Tuesday, January 02, 2007

What Do You Believe?

So what do you believe about God?

Do you believe He is present and active in your day-to-day life?

Or do you see Him as a more distant Life Force or Guide?

Perhaps you don't believe in Him at all....

In any case, the reason I ask is that I am learning more and more about what people commonly believe about God. As a somewhat traditional Christian (I believe in a personal and active God, the Trinity and salvation offerred through the death of Jesus Christ), I was fairly shocked to discover most Americans who say they are Christians do not subscribe to traditional Christian beliefs. Let's take Deists for example. Deism is defined as follows:

Deism is a religious philosophy and movement that became prominent in England, France, and the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries. Deists typically reject supernatural events (prophecy, miracles) and divine revelation prominent in organized religion, along with holy books and revealed religions that assert the existence of such things. Instead, deists hold that correct religious beliefs must be founded on human reason and observed features of the natural world, and that these sources reveal the existence of one God or supreme being.*


In other words, Deists believe that God exists, but don't believe that God interferes in the human experience through supernatural events or displays of His powers. Deists are closely aligned with Modernist thinkers who believe that the world can be discerned and understood through reason and logic.

Interesting, to say the least. However, noting the remarks made by friends, family and the like, I've come to the understanding that most people believe in God, but don't believe He is capable or desirous of intervening in human affairs. This thinking was particularly poignant around the time of 9/11. If God could truly do miracles, the thinking went, why didn't He save the passengers of the three planes that were taken over by the terrorists? Why didn't He miraculously save those who perished in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon? Why would He allow such tragedies to occur?

I can honestly say that I don't know. I do know, however, that people die in tragic circumstances around the world every day. The conflicts in Africa, the killing and sectarian violence that occur daily in Iraq, and the lives taken by the drug cartels in South America are good examples of such. It's just funny how many of us only began to question the powers of a Sovereign God when tragedy struck right here on our home turf. But that's a subject for another posting.

Today I am only interested in you. What do you believe about God?

I'm looking forward to hearing your responses!


Deism. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved January 02, 2007, from Reference.com website: http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Deism

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe that God is and that He is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him and that He performs through belief, trust and faith in Him. I also believe that if we walk in doubt and unbelief, we will surely miss God. I believe that faithlessness ties God's hands and true faith in Him releases blessings. I believe that there is no compromise, but there is mercy. I believe that we need wisdom to know the difference.

The Very Irreverand Bill Baker said...

To quote the great Thomas Paine
"God exists, and there it lies", "God is the power of first cause, nature is the law, and matter is the subject acted upon".

In Reason:
Bill Baker

Anonymous said...

I would say that what is most important is to understand whether one accepts the primary foundation of the Word of God. Without that foundation, what are people liable to believe? I believe in the God of the bible. Not the God of my experience, reasoning and especially not the current philosophies of most of the visible church. When Paul encouraged the Bereans to search the scriptures - so as to avoid being fooled by even an angel of light - he made clear this point. So the question becomes somewhat different - do you belive that God has inspired the Bible as his Word - to be the guide by which we must understand and respond to Him? That is where my belief is founded.

mencari kebenaran said...

1 would like to ask you baby..where is the story of jesus when he was at thirteen tiil twentynine years old
in bible??

and the second is when the first time jesus was potreted?
and who was his photograper?
what kind of brand of camera was used?

the third is.. is jesus the GOD OR human being?

did jesus ever give instruction to pray on sunday?

is there in bible if jesus one hundred present human and one hundred present GOD?

is there in bible said if you believe jesus as the GOD you will be entered to the heaven

1 need your answer as fast as possible..ok

Church Fl said...

It is said that god is truth and religion is satisfaction and i completely agree with the saying. Christianity is what satisfies us and Christ is a truth.