What God May Really Be Like – Misbeliefs About God

What Is God Really Like?

Every wonder if God knew that our world was going to end up the way it was, why He created in the first place? Or, why doesn’t God at least stop more suffering if He is going to allow people the freedom to choose right or right? How can a moral God create or allow someone to go to Hell? What is all this talk about God demanding we glorify Him? Isn’t this rather egotistical? How come there aren’t more miracles or does God promise Christians richness or health? If so, isn’t He failing on the job? According to the Old Testament, isn’t God a warmonger? Claiming Jesus is the only way, does that insult other religions?

Does the Bible say wives are to be subordinate or submissive to their husbands? Is so, isn’t this a concept for abuse? Come on, we know men! We all know if you give many men an inch, they will take a mile. Jesus seemed to encourage one to look to serve, not lead. Is God male? What is the big deal about sex before marriage? Is God a killjoy?  If these kind of questions interest you and you attention span is short, I dare you to go the God’s True Nature Category on this website and open the first link on that page titled Brief Questions and Answers about God’s True Nature and Character. Hopefully, this may lead to more in-depth reading on your own or other articles or books on this website.

Does God Promise Health Or Richness?

God makes no such guarantees or freedom would be a farce. Isn’t it true that many of our problems related to health or finances are either self-induced or in some counties caused by the abuse of power? Wouldn’t God need to interfere with such choices or override freedom to guarantee health and wealth? Because of freedom given by God from the beginning of time, God promises not a life without problems but His presence in this life and the hope of life one day where sin and evil will not prevail. God by allowing freedom could not guarantee we would never experience any problems. A person who believes that all their troubles will be swept away through a relationship with God is left with the logical conclusion that God has failed them. I am not sure what Bible teachers are smoking who teach this nonsense! Why don’t these false teachers take their message to those in extreme poverty or go to hospitals and heal the sick?

We cannot ignore the stories about the lives of the Old Testament prophets, Jesus, Paul, and the apostles. The Bible is abundantly clear that lack of faith is not the reason for physical ailments or economic hardships. God doesn’t promise us an instant escape from our problems. Someone once said: “God does not promise us a panacea, but He does promise us peace in the midst of life’s storms. With God’s peace, we can stand firm in distress, disease, destruction, and even death.”

Must We Always Forgive?

Does God forgive those who deny wrongdoing or don’t seek forgiveness? Does God command we forgive those who physically or sexually abuse us, yet show no remorse or even deny their actions when confronted? Where in Matthew 18 does it say when you go to a brother who has sinned against you and they refuse to listen, you should forgive them? Doesn’t it say if they don’t listen, throw them out of the church least they and others actually think they are spiritual?  But, Stephen forgave his stoners as they were stoning him, so might wisdom and discernment be needed in certain situations? Does the Bible suggest God performs some type of forgiveness ritual before condemning the evil to eternity without Him? Doesn’t the Bible teach God forgives those who desire his forgiveness, but mustn’t we be remorseful and seek God’s forgiveness with a desire to change? Isn’t forcing forgiveness on another person forcing God on them when obviously they do not seek such a relationship?

With forgiveness doesn’t it take two to tango? Mustn’t the innocent party be willing to forgive and the guilty party must recognize and confess their sin? Doesn’t easy forgiveness just encourage and enable the guilty to continue in their sinful ways to the harm of others? Aren’t amends important to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation and to make matters right for all parties impacted? When a child steals from their parents, isn’t this stealing from others than just the parents as this money may have been intended for siblings or others? Don’t we ignore the importance of justice to victims or encourage the victim to continue to be victimized when amends are not required?

In situations where the guilty are not remorseful, isn’t the challenge instead to not take revenge? Isn’t God better able to handle revenge without being vindictive? Isn’t the challenge to not allow bitterness to rule or interfere with life on a daily basis? What purpose does it serve to allow another person’s sins to continue to hold you hostage? Can the guilty really recognize their selfishness and change without recognizing the needs for amends? Doesn’t the Cross and Jesus’ violent death teach us there is always a price that must be paid when one sins? Or why then didn’t God just verbally forgive those who sought His forgiveness?

But, if one truly seek forgiveness, can one be a Christian and not forgive? Don’t people often only experience what God is like when they are forgiven though not deserving? Isn’t it true one can never really earn forgiveness? Can anyone really payback what they have taken from someone (i.e. childhood with appropriate parental love, sexual purity)? Do Christians forgive others because they deserve it or because God forgave us? But, isn’t confession an integral aspect of how we receive God’s grace?

Being A Dad

It really isn’t rocket science! It is a heck of a lot easier than some jobs, where it takes committees to instigate change. It is never okay to yell at another human being. When we screw up we must say sorry.  We must not take advantage of our position. God doesn’t; what gives us the right? If we are confronted with our immoral behavior, we must take responsibility and do whatever it takes to rebuild trust.

We must treat our kids the way we wish our parents had treated us when younger. When our children are young, we just need to spend time with them. They actually want us to.  We must figure out how to handle their childishness such as temper tantrums in a calm, effective manner. Learn what to discipline and how to discipline. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Quit bringing up stuff already dealt with. We must recognize we Dads do the same wrong stuff more than once, so show a little mercy and grace.

When our kids become teenagers, quite pissing them off. Quit controlling them. We must be real clear in our minds what is moral and take a stand. A lot of stuff we try to control isn’t moral. Teenagers need to start making most of their own decisions. Guide them to do so. They are less rebellious that way. We must not freak when they don’t agree with our opinions. It is a good thing if they feel comfortable disagreeing with us. You and the wife don’t agree on everything. Hopefully, you just work it out without yelling, demanding, and all those other behaviors we men do from time to time.

Do all of this and more and the kids might visit when grown, because there is a relationship.

If God Knew About Evil, Why Create?

Evil and suffering could only have been avoided if God had not created at all or at least not given humans the freedom to choose. God understood we might choose to abuse our freedom. That is a risk He took for the possibility of intimacy. Human parents do the same all the time. We bring children into the world hoping they will want to reciprocate our love, but they will have a choice to do otherwise. I don’t think God necessarily knew what choices Adam and Even would make, but He was prepared for every eventuality. God doesn’t stop being God because He doesn’t know a future that hasn’t happened yet. The future is not necessarily fixed in God’s eyes. But, even if God knew ahead of time what choices Adam and Eve would have and the possible ripple effect that would have, I still think from a parental viewpoint that the good with the bad is worth it. God is not going to let a few bad apples spoil the relationships He has with many people such as Billy Graham, Mother Theresa, and millions of others.

Did God Know Adam And Eve Would Sin?

Did God plan or know Adam and Eve were going to sin? Genesis 6: 5-6 says: “The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.”  Some theists have suggested, based on their interpretation of certain biblical passages, that God actually preordained evil and the fall of man before it actually happened, but that would make this passage seem nonsensical and overly dramatic by the writers if they understand this to be true. Why would God grieve something He had intended all along as part of His plan? Do God’s predetermined actions grieve Him?

Not only did God not plan or foreordain sin, God not having foreknowledge of an unknown future seems to give more integrity to passages that speak of God grieving, relenting, giving another chance, etc. Is a fixed future required from a biblical viewpoint? If God already knows what someone is going to do, one can legitimately ask if there is genuine freedom. Are they truly free to do anything different? Traditionalists may argue that passages such as Genesis 6 teach God was aware of what had changed and chose to act emotionally in accordance with the new situation. We know our loved ones are going to die with certainty, but we still have feelings when that day comes. If the future can be known, we can say God grieves because man either sins or obeys and this still can impact God at the moment.

We could say God knows what is going to happen but still engages with us; it simply is harder to relate to. But, we do not have to argue God knows the unknowable to somehow protect His character. God can still be omniscient (all knowing) and not know the future, if the future is not fixed. God does know what is knowable. He even knows what we are thinking. He is superior to humans in knowing all the possibilities of decisions that can be made by others and fully prepared for what He will do. Too, God knows what He will do regardless of human decisions, such as the miraculous birth of Jesus. It seems to me it  can be argued the biblical writers did not know anything about the future being predetermined or known, when we read passages such as Genesis 6.

Is God Secretive About His Will For Us?

Many Christians worry about what God’s will is for their life, which can provoke a great deal of anxiety. If God does not speak audibly, Christians naturally wonder what future decisions to make: what schools to attend, what careers to pursue, who to marry, etc. The question must be asked: Does God have one specific script for us to follow?

The Bible speaks to following God’s moral will and not an individual, specific will. Proverbs 3:5-6 says trust in God, lean not on our own understanding, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. This passage suggests following God’s moral will discussed throughout Proverbs and the Bible and you will be on the right path from the Creator’s viewpoint. Regarding such a major decision as marriage, the Bible only suggests a believer not marry an unbeliever for practical reasons. (2 Corinthians 6:14-16) Otherwise, which God will the children follow? The Bible never suggests there is only one man a woman must discover to marry to be in God’s will. Paul advises a widow “But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.” (I Corinthians 7:39b) In fact, in 1 Corinthians 7 Paul suggests individuals must make a wise decision about whether to marry based on their circumstances at that time. Paul does not condemn whichever choice is made.

There are of course times in the Bible that God did have a specific will for a person but God made this crystal clear through visions or an audible voice. Paul, on the road to Damascus, was advised by audible voice God’s desire for him (Acts 9:4). God needed Paul to play a significant role in presenting the Gospel to the Gentiles. God wanted it understood His promise of salvation were for all nations, that the Jewish nation was only a vessel to carry out this magnificent Plan. But, there were thousands of other decisions in a believer’s life in biblical times where there was no hint Christ’s followers had to worry about missing His will in their life. The Bible is explicit about God’s moral will but does not imply there is a specific individual will in the day-to-day lives of believers.

God does not somehow lose control because our lives do not follow a specific script. God wants us to pursue the desires of our hearts. Sometimes, those choices depend on the circumstances at the time. If we seek to make the wisest choice we can based on biblical wisdom, our desires and gifts, and the counsel of others, a loving God will not fail to lead us to “a” right decision. Unless moral, there is not “the” right decision. We do not serve a God who keeps His desires hidden from His children. Many “Godly” paths can be chosen while still remaining entirely within God’s will. You just can’t go wrong!

Why Isn’t God More Audible or Visible?

Most would admit they have never heard the voice of God or experienced his physical presence in anyway. This is certainly my experience. This experience no more indicates our lack of faith than lack of health or richness suggests unfaithfulness. God’s presence and miracles were prevalent in Old Testament times. God showed Himself in mighty ways to the Israelites through the plagues, digesting the miracle of manna in their bellies while wandering in the wilderness, and crossing the Red Sea onto dry ground. God’s visibility and directness didn’t cause the Israelites to choose rightly. Would any other nation act differently?

Jesus’ miracles attracted crowds but rarely encouraged long-term faithfulness. Humans have short attention spans. Constant miracles do not lead to changed lives. Why has God withdrawn audible and physically? Why is it necessary we live much more by faith than sight?

We ask God to help us find a partner, to get us a certain job, to cure our sickness. There is nothing wrong with these prayers, but we need to try to understand God’s perspective. God not answering our prayer our way may be the best way to run the universe with the desires He has to change the world. Once a prayer is answered, we often only go back to independency rather than a deeper dependency on God. Often, the only times we cry out to God are during times of suffering. When things are going well we practically ignore God, which only leads to a self-centered lifestyle to the harm of others. What’s a God to do?

The supernatural peace God can give one during suffering may be the only way we can attract others to our God. It may take a funeral and observing the loved ones of the deceased, for others to see the hope that Christians have. Suffering, whether directly caused by evildoers or not, may be the only megaphone that can reach people about what really matters in life. The truth of the matter is suffering, not pleasures, is what changes lives.  Similarly, God and Jesus removing themselves may be the only way to create life-changing dependency. Seeing does not always lead to believing. We may have to believe in order to see.

What Have You Got To Lose!

After watching the birth of my children and being out in nature, all in me yells there is a God. Natural selection theorists suggest our world happened by chance or evolved on its own.  Neither view can be proven scientifically, as none of us were there in the beginning to observe. Faith is required whether you believe in chance or a Creator regarding the origins of our world. Most would agree to live life as if there is a God causes one to live less self-centered. Most reading this would not argue they have wasted their live being good for goodness sake if there turns out not to be a God. I understand there are some who may argue a life has been wasted by being good and not fulfilling all their heinous pleasures if there is nothing after this life.

Let’s say we find out there isn’t a God after we die, but we lived our life as if there was a Creator and lived our life according to the Bible that claims to be direct revelation from the Creator. The Bible argues that life should resolve around loving God which can inspire and motivate us to love others. God always acts in the best interests of others. To love God is the ultimate unselfish act. God giving us the freedom to not love Him is the ultimate unselfish act though He put us here. To understand God, the Creator, is to understand how we were made and for what purpose. Our desires often suggest we pursue a gratifying moment that only brings short term pleasure. God said He made us to be self controlled. Pursuing instant gratification for most leads to unhappiness; a self controlled life can lead to long-term happiness and fulfillment.

I believe almost all, though it may be as we are approaching death, will evaluate our actions here on earth and either have many regrets or hopefully few regrets. Most will look back at their time here on earth and hope they have been less selfish than more selfish, cared more about relationships than possessions. Since almost all will at some time consider their purpose in life, it seems wise to force oneself to ponder as early in life as possible questions “how should I live” to have as few regrets as possible.

As I said though, I am convinced there is a Creator that we can believe in. Surely, the Creator is the most qualified to advise for what purpose we should live and how we ought to live. Surely, if we know how and why we came into existence, we can better answer how we should then live with fewer regrets. Shouldn’t we prepare for the end of our lives as much as we do for marriages or our careers? There is much to be gained and very little to lose when one has lived a purposeful life based on how and why we came into existence. Doesn’t it make the most sense to consult the Designer to understand how something should work?

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE!

Is Marriage Complicated Or Just Hard To Do?