Originally posted by Quark_666
You say that like it's a negative thing. Screwing up...isn't that one of the best learning tools possible? Would you rather remain in the spirit form for an eternity...being lectured by God about obedience without the chance to try it out? I personally like the idea of messing up, learning, and eventually going to heaven to learn more.
Agreed.
"When you make no mistakes, you learn nothing." -Chinese proverb
Originally posted by ushomefreeyour a ****ing tool
On September 11, 2001, God was exactly where He always is – in Heaven in total control of everything that happens in the universe. Why, then, would a good and loving God allow such a tragedy to happen? This is a more difficult question to answer. First, we must remember, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). It is impossible for finite human beings to understand the ways of an infinite God (Romans 11:33-35). Second, we must realize that God is not responsible for the wicked acts of evil men. The Bible tells us that humanity is desperately wicked and sinful (Romans 3:10-18, 23). God allows human beings to commit sin for His own reasons and to fulfill His own purposes. Sometimes we think we understand why God is doing something, only to find out later that it was for a different purpose than we originally thought.God looks at things from an eternal perspective. We look at things from an earthly perspective. Why did God put man on earth, knowing that Adam and Eve would sin and therefore bring evil, death, and suffering on all mankind? Why didn’t He just create us all and leave us in Heaven where we would be perfect and without suffering? It must be remembered that the purpose for all creation and all creatures is to glorify God. God is glorified when His nature and attributes are on display. If there were no sin, God would have no opportunity to display His justice and wrath as He punishes sin. Nor would He have the opportunity to show His grace, His mercy, and His love to undeserving creatures. The ultimate display of God’s grace was at the Cross where Jesus died for our sins. Here was unselfishness and obedience displayed in His Son who knew no sin but was “made sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This was all to the “praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:14).
When thinking of September 11, we tend to forget the thousands of miracles that occurred on that day. Hundreds of people were able to flee the buildings just in the nick of time. A small handful of firemen and one civilian survived in a tiny space in a stairwell as the one of the towers collapsed around them. The passengers on Flight 93 defeating the terrorists was a miracle in and of itself. Yes, September 11 was a terrible day. Sin reared its ugly head and caused great devastation. However, God is still in control. His sovereignty is never to be doubted. Could God have prevented what happened on September 11? Of course He could, but He chose to allow the events to unfold exactly as they did. He prevented that day from being as bad as it could have been. Since September 11, how many lives have been changed for the better? How many people have placed their faith in Christ for salvation as a result of what happened? The words of Romans 8:28 should always be in our minds when we think of 9-11, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose.”
Originally posted by DigiMark007
God was flying the planes. Metaphorically, of course, because belief in a mono-theistic deity is what led to such violent strife between cultures. He wasn't literally flying the plane because he isn't actually anywhere. If the pilots didn't believe in God (Allah in their case), or if they didn't believe in an afterlife filled with virgins and bliss for their actions, they never would have undertaken the flight. No one would have.But, of course, that's different than traditional faith, right? Not so. Christians, and sane religious individuals everywhere, still believe in a God, an afterlife, eternal bliss, etc. They just haven't yet been called to commit atrocities for the sake of achieving them (though they have in the past, as religious history of any sort will attest to).
And the common denominator for both is faith. The faith of the terrorist pilots was the same same that leads Christians to believe the attacks were part of their God's plan. It's the same faith that is dangerous and violent in this country (and others) not just in the Middle East, but takes the form of bigotry and intolerance, or political influence over morality-driven legislation.
True christians dont believe dat 9/11 was part of Gods plan. God never has plans for the detriment of humans, tragedies like 9/11 happen because of the bad choices people make not because of religion.
Belief in an afterlife, or faith in general to make it more abstract, is what caused 9/11. I wish more people would see that, because as long as anything is done in the name of blind faith, there will be the potential for atrocities such as 9/11.
Any real christian will know that their duty on earth is not to fight against poeple but is to fight the good fight of faith which simply means winning souls for christ.
I agree that blind faith has indeed caused the world lots of problems but that is what it is BLIND FAITH. Here in Africa selfishness and greed of individuals not faith have caused the major problems. Without faith to keep people going, Africa would be in a much worse state than the a;ready bad state it is in now
Originally posted by Deja~vu
Peace in the Middle East = Nuke em then build a Super Walmart.
Waste of a perfectly good bomb. I don't mean the bomb that would nuke the middle east, I mean the one that we would have to use to nuke the super walmart when it is proclaimed a religious desecration of holy, desolate radioactive land.