Having a discussion with some folks over a local pastor that plead guilty to molesting his foster child for the last 7 years. After someone offered a prayer for her healing I asked "Rather than damage control, why didn't god prevent the molestation by one of his representatives 7 years ago? Isn't it too late to get god involved now? The answer was.. "God gave man dominion over the earth" as if this answer made sense.
So I asked "Which is it? Does god NOT ever get involved as you suggest with your "dominion" reasoning, or does he? You can't have it both ways. You can't pray for healing, or Johnny makes it home safe or give god credit for someone surviving a car accident but then when a tornado wipes out a daycare center, or a child is repeatedly raped for 7 years, throw up your hands and say "God gave man dominion over the earth"....
Thoughts MOS?
Since I know you won't agree with my words here are some quick copy and pastes from my previous posts:
Nominal Christian:That pastor is not a Christian. Sorry that behavior is demonic and no person made a new man in Christ would or could do such a thing. Plenty of nominal Christians....even pastors. Plenty of heretical teachings and sinful practices from "God's representatives" all over the place.
Mankind is given dominion over the earth:
Genesis 1:26
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.When you're given dominion you act as governor over that with which you've been given authority, but from the perspective of the giver you are acting as a steward on his behalf.
A steward is one given authority by a greater power to manage a situation. A king would often have governors or stewards over territories within his kingdom.
God is the creator and king and empowers mankind as stewards in that they are given dominion over creation to govern it and all its resources.
Why pray?The main reason I can think of to pray is that Jesus Christ told us to pray and later the apostle Paul affirmed that we should pray (without ceasing) according to that which was revealed to him by Jesus Christ.
A second reason to consider praying is that while Jesus Christ came as the incarnate Son of God on earth and assumed a limited human form that he prayed to God the Father for guidance and strength as an example of how we should seek him in our own lives. If prayer was appropriate for the Son of God then it’s appropriate for me…..God set the standard.
Another reason to pray is because believers are engaged in a personal relationship with the Almighty and relationships are two-way streets. How many successful relationships involve only one party engaged in communication with the other? None that I’ve ever known of. This is our opportunity as believers to consistently remain connected with our Lord and Savior and experience the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit (not the only way to feel the Holy Spirit's presence, but a powerful way).
A fourth reason to consider is that the act of prayer is not for God’s edification, it’s for ours (God doesn't need our prayers). Prayer is a means by which we as believers can strengthen our faith. Prayer is our opportunity to draw closer to God, to feel his presence via the Holy Spirit, to worship and to seek his will. As believers our will for our lives should always match God’s will for our lives. Almost every day I pray and I ask God that he reveal himself through me to others and that his will be done in my life. I pray that I am able to recognize his fingerprints and guidance along the way to ensure that he will is being accomplished and that I’m not a hindrance. As Dave already suggested, God’s will for our lives is perfect and anything less than that is a step in wrong direction.
A fifth reason to consider prayer is that despite the fact that God doesn’t change his mind about his will for our lives this doesn’t necessitate his inability to intervene supernaturally to right the course of our lives while remaining in complete harmony with his preset will for our lives…..he is God afterall. How does he accomplish this? Wish I could tell you LOL.
Why are people allowed to suffer? So that we can more clearly recognize the division between us and God and our need for him in our lives. It's the effect of our sinful choices that have brought about our pain. This world and it inhabitants exist in a perpetual state of decay. We're subjected to evil, disease, famine, disasters, etc.....all the results of our sin. God gave us dominion over his creation and we're to govern it and it's inhabitants appropriately. He's also allowed us to engage in activities and choices that he knew would harm is good creation and defy his will and law. The gulf of sin dividing creation from creator is recognized by those who seek to eliminate their individual sin and encourage others to do the same.
God desires for us to be saved, repent of our sins and seek his righteousness in our lives. To be filled with his spirit and guided by it for the remainder of our days seeking his will as opposed to our own. Salvation is the answer to the problem of evil and the problem is resolved one soul at a time. Having the ability to engage in every form of good and wicked choice makes those humble choices to surrender to God's will that much more genuine and sincere.
The answer to our evil choices is Jesus Christ. The representative God sent was himself. We can choose live for him as the salt and light and hands and feet or we can pretend to love God and represent evil and hurt others.
Expected replies:
"tl/dr......I feel sorry for you.....are you kidding me.....etc...."
