Comments on: The Activist God http://theimperfectdisciples.com/index.php/2009/12/10/the-activist-god/ faith, discipleship, fiction - from the desks of Clark D. Goble and Todd French Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:40:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Todd French http://theimperfectdisciples.com/index.php/2009/12/10/the-activist-god/comment-page-1/#comment-181 Todd French Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:28:30 +0000 http://theimperfectdisciples.com/?p=446#comment-181 I guess the fact that bargaining isn't always a part of the equation is what I struggle with. The narrative in most texts rarely includes a section where God hears the merits of the argument and is seen charting a different path. There are only two I can think of the top of my head, Sodom and Hezekiah. Neither situation panned out with a substantive difference from the starting point. The end result was ultimately the same, Sodom was a smoldering hole in the ground either way. I guess the fact that bargaining isn’t always a part of the equation is what I struggle with. The narrative in most texts rarely includes a section where God hears the merits of the argument and is seen charting a different path. There are only two I can think of the top of my head, Sodom and Hezekiah. Neither situation panned out with a substantive difference from the starting point. The end result was ultimately the same, Sodom was a smoldering hole in the ground either way.

]]> By: Cheryl http://theimperfectdisciples.com/index.php/2009/12/10/the-activist-god/comment-page-1/#comment-180 Cheryl Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:44:29 +0000 http://theimperfectdisciples.com/?p=446#comment-180 This is a necessary message in an age where Christians largely view God as easily appeased. Yes, He IS Love and yes,He is merciful; yet, He is holy,just, and pure. While I might agree with you about Sodom where you say God knew the outcome but bargained with Abraham in order to provide an escape for Lot and his family, I've always viewed God's bargaining as showing us His heart for not wanting to mete out punishment. "Give me one reason to stay here and I'll turn right back around," so to quote. As a mom, I've done the same thing - trying to hear from my kids about why I shouldn't enforce a consequence for certain behaviors. Usually this failed on their part and the consequence had to come. It was the only way to steer them in the right direction. And that, is love. This is a necessary message in an age where Christians largely view God as easily appeased. Yes, He IS Love and yes,He is merciful; yet, He is holy,just, and pure.

While I might agree with you about Sodom where you say God knew the outcome but bargained with Abraham in order to provide an escape for Lot and his family, I’ve always viewed God’s bargaining as showing us His heart for not wanting to mete out punishment. “Give me one reason to stay here and I’ll turn right back around,” so to quote. As a mom, I’ve done the same thing – trying to hear from my kids about why I shouldn’t enforce a consequence for certain behaviors. Usually this failed on their part and the consequence had to come. It was the only way to steer them in the right direction. And that, is love.

]]> By: guido http://theimperfectdisciples.com/index.php/2009/12/10/the-activist-god/comment-page-1/#comment-179 guido Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:00:16 +0000 http://theimperfectdisciples.com/?p=446#comment-179 I believe you've hit on the most valid part about our God and that is He is alive today. Many people grasp the Old Testament stories about Moses, Jonah, Abraham and others and say ... that's some tough God we got there. But they don't grasp or easily forget that our God today is the same God of old. He still has the same agenda today that he had thousands of years ago and that is that man might come to know Him in the way He prescribes. For us today that means to reconize that God IS who He says He is, come to repentance for our sins and way of life, bow down to Him through baptism by immersion and then continuing to live our new life in Him until He returns or we are called to be with Him in physical death. Most people today don't, won't or can't take the time to know our God the way He would want us to. Until we can put ourselves last and Him first we will never truly know Him in this life. While many would believe that everyone will go to be with God when the time comes, no where does the Bible teach that or imply that we all will be saved by Him. As the time gets shorter everyday we breath on this earth, our time somewhere else gets closer and closer. What choices will man make that will influence where he or she spends eternity? Keep up the writing, it gets better and better! I believe you’ve hit on the most valid part about our God and that is He is alive today. Many people grasp the Old Testament stories about Moses, Jonah, Abraham and others and say … that’s some tough God we got there. But they don’t grasp or easily forget that our God today is the same God of old. He still has the same agenda today that he had thousands of years ago and that is that man might come to know Him in the way He prescribes. For us today that means to reconize that God IS who He says He is, come to repentance for our sins and way of life, bow down to Him through baptism by immersion and then continuing to live our new life in Him until He returns or we are called to be with Him in physical death.

Most people today don’t, won’t or can’t take the time to know our God the way He would want us to. Until we can put ourselves last and Him first we will never truly know Him in this life. While many would believe that everyone will go to be with God when the time comes, no where does the Bible teach that or imply that we all will be saved by Him.

As the time gets shorter everyday we breath on this earth, our time somewhere else gets closer and closer. What choices will man make that will influence where he or she spends eternity?

Keep up the writing, it gets better and better!

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