ministry spending?

Reading the Bible

2008-04-15T06:18:22-06:00

Just wanted to get some thoughts on reading GOD’S WORD. Do you think it is important to read it straight through (Genesis to Revelation)? Do you just open it up and start reading? Do you make notes and highlight in your BIBLE? What version/translation do you use? Just wanted to get some input on your habits. Feel free to expand beyond the questions that I asked.

Oprah - a false prophet???

2008-03-27T14:02:42-06:00

Here’s the link to the story:

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=73537

I’ve often felt she was “over the edge” on some of her beliefs and I pick and choose what I watch on her show.

Comments . . . .

Your answer please?

2008-03-11T20:22:34-06:00

You are in a crowd of people having a good time and the subject of religion comes up. In the passing conversation you make mention that you are a Christian. Another person makes the comment that they are Muslim, or Buddhists. The Muslim or Buddhist asks, “Do you believe that I will go to heaven when I die, since I am not a Christian?”

What’s your answer to him?

Healing, what’s the difference

2008-04-06T22:29:59-06:00

I heard a preacher a while back, preaching that Jesus took the stripes on His back for our healing, both physical and spiritual. He took those stripes for our healing of cancer, arthritis, heart problems, and everything that we can think of, but it may not be God’s will to heal you physically.
He also took those stripes for our spiritual healing of bitterness, strife, hatred, lust, and any sinful thing you can think of, but we know that it is His will to heal us of those spiritual diseases.

If it is as this preacher said, how do we know that if it isn’t His will to heal us physically, when he did take the stripes for those healings too, then maybe it isn’t His will to heal us of those spiritual diseases also?