Is it selfish to believe in a personal God?

[discus70]

Is it egotistical and selfish to believe in a personal God?

If not, then why ( in the case of Christianity ) is heaven only granted to specific people and not everyone?

If God created all things wouldn't he want all of his creation to have eternal life in heaven?

[tlong]

[

Believing that God will choose to help certain people over others is one of the most egotistical and selfish beliefs out there. Especially when you consider the fact that God created everything.[/quote]



It is not egotistical to believe God will keep his promise. Only if you believe some form of the 'Predestination' doctrine. Otherwise, the chosen is Christ's body, the church. Every one has the oportunity to be a part of it. And considering the fact that God created everything, it is not too much to ask of us to obey him.

[McCulloch]

But it is egotistical to believe that God will help you with your grades at school or help you win the big game, but he will not help someone with Alzheimer's, cancer or who has lost a parent in an earthquake.

[discus70]

But it is egotistical to believe that God will help you with your grades at school or help you win the big game, but he will not help someone with Alzheimer's, cancer or who has lost a parent in an earthquake.

This is exactly my point! You hit the nail on the head.

[Amos]

But it is egotistical to believe that God will help you with your grades at school or help you win the big game, but he will not help someone with Alzheimer's, cancer or who has lost a parent in an earthquake.

We are not supposed to waste our prayers on our pleasures (James 4:3). But it is certainly in line with what the bible reveals about God to believe that He is able to help us as individuals with whatever problem we might be facing in life.

Just because we don't get the answer we want to a given prayer doesn't mean that God doesn't care about us as individuals.

Discus70, if you are offended by somebody citing scripture or giving a reason based on biblical teaching, then you are in the wrong subforum. You got an answer like one would expect in this subforum, and you got all worked up and insulted everybody who would believe the bible ("save your preaching for the less intelligent or easily influenced").

I'm ok with you saying that, though. The irony of your insult in light of your writing is delicious. Thank you for that. What part of Texas are you from? Austin?

[tlong]

But it is egotistical to believe that God will help you with your grades at school or help you win the big game, but he will not help someone with Alzheimer's, cancer or who has lost a parent in an earthquake.

What is egotistical is when people assume what God is resposible for. We do not know what his will is or what he is responsible for.


This is exactly my point! You hit the nail on the head.

We all have the ability to make our petions known to God with prayer through Christ our Lord.

[micatala]

Moderator Comment

Is it egotistical and selfish to believe in a personal God?

If not, then why ( in the case of Christianity ) is heaven only granted to specific people and not everyone?

If God created all things wouldn't he want all of his creation to have eternal life in heaven?

This is kind of an odd question, because in sense, the God of Christianity is both personal and much larger than simply personal. In other words, there's an individual aspect to one's coming to Christ in terms of salvation, but God desires to build a community of believers; hence "the great commission". Also, I don't think you're understanding the context of salvation in Christ. For it's obviously apparent that the Christian God DOES desire ALL his creation to be saved, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone...This is good, and pleases God our savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1,3, & 4). Yet, even though God desires all his creation to be saved, he's not going to force us into a relationship with him. In other words, he allows man the "free will" to choose him; and that, in and of itself, is love. For if you truly think about it, God is said to have all authority in heaven and earth. So, it's rather illogical that God should even give mere human beings the authority to choose a relationship with him, by accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior. What an amazing, loving God!

So, I guess to answer your question (which I'm not positive what exactly you're looking for), the Christian God is both personal and big enough for an entire community of believers. Therefore, any "personal god" outside of the Christian God is in fact selfish, as one is choosing to doing things "their way" rather than choosing to do things "God's way" by submitting one's life to the authority and will of God through the acceptance of Jesus Christ into one's life.

First things first....please do not preach to me, I will never believe in Christianity so save the preaching for the less intelligent and easily influenced.

Also, I will take a note from Zzzyzx here. The Holly Huddle subgroup is a great place for you to express your need to convert others and praise Jesus. Your ideals and beliefs might be more fitting there.

You hardly answered any of my questions. You gave no reason at all for why these "other" gods are selfish. Please list and prove that these "other" gods " are indeed selfish.

Your explanation for why the Christian interpretation of God can't be personal is very weak.

The fact that your belief consists of God answering prayers and choosing to help those that he wants is pretty self explanatory to why the Christian interpretation of God is personal.

Believing that God watches over you and protects you makes the Christian interpretation of God a personal one.

Lets try this again....please prove otherwise.

As noted above, in this forum the Bible is considered authoritative.

Also, while this is primarily a debate forum, it is not necessarily out of bounds to share an opinion. In debate, claims that are made should be supported by more than opinion. However, debaters may also pose questions and answers questions posed.

I did not read Mr. Fess' post as "preaching." Rather, it was an explanation of a particular Christian viewpoint in response to questions posed by discus. If discus wants to challenge this, he may feel free to ask Mr. Fess for Biblical justification for this position. Discus may also disagree with the opinions or expressions and offer rebuttal.

[McCulloch]

We all have the ability to make our petitions known to God with prayer through Christ our Lord.

And the response from God is absolutely indistinguishable from random chance.

[Amos]

We all have the ability to make our petitions known to God with prayer through Christ our Lord.

And the response from God is absolutely indistinguishable from random chance.

That's the way God's providence works as far as I can tell. What may appear to be random chance just so happens to get things done that God wants done, like with Pharaoh being in power in Exodus, Esther being in the position she was in, the fullness of time when Jesus lived on this earth, etc. God could be using you right now; not controlling you but using you as you are to serve His purposes. Who's to say?

[McCulloch]

We all have the ability to make our petitions known to God with prayer through Christ our Lord.

And the response from God is absolutely indistinguishable from random chance.

That's the way God's providence works as far as I can tell. What may appear to be random chance just so happens to get things done that God wants done, like with Pharaoh being in power in Exodus, Esther being in the position she was in, the fullness of time when Jesus lived on this earth, etc. God could be using you right now; not controlling you but using you as you are to serve His purposes. Who's to say?

Maybe, maybe not. I see no reason why those who believe in God have any confidence in their belief, do you?

How is it that prayer is said to be the ability to make our petitions known to God when most Christians claim that God is already all knowing. It looks to me that some Christians do not understand the purpose or the efficacy of prayer. You are making your petitions known to someone who you believe already knows them, with the promise of a response which is indistinguishable from no response at all.

What am I missing?

[Tahir]

الحمد لله و الصلوة و السلام على رسرل الله

How is it that prayer is said to be the ability to make our petitions known to God when most Christians claim that God is already all knowing. It looks to me that some Christians do not understand the purpose or the efficacy of prayer. You are making your petitions known to someone who you believe already knows them, with the promise of a response which is indistinguishable from no response at all.

What am I missing?

Although I am not a Christian, I think this question can be directed to Muslims as well.

Allah تعالى is All-Knowing and knows everything which is in our heart. Everyone has a desire in their heart. Merely having a desire in the heart for something is not a prayer though. Prayer is when you implore someone or something to fulfil that desire, so when a Muslim prays he is actually praying in his heart to Allah تعالى to fulfil the desire which he has in his heart.