The God depicted in the Bible, gave you the ability to think critically and logically?

Question

If the God depicted in the bible wanted people to ask him into their hearts and believe in him so badly, why did he give us free will, and a book of convolution and contradictions that would dissuade us from believing in him? What is the point in that? Sounds like a stupid idea, this is clearly a Human based concept and not a God based one, I Imagine a God would come up with a more intelligent idea...

If you're a Christian, can you give me an intelligent answer? If you're capable of doing so. Most aren't but...It frustrates me, cause i used to believe in the bible and the stories...Then I learned the truth and actually read the bible for myself instead of passively listening to the select stories the preacher would tell...And now I've divested myself of all religion which has enabled me to think about things more deeply about life and death and religion and all that stuff....\

Also, I'm not an Atheist, I just don't believe in religion. I do believe there exists a higher being, a creator of the universe, however the Gods that are described in any religion thought up by man, I completely refute. The true creator of the universe can't be described, he hasn't shown himself, I have no idea why, shy maybe? Doubtful, there's a good reason i'm sure we'll find out someday. :p

Answer 1

Not only did the Creator give us that ability, but He seems to have inspired Paul to write a couple of Epistles strongly advising us to USE that ability.

Which certainly leads to a lot of people leaving the Christian religion.

Here's the LONG version:



The Bible has been described to me by Believers as God's instruction book.

So, in the Epistles, Paul tells us to “PROVE all things”. (First Thessalonians 5:21)

And what is the most important thing in Christianity?

According to no less authority than Paul's epistle (First Corinthians 15:14)



“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”



So, what is the simplest way to prove the Christ is risen?

Trust the Bible.

Bible reports that Risen Jesus appeared to “over 500 people.”

So, it's not WRONG for Jesus to appear.

Gospel reports (in Matthew 18:19-20) that Jesus made some very specific Promises.

1. He will be there (invisibly) whenever even a few are gathered in His name.

2. Whatever is asked of the Father, in the name of Jesus, will be given.



So, all the Believers need to do, is gather a few together, in the name of Jesus, in a place where atheists can see them, and then ask of the Father, in the name of Jesus, that Jesus be allowed to physically manifest Himself.



The atheists will have to admit that the person who appears suddenly, with bleeding (but not painful) holes in his hands, feet, and side, is a whole lot better than a few pages out of a really old book.



And, since Risen Jesus is not bound by the limitations of time and space, the Believers could use the Internet to have several groups do this on the same day, hundreds of miles apart.

Jesus will, of course, appear, since the Biblical Promises are not just myths and rumors.

And the FACT that all the blood samples, collected by the atheists, will match, is proof that it's the same Jesus appearing at all the dozens of simultaneous occurrences.



Anybody in the Believers' side of this issue care to explain why this will not work?

(Explanation must not contradict the Promises reported in Matthew 18.)

Answer 2

Good questions but you're already starting from a position of disbelief. Just because someone doesnt understand a concept or logic doesnt make it stupid or fallacy. God is love and love by definition does not control another persons ability to choose. Free will is respecting our ability to choose Him or not.



Also, you've clearly come to the conclusion that the Bible is full of error and I would submit that you have simply failed to fully research what you believe to be error. Many so called contradictions or errors are cherry picked verses taken out of context, or are verses not clearly understood because of translational difficulties. Make no mistake the Bible is accurate and has never been proven to be otherwise. You say you learned the truth. What truth and who taught you this alleged truth and what is this "new" truth based on?

Answer 3

You're complaining because the Bible is over your head?

Answer 4

God gave us irrefutable proof that God exists

God has revealed His power through His creation.

Atheism is a pretense - an emotional choice to deny the reality of the Creator. But God isn't fooled. The unbeliever has no excuse.



God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky.

Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.

As a result, their minds became dark and confused.  Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.

And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.

They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.

And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.

Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.

They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.

They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 

They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

Answer 5

the world has been corrupted and cursed, that is obvious, there are no answers out there and really every human deserves to be destroyed, God isnt begging you to follow Him and worship Him .. but He turned His grace and mercy towards us and provided a way for those that have a heart that can humble itself enough ...

Answer 6

Yeah. Liberals can't tell want from need.