At the end of a recent sermon, I asked worshippers to share any questions about faith, theology (the study of God), religion, doubt, or spirituality with me. So far, I have received ten questions. I have grouped those that are similar. Here they are:
How was God created?
How do we really know there is a heaven? Do you think our loved ones in Heaven will find us when we die?
Is there a literal hell after death? If one has committed sins against the creator, why is it a surety that one will not dwell in the depths of hell? HE cannot forget, I surely never will, though countless years have passed.
Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God allow evil in our world?
Is it wrong to question every word in the bible? How can we determine which parts of the Bible should be taken literally and which parts should be taken metaphorically? Example: creation, Resurrection, miracles (walking on water, water into wine at Cana, heaven-hell, virgin birth)
What is God’s position on happiness and laughter? I looked it up, there are 365 positive scriptures in the Bible. Yet, they are rarely preached upon. Most sermons are sermons based on a calendar. How does God feel about us being happy?
These are important, good and straightforward questions!!! I thank those who have submitted them!
Over a period of time, I plan on addressing these questions. One way is in this blog.
Now remember, I am not "right" in any answer I give. I'll share what I believe ... that is, "the basket I put my eggs in." The truth is, this side of heaven, we cannot know for sure! But, we have wonderful resources to rely on and trust: scripture, the interpretation of scripture, tradition, experience and common sense. I'll give my best shot at providing slants on issues that I have pondered for the last 50+ years.
Here is the first question I'll address: How was God created? This is a great question!!!
Hmmm ... It is very difficult for "created" human beings to imagine, let alone grasp the concept that something wasn't created. We have a beginning and an end, a birth and a death. We live straight-line lives. Our lives are marked by a birthdate and a deathdate. We have past, present and future.
As Christians we claim that God was neither created nor dies. God is without beginning and without end. God does not "live" in the same way humans live. Inadequate words hint at it ... God always was, always is, and always will be. (You see it is tough to talk about God without referring to time: past, present, or future.)
One theologian (I forget who ... may Cullman, or Dodd?) speaks of our living on a TIME-LINE. All that we know is restricted to a dimension that includes time ... such as creation of the earth, dinosaurs, Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, the prophets, Jesus, NOW, tomorrow, the future, the end of the earth. We live "captured" the sense of time. So, our primary way of describing existence is through time.
But, God is above or beyond earthly time. God is not constricted by time ... by past, present and future. God is beyond it.
God is able to have within his "sights" the moment of the big bang, the creation of Adam and Eve, the birth and death and resurrection of Jesus, my birth, my death, my great-great-great-grandkids, and the end of the earth ... all at the same "time." At any "time" God can view the entire scope of human existence. (See you can't even talk about God without using the human limit of "time"..,)
So, I believe that God was not created. I believe (to use inadequate words) God always was, always is, and always will be.
Man, oh man, I bethca that confused everybody!!!
Pastor Dave
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