Why Do People Need God?

[Jersey]

Why do people think they need God to get through the day?

 

[ebia]

Why do people think they need God to get through the day?

Because we are created to be the image of God for the world.

 

[dead2self]

I need God because He sustains all of creation (including ME) by the word of His power. If He stopped actively sustaining the universe, it would simply cease to be. There's one reason we all need Him.

Another is that we are created to be fulfilled by Him and Him alone. We are meant to behold His glory. Without Him, we are empty no matter how much we amuse ourselves with the things of the world.

Of course, in the way I think you mean the question, we don't need Him. We get along just fine. We just never become truly fulfilled and in the end will perish. But we can live what life He grants us without Him and get by.

Many claim that Christ is a crutch. Pastor John Piper replies that of course He is. Cripples need crutches and we are indeed crippled. Only in Christ can we truly bw whole.

 

[JCFantasy23]

Because after I became close to Him and accepted Him into my heart, I cannot imagine not having him throughout the day now. It has been so long since I was not close to God that I cant remember what it was like before, and I'm glad I can't.

 

[unkern]

Its a tough world out there and if im going to overcome these challenges and keep joyful I need God

 

[Jersey]

Because we are created to be the image of God for the world.

I don't see where this has anything to do with needing God to get through the day? Why is it that people like me and other non-believers get through the day just fine without a God? If I need help or advice, I have friends, family and associates that I can depend, what's wrong with that? At least I can see, hear and literally communicate with them. Can you do that with something you can't even perceive with your natural senses?

 

[ebia]

I don't see where this has anything to do with needing God to get through the day?

We cannot be what we are made to be without God - if we go through the day without God then we aren't being fully human.

Why is it that people like me and other non-believers get through the day just fine without a God?

I would say that you don't, you just think you do.

John went to school one day. He had a row with his homeroom teacher about constantly arriving late, he daydreamed through maths, spent SOSE trying to access porn by tunnelling through the schools firewall, had a fight in the yard at lunchtime and wagged the afternoon periods. He went home quite happy - he'd gotten through another school day ok. His parents perception when they got the phonecall from John's house-leader was quite different.

If you fail to be the image of God then you have failed the whole purpose of the day in the first place - you haven't got through it ok at all.

 

[ebia]

sounds like he had a pretty normal day at school to me. who hasnt wagged lessons to go see a film or hasnt gone off into a daydream in a un-liked lesson. its called pushing the boundaries, seeing what you can get away with. its human nature.

"If you have ears to hear..." My explanation is in the story and I'll leave it at that.

 

[Jersey]

We cannot be what we are made to be without God - if we go through the day without God then we aren't being fully human.

That's odd. I never believed in God all my life and I've turned to be a pretty decent human being. I did it all without God too.

Why is it that people like me and other non-believers get through the day just fine without a God?
I would say that you don't, you just think you do.

Aren't you being a little presumptuous? You don't even know me personally. So how can you say that I don't get through my days like any other natural human being? I admit, not everyday is perfect and I'm sure you have tough days too. Are all your days perfect?

John went to school one day. He had a row with his homeroom teacher about constantly arriving late, he daydreamed through maths, spent SOSE trying to access porn by tunnelling through the schools firewall, had a fight in the yard at lunchtime and wagged the afternoon periods. He went home quite happy - he'd gotten through another school day ok. His parents perception when they got the phonecall from John's house-leader was quite different.

And what is the purpose of telling this story of John at school? Is this based on a real person? IF so, what is the point of the story? Oh silly me, he didn't have Jesus or God in his life perhaps?

If you fail to be the image of God then you have failed the whole purpose of the day in the first place - you haven't got through it ok at all.

Well, that's just your opinion even though I think you are dead wrong. But for what it's worth, I had a pretty productive day today and I feel pretty good about myself and the people I associate with on a daily basis. They even think I'm a decent fellow even though I don't believe in any God or any religion.

Other than that, it's been somewhat nice chattin with you. I think?

 

[Jersey]

I need God because He sustains all of creation (including ME) by the word of His power. If He stopped actively sustaining the universe, it would simply cease to be. There's one reason we all need Him.

He must get pretty tired doing all of that "sustaining" don't you think? Does that mean God causes thunder and lightening to take place whenever he is getting bored in the cosmos? Or what about all those earthquakes and tornadoes? Does he cause those too? Why is it that scientists have never found any God sustaining anything in the universe and are able to give explanations based on natural phenomena?

Many claim that Christ is a crutch. Pastor John Piper replies that of course He is. Cripples need crutches and we are indeed crippled. Only in Christ can we truly bw whole.

It's really sad to hear someone refer to themselves like this, really. I am not a cripple and certainly not crippled mentally. Although there are many people who are physically or mentally challenged in some form or another and they do seek help from professionals. Why have you bought into this idea that you are crippled? Crippled how?

 

[Jersey]

Because after I became close to Him and accepted Him into my heart, I cannot imagine not having him throughout the day now. It has been so long since I was not close to God that I cant remember what it was like before, and I'm glad I can't.

I can certainly understand what you are saying if you were talking about an actual, literal relationship with another human being who you are able to interact with by normal human communication. But how can you say the same thing about a God that never talks back to you? A God that might not even be there at all?

 

[dead2self]

He must get pretty tired doing all of that "sustaining" don't you think?

God cannot get tired. He is infinite and therefore cannot come close to exerting Himself.

Does that mean God causes thunder and lightening to take place whenever he is getting bored in
the cosmos?

God does cause thunder and lightning, but not because He's bored. He cannot be bored. He is entirely self-sufficient and fully satified within Himself.

Or what about all those earthquakes and tornadoes? Does he cause those too?

Yes, He causes them too.

Why is it that scientists have never found any God sustaining anything in the universe and are able to give explanations based on natural phenomena?

First, as I am sure you are aware, we are more advance today than yesterday, and will be more advanced tomorrow thatn we are today. We continually grow in our understanding. It would be arrogant to think we are at the peak of possible knowlege and infallible in what we have discovered. As for our explanations of what cause these things, these natural phenomena you speak of, God is behind them too.

It's really sad to hear someone refer to themselves like this, really. I am not a cripple and certainly not crippled mentally. Although there are many people who are physically or mentally challenged in some form or another and they do seek help from professionals. Why have you bought into this idea that you are crippled? Crippled how?

I was created for a purpose. I rebelled against that and forsook the only thing in the universe which could make me whole. Man was not meant to live without God. Can you honestly look around at the world and tell me we are doing a good job in our efforts to? We are crippled in that we are incomplete. What I find sad is someone so sure of his own ability and worth that he continues to deny that which will give him true and lasting joy.

If you think being a cripple who leans on God is a miserable thing you are quite wrong. It is actually quite exillerating to lean on the creator of the universe for strength. Living in the prescence of such amazing glory and power is what we are meant to do and is an awesome experience. Your faith icon labels you a seeker. You must feel that something is missing. This friend, is what you seek. You see, I sought something too. But when I realised these truths, I stopped my quest. That which I sought was found. I no longer need to seek.

In God we find true meaning to life, purpose, fulfillemen, and everlasting joy. Our thirst for glory and power are fully satisfied when we behold our God.

 

[JCFantasy23]

I can certainly understand what you are saying if you were talking about an actual, literal relationship with another human being who you are able to interact with by normal human communication. But how can you say the same thing about a God that never talks back to you? A God that might not even be there at all?

To me He just is real, I don't know how to explain it in a way that makes sense to someone who does not have a relationship to Him. When I pray I feel him there, and I feel Him with me throughout the day. It is different from human interaction, sure, but with God I feel happy because He is the only one who can love unconditionally, and understands me fully. I understand it is hard to accept or understand without being in the same shoes I am though. He does not speak back to me with words but I feel his presence and his direction much of the time.

 

[Jersey]

To me He just is real, I don't know how to explain it in a way that makes sense to someone who does not have a relationship to Him. When I pray I feel him there, and I feel Him with me throughout the day. It is different from human interaction, sure, but with God I feel happy because He is the only one who can love unconditionally, and understands me fully. I understand it is hard to accept or understand without being in the same shoes I am though. He does not speak back to me with words but I feel his presence and his direction much of the time.

I don't see where having a relationship with someone should be difficult to explain at all. I have a relationship with my wife. We can have a one on one conversation and we KNOW for sure it is real. No faith is required. But how can you say you have a relationship with something that you can't even perceive with your natural senses and yet say it's real? It seems like all that you have is something that occurs in your head and not outside of it.

 

[razzelflabben]

I don't see where this has anything to do with needing God to get through the day? Why is it that people like me and other non-believers get through the day just fine without a God? If I need help or advice, I have friends, family and associates that I can depend, what's wrong with that? At least I can see, hear and literally communicate with them. Can you do that with something you can't even perceive with your natural senses?

the bible tells us that man desires unconditional love. Now in all my years, all my study of people, this is a truth that I have seen time and time again. The one constant in life, the one thing that man cannot escape is the need to be loved. It goes so far that one of my professors told of a study in which they took orphans, one group they gave only the needs, that is food, water, clothing, etc. the other they gave food, water, clothing, etc. through the use of physical contact usually associated with love. The group without the physical contact, were thin, poor health, etc. Compared to the group that had "love" which was thriving, healthy, strong, intelligent, etc. Man, like it or not, needs, wants, and thrives on love.

Now, we see through the bible as well as empirical evidence that man was created for love, that is both receiving and giving. The bible further tells us that Love is the command of God, Love is the heart of God, the purpose of God. God, that is equated to Love (here we refer to unconditional or biblical love, not just some warm emotion) restores us to our intended purpose, it is that love that completes us, allows us to thrive.

Your question is why do we need God to get through a day? Because in God we thrive! You see, the children who lived without love lived, but they didn't thrive, they didn't preform to their potential. You can live without God, that is, you can breath, function, exist. But if you want to Live, I mean really live, if you want to thrive, to meet up with your full potential, you need to see, touch, know, experience love. That love, is beyond what humans alone are capable of. Case in point, have you ever been hurt by someone you loved or were loved by? Have you ever hurt someone you loved? Love, the kind people desire, is not selfish, is not boastful, it doesn't think of itself. The love people want is the love that gives us worth, a worth greater than we can imagine. It is unconditional love, it is a love that says, you are more important than anything else in my life. Often times we want love that is more important than the one giving that love as well, which is the love that God gives.

Now having said all this, I realize that you will more than likely think and/or say, I get that love from my spouse, my parents, my friends, etc. But that is why the question, has someone who loved you hurt you, or have you ever hurt someone you loved? Because unconditional love means that you who are receiving the love, whether coming from you or someone else, the receiver of the love is foremost in thought and mind. The one giving the love, humbles him/her self, that others might have worth, love.

We need God because God is Love and as such, restores us to our intended purpose that we might thrive and reach our full potential.

 

[razzelflabben]

To me He just is real, I don't know how to explain it in a way that makes sense to someone who does not have a relationship to Him. When I pray I feel him there, and I feel Him with me throughout the day. It is different from human interaction, sure, but with God I feel happy because He is the only one who can love unconditionally, and understands me fully. I understand it is hard to accept or understand without being in the same shoes I am though. He does not speak back to me with words but I feel his presence and his direction much of the time.

Actually, God's communication with us, if complete, that means, words, as well as internal emotions and thoughts and love. Let me see, how to explain it. God communicates with our spirit because He is spirit. This spirit is a part of us like our ID is a part of us, or our emotions are a part of us. Science compartmentalizes man all the time, it makes it easier to identify what is right or wrong, but in the end, without all the parts, working together, man isn't whole. Communication with God is kind of like that, if we compartmentalize it, that communication is in our spirit. But it is the whole man that makes sense out of it.

 

[razzelflabben]

I don't see where having a relationship with someone should be difficult to explain at all. I have a relationship with my wife. We can have a one on one conversation and we KNOW for sure it is real. No faith is required. But how can you say you have a relationship with something that you can't even perceive with your natural senses and yet say it's real? It seems like all that you have is something that occurs in your head and not outside of it.

Look, the word you used wife, tells us something about your relationship with the person you refer to. It tells us what type of relationship you have, it's a qualifier. Try explaining the relationship you have with your wife without these qualifiers. How do we know you are talking about your wife and not some other person? The qualifiers make the difference. The same is true with God. God is spirit, not none existant, not flesh and blood, not emotional, not made believe. He is spirit. The qualifier here is spirit. In other words, the qualifier tells us that the communication is with the spirit, not the mind, not the emotions, though like with your wife, these are part of the relationship, the communication is different from your wife than from me for example. Communication with God is a spiritual communication, not a mental one, not a faith only one, though faith is involved, the communication is spiritual. Though your communication with your wife is audible, you also experience it sensually kind of thing. The qualifiers make the difference when we are talking about the kind of communication that exists and how it speaks to us.

 

[JCFantasy23]

I don't see where having a relationship with someone should be difficult to explain at all. I have a relationship with my wife. We can have a one on one conversation and we KNOW for sure it is real. No faith is required. But how can you say you have a relationship with something that you can't even perceive with your natural senses and yet say it's real? It seems like all that you have is something that occurs in your head and not outside of it.

It is difficult to describe having a relationship with God to someone who does not, it just is because they haven't been there I guess. No, we do not have one on one conversations but through prayer I feel God with me. It is a special relationship that is not like what I share with humans.

 

[Jersey]

It is difficult to describe having a relationship with God to someone who does not, it just is because they haven't been there I guess. No, we do not have one on one conversations but through prayer I feel God with me. It is a special relationship that is not like what I share with humans.

Did it ever occur to you that since it is difficult to explain is because when you are praying all you are doing is talking to yourself? Just what do you mean when you say that you "feel" God is with you? Isn't that just wishful thinking?

 

[JCFantasy23]

Did it ever occur to you that since it is difficult to explain is because when you are praying all you are doing is talking to yourself? Just what do you mean when you say that you "feel" God is with you? Isn't that just wishful thinking?

No, when I speak to myself it is different. I feel the wash of the Holy Spirit when I pray about certain things, and other times I just sense a presence. Again, unless you have experienced it, it will likely be hard for you to see what I mean.