The Purpose Driven Life, Chapter Two

You Are Not An Accident

from JoeUser Forums
More talk in this chapter which seems to allude to predestination:
"Because God made you for a reason, He also decided when you would be born and how long you would live."
So, does that mean just the length of our life is predetermined, or does that include all the events that transpire in it as well? And if it's everything that happens, then isn't my purpose here already predetermined as well, which means I will find it whether or not I actively search it out?

And then there's this:
"God never does anything accidentally, and He never makes mistakes. His motive for creating you was His love. God made you so He could love you."
If this is true, then why do so many bad things happen to so many people? If He loves us, wouldn't He always want only the best for us?

As you can tell, this chapter has created a sense of conflict ....lots of stuff to think about, which I'm hoping will be cleared up as I continue reading.

Tomorrow....Chapter Three.....What Drives Your Life?
religion
1,969 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Theology is full of conflicts, some of which are resolved, others which are not. It is impossible to think that God is a God of love and that he predetermines everything, otherwise why would he predetermine misery?
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
The 2 statements you quoted are just some of the many issues I had with Christianity...I struggled with those particular ones for years. Now I'm not Christian anymore, but I still don't have the answers!
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
"The 2 statements you quoted are just some of the many issues I had with Christianity..."

Well, I'm not really having issues with it, per se....my faith is strong enough to see me through the moments of doubt and confusion. It may take me days of study, meditation and prayer, but I have faith that I will work it all out.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
My thoughts for what they are (this is kind of long):

"Because God made you for a reason, He also decided when you would be born and how long you would live."

There are a lot of assumptions in one place. Lets take it as a given that there is a reason that you currently exist. It does not immediately follow that you were born at a particular time. The conception of a child requires a lot of factors falling into place. I submit it is better to think that at the moment of birth, you were given a purpose. Also, with the idea of free will in action, I do not think that there is a set time of departure from this Earth.

So, does that mean just the length of our life is predetermined, or does that include all the events that transpire in it as well? And if it's everything that happens, then isn't my purpose here already predetermined as well, which means I will find it whether or not I actively search it out?

We now enter my area of interest. The Great Plan. I think that while there may be an overall plan, there is not a “let us plan every second of every minute of every person on the Earth” Plan. Why do I think this? Because Prayer works. If there is a minute plan, we could assume it is inflexible. What has been planned to happen, will happen. If that is the case then prayer is meaningless. But, Jesus told us to pray, that our prayers will be answered. This would imply at the least a flexible plan. One that can be altered by a whispered prayer in the darkest of time.

Right, then what about the purpose. If there is no definite plan, how can there be a predetermined event that will occur. What if the purpose is vague until the event? What if there is no reason at the beginning? What if God said to us. Look, there is a world for you to experience. This I have done for you. This is my gift to you. Enjoy it. Then, as you mature, God sees where your life could lead you and plans accordingly and gives you a purpose.

And then there's this:
"God never does anything accidentally, and He never makes mistakes. His motive for creating you was His love. God made you so He could love you."
If this is true, then why do so many bad things happen to so many people? If He loves us, wouldn't He always want only the best for us?

This will get me in dutch with a lot of people, but we assume that God is able to intervene. Yes, he has the power to do so, but may not have the authority to do it. God seems to have limited his DIRECT involvement on Earth. He could have told pharroh to let his people go, he sent Moses. What if, when God set up this world, he also set up rules that he had to follow. Rules that could be bent but not broken. What if there is a line that God said He should not cross. And, what if there are just things, that because of the rule, are out of His hands? Fire? Tornado? Disease? Maybe that’s why prayer works. A way to bend the rule.

My thoughts.

IG
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
"I think that while there may be an overall plan, there is not a “let us plan every second of every minute of every person on the Earth” Plan."

I tend to agree with you on this, IG.

"What if, when God set up this world, he also set up rules that he had to follow. Rules that could be bent but not broken. What if there is a line that God said He should not cross. And, what if there are just things, that because of the rule, are out of His hands? Fire? Tornado? Disease? Maybe that’s why prayer works. A way to bend the rule."

Well, that certainly makes sense.....thank you for giving me something to think about!!