Theology of God

What are your thoughts on the issue of God as being a responsive God. The idea that He is truly a responsive person to the needs of His people.

What I am wondering is if we haven't gotten it all wrong over the years. I am conviced it is. But when I think about a God who cares so much for me that he hears me and answers my prayers then I can't help but think that God is responsive much like a faithful parent would be to his children.

I am beginning to believe that the idea that God does not change in the idea that God never changes in His character; He is consistent in who He is and who He will be. He is consistently my caretaker and source of blessing. I believe anyone who seriously prays knows that God is his source of strength.

Some other thoughts I have is that if God is not responsive and we are robots and all is predetermined by God alone then where is our responsibility and fellowship. We are simnply robots and it wil make no difference.

I believe that when is all said and done that God in his sovereignty created man with a free will -- the ability to make choices. His choice of us gives us the gospel. But our choice determines heaven or hell for eternity.

I see God as giving us gifts and abilities that He has given to us to glorify Him. But we can choose just as Judas did to either glorify Him or not.

I see it much like a cow in the pasture. The cow can eat wherever she likes within the field. But it is the farmer who placed her in the field.

What are your thoughts?

 

Certainly I believe God is in control. But as to what extent I am not sure. That is the reason I am asking for your thoughts.

I would not question that all faith comes from God. But is it not our responsibility to respond in faith to His grace and believe the good news? Does He not give adequate faith for us to move mountains? If He does then why is so little being exercised. I believe it is not because of Him, but because of us and our unwillingness. I don't think we can place that blame on God.

Another question I have is about Judas. Did God not give him faith to believe? I believe that Jesus was adequate for him to have faith to believe, but he chose not to. Then we see the result of his deed to not believe. He hung himself.

It seems that Jesus regularly called people to repent and come follow Him. If it was all God then it would seem that people are robots and not free to think and do wrong or right. God is not willing that any should perish. I can't think of any scriptural support that God created man to send some to hell and some to heaven. If that were the case and all evangelism was not necessary, it would seem to go against what He has called us to do.

If man were left to his own devices he would degenerate and act worse than animals. But God in His wisdom gave us Christ. Salvation is not from me but from God. There is nothing I can do to save myself. But my salvation is secured by Christ. But my responsibility is to believe and go in faith.

I don't think it is salvation I am trying to discuss but the issue of so many times in the MT God is written as being passive. He uses other people to destroy nations, etc. Even Proverbs teaches principles about how to live life and the kind of life that is blessed.

How would you interpret 2 Kings 20:1-11, "20:1 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, `Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.' " Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, "Remember now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, `Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David, "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. "I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David's sake." ' " Then Isaiah said, "Take a cake of figs." And they took and laid [it] on the boil, and he recovered. Now Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord the third day?" Isaiah said, "This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?" So Hezekiah answered, "It is easy for the shadow to decline ten steps; no, but let the shadow turn backward ten steps." Isaiah the prophet cried to the Lord, and He brought the shadow on the stairway back ten steps by which it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.

I would really like to know how you would interpret verses 1-6.

We know from Church history that a number of people strayed from the faith during persecution. Then later repented. Did not God give them enough faith?
If a man beats his wife did not God give him enough self control to keep from doing that?

Where does our part begin and God's stop. God gives us the Holy Spirit but we know that people don't listen. I just can't believe that it is God's fault but the choice man makes to reject God.