I want to first thak everyone for their replies so far. I didn’t expect this kind of response. Thank you so much. I’m still struggling to just trust God and see that He is just. The morality that He gave us or is inherent in the universe or however we get those very basic truths is all so logical to me that I still can’t see justice and goodness outside of that. I’m looking for something deeper than “because God says so.” I’m having a hard time trusting Him and therefore believing at all.
I agree there are some things that don’t make sense at first. But this Easter the priest during Easter mass said something resounding that it’s not so much the things we understand that, strengthens our faith, but the things that we don’t and we’ve yet to understand.
So you have to really look back at what you’re really questioning. Is it really compassionate of God to leave babies to continually grow up among wolves? Allowing souls to be in perpetual state of doomed separation from God were Sodom and Gomorrah to remain…
I think that’s where the flaw comes in trying to contain God’s actions to what WE as mere men would do in our compassion for babies on Earth, specific to your doubts. It’s like trying to contain the sight and mind of God of what he sees before we can see it, or ever see it. That’s why he acts as God and we feel limited in our compassion as men, which sometimes is a bit misguided. It forced you, for instance, to consider God as a baby-killer, possibly not “Good” yet what does it truly mean in God’s word in the Bible/Gospels to save from death? Allowing people at the time of Sodom & Gomorrah to live to a ripe old age in sin is saving them from death? Who was responsible for man’s lack of salvation in those times? Can man really do a better job than God at playing judge and doling out justice? Sometimes when we feel we’re acting compassionate to a danger we end up doing more harm to society than good, that we couldn’t see til’ later. I think those are the questions you need to consider.
But keep reflecting and keep looking. You have to remember that even the closest people to God, Christ, did not get all that he was saying til’ much later. Not even during the time when God was eating and drinking with them. And these twelve were chosen out of all mankind, and yet they still had limitations to knowing God’s ways/intentions and meanings. They didn’t understand all that Jesus was saying to them until much, much later. So don’t think you’re in bad company if you feel currently perplexed.
I think one prevailing misconception for Christians today is trying reconcile the merciful, peaceful God that is assumed as his only role. And forgetting that he also has the responsibility as judge. He was not only tending to people at the time as a priest/teacher of morality, but a King exercising judgment calling out the hypocrites, sinners, and the corrupt. He spent a lot of time warning about sin and its consequences, just as much as he preached the overlooked concept of forgiveness, mercy that comes from God the father.
Remember its a two way street. The ills of the world t(hen and now) are brought upon by ourselves and our choices.
I think it’s important not only to reflect on what seems overboard for mere man in God’s justice…but also God’s compassion seems beyond man, as well, as illustrated in John 3:16-17…
Have you ever seen all those bad days when reading the news where you’re tired of the injustices, corruption in society, the lack of scruples in our fellow man, and just how depraved and bad man can be? Where you just wish that they could all be brought to justice already…and that in spite of that ‘evil’ committed by man, continually , you can only say ‘wow’ that God would come down in the flesh and witness such evil, interact with it, and withstand and be patient with it to save what little good still existed in the world.
- For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.
I agree with the poster that said something clicked. I think that is faith. I had a similar experience. You must pray and do what you are doing now by seeking advice. I would also read catholic apologists such as G. K. Chesterton and C. S. Lewis. They have guided millions in times of struggle. To start you might give “Orthodoxy” by Chesterton or “Mere Christianity” by Lewis. If you’ve read these already, then get something else in your hands and just keep searching and asking for the answer and I have faith you will find it.
Yes, this is true. (C.S. Lewis is a great writer btw) I think if they keep their eyes and ears open, they’ll find it. It’s also interesting that its a two way street, not only did I keep my eyes open, faith/God had a way at coming back to me. I agree that faith isn’t something you can isolate. It is revealed. And it is something to continually build upon.
