What Has God Ever Done For You

[nailit]

That you could never have done for yourself anyway?
Theres always lots of debates on AB (or at least r&s) about the existence of God, creation v evolution, the historicity of the Bible etc.
But very simply, what has this 'Being' ever done for YOU?

When I was a teenage fundementalist' Christian I was very taken with stories about how God had helped someone find their lost car keys after a prayer or how someones Aunt Aggie had recovered from an operation. (After a prayer of course).
The Bible tells us that if we pray in faith, that mountains can be moved. Jesus (allegedly) says that his followers will do even greater things than he.
If this is the case, then why arn't christians active in hospital prayer in childrens cancer wards?
Why dont amputees ever grow a limb back after prayer?, Why has Maddie never been found despite the prayers of thousands of christians? Why are there so many people still ill (even terminal) after recieving prayer?

What has God ever done for you, that you didnt do for yourself?

[pixie374]

Not really prescient, though, khandro... just human behaviour.

[archibaldy]

I tried to read the whole Bible once just to say I'd done it more than anything but only made it halfway thorough Deuteronomy before giving up. Very tedious and parts of it are probably untrue.

[pixie374]

It's all untrue... but we had to read it all and discuss it as though it was fact.

[Mamyalynne]

Read my Children's Bible cover to cover more than once, but we were not taught to cram read the full Bible - depending on which version you mean that's a lots of verses and pages.

We read it and discussed it in chunks as appropriate to the lesson, that way we were able to better debate what was within.

https://wordcounter.net/blog/2016/02/21/101241_how-many-pages-are-there-in-the-bible.html

[pixie374]

We had to have the "good news" version....if that means anything to you, mamya! And read it beginning to end for Scripture lessons. Believe it or not, I nearly always came top in the exams, in spite of not believing a word of it...

[archibaldy]

The one I tried to read was the Good News Bible which I got given to me at school and I've still got 30 years later. I wouldn't say all of it is untrue, in some cases it serves as some sort of historical record I suppose but it's not the best read for sure. Mind you I've tried to read Catch 22 and the Great Gatsby a few times each and always give up around the same point!

[Mamyalynne]

I can believe that Pixie, quite easily, sometimes learning by rote really works.

Being Catholic ours was quite a thick tome - our family Bible was very heavy.

[tamborine]

as an RC we only read/acknowledge the New Testament.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //applicable to everyday modern life , from Cain & Able[sic] (sibling rivalry), Job (determination)//

Impressively philosophical - if you want to ignore cause and result.

[baza]

I get great comfort from my faith and know that cupid04 is in his care, and so did she at the time of her passing, on Monday He will there to help support me and the family at her funeral.

[tamborine]

Oh baza, am sorry you are in so much grief and hope you have family & friends to support you. Fill your quiet times with music cupid loved while your heart aches. Prayers for you both.

[mibn2cweus]

Any comfort one hopes to derive from another's suffering is inherently a delusion.

[Theland]

Do you have evidence for that MIBs?

[Theland]

Nailit, as ever, you appear to have the spiritual equivalent of a stone in your shoe or a thorn in your side.
Why do you ask these questions when your motive is only to poke a stick at believers, and hopefully get a response that you can knock down?
Is this a hobby of yours or are you still searching for Him?

[emmie]

nothing to be honest, i only ever prayed once to God, after Mr Em had died and I wished that i would never work again simply because i could only see the futility of it all, i was angry and grieving but that subconscious wish came true as i became very ill and never did work again...

[mibn2cweus]

There's no explaining what lies outside of mutual experience.

[Theland]

MIBs - I don't understand that.

[Theland]

As you asked, I will answer.
God has given me much.
Freedom from religion for a start.
Look at Naomi's friend, burdened by a church and a pastor, who are no better than the Pharisees that Jesus condemned, for applying crippling rules to people that only brought misery.
So that's the first thing, freedom.

[Theland]

Second He brings me hope.
This life is just a precursor of life with God.
Death is not the end.
Thirdly, He gives me values that the world does not value.
An objective morality, a realisation of what is really important, and not as the world sees importance.
Much more.
The miracles of Jesus where only mere indicators of the life to come.
The real miracle is the change within us.

[david small]

Here endeth the first lesson. I’m with you Theland, apart from the Jesus bit.