A question about the God of the Bible

If the God of the Bible exists, why does he choose to limit the number of people who believe that he exists?

 

He chose free will instead?

 

I do not understand what you mean. What does free will have to do with God withholding evidence? If the God of the Bible showed up, and spoke a new galaxy into existence, surely some people would become Christians who were not previously convinced.

Historically, many people have accepted all kinds of outlandish religions based upon a lot less convincing evidence than that. If free will exists, the more evidence that people have, the more informed their choices will be. Having more evidence does not in any way limit a man's free will. On the contrary, it makes his free will more dependable. The best choices are the best informed choices, especially if heaven and hell are actually at stake.

 

God does not have concerns over whether or not we know He exists. It is us that want to think it is important to Him. God has all of us whether we know it or not.All of reality is the "Being" of God.

 

I somewhat share Yogi's view on that...

WE all belong to God no matter what, but because of this said "free will" a man has to be open and desiring to find God in order to acknolegde his presence and have said "faith"... It's not up to God to fight for you to become conscious of his presence but rather the individual.

 

HE allows all people to believe or not believe in H.I.M., it makes sense too, why would HE create everyone and then force all people to become mindless slaves, then there is no point.

 

^ Fedupamerican i am christian and i dont know why i found that picture to be funny... Its fucked up but i couldnt help but laugh.

 

God gave us free will. He still loves us all no matter if we choose him or not. Ultimatley though, he has given each and every one of us an equal chance to accept him or not. Think about it, if you told your Dad that you didn't want to recognize him as your Dad he would still love you but feel very disappointed. This is in fact what God feels when we reject him. He is a God of love but also a Just God too. In his justice he must adhere to his promises all of which include all those who are sinners that have not accepted Christ will go to hell. just my .02 cents

 

What if the Love of the creator overcomes the hardest of hearts and not one person is missing in the end? "Love never fails" and "God is Love".

 

That would be a truly great thing. Unfortuantley, I don't feel this could realistically happen. The Bible says there will be sinners in hell. So to say that no one will be there would make the Bible and what God says a liar. This is just what I feel although, i'm just putting things together that I've studied. Ultimatley it's God's decision and I would never be able to guess or understand what he might do.

 

..

 

If this is true, what would be the point of living for Him and accepting Him now if ultimatley everyone would be in His presence?

 

Should we love God primarily because we are scared of God or "hell"? We then are ultimately doing it for ourSELVES. The aions(ages) to come could be thousands and thousands of years. That's enough to not be with God. The point would be to have life through this present aion(age), and the aions(ages) to come, working with God to fulfill God's ultimate plan of the reconciliation of ALL. Sorry I posted under my other account and not Rider. It won't happen again.

 

Hehe, that's a interesting point.
Do you love god out of true love or out of fear...
surely the last one is not true love.

 

Fight to view the creator as "Love". Then "perfect love casts out fear".


csweave wrote : "Ultimatley it's God's decision and I would never be able to guess or understand what he might do." Keep that way of thinking up and surely you shall find answers, and HOPEfilled answers at that(Not FEAR-filled answers).
good job...

 

so your saying that these people who reject God are not sent to eternal damnation? Also if there is somthing that i'm missing please inform me. What I basically think your saying is though, that people who have not accepted God will be apart from him. When the ages though is done and all is turned over to God, that is when no matter what you are like we will be reunited?

 

Sorry, but that is God's plan of the aions, like it not(imo). Remember the parable of Jesus about some getting upset over what God does for others? Might not be on the same topic but the jist of the argument applies. Take my advice regarding the books that I mentioned and study these things with an open mind remembering that God is "Love" and "mercy triumphants over judgement". God knows the future of a person before putting them into existence, right? Must go now. Private message me if you wish to converse more. I'll get back to you during the week...

 

just for my personal purpose, could you give me the text of the point you were making above about hell being a manifestation of God's mercy? Thanks a lot

 

Orwell, where are you when we really need you? You forsaw a Minister of Love who presided over a torture chamber. What would you make of a God who burns people in Hell for eternity because he loves them, wants to show his mercy, and give them what they really need? Sounds like the ultimate in S&M!

 

ForOwls - Sounds like C. S. Lewis' "The Great Divorce". C.S. Lewis was a great theologian, imo. George MacDonald was, in Lewis' own words, "my mentor". MacDonald held the view that I hold - reconciliation of All - eventually... The brick thing is pretty harsh, but nonetheless, God's love shall melt the hardest of hearts - brick throwing and all. The little child who was murdered shall forgive the one who brutally murdered them - all in God's plan of forgiveness and to God's glory. You see, we are all in "school" right now.