Question asked of me...Where was God on Monday?

[Alabama Larry]

I was asked this by a coworker. I'm sure we get asked this question whenever something like this happens. Cassie in Colorado when the gunman asked for any Christians to stand and when she did she was shot. Why did God let her die? God was there, humans were there, freewill was there, Satan was there.

 

I've watched TV nonstop the last two days and for a person to do this...well I have no answer. I still hurt when I think about the attack in New York, and the War in Iraq. Satan is still in people. Bomb threats are going on as I write this and I'll be in Prayer now and at church tonite.

 

All thru the Ages there have been evil people and I know there will be more people harmed in the future. We must pray for the families in Virginia and for our own loved ones too. We live in a world of hurt and sorrow. But God was there on Monday.

[threetimelover]

I would say He was at the Holocaust and allowed Liviu Librescu to survive so years later he could save his students. The engineering professor blocked the classroom door with his body and gave his students time to escape through the windows before the shooter came and killed him.

[ladiesbballcoach]

In D-Group this morning, we discussed a similar statement and an elder had a great statement.

 

None of us would want to be in a marriage where our spouse was forced to be our spouse. A loving relationship where they had no other choice but to be our spouse. Would it be a true loving relationship? No.

 

Instead we want a relationship where our spouse WANTS to be with us. A relationship where our spouse truly loves us because they CHOSE to love us.

 

To have that though, we have to accept that sometimes ones that we love will not return that. They will turn their back on us and chose another route.

 

God wants that loving relationship with us. But for it to be a truly loving relationship, he can't make us love him. He has that power but if he chose to exercise it the loving relationship that he seeks from us, would not exist.

 

And with Him allowing us the free choice to have that loving relationship, he knows that evil will work it's way at times and MEN will choose a path that is not towards God but away from Him.

 

That is where he was Monday. Shedding a tear for Cho who turned his back on Him and forever will be in agony over that choice. He shed a tear for those that had opportunities to come to Him and chose to delay that decision because they were young and would do it tomorrow. A tomorrow we are not promised and never came.

 

And welcoming into Heaven those who had chosen to have a loving relationship with him.

[True blue (and gold)]

I would say He was at the Holocaust and allowed Liviu Librescu to survive so years later he could save his students. The engineering professor blocked the classroom door with his body and gave his students time to escape through the windows before the shooter came and killed him.

 

Absolutely awesome statement, TTL. Though this is somewhat off topic, being a teacher myself, I think that this part has touched me the most. I hope that I could do the same thing, though I pray that I never have to find out.

[The Professor]

In D-Group this morning, we discussed a similar statement and an elder had a great statement.

 

None of us would want to be in a marriage where our spouse was forced to be our spouse. A loving relationship where they had no other choice but to be our spouse. Would it be a true loving relationship? No.

 

Instead we want a relationship where our spouse WANTS to be with us. A relationship where our spouse truly loves us because they CHOSE to love us.

 

To have that though, we have to accept that sometimes ones that we love will not return that. They will turn their back on us and chose another route.

 

God wants that loving relationship with us. But for it to be a truly loving relationship, he can't make us love him. He has that power but if he chose to exercise it the loving relationship that he seeks from us, would not exist.

 

And with Him allowing us the free choice to have that loving relationship, he knows that evil will work it's way at times and MEN will choose a path that is not towards God but away from Him.

 

That is where he was Monday. Shedding a tear for Cho who turned his back on Him and forever will be in agony over that choice. He shed a tear for those that had opportunities to come to Him and chose to delay that decision because they were young and would do it tomorrow. A tomorrow we are not promised and never came.

 

And welcoming into Heaven those who had chosen to have a loving relationship with him.

I know you truly believe this LBBC, and I have always respected your opinions, but my question is, why would God shed a tear for this killer and at the same time turn His back on 32 other innocent souls? His children.

Why???

This is a question that has bothered me for years. If God has the power to stop evil, and doesn't, then is He really 'good'? I know many argue that God gives everyone free-will. But why would He give someone the free-will to kill His children? Since He is All Knowing, He knows what the killer's free-will is well beforehand. God is suppose to be All Knowing, All Powerful, and All Merciful....then He had to know well in advance that this guy was going to commit this atrocity (all knowing/seeing), He had the power to stop it (all powerful), and should have had the mercy and compassion to stop it (all merciful). This is where I get confused. The 'free-will' answer, in a way, seems like an easy way out when these kind of crimes happen.

These are just some of my thoughts on these type of tragedies. I felt the same way with Oklahoma City, 9-11, the Amish murders, etc..

Is there a good answer that makes sense, or was this just something that happened without any involvement of a supernatural nature? Just a mental person that slipped through the system.

[Jim Schue]

I know you truly believe this LBBC, and I have always respected your opinions, but my question is, why would God shed a tear for this killer and at the same time turn His back on 32 other innocent souls? His children.

Why???

This is a question that has bothered me for years. If God has the power to stop evil, and doesn't, then is He really 'good'? I know many argue that God gives everyone free-will. But why would He give someone the free-will to kill His children? Since He is All Knowing, He knows what the killer's free-will is well beforehand. God is suppose to be All Knowing, All Powerful, and All Merciful....then He had to know well in advance that this guy was going to commit this atrocity (all knowing/seeing), He had the power to stop it (all powerful), and should have had the mercy and compassion to stop it (all merciful). This is where I get confused. The 'free-will' answer, in a way, seems like an easy way out when these kind of crimes happen.

These are just some of my thoughts on these type of tragedies. I felt the same way with Oklahoma City, 9-11, the Amish murders, etc..

Is there a good answer that makes sense, or was this just something that happened without any involvement of a supernatural nature? Just a mental person that slipped through the system.

 

Kind of why I envision God as a passive observer sitting in a recliner watching a huge bank of TV screens.

[UKMustangFan]

I would say He was at the Holocaust and allowed Liviu Librescu to survive so years later he could save his students. The engineering professor blocked the classroom door with his body and gave his students time to escape through the windows before the shooter came and killed him.

 

 

:thumb: That is a true hero if there ever was such a thing.

[kygirl]

I feel that there isn't a good answer to that question. God and only God knows. I have to accept by FAITH that God is sovereign and he is a God of love, mercy, and compassion in the midst of suffering and tragedies.

[The Professor]

Kind of why I envision God as a passive observer sitting in a recliner watching a huge bank of TV screens.

You know, it does sometimes seem that way.

Maybe Deist, such as Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and others, had it right after all.

[cvillecat]

I feel that there isn't a good answer to that question. God and only God knows. I have to accept by FAITH that God is sovereign and he is a God of love, mercy, and compassion in the midst of suffering and tragedies.

Great answer. As sad as the tragedy in VT is just look at all the people that have banded together as one cause to honor the victims. Some of these people have never spoken to each other but are now joined in hand as they pray for Peace for the families that lost loved ones. There are people of all race and religion hurting for all the same reasons.

It sometimes is hard to understand why things happen or do not happen but as said previously, God knows and has a reason for all. Satan is real and a powerful enemy and for us to doubt only adds fuel to his fire. One day when we meet our Master in the Kingdom Of Heaven we will then know all the answers.

My heart and Prayers are with the victims and their familes of the Virginia Tech tragedy.

[Alabama Larry]

Thoughts to maybe help understand

 

To live in Christ and to die in Christ is to gain.

Count God as your only lasting treasure, he is the only stable thing in the universe.

Trust God for his albilty to do the impossible, and brings you through this nightmare and in some inscruable way, bring good out of it.

Declare that these murders were a great evil, and that God's wrath is greatly kindled by the wanton destruction of human like ceated in his image.

 

Express the truth that Satan is a reality in our world that conspires with our sin and flesh and the world to hurt people and to move people to hurt others, but know that Satan is within and under the control of God.

 

Since rebellion against God was at the root of this act of murder, let us all fear such rebellionin our own hearts and turn from it, and embrace the grace of God.

 

Remember that even those who trust Christ may be cut down but that doesn't mean they have been abandoned by God even during those agonizing hours of suffering.

 

Some of these came from the time of 09-11-01 but hold true today.

[STRIKE3]

Things happen for a reason and we may never know why. God has a plan in life and it includes, things which often we can't understand.

 

Sometimes tremendous pain is involved, loss of loved ones and unexplained answers, but faith must be kept and we must perceiver. I truly believe, from a tragedy like this, will arise a leader, or a realization for all the world to see. It often takes something unimaginable, for thought process and actions to change.

 

God works in ways, in which we see great things and others, we know not the answer. It's not our responsibility, to ask why but rather ask...."what I can do, to help in a time of healing"

[owsleyking]

In thinking over and over again the last few days...perhaps the book of Job might hold some clues!

[oldrambler]

Great answer. As sad as the tragedy in VT is just look at all the people that have banded together as one cause to honor the victims. Some of these people have never spoken to each other but are now joined in hand as they pray for Peace for the families that lost loved ones. There are people of all race and religion hurting for all the same reasons.

It sometimes is hard to understand why things happen or do not happen but as said previously, God knows and has a reason for all. Satan is real and a powerful enemy and for us to doubt only adds fuel to his fire. One day when we meet our Master in the Kingdom Of Heaven we will then know all the answers.

My heart and Prayers are with the victims and their familes of the Virginia Tech tragedy.

:thumb: Excellent post here cville, I might also add to your thoughts and say this: Who knows how many of those people at all the memorial services that you spoke of will come to know Jesus Christs as Lord and Savior through this. God uses tragedys like this to let people know that he is there and that he will provide them comfort and grace in their time of great suffering and pain. All I do know is that this terrrible act was in no way an act of God and those of us that know him as Lord and Saviour will all understand one day when we meet him.

 

Again, as I have stated in other threads .....May God bless the friends and families of these 33 people that have perished in this senseless act. My heart goes out to all and as was stated before in numerous other threads/avatars....Through this time there are no rivals or favorites and we are ALL Hokies.

[oldrambler]

I feel that there isn't a good answer to that question. God and only God knows. I have to accept by FAITH that God is sovereign and he is a God of love, mercy, and compassion in the midst of suffering and tragedies.

Great post kygirl :thumb: :thumb: . Imo you are correct and I know that you have it right when you say that we accept and walk by FAITH in God.