Every Man a Liar
This is a blog about what men (and women) do.
They fight and argue, they lie and steal, they war and plunder.
In the crusades, atrocities were committed by Christians as they attempted to convert the known world by force.
The muslims had a period of "killing the infidel" - being those that refused to convert to Islam.
Men stole other men from their native homes and forced them into slavery in strange lands where they couldn't understand the language. They were treated in the most terrible ways - and still today they are not entirely free.
The sons of the sons of the sons of the sons of the men that did this to them, rather than be apologetic are active in suggesting that the remnant of the slave trade should be "sent home". It gets me angry. But I know who I am angry with.
And it isn't God.
The most terrible attrocities have been carried out by men, often under the excuse that it is "in God's name". Well, here's a shocker. If men say it is in God's name but it is not what God would do, it is not in God's name. Jesus said that anything you ask for in his name would be given to us. And people get dispirited when they don't get what they want - like good health or whatever. They think they have been short changed - they haven't. They perhaps thought they were asking in God's name - just like the crusaders probably really believed they were acting in God's name. They weren't.
Every man is a liar. Be angry with them. God alone is true - don't shout at him, you are one of those men we mentioned earlier.
When you see injustices in the name of God and shout up at the sky, "why do you allow this?" Don't look straight back down. Listen to Jesus' reply as he says, "you're telling me, the buggers crucified me for healing people and forgiving their sins - and all of that apparently in the name of God!"
Romans 3:4a "Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar."
They fight and argue, they lie and steal, they war and plunder.
In the crusades, atrocities were committed by Christians as they attempted to convert the known world by force.
The muslims had a period of "killing the infidel" - being those that refused to convert to Islam.
Men stole other men from their native homes and forced them into slavery in strange lands where they couldn't understand the language. They were treated in the most terrible ways - and still today they are not entirely free.
The sons of the sons of the sons of the sons of the men that did this to them, rather than be apologetic are active in suggesting that the remnant of the slave trade should be "sent home". It gets me angry. But I know who I am angry with.
And it isn't God.
The most terrible attrocities have been carried out by men, often under the excuse that it is "in God's name". Well, here's a shocker. If men say it is in God's name but it is not what God would do, it is not in God's name. Jesus said that anything you ask for in his name would be given to us. And people get dispirited when they don't get what they want - like good health or whatever. They think they have been short changed - they haven't. They perhaps thought they were asking in God's name - just like the crusaders probably really believed they were acting in God's name. They weren't.
Every man is a liar. Be angry with them. God alone is true - don't shout at him, you are one of those men we mentioned earlier.
When you see injustices in the name of God and shout up at the sky, "why do you allow this?" Don't look straight back down. Listen to Jesus' reply as he says, "you're telling me, the buggers crucified me for healing people and forgiving their sins - and all of that apparently in the name of God!"
Romans 3:4a "Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar."
posted by Evo1 at 8:05 AM
22 Comments:
You are of course right, we do shoulder responsibility for the difficulties people have in knowing God for themselves - but then, not all of it. The individual must ultimately make there mind up seperate from the way they see others behave - and that's what my latest blog is getting at.
Thanks for the clue, I was wondering.
Here I have really been dealing with the bare existence of God without any of the cuddly bits that go with Him.
The current audience aren't too keen on cuddling.
What do you mean by cuddly bits? If you mean God's love, forgiveness and grace etc, then you are ignoring very important aspects of God, not to mention the central message of the Gospel Jesus preached.
Rest assured I'm not ignoring them. You will find little bits in what I think are the right places.
Feel free to add more where you think necessary.
But you think your 'audience' doesn't respond well to these things?
I just think it might be wise to be sensitive to requirement and perhaps clearing out some misconceptions in order to make straight the way for the Lord!
i will admit that man has done some terrible things to others, not only in the name of god but just because they are different, there has been many reasons for wars and attrocities in the world but one of the biggest reasons is religion, why if all religions preach love and understanding can all religions not get on with each other? i once had an idea whilst the troubles in N. ireland were going on, my idea was to put about 1000 people of the two religions together in a giant room for about a month and make religion a no go area for the month, after the month, i would have loved to have seen how many friendships had been made and then ask each little friends group to come clean and tell everyone what religion they were, i wonder how many of these groups would have only been 1 religion and not mixed denomination?
You see, I don't define people by their religion or belief's. I just see the person. I have many friends, (hard to believe, I know) christians, jews, muslim, but they are just people to me.
Life...its just a bunch of stuff that happens
Me too Mark. So that's you me and Lucy that don't discriminate between friends. Seems only Phil has that inclination.
i do not discriminate with anyone, as im sure my mix of friends will show, i have a vast mix of cultures in this list. i see a person for a person.
i have not said i cant be friends with other religions, i said in a lot of cases in the world it is the case, there is no way you can deny this one, but if you do try to do this, please turn on the news and watch tonight, ask carl if he might be going to get drawn into a conflict that has nothing to do with him, try looking at northern ireland over the last 100 years or so, look at iraq, russia, czeckoslovakia, kurdistan, pakistan, afghanistan, the middle east, need i go on?
i have not said i cant be friends with other religions, i said in a lot of cases in the world it is the case, there is no way you can deny this one, but if you do try to do this, please turn on the news and watch tonight, ask carl if he might be going to get drawn into a conflict that has nothing to do with him, try looking at northern ireland over the last 100 years or so, look at iraq, russia, czeckoslovakia, kurdistan, pakistan, afghanistan, the middle east, need i go on?
Could you skip to the part where you make a point though?
So far you just seem to be upholding what I'm saying?
i have just made my point in the last comment, religion is responsible for a lot of wars.
Actually, and we are on evolution again here, it is our nature to huddle together in groups and fight opposing groups no matter what they might be. It keeps our genes purer would you believe -
That is not what I think should be the case, it is just the force of nature - survival of the fittest and all of that before anyone jumps and shouts at me. It is also natural to abandon the sick and weak since any time/energy/resource spent on them is just a waste. That of course is the rule of animals - it's what our sinful nature drives us to want. Thankfully, we are equipped to rise above this.
But religion? Not sure this is anything special. I'm sure given half a chance, just as many fights and arguments would be caused by say colour/creed, football team, political persuasion. And if you argue against that, I propose you watch the news a bit - especially things like the current middle east crisis etc where people are scrapping over land.
Serious question, do you really and honestly believe that the underlying problem in Northern Ireland is religion?
phil said...
i have just made my point in the last comment, religion is responsible for a lot of wars.
Religion is just an excuse and the way some people split themselves into tribe.
All the majr religions of the world can be seen to promote justice and peace, it depends how you look at them.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the Peacemakers". Some Christians think he meant it, but others try to explain how their particular war or brand of violence is exempt from this pivotal teaching. That's the way people are, it doesn't mean Christianity isn't about making peace and working for justice etc.
the trouble with jesus and religion is as you have just shown karin,what is written can be seen by two different people as two different things you say it means this but some people think it means this, so the trouble is we dont know for certain what it actually means so you may have 100 people in the same religion reading into things in a different way, therefore making no certain meaning to the written word whatsoever, so if all believers cant agree why the hell should i even try to understand?
I suppose it depends whether it is important to fully understand everything or not.
I have a reasonable idea of how a car works - probably better than yours - but I don't say that you shouldn't be allowed to drive because of it. And a good job too because there are no doubt many people getting in line to ban me too!
not important to understand everything, but maybe if you all took the same meanings from "stories" in the bible it might be a start.
Perhaps you should read this blog again. You are basing an argument against God (I presume) on what men do. Read the title again - slowly.
As St Paul says, "now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face to face". If you think anyone is claiming to have all the answers, think again.
Even the guy with no knowledge of how a car works is allowed to drive - it's all part of the tapestry.
There's also the fact that certain "stories" as you put them, can mean more than one thing so plenty of room for people to have different understandings.
phil said...
the trouble with jesus and religion is as you have just shown karin,what is written can be seen by two different people as two different things you say it means this but some people think it means this, so the trouble is we dont know for certain what it actually means so you may have 100 people in the same religion reading into things in a different way, therefore making no certain meaning to the written word whatsoever, so if all believers cant agree why the hell should i even try to understand?
That is a good point, Phil. There are times when I have trouble believing myself, based on the way some Chrsitians behave.
I don't really know what the answer is, but there are some Christians I've met who really seem to have a divine spark and they help me to hold on to my faith. Perhaps you will meet someone like that one day and wonder if God could be real.
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