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Archive for July, 2024

Did A Miracle Save Trump?

Posted in christian living, Love of God, religion, tagged , , , , , , , on July 28, 2024|

By Mike Edwards

It has been claimed that God protected Trump by a miracle from being killed on July 13th. Franklin Graham, perhaps the most well-known Christian leader, claimed that God saved President Trump from being killed. Proclamations such as these raises many questions about God’s character in the minds of many.

Why doesn’t God intervene more often?

Why did God supposedly intervene in saving Trump but not Corey Comperatore. Mr. Comperatore was the gentleman who shielded his family from being shot and was killed at the July 13 rally. Miracle proclamations only lead to implying God didn’t care to save his life for some unknown/mysterious reason. It implies God only cares to spare certain people from being murdered or raped but not others.

What possibly leads to thinking God’s love is arbitrary?

Many Bible-folks assume God is all-powerful, which demands an answer to why God displays Their power or not. Why God acts arbitrarily isn’t easy to answer if God is truly loving, unless you always blame unanswered prayer due to one’s sins. Often, it is proclaimed God’s ways are higher than ours and God is working it all out for good. Tell that to a woman raped! It may also be suggested that we sinners have no right to question a Holy God, or that any good is more than we deserve since God’s standard is perfection and we all fall short as sinners. Some relationship!

God can’t be all-powerful

It is natural to think that an all-powerful God can control suffering if able to create, be in all places at one time, resurrect Jesus from the dead, etc. But, logically how can God be all-powerful and humans have some freedom/power? Suffering (prayer unanswered) may be because God cannot intervene single-handedly. Controlling love is an oxymoron. God can’t physically interfere in evil or suffering without human help. See here.

Miracles

Lots of prayers asking for healing are obviously not answered. Is God’s love infrequent or arbitrary? Do miracles not happen because some people are less sinful or beg better at the feet of an arbitrary God? I believe a better explanation for healings is that various biological and environmental factors are involved such as cells and organs.  If God doesn’t deny human freedom, it may not be a stretch to say God has to account for natural freedom as well. Perhaps miracles can happen when God’s love aligns with countless factors known and not known. God cannot intervene singlehandedly, but a loving God is dying to intervene whenever circumstances will allow. 

How does God intervene? 

God intervenes through people. Securities measures could have been better at Trump’s rally to lessen the chance of a horrible crime. God could have intervened if the assassin didn’t choose to believe that he was somehow doing the world a favor by supposedly taking an evil man out who has been compared to Hitler. All politicians should stick to attacking their opponent’s policies. It was by chance that Trump turned his head to look at a chart that allowed the bullet to pierce his ear than skull. God is in the influence business with people doing the right thing.

Did A Miracle Save Trump?

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. He couldn’t find enough people to discuss God openly so he started blogging years ago. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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Is Sodom and Gomorrah Really About God Condemning Gays? What Is The Real Story?

Posted in Acceptance, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , , on July 21, 2024|

By Mike Edwards

This story in the Bible is often used to condemn gay relationships. I believe this passage along with other “clobber” passages (see here) are wrongly used to claim God condemns gay relationships. Whether one believe this story is historically accurate, the moral of this passage is used to defend that God destroyed this city because of one’s sexual orientation. Please see for insights below Josh Scott book Context Chapter 6

Lack of hospitality is the moral of the story

It may be foreign to our way of life, but cultural expectations during these times were to greet and care for strangers who may come to your city/door. See Josh Scott for more details. So, Lot extends his hospitality to strangers visiting in Genesis 19. Then, people of Sodom surround his home and insist his visitors be sent out for their own sexual pleasures.

It’s crazy to read though maybe not for a patriarchal society that Lot offered his daughter instead to be raped, but this story is more than about sex. It appears even after his horrific offer by Lot, the crowd outside felt judged by Lot not accepting their invitation to prey on strangers (19:9). I guess the only good news in this story is that these possible divine visitors (19:15) offered protection for Lot and family to leave before the city was destroyed by God.

Further evidence Sodom and Gomorrah about lack of hospitality or love in general

In other OT passages the writers emphasized the lack of hospitality, not being gay, as the moral concern regarding Sodom and Gomorrah. The prophet Isaiah in Chapter 1 condemns the Judah people by calling them “rulers of Sodom.” (1:10) They are then called out for their lack of justice for the oppressed not sexual sins (1:16-17). Isaiah didn’t understand Sodom and Gomorrah as a condemnation against homosexuality. Other passages agree the sin in Sodom and Gomorrah was about the lack of love toward the oppressed (Amos 4, Ezekiel 16). Even Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, when referring to Sodom and Gomorrah, speaks of lack of hospitality as the sin. (10:9-15).

Besides, visitors came to rape not have a relationship

This story is about hostility and hate toward outsiders. Do we really think only gay men showed up to Lot’s doorstep to pry on male guests or did straight men suddenly become gay? And then Lot offers these supposed gay men his daughters for sex.  Didn’t Lot know they were gay? This story obviously is not about consensual sex – straight or gay. This story is also not about a desire to be in a monogamous same-sex relationship.

God would surely condemn nonconsensual sexual relationships, but why would God condemn any relationships based on mutual love and respect. It doesn’t make moral sense why God would condemn gays when they can no more chose who they love than straights can. Ask your gay friends! Why would anyone choose to be gay based on the condemnation and bigotry they face? Please be careful picking a Bible story or passage to definitively speak for God.

Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. He couldn’t find enough people to discuss God openly so he started blogging years ago. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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Allow Each Other to Follow Their Path

Posted in Acceptance of Others, christian living, Love of God, tagged , , , , , , on July 10, 2024|

by Michael Donahoe

Is it aggravating to anyone else, or is it just me? I mean the fact that no matter what you believe, what your interpretation, someone always has a completely opposite view.

You get excited about hearing some truth that really connects, and the next thing you read an article by another Christian person that completely disagrees with what you just heard.

Even more than that, most of us Christians get mad when someone disagrees with us and is different. We get on Facebook and make ourselves look crazy because we talk about brotherly love, then we fight and argue with someone because they interpret things differently….and mostly about things we cannot prove one way or the other.

We really have to stop and think that whatever it is we believe, whatever our interpretation, not everyone is going to agree with us. There is no reason for us to get mad at someone else for being different.

Some of the things we believe in life are basically all a matter of faith. We have our opinions and beliefs, but normally we cannot prove them as fact. Yet, we will argue our point and get mad at others because they do not accept our views. Just because someone has a different viewpoint does not mean we cannot accept them and listen to their views.

We need to keep our ears open to the leading of the Spirit, and follow on our own path looking to Jesus. That does not mean any and every path is the right one, but we cannot be the judge of who is right and who is wrong.

Jeremy Myers, in his book ‘Dying to Religion and Empire’ states, “The beautiful thing about following Jesus is that while he leads us all in the same direction, there are millions of different paths he can take to get us there. His goal, of course, is to advance the Kingdom of God on earth through the people of God who are being conformed into the image of God”. We need to follow Christ as he leads us, and then be ready to love all people, no matter if they are on the same path or not.

Let’s stop arguing, fighting, and demanding that everyone agree with us, and love those we meet along the journey. Enjoy the diversity and differences in others and use it as an opportunity to learn new things and accept people who are different than us.

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Michael Donahoe was added as a writer as his views fit perfectly with those of Done with Religion. He also writes on Substack at https://personalmeanderings.substack.com/

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How Do You Have A Relationship With An Invisible God?

Posted in christian living, Jesus follower, Love of God, tagged , , , , , on July 7, 2024|

By Mike Edwards

Those of us that grew up in the institutional church were often advised to have a daily quiet time reading the Bible, and have a prayer list to follow, to maintain a close relationship with God. That works for many. Many of us though don’t get a lot out of reading the Bible. Ritual praying rather than spontaneous prayers seems less relational. I will suggest some alternatives at the end after addressing some challenges of a relationship with One you can’t see or hear.

How can we know what a relationship with an invisible God is like? 

If there is a Creator, it is plausible they instilled in their creations a way to know them. An invisible, good, perfect God could reveal themselves through perfect human love. God is like a perfect human parent! God or parents don’t ask for worship or respect for egotistical reasons, but so we might become more like them. A relationship with God, if perfect, is surely better than any amazing human relationship we wished we had.

Our views of God matter

Our mental views of God shape our attitudes toward God. My view of God inspires me to pursue perfection in my relationships without being paralyzed by guilt when failing. I have the “want to” to be perfect. I believe that motivation comes from God! I am convinced God only wishes for all to consider the possibility of a loving God who desires to help you in your journey of becoming the person deep down you want to become. You wouldn’t being reading this blog if you weren’t such a person.

Many may not pursue a closer relationship with a God they are inclined to believe in because of what they have heard from others what God is like. Don’t believe everything you hear! God only seeks to love you like you wish you were always able to love others. We all know how we wish our parents had loved us. This is the God you can believe in to live a purposeful, meaningful live.

  • If we think God is hard to please and pissed off about sin rather than what sin is doing to us, we may judge others just as harshly rather than showing patience and mercy.
  • If God supposedly condemns gays, we will condemn gays out of devotion to God.
  • If God can prevent evil and doesn’t, isn’t that like a parent who arbitrarily decides to watch their child being sexually abused or not? Maybe God can’t love perfectly by controlling freedom. God can only stop evil with the help of others or not create freedom!

God can influence despite being invisible 

Personally, the biggest reason for being a God-follower is the inspiration and encouragement I sense in striving to be a better human being. If God is real, they should be able to make their case with each individual. Influences in our life don’t have to be audible or certain. My parents aren’t alive, but I am still influenced by them in my decisions. I sense God’s encouragement to continually strive to make the best decisions I know at the time in a free world. Pursuit of a godly life is never in vain! 

Why is God so hidden? 

God may not speak to us demonstratively out of love. Just because earthly parents sometime know and advise what is best for their older child, such advice doesn’t always work out. In fact, overzealousness can lead to feeling controlled, thus rejecting what is best for one’s own good. God’s awing or overwhelming presence may only lead to fearful obligations to obey. The road traveled of learning, reflecting, and not being pressured may best lead to lasting convictions and more meaningful relationships.

Habits to stay connected with God

Individuals must find habits that personally help in feeling like they have a relationship with God. I can share what works for me. As mentioned, it is important to constantly challenge our views of God. We have to constantly analyze views of God that may set us up for failures to obtain a connection. I find reading the Bible by itself challenging. I find reading books that discuss the Bible and its possible teachings lead to self-talk in what God is really like. Writing is an outlet for me. It is a habit that keeps me thinking about God in my life. For others it may be walks in nature or listening to sermons online. Just find a way to keep thinking about God in your life. Those quiet conversations allow God’s influence in how we treat others.

I am convinced one has nothing to lose by giving God the benefit of the doubt. Besides, that puts the onus on God to influence you that they are real. The God I know seeks to influence to do all the good we can, in all the places we can, at all the times we can, to all the people we can, as long as we can. Such a plan leads to true individual and worldly happiness in the long-run. God through their influence has made me a better man, husband, father, and friend or at least better than if on my own. I have experienced God’s encouragement to continually strive to be better.

How Do You Have A Relationship With An Invisible God?

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Mike Edwards has been writing for Done with Religion for some time and has been a great addition to the site. He couldn’t find enough people to discuss God openly so he started blogging years ago. Mike also has his own site where he writes that can be found at What God May Really Be Like  He can be contacted by email at: medwar2@gmail.com

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What I Used to Think

Posted in christian living, religion, The church, Word of God, tagged , , , , , , on July 2, 2024|

What I Wish I Had Known

by Jim Gordon

Having grown up in church all my life, there are many things I used to think and believe that have changed over the years. If I could go back fifty years and tell myself some things about my beliefs and interpretations, it would be broken down into a few different areas.

The first thing I wish I had known sooner is the New Covenant did not start at Matthew Chapter One. I never thought about Jesus living his earthly life under the law. The New Covenant did not start until His death and resurrection. When we start reading in Matthew, we are reading about the life of Christ here on earth while living and teaching under the law. He came to fulfill the law. We are restored and live by grace because of that, not by any good work we do.

I never truly thought about the fact that the Spirit of God lives within us. I always thought God was way up there in heaven, sitting on a huge throne looking down on us. I now realize God is within us. We do not have to wait until we get to heaven to communicate with God. The Spirit of God is within us. Jesus said the Kingdom of God is within you. We are not God, but we are one with God, just as Jesus prayed in John 17. He is with us each and every second.

I always went along with the church being a building. I was told that we go to the Lord’s house to worship. I never thought about us being the Church, the temple of the Holy Spirit. Christ is building a Church made without hands, a Church made up of His followers. We no longer have to wait until Sunday and go to a building to meet with God. The Spirit lives within us each and every day. We have fellowship with one another anytime two or three gather in His name. That can be in a living room, a restaurant, a pub or café, and it can be on any day, because every day is the day the Lord has made.

I used to look to the Bible as the word of God. I felt we got all our information and leading from God through the Bible. Now I know the Bible is the written words that God inspired men to write. The true, perfect, powerful Word of God is Jesus. As John 1:1 says, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And John 1:14 says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus in the one we worship and follow, not the Bible. We learn from the Bible, it is good to see how God provided a way for us to have access and be restored to God. It is good to read how others acted and reacted and how God dealt with them. Unfortunately, too many of us want to make the Bible part of the trinity and worship it. The Bible is not part of God. Jesus is the word. The Spirit of Christ guides us. Study the Bible, learn from it, but do not worship it and look to it as our guide when the Spirit is our guide.

The Christian life is an ongoing, daily learning process. Sometimes we get to thinking we cannot question what we have been taught over the years. It is not wrong to question. It is not a lack a faith to wonder and seek truth. In all honesty, if we are not changing, growing, questioning and learning, I would have to wonder if there wasn’t something wrong. The Holy Spirit lives within us and He is fresh and current, and is our teacher and guide. Our interpretations and views will definitely change over time as He leads us into truth. I just wonder in the next twenty years what it will be that I wish I knew now.

Jim Gordon and his wife left the institutional church after spending over fifty years within the system. Jim wanted a way to express his thoughts and concerns about the religious system and why he and his wife decided to leave the institution but not their faith in God. Jim can be contacted by email at: jimgordon731@gmail.com

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