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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | T or F? "God is a gentleman." | Matt 13:1 | Radioman2 | 83383 | ||
T or F? "God is a gentleman. He won't tamper with your free will." 'Sloppy Slogans' 'There's nothing wrong with catchy ways of expressing a conclusion based on careful consideration. In fact, Jesus was a master at using short, pithy statements (known as aphorisms) to drive a point home. Sloganeering in the hands of the unskilled, though, tends to be a sloppy business. The kernel of truth is lost beneath a pile of misleading chaff. 'Many slogans are not answers, but clever dismissals. No careful work has been done to justify the verdict. Let me explain. 'One truism I've heard regarding the problem of God's sovereignty versus man's freedom goes something like this: "God is a gentleman. He won't tamper with your free will." The statement has a ring of truth to it, and as a slogan it has populist appeal. Yet, more often than not, the statement is like a roof hanging in mid-air; the more demanding foundational work needed to support it simply has not been done. 'For example, this maxim is vulnerable to a couple of simple observations. First, the Scripture doesn't make this particular claim about human freedom. It doesn't even imply that God is a gentleman who won't interfere with our lives. To the contrary, there are a number of biblical examples that indicate just the opposite. 'Take Paul on the road to Damascus, for instance. He was in total rebellion against God. He dragged Christian men, women, and children into prison and even presided over executions. Paul was, in his human will, an enemy to the cross of Christ. So God knocked him off his horse on the Damascus Road, blinded him, then spoke to him like thunder from the sky (Acts 9:3-7). Was God tampering? It looks like it. 'Consider poor Nebuchadnezzar. God had him chewing grass with the cows in the fields of Babylon for three years until he finally looked heavenward, came to his senses, and gave God the glory (Daniel 4:28-37). Was there any divine pressure here? Seems like it to me.' ____________________ Faith and Philosophy by Gregory Koukl. To read more go to: (www.str.org) |
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2 | T or F? "God is a gentleman." | Matt 13:1 | gracefull | 83384 | ||
Not necessarily disagreeing with your point, but would like make one small point to consider... Paul was not an enemy of God, and he believed Jesus was a blasphemous heretic as did many of the other Pharasees. Your statement assumes the condition of Paul's heart was anti-God but God interrupted his life anyway. I rather submit that Paul truly loved God which was the difference between him and the other Pharasees. Acts 26:19-20 Paul was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. ?If heavenly visions would convert everyone as it did Paul,would God who is not willing that any should perrish, not give everyone such a vision? No..only those who have a heart for God. Matthew 13:14-17 Now Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 3 and 4 states that God sent him a dream and an interpreter (Daniel) 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be aceptable unt thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility...after twelve months he said"Is not this great Babylon that I ahve built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" vs 31 While the word was in the king's mouth.. In Paul's case this was not an unwelcome interruption, but one that fulfiled the desire of His heart of serve God. In the king's example, he was forwarned and did not take heed.... god bless |
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