Before you read this, if you are a believer I want you to consider a few questions.
Have all fallen short of the glory of God?
And is it sinful to simply be human?
People sometimes surprise me, and sometimes they don't. It's not very rare for me to see a post on my facebook feed requesting prayers for some illness, decision or situation. I know as a Christian I prayed quite a bit about all kinds of things big and small. Like about getting a good parking spot, who I should date, that every stoplight could be green for me, for wisdom... The list goes on and on (like I said, quite a bit.) I was taught that all prayers are answered, it just might not be the timing or way that we wanted.
Many times I felt like my prayers were answered and if they weren't, I believed it was because God had another plan. The light turned red, but I would have been in an accident maybe. Or being moments late would give me an opportunity I wouldn't have had otherwise. Either way, I believed it was a victory to God. And if he cares about my small things, surely he must have even more care for bigger life issues. Right?
I can remember marveling at the universe as the handiwork of God. Especially the pillars of creation. The formation just captivated me. I thought all of this wondrous universe was created, by God, just for humanity. With omnipotence you could do quite a lot.
Most Christians I know see everything from a good parking spot to cloud formations as a message from God, meant just for them.
The other day my wife told me about a woman on facebook who revealed her baby had stopped breastfeeding and when she took it to the doctor they told her, that this infant would die in a few weeks and there was nothing which could be done. It's heartbreaking. I cannot imagine the depth of agony this family must feel being helpless to do anything but watch as this tiny new life fades with suffering.
Many responded to the post saying they would pray.
I wonder if they were doing it right? Or if no one praying did so in the name of Jesus? In truth I have absolutely no doubt that many of them genuinely believe and used the name of Jesus in their prayer.
I can already hear believers' excuses. "It's all part of God's plan." or that mankind brought sin into the world and that's why we have such deadly diseases.
I went down so many lines of thinking on this. Why would God allow a soul to be brought into this world and not give them a choice, if the whole point of life is to give us an opportunity to choose him?
Bottom line is though, that set of verses in John is false.
What is worse to me is that people are so quick to give a fictional deity the glory for a parking spot as a prayer answered, and so quick to make excuses on the much more meaningful unresponsiveness of the asserted character when it comes to dying children around the world. Especially the ones we do not yet have a way to save.
Empathy enables me to feel pain for this family in a way no imaginary character can.
It is exceptionally arrogant to think God made all the universe, kept the traffic lights green, and saved a parking spot just for you instead of saving this baby from the incurable.
Many times I felt like my prayers were answered and if they weren't, I believed it was because God had another plan. The light turned red, but I would have been in an accident maybe. Or being moments late would give me an opportunity I wouldn't have had otherwise. Either way, I believed it was a victory to God. And if he cares about my small things, surely he must have even more care for bigger life issues. Right?
I can remember marveling at the universe as the handiwork of God. Especially the pillars of creation. The formation just captivated me. I thought all of this wondrous universe was created, by God, just for humanity. With omnipotence you could do quite a lot.
Most Christians I know see everything from a good parking spot to cloud formations as a message from God, meant just for them.
The other day my wife told me about a woman on facebook who revealed her baby had stopped breastfeeding and when she took it to the doctor they told her, that this infant would die in a few weeks and there was nothing which could be done. It's heartbreaking. I cannot imagine the depth of agony this family must feel being helpless to do anything but watch as this tiny new life fades with suffering.
Many responded to the post saying they would pray.
I wonder if they were doing it right? Or if no one praying did so in the name of Jesus? In truth I have absolutely no doubt that many of them genuinely believe and used the name of Jesus in their prayer.
I can already hear believers' excuses. "It's all part of God's plan." or that mankind brought sin into the world and that's why we have such deadly diseases.
I went down so many lines of thinking on this. Why would God allow a soul to be brought into this world and not give them a choice, if the whole point of life is to give us an opportunity to choose him?
Bottom line is though, that set of verses in John is false.
What is worse to me is that people are so quick to give a fictional deity the glory for a parking spot as a prayer answered, and so quick to make excuses on the much more meaningful unresponsiveness of the asserted character when it comes to dying children around the world. Especially the ones we do not yet have a way to save.
Empathy enables me to feel pain for this family in a way no imaginary character can.
It is exceptionally arrogant to think God made all the universe, kept the traffic lights green, and saved a parking spot just for you instead of saving this baby from the incurable.
To go back to my questions to believers at the beginning: What sin could this baby have possibly committed?
