What God May Really Be Like – Misbeliefs About God

Is The Bible Useless If Has Errors?

One must believe, to say the Bible is without error, that God inspired certain authors to write without any possibilities of misunderstanding God for their own reasons and then God inspired others to know over time which Books should only be recognized as Scriptures. One doesn’t need to be a skeptic to accept that God’s uncontrolling love certainly can allow a writer’s misinformed scientific or moral view to creep into the Bible. Is it worth the damage to insist the Bible doesn’t have errors, when God surely aspires to unite not divide people?

But, if the Bible has errors does that mean we are unable to discern truth from fiction in the Bible?  

The reality is much of the Bible is subject to interpretations which obviously are not infallible. Jesus wasn’t recommending domestic violence when saying to turn the other cheek. Scholars who believe in the trustworthiness of the Bible differ if the Bible teaches equalitarian or hierarchical relationships in marriage. Scholars disagree if Genesis was a literal historical account or allegory to convey important spiritual truths. The reality is much of reading the Bible is discerning spiritual truths applicable to our circumstances. Claiming the Bible is inerrant doesn’t do away with that process.

Dogmatism only divides when differences exist in interpretations with others.

Many problems with the Bible could be solved if we would only consider one another’s opinion gracefully, so to work out our own convictions. I am convinced we should err on the side of the interpretation that seems plausible based on what a loving God would be like humanly speaking. Human reasoning is not the enemy. We cannot prove God exists scientifically or otherwise. But there is something very real in the hearts of millions who have a hope deep down inside them that suggest the possibility of a loving God. The hope for a tyrannical God is non-existent. God said be perfect like me (Mt. 5:48). This statement is meaningless unless God’s love is the same as perfect human love.

But, the main message of the Bible is crystal clear.

Love others like you want to be loved for a better world. We could focus on commonalities and not differences. Just because we say the Bible may have errors and must be read with discernment doesn’t lead to all views of God being equal or valid. Our hearts tell us a loving God would never advocate the violation of the rights of others. We all have an internal moral compass to discern good from evil. We know religious extremists and terrorists are wrong because a loving God would not demand certain personal beliefs or be ostracized or beheaded. God created freedom because true love cannot be forced.

One must admit to assume the Bible is without error requires some faith since not provable. But, in the Bible’s defense we don’t question the reliability of Julius Caesar’s exploits in the Gallic Wars though the manuscript reliability of all ancient literature is far less than the New Testament. “Thus says the Lord” was used thousands of time by the prophets in the OT, which was similar to writing “Thus says King…”  Such edicts were expected to be obeyed and not questioned. Death was a consequence for falsely claiming to speak for God (Deut. 18:20-22).

The Bible at first reading may seem to justify genocide, misogyny, slavery, or other atrocities. There are plausible interpretations often which don’t portray God in such a negative light. But, we don’t have to insist the writers of the Bible didn’t at times misunderstand or misrepresent God at time for selfish reasons. The writers could have been working out their relationship with God as we are. Read the Bible with an open mind. Giving the Bible almost supernatural qualities can lead to worshipping a Book and not who the Book is about.

The Bible was never to replace one’s relationship with God for comfort and guidance.

What Beliefs Killing God’s Reputation Might Change Your View Of God?

I confess that I write about the same convictions about God over and over in different ways so others might discover misbeliefs that hinder being more spiritual-minded and pursuing a relationship with God. Our understandings of God determine our attitudes about God. I believe God’s character must convey true love for meaningful relationships. Use the search box on my website for further elaboration of the below views of God: 

• God isn’t an angry, egomaniac. God is a lover who stands against immorality harmful to oneself and those around them

• God isn’t a sexist. God created equal relationships and doesn’t appoints go-betweens between God and us such as husbands for wives or priests or pastors for parishioners

• God isn’t a sadistic torturer. Who doesn’t know unending suffering serves no good! The traditional meaning of Hell is nowhere to be found in Bible

• God isn’t a homophobe. The Bible speaks out against non-monogamous relationships which lead to lovers getting hurt

• God isn’t a doomsayer. God is not coming down to destroy the world someday. The world will go on forever and all will die someday with the hope of Heaven

• God isn’t a rejecter because you don’t accept others’ understandings of the Bible. God’s only sacred belief is the Law of Love

• God isn’t a moral hypocrite. God’s love and perfect human love are one in the same. God’s ways are always moral humanly speaking. God’s love is the love we strive to show others

• God isn’t a blood-thirsty child killer. Jesus didn’t die for God’s sake but to convince us of God’s incredible love in hopes we would let God empower us to reflect such love back to others. The Cross was not meant to change God’s attitude but our attitude toward God

• God isn’t a religious extremist or terrorist. God doesn’t demand certain personal beliefs or be ostracized or beheaded. Religion is wrong if demanding to be served than serve

• God isn’t a Controller but a Creator of freedom which accounts for so much evil and suffering in the world.

What other views of God may keep you from becoming more spiritually focused in your daily living. They may not be true!

What Is God Like And How Can We Know?

God’s reputation matters. If we don’t understand or respect God or anyone for that matter, we are not going to pay much attention to much less want a relationship with God or that person. People aren’t always just being apathetic toward God; instead, the God represented by others doesn’t always inspire wanting to get to know God. An employer can encourage all they want the sacrifices necessary for the survival of the business, but employees are not going to follow unless the boss makes sacrifices? We follow those who we have genuine respect for.

Theologians often will play the mystery card when their biblical interpretations suggest God’s morals are not the same as perfect, human morals. They understand some explanation is required when their views of God are incompatible with most people’s idea of a loving God. John Calvin taught that God elects some for eternal life after death while excluded others. Any parent who showed such arbitrary love toward their children would be declared immoral. God cannot claim to be moral if God doesn’t obey actions God claims are moral.

We know what God is like because God’s love and perfect human love are one in the same.

God is just like us on our perfect days. How can we know though to forgive others who truly regret their actions, since forgiveness is not as obvious a moral as murdering, stealing, or lying? It is as if our Creator has impressed upon our souls that the right thing is to always treat others like we would want to be treated by them if we were in their circumstances. One day you may be in need of forgiveness. But, how can we know God lives by perfect human morals?

Jesus, who represented God here on earth, made statements like: “Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Parent is perfect” (Mt. 5:48). We are encouraged to “Be holy because I (God) am holy” (I Pet. 1:16).

God clearly think we know what perfection or holiness is or these statements are meaningless. Our striving to love others perfectly suggests such love exists. God is saying watch me and you will know how to act perfect or holy. God can’t act partial but declare favoritism wrong (Jam. 2:1). God isn’t a hypocrite who tells us to act morally but then acts immorally. We know what God is like because God’s morals are perfect humanly speaking.

Acting morally is usually clear but for example acting justly isn’t always exact. Should we sentence a person to two or four year for their crime? We know God’s sense of justice always has in mind the hopes of restoration. At least if we try to be like and demonstrate God’s attitudes in all decisions the world surely will be better off. Many decisions are not moral such as which career or job to pursue. We are free to make our own decisions. The beauty of a relationship with God is that with God alongside we can make wiser decisions based on what a loving God would desire for a better world.

God is the ideal lover and desires to inspire and empower us to be the same kind of lover in our relationships.  

God’s ways are not mysterious according to the Bible; God’s ways are higher (more moral) than our ways (Is. 55:8). God isn’t a hypocrite who tells us to act morally but then acts immorally. Biblical interpretations that imply God’s ways are less moral than our ways are unconceivable. God’s love is the love you always imagine would be true of a loving God. God is the perfection of the human parents we have always desired.

God’s love is the love we deep down desire to show others consistently. That is what God is really like!

What Might God’s Justice Look Like After Death?

The supposed reason for Jesus’ death has shaped our view of God’s justice. It is assumed God’s purpose for justice is to pay a price rather than in hopes to restore.

Jesus didn’t die to placate a blood-thirsty God who needed their child murdered to save face or have their honor restored. 

Soldiers die for one another for causes they believe deeply in. Jesus died to convince us of God’s incredible love in hopes we would let God empower us to reflect such love for us back to others. The Cross was not meant to change God’s attitude but our attitude toward God.

The traditional understanding of Hell may shape one’s view of God’s justice. 

Unending suffering doesn’t produce any good. It turns out no such place as Hell exists according to the Bible. Hell was invented over the centuries to scare people into obedience. The threat of Hell or prison doesn’t lead to relationships desired by God or parents. The threat of punishment is only initially to deter and steer one from destruction. God in the afterlife doesn’t have to heap on more punishment than the consequences of destroyed lives and relationships. God’s continual encouragement and mercy, not fear, is our necessary nourishment for true changes of the heart.

But, the Old Testament laws talk about an “eye for an eye” for justice. Obviously, the law was not saying to gouge out one another’s eyes. The law was meant to keep the privileged from taking advantage of the weaker by seeking unfair compensation. Jesus did not contradict this law but encouraged going the extra mile (Mt. 5:38-42). In NT times often clothing was allowed to serve as collateral – give them your shirt and coat as well. Justice seeks more than just righting wrong by seeking or giving payment. It seeks the possibility of restoring relationships.

How justice takes place in the afterlife may provide insights in what we can strive for in this life.

Obviously, standing up to enemies before a perfect Judge is very different than standing before human judges. Deep down all I want from others that have hurt to me is to experience true regrets, to admit their wrongs, and to make amends when possible. I can’t speak for those who have experience tremendous suffering from others such as sexual abuse, rape, or torture. Does unending punishment or torture truly satisfy? No punishment can return one’s robbed memories because of sexual abuse or murder of a loved one. Justice only for the purpose of payback is misleading for that which has been taken can never be returned.

True justice is being forced to understand your victim’s pain and accepting the harmfulness of your actions. After death God may bring to memory every action of betrayal and how it felt to their victims. 

Will some still refuse to admit and truly regret? The cleansing and educative effect may take longer for some than others. Believers and unbelievers may go through the same process of justice, some having more regrets than others.

Punishment can never make things totally right for a victim. Is the only justice for a child beater is to be beaten? A child beater may actually have to experience emotionally the terror they gave others, to bring them to their knees. Victims will have their revenge one day. God’s punishment has always been in hopes of redeeming the guilty. We like God may forgive our tormenters if our enemies truly regret their actions and seek forgiveness. True confession from the guilty and forgiveness from the victim is the greatest hope for restoration.

Justice from a fair, merciful God is entirely possible despite people being given a second chance after death.

Is Your View Of God Working For You?

The problem of evil is a main reason people don’t believe in God. How we answer how suffering and God co-exist can determine if we believe in the midst of suffering that God truly exists. God obviously seldom controls evil which brings so much suffering, but we know freedom is necessary for authentic relationships. True love must be chosen not forced. One consideration may be that God’s love, like a parent’s, may actually be greater when uncontrolling. It may be the best hope for as many children as possible to eventually freely choose good that last.

Other reasons one may not pursue a relationship with God isn’t because of apathy but because of misunderstandings of what God is really like. 

God of course is opposed to lying or stealing, but this isn’t why many are uninspired to pursue spirituality in their life. God suggested two laws would make all other laws unnecessary. Love God which is reasonable if loving God is loving others, and love others like you want to be loved. Few argue the second law wouldn’t lead to better relationships in the world. You may even have to forgive one who truly regrets their behavior unless when guilty, you wouldn’t hope for the same.

But, God is said to oppose certain things that discourage some from pursuing a relationship with their Creator.

God never said not being a churchgoer is the same thing as being a devil worshipper. Just seek environments that encourage and challenge you to pursue being the person you deep down desire to be. There are no traditions you must follow to be accepted by God. God doesn’t reject us because of our friends, who we marry, or what career we pursue. God cares how you treat others because that is what you will care about on your deathbed.

God not only respects the right to choose your own personal beliefs in this life, but God does not torture people after death for such decisions.

God never said believe or burn in Hell. Who thinks God doesn’t know unending suffering is pointless as it doesn’t produce any good. No such place as Hell exists according to the Bible. Hell was invented over the centuries to scare people into obedience. Religious extremists and terrorists are enemies of God. True love, where authentic relationships can develop, cannot be forced. The God of the Bible doesn’t control or destroy free decisions as if that resulted in true love.

God and the Bible don’t condemn same sex monogamous relationships.

I am biased toward monogamy because I think souls get hurt otherwise. Jesus, who represented God on earth, never spoke about homosexuality and said when gone He would leave His Spirit to guide individual hearts. God and the Bible don’t undisputable advocate hierarchical as opposed to equalitarian relationship between the sexes, or biblical scholars who respect the Bible as God’s guidance would all agree. No one needs a man or priest as a go between with God.

God doesn’t demand you forgive those who betray you when they accuse you of lying about their actions. We can stop being victims by not letting bitterness control our lives, but for many it is nonsensical to forgive one for actions that they deny happened. Is God really angry all the time or is God’s anger another side of God’s true personality – love. God’s personality is no different than when a loving parent shows tough love in hopes that their child will choose to stop acting in harmful ways toward others and themselves.

What beliefs about God keep you from pursuing God or spirituality more purposefully in your life?

Consider making spiritual-mindedness, which is loving others as you want to be loved, a constant endeavor and know how to get back on track when discouraged. My view of God’s love for me does this for me. Identify any problems, such as certain views of God that may be erroneous, in making spirituality more of a focus in your life.

You may discover that God’s love is the love you always imagined and hoped would be true of a loving God.

There Is Hope For God’s Grace After Death For Our Loved Ones!

What happens to our loved ones beyond the grave if God was not a part of their life, but they didn’t live like the devil and lived a more moral life than many who claimed to trust God? I wrote on this recently but due to the importance of this subject, I have summarized reasons why we can hope and give others hope in difficult times that God is a God of many chances:

• It cannot be claimed that posthumous salvation is unquestionably taught in the Bible; it cannot be claimed that posthumous salvation is unquestionably rejected in the Bible. The Bible cannot be used to decide whether God’s grace ends after death regarding one’s destiny, so we must decide this matter based on what the Bible says in general about God’s character and how we sense a loving God would respond to all after death. This doesn’t suggest all claims are true. Beheading one for their personal beliefs is evil. But, the Bible encourages us to be perfect like God so we must have an awareness of what perfect love is (Mt. 5:48).
• It is likely God shows grace and mercy beyond the grave or then humans would be better lovers than God. It doesn’t matter what horrible deeds your child has done or if they seek forgiveness at the last minute. You are going to celebrate and forgive your child. Do we really think God is going to stop showing grace at the moment of one’s last breathe?
• There is surely no time limit on God’s forgiveness. The Bible clearly teaches forgiveness is unlimited (i.e. Mt. 18:21-22). This attribute of God strongly suggests God would forgive one more time when meeting God if truly trusting in God and regretting one’s actions. God’s core is mercy. God’s can’t stop being merciful after death!
• Our beliefs are often determined by where we were born or the family we were born into. Our destiny cannot be based on certain beliefs found only in the Bible when the majority of people born into this world had no access to such information. Those with a Bible may have misunderstood God either because of poor role-models or what others taught about God. Freedom was necessary in this world for the possibility of authentic relationships, but God is not going to let one final destiny be controlled by others. Meeting God will clear up any confusion and remove any causes that led to erroneous thinking.
• God’s purpose for justice isn’t to pay a price but restoration. What does it say about a God that requires suffering that has no possibility for good. No punishment can return one’s robbed memories because of sexual abuse or murder of a loved one. Victims have the hope of true justice which is the guilty being forced to understand their victim’s pain and accept the harmfulness of their actions. After death God may bring to memory every action of betrayal and how it felt to their victims. The cleansing and educative effect may take longer for some than others. We like God may forgive our tormenters if they truly regret their actions and seek forgiveness. Believers and unbelievers of God here on earth may go through the same process of justice, some having more regrets than others.
• When we cannot claim certainty, we can do more harm by telling others God is not a God of second changes than the possibility that God’s grace does not stop at the moment of death. If two debatable opinions exist, we must err on the side that portrays God as the most relational and rational to the human mind. Our biblical interpretations must be plausible based on what a loving God should be like since this is the very essence of God (I Jn. 4:16).

There are advantages to trusting God while here on earth. Jesus didn’t come to save us from consequences only after death. God wanted us to experience true living here on earth. Jesus’ message of love is what leads to true freedom and peace of mind here on earth. Who thinks their toys are more important than their relationships on their deathbed? What regrets are there living out the message by Jesus who represented God here on earth? Heaven is a time for celebrating one’s life and refuge for those who have suffered greatly. There is no greater authority to be under than a graceful, just, forgiving, loving God.

Why Is There Hope For God’s Grace Beyond The Grave?

What do you say to love ones whose family or friends didn’t believe in or acknowledge God in any way while here on earth? Do you really think God is going to judge all based only on their beliefs during a short time here on earth influenced by so many random factors? Do you really think a loving God is going to determine one’s destination on supposed, necessary beliefs according to the Bible when the majority of people born never had a copy of the Bible? Do you really think God is going to judge one when they didn’t truly understand God or God was misrepresented by others? Why wouldn’t a merciful, forgiving God be a God of second changes?

If there is a God and there is the possibility of life after the grave, there are many reasons to trust our gut that God is a God of second changes. Many assume the Bible teaches that God bases our future destiny on if we trust God while here on earth. Some biblical passages suggest the possibility of decisions after death when meeting one’s Creator but they are hardly definitive. (One will want to read Grace Beyond The Grave by Stephen Jonathan for an excellent discussion). But, no biblical passage confirms without question that decisions aren’t made after death. Biblical scholars who believe in the trustworthiness of Scriptures suggest both interpretations. Thus, the Bible cannot be used to definitively answer whether God’s grace ends after death or after meeting one’s Creator.

The Bible says nothing about one’s destiny beyond the grave that doesn’t believe here on earth. Even if the Bible defended the traditional understanding of Hell, nothing in the Bible totally rules out grace after death before the possibility of Hell. But, the word Hell is a substitution not translation. The Greek word Gehenna, wrongly translated as Hell in the New Testament, was a real valley near Jerusalem historically known as a site for horrific physical deaths. Hell is not a translation of Gehenna any more than Atlanta is for Chicago. Jesus used Gehenna to warn that spiritual deaths (a life of self-centeredness) can be just as disturbing as physical deaths.

Grace beyond the grace is more likely because it fits God’s loving attributes as described in the Bible and understood in our souls. Many have never had a Bible or read the Bible but would share beliefs about a loving God’s actions after death. The Bible clearly teaches forgiveness is unlimited (i.e. Mt. 18:21-22) In fact forgiveness is so important to God that we should question if we can be forgiven by God if we do not forgive others (Mt. 6:15). This attribute of God strongly suggests God would forgive one more time after death if one truly trusted in God after meeting. God can “not” forgive any more than a parent can deny their child forgiveness no matter the degree of their transgressions or when they seek forgiveness. Also, God’s essence is mercy. God can’t stop being merciful after death. Parables discuss God celebrating regardless of when one finds God. Better late than never! Parables are meant to teach a moral point. God always loves celebrating one’s repentance even if after death.

Grace beyond the grave is more likely because a loving God is not going to leave one’s final destiny to chance. Many people believe the way they do because of the family they grow up in or where they were born. One’s beliefs about God here on earth may be based on false representations by others. Some despise their Heavenly Parent because of their earthly parents. Meeting God will clear up any confusion. Do we really think a thief is going to enter Paradise but not others with lesser sins simply because they weren’t next to Jesus hanging on Cross right before their last breathe? God created freedom for the possibility of authentic relationships, but God is not going to let one’s final destination be controlled by others.

There may be one main reason why people do not believe in grace beyond the grave. We assume God’s purpose for justice is to pay a price rather than in hopes to restore. Unending suffering is pointless as it doesn’t produce any good. Fearing God in the Bible is synonymous with fearing the consequences of immorality. The threat of punishment is only for the purpose to deter. The threat of Hell or prison doesn’t lead to relationships desired by God or parents. God doesn’t have to heap on more punishment than the consequences of destroyed lives and relationships. We may want to tell an addict after the 10^th relapse there is no hope, but this is not God’s nature. God’s continual encouragement and mercy, not fear, is our necessary nourishment for true changes of the heart.

The truth is no punishment can return one’s robbed memories because of sexual abuse or murder of a loved one. Justice only for the purpose of payback is misleading for that which has been taken can never be returned. Victims often don’t just want their oppressors to suffer. True justice is being forced to understand your victim’s pain and accepting the harmfulness of your actions. After death God may bring to memory every action of betrayal and how it felt to their victims. Will some still refuse to admit and truly regret? The cleansing and educative effect may take longer for some than others. I trust God can determine pretenders. We like God may forgive our tormenters if they truly regret their actions and seek forgiveness. Believers and unbelievers may go through the same process of justice, some having more regrets than others. 

What about our loved ones after death who didn’t acknowledge God much less have an obvious trusting relationship with their Creator? It seems no one in their right mind would reject living in heaven after meeting their loving Creator. God will remove all causes that led to irrational thinking. But, God clearly values freedom of choice. There may or may not be a time limit for one coming to their rational senses. Some will say why even bother then in this life to act godly much less trust in God. I am speechless if you believe a life of not loving others like you want to be loved is worth living. I am convinced when we know God the way Jesus knew God, we will sense God’s love and support in good and troubled times and pursue a life that doesn’t lead to regrets while here on earth.

What One Belief Hinders Spirituality The Most?

I am convinced we all need to be more spiritual minded if we are going to leave this world a better place than when we came with fewer regrets. Most think it is important to be more physically healthy. I can’t claim more successes than failures eating healthy, but such a focus keeps me striving for my goals. Physical health is an open conversation, but for some reason discussing our spiritual health is taboo. Why is it so difficult to discuss and encourage one another about our spirituality which is simply striving to be more the person we desire to be deep down?

Who doesn’t wish to treat their partner, friends, and co-workers better than we do sometimes or at least treat them more like we want to be treated. Avoid unnecessary guilt trips. Some people are just plain difficult people. We don’t always need to accept or look the other way from their misbehaviors. If you treat other people like dirt and I have any kind of relationship with you, I am going to tell you the truth. It is risky sometimes but “no risk, no gain.” I hope if you see that I have a blind eye toward mistreating others that you will let me know in a way you would want someone to tell you the same thing.

One of the hardest relationships to be the kind of person you want to be is in marriage which has some unique challenges. We interact more behind closed doors where others can’t see our behaviors than in most other relationships. Our partner often is more dependent on us such as rearing children that makes just walking away difficult. But, most of us didn’t marry the devil and we need to figure out how to treat our partners like we do our best friends. The one main belief that kills marriages is the same belief that kills pursuit of spirituality. 

Before I challenge you to change such a belief, let me mention certain things we discuss instead of our spiritual health. I am more familiar with the religion of Christianity and how such folks make conversations and encouragements about spirituality more difficult. We talk about religious stuff. We talk about the need to go to church. We talk about that you need to believe what the Bible says or you can’t really be a spiritual person. If you have read the Bible lately, it does have say some pretty weird stuff that is hard to reconcile with a loving God. God, like any loving parent, doesn’t require any traditions, rituals, or beliefs to have a relationship.

The one main belief that kills discussions about spirituality, for which I was and sometimes still am guilty of, is “I am right and you are wrong.” Guess what! I may be right, you may be right, we may both be wrong. Now, if you think it is right to behead and kill people because they don’t share your personal beliefs about God, you are wrong! Many good, spiritual minded people assume they need to convert their friends to their beliefs in order to be accepted by God. Stop! I do think people best become more focused on their spiritual health if they desire to be more the person they want to be. I do think there are certain views of God that can be empowering in such a journey, but there are no sacred beliefs you must sign up for to begin the journey of being more the person you want to be.

Is Your Understanding Of God Determining Your Attitude Toward God? What If…

Our attitudes about God are based on what we understand about God. My parents can tell me all they want that they love me and want the very best for me, but mutual respect is what leads to a meaningful relationship and following their guidance. Do their actions match their words? What we think God is really like can determines whether we want to have a relationship with our Creator much less enjoy a meaningful relationship. If you hear characteristics about God that you don’t buy, reject it!

Others’ views of God according to the Bible are not infallible. That is why there are so many different interpretations about what the Bible teaches. It is people’s interpretations that can influence our attitude about God. Rational people don’t question if God advocates murder based on whether one believes in their version of God or not. But, some beliefs are claimed to be immoral according to God, which can impact whether we respect God enough to want to pursue a deeper relationship. Would it make a difference if you discovered God’s love is the love you always imagined would be true of a loving God? We can’t always believe everything we hear!

• I don’t always know what God would do when justice must be served, but I am convinced God doesn’t torture people forever after death for certain beliefs they have while living on this earth. Who doesn’t know unending suffering is pointless as it doesn’t produce any good. The traditional understanding of Hell is nowhere to be found in the Bible. God will know best how to love us or our loved ones even if they had no interest in God while on earth.
• Good people suggest the Bible teaches wives are submissive to their husbands in a way husbands aren’t submissive to their wives. If such a model works for both partners in a marriage, that is great. If such a view of roles has you questioning God, you are in good company. Many biblical scholars aren’t convinced the Bible advocates a hierarchical as opposed to equalitarian relationship between the sexes. I believe decisions are best made according to one’s gifts not gender. No one needs a man or priest as a go between with God.
• I am convinced God doesn’t condemn same sex relationships that are monogamous. The Bible doesn’t say anything about such relationships. I am biased toward monogamy because I think souls get hurt otherwise. Each person can seek God’s guidance in their relationships.
• I am not convinced God has a litmus test of beliefs for acceptance from God unless you believe self-centeredness is a virtue. God is a God of freedom of beliefs, even about God. Loving parents know they can’t demand their child love them if they expect to have a meaningful relationship. The only hidden agenda a loving parent or God has is to earn their child’s belief that they truly have their best interests in mind.
• Sometimes a parent doesn’t interfere in their child’s suffering because freedom of choices can only lead to true change. A lot of suffering is not because of one’s own moral actions. Is it wrong not to stop my child’s suffering if I knew their suffering, inevitable in a free world, would enable them to help others in similar circumstances? There may be plausible reasons a loving God doesn’t intervene in underserved suffering since God oversees a world given freedom.

What understandings about God give you a bad taste in your mouth? God’s actions and morals are the same as the highest of human morals. God’s love and perfect human love are surely one in the same. If one suggests a certain characteristic about God that I don’t believe lines up with that, I am going to question it and challenge my God until I believe I have a satisfying answer. We can expect understandings of God to be plausible based on what a loving God should be like. How else can I respect God or have a meaningful relationship?

Really Good News About God And Repentance When We Keep Failing!

God is often portrayed as standing on a podium and yelling down at us to beg for forgiveness or burn in Hell. I got some really freeing news! Repentance in the New Testament means “changing your mind.” Repentance can’t mean changing your behaviors by never committing the same sin again, or few if any of us have every truly repented. When you feel remorseful you are repenting. Repentance is being convinced that God’s ways than our own ways are in our best interests and the interest of others.

Most repeat some sins or wrongs, raising internal doubts about our relationship and sincerity with God. If we sin again, were we not truly repenting or remorseful? Repentance is an ongoing action, happening multiply times over and over if necessary. Just because we commit the same habitual sin over and over doesn’t mean we weren’t really regretful in the moment. God doesn’t say I forgive you if you never do it again.

Understanding God’s unimaginable love is the only way to conquer the ultimate problem in our life – selfishness. God thankfully does not give up hoping or forgiving, or we may never make important life changes. Sometimes we cannot stop hating ourselves for committing the same wrongs over and over. God doesn’t give up after the 10^th relapse. God doesn’t heap guilt on us; our selfish actions already do that for non-evil folks. We can start off each day knowing God is in our corner.

God doesn’t worry about giving us a license to keep sinning. Who wants to keep acting in ways that further alienate our family and friends? God doesn’t keep heaping guilt on us. Repeated failures have their own consequences. Threatening others with God’s anger may discourage evil but doesn’t inspire reconciliatory actions. When we understand what God is really like and how much God loves us, we can be empowered to continually act in the best interests of others and ourselves. This is how true parental love and guidance works.

God as a Parent loves we keep regretting actions that are selfish. We often have to focus on God’s continual forgiveness to not give up. Doubting God’s favor doesn’t lead to change. Repentance is beginning to think differently, taking steps toward trusting God’s ways more than our own. Repentance isn’t guaranteeing a new lifestyle or you don’t really love God or want to change. Knowing God loves and forgives us repeatedly best leads to life transformations. God’s love is really that simply and what will lead to our being more the person we deep down desire to be.