Comments on: When is it a ‘God thing?’

By: gatorwade

gatorwade — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:00:53 +0000

This is a great discussion all! Excellent post Ginger!

By: Jordan

Jordan — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:56:02 +0000

*2 Peter 3:9*

By: GingerSmith

GingerSmith — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:02:34 +0000

Jordan, thanks for the follow up. I've got a fairly thick skin, I just become concerned that somehow I've not been communicating my feelings/beliefs properly. I can see somewhat where you got the concerns that you have, and that was not my intent. I was so focused on the main point I didn't catch the wording. Thanks for the dialogue

By: Jordan

Jordan — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:33:55 +0000

I see your point. Sorry for missing that detail. I also realize that what we think of as "bad" may not be bad at all looking from the outside in. When we are IN trials, getting that perspective [God's perspective] can be a challenge. I rest in knowing that He is infinitely good no matter what the trial.

I think allowing and causing have the same effect [because of God's sovereignty], but one contradicts Gods nature.

That being said, I apologize if you felt attacked, that wasn't my intention. I got fired over wording rather than your main point. I heartily agree that we should rejoice in all things and know that God is good, gracious, and powerful, and thank Him in every trial knowing that He will make us stronger, bring us closer to Himself, and display His glory. Thank you for sharing your heart and being an encouragement.

By: GingerSmith

GingerSmith — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:57:20 +0000

Jordan, as I said in the original post, Jesus gave Satan the go ahead to mess with Job as long as he didn't kill him, etc.

I'm not sure I necessarily agree that God doesn't cause bad things in our lives, at least what we would consider bad. (Tests of faith can be a good thing, they are just tough) I'm not saying that I think he does, I'm just saying I've not really thought about it that far. To me, allowing bad stuff and causing bad stuff has the same effect…it still gives God the chance to teach us and draw him closer to him…if we let him. Whether he causes it or just allows it, God is still in it. So if he's still involved to me that makes it still a "God thing" so to speak.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:31:37 +0000

God is willing that none should perish but all come to repentance (2 Peter 2:9). Some perish and never come to repentance. This tells me that some things that happen are not in God's will, and some things that don't happen are God's will. I'm perfectly satisfied in knowing He's good in everything and He's so big that He'll cause everything demonstrate His goodness even if it wasn't His will (Romans 8:28). While I really like reformed theology [It emphasizes God's biggness and our inability to get to Him], this is why I don't call myself a Calvinist…yet.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:31:21 +0000

Trials are opportunities for the beauty of God to be seen. I realize that His ways are higher than ours [in terms of how one defines 'good'] (Isaiah 55:9), but there are some thins we know are evil, like illness and sin [These two are spoken of as equals in Psalm 103:3]. Here's a question that demonstrates my point: If God "gives" people cancer, then why did Jesus, who is the perfect reflection of the nature of God (John 14:9), heal everyone [in scripture] who came to Him? What is seen in scripture is different from our experience so scripture is the real truth here. God's nature is to heal. (Psalm 103:3) I am no "properity gospel" believer, but there is an experience in scripture that contradicts our current experience in many cases. I'm sticking to what I see in scripture. Suffering is a part of the belivers life. It brings fruit, blessing, and victory in Jesus, but there is nothing in scripture that equates this suffering with sickness, quite to the contrary.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:30:56 +0000

Now when we find ourselves in difficulty, rather than saying God did it, we can think of the Israelites when they were set free from Egypt. God did not lead them through the way of the Philistines for He knew they would turn back. (Exodus 13:17) He sent them through the Wilderness of the Red Sea. God is able to do anything, but He also knows our frame and our ability to yield to the mind games of satan. (I call them mind games because satan has no power. All authority belongs to Jesus.) My point is that God will only allow a trial if He intends to demonstrate His power and goodness through it. So we can rest in knowing He is good and He sees the end result and it is good. God is good!!! I love that sentence.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:29:41 +0000

When "bad things" happen, God is, at most, responsible for allowing it, but He is so big, so good, so gracious, and so powerful that when He turns it around, He makes it look as if He did the "bad stuff" when, in fact, He only allowed it – to make you victorious and demonstrate His goodness.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:28:14 +0000

Actually satan is the one who did all the "bad stuff" to Job. God said to satan, "He is in YOUR [satans] power." (Job 2:6) Job's perspective was that God did it, but He was mistaken. The author of Job, the Holy Spirit, doesn't really highlight Job's incorrect theology. Job's character is what the Holy Spirit highlights. God doesn't cause bad things. He allows them so that He can demonstrate His infinite kindness through difficulty. God didn't do the "bad stuff." He did, however, give Job more than He had before.