Has anyone ever asked you questions about God, that you cannot answer?

**dogfood** · 07-24-2009, 11:53 PM

Has anyone ever asked you questions about God, that you cannot answer?

In a situation, where youre trying to witness to them about God. and they believe they have been hurt because God didnt step in to help?

**Thrash** · 07-25-2009, 01:58 AM

Sort of.... well, I have had people who had told me why there brother or sister or other family member or friend don't believe in God, which many times it dealt with a death in the family and God not intervening on the behalf of the deceased.

The central issue of course goes back to the problem of evil. I think the Christian answer is sufficient, but obviously many do not and don't see the compatibility between an a god being omnibenevolent and omnipotent and the existence of evil.

**tenwatt** · 07-25-2009, 07:39 AM

David Moore has a CD series called "Yeah but..." that covers some topics like this. It's a GREAT reference and he's a fun speaker. I HIGHLY recommend it.

ICTHUS · 07-25-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogfood

Has anyone ever asked you questions about God, that you cannot answer?

In a situation, where youre trying to witness to them about God. and they believe they have been hurt because God didnt step in to help?

I go through this on a regular basis with a friend of mine who was raped by someone at her church and consequently wants nothing to do with the Christian church.

I keep directing her to the death of Jesus on the cross and to the final Judgement, because that's where evil is punished justice and mercy meet. It hasn't got through quite yet, but I love this girl and I'm in her life for the long haul, God willing. God will move when and how He wills.

**dogfood** · 07-25-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICTHUS

I go through this on a regular basis with a friend of mine who was raped by someone at her church and consequently wants nothing to do with the Christian church.

I keep directing her to the death of Jesus on the cross and to the final Judgement, because that's where evil is punished justice and mercy meet. It hasn't got through quite yet, but I love this girl and I'm in her life for the long haul, God willing. God will move when and how He wills.

thanks for sharing that bro, thats a good answer.

OiBoyz · 07-25-2009, 10:52 PM

The thing is, you can tell them all the right things, but they're in pain. The Scripture counsels to "mourn with those who mourn" if you can share their pain, then you can also share with them your hope.

AlphaSigma · 07-25-2009, 11:29 PM

All the time, one of the biggest combatants to Christianity is the problem of evil. Evil that goes unstopped and unanswered for. I even struggle with it myself.

OiBoyz · 07-26-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaSigma

All the time, one of the biggest combatants to Christianity is the problem of evil. Evil that goes unstopped and unanswered for. I even struggle with it myself.

I agree. But everytime I feel that "this isn't the way it's supposed to be" when someone is hurt, or killed, it just reinforces to me that we were created for something else. And everyone feels that. I'm convinced that this is why "atheists" are in reality not atheists, they're just very angry with God.

**tenwatt** · 07-27-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICTHUS

I go through this on a regular basis with a friend of mine who was raped by someone at her church and consequently wants nothing to do with the Christian church.

There is a family in our church that went through this EXACT same thing while attending another church years ago. Their daughter was raped by a leader of the church. They all (including the daughter) are EXTREMELY active in ministry now. If you would like to contact them maybe I can hook you up. Shoot me a PM if you think it might be worth looking into.

**Thrash** · 07-28-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guyskankrye

There is a family in our church that went through this EXACT same thing while attending another church years ago. Their daughter was raped by a leader of the church. They all (including the daughter) are EXTREMELY active in ministry now. If you would like to contact them maybe I can hook you up. Shoot me a PM if you think it might be worth looking into.

Maybe this would be better to ask in a PM, and if you would rather message me than go ahead, either of you, but what happened to the person of leadership/member who did this? Were they excommunicated from the church? Were they reprimanded at all? Or was this shushed and swept under the rug?

**tenwatt** · 07-29-2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrash

Maybe this would be better to ask in a PM, and if you would rather message me than go ahead, either of you, but what happened to the person of leadership/member who did this? Were they excommunicated from the church? Were they reprimanded at all? Or was this shushed and swept under the rug?

I've never asked that question. I would assume, knowing how bold in their faith this family is, that they made sure to take action on the problem. I would seriously doubt it was swept under the rug.

**Thrash** · 07-29-2009, 06:14 PM

Hopefully... it seems like the church sometimes has the image, to outsiders, of tyring to hide the nasties, like in the recent Catholic molestation cases.

OiBoyz · 08-02-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrash

Hopefully... it seems like the church sometimes has the image, to outsiders, of tyring to hide the nasties, like in the recent Catholic molestation cases.

That comes from actually hiding the nasties. I don't know how widespread it is, but in my thirty years of being a Christian, I've only seen one instance of a church using the Matthew 18 steps of reconciliation. It was when the Pastor's wife left him because she "discovered" she was a lesbian. 20 some odd years, and four children later...

boromir · 09-04-2009, 05:11 PM

Everytime when I really tried to witness.
I may be too slow to talk about Christ on my own, that why I left this "burden" of witnessin to those who know the words.
I´m more like friend and hopefully God shines in me as a testimony.

loveprints · 06-25-2010, 05:39 PM

Definintly! Some people have been so hurt by this world that they beleive they can't be healed by even God. My cousin actually just had a HUGE fight with his mom this afternoon and it seems that whenever I try to comfort him with God's word he just ask's another question that I can't possibly answer. He's rejecting God and I'm just praying that God won't reject him. Please pray for me and my cousin.