- Joined
- 14 Mar 15
- Moves
- 30613
08 Jun 18
Matthew 4:7 tells us, "Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” - While Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.’”
So which is it? As an atheist, is it okay for me to test God so as to prove his existence?!
The above Malachi passage uses the Hebrew word 'bachan' for “test.” (Who's meaning we can best translate as “to examine, 'scrutinize' or 'prove.' ) Would it therefore not be acceptable for me, as an unbeliever, to ask God to 'prove' His existence to me in some kind of a test?
08 Jun 18
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeDepends, are you are righteous atheist or an unrighteous atheist ?
Matthew 4:7 tells us, "Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” - While Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much bless ...[text shortened]... able for me, as an unbeliever, to ask God to 'prove' His existence to me in some kind of a test?
God hears the righteous only.
His ears are turned away from the unrighteous.
- Joined
- 14 Mar 15
- Moves
- 30613
08 Jun 18
Originally posted by @rajk999Not particularly enamored with the word 'righteous' but for the sake of argument, would you say, that for a 'righteous atheist,' it's okay to test God?
Depends, are you are righteous atheist or an unrighteous atheist ?
God hears the righteous only.
His ears are turned away from the unrighteous.
I'm minded of a couple of biblical passages:
John 14:14 - "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." And:
Romans 10:12 - 'For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him.'
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeYou are safe with Jesus' definition of 'righteous' in Matt 25.
Not particularly enamored with the word 'righteous' but for the sake of argument, would you say, that for a 'righteous atheist,' it's okay to test God?
I'm minded of a couple of biblical passages:
John 14:14 - "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." And:
Romans 10:12 - 'For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him.'
Its not hard to be righteous.
So give it a shot and tell us if God responds. 🙂
- Joined
- 14 Mar 15
- Moves
- 30613
08 Jun 18
Originally posted by @rajk999I did share previously about a strange 'dream' I had a year or so ago when a hand (quite possibly God's) reached down towards me from the sky. (No, I didn't reach up to grab it, or at least have no memory of doing so). - Theists will probably read a lot into this (I believe sonship did last time) but you need to keep in mind that due to my erratic and broken sleep I dream a lot and will often have several completely separate dreams in the course of one night. (Many of them odd).
You are safe with Jesus' definition of 'righteous' in Matt 25.
Its not hard to be righteous.
So give it a shot and tell us if God responds. 🙂
So, I will hereby test God and ask that (if He exists) He reaches out again to me tonight in one of my dreams. - Now, as it is entirely possible I will subconsciously influence my own dream, I will also ask that He reaches out to my wife in her dream as well (something I will not tell her about, so as not to influence her dreams in any way).
If we both dream tonight of God reaching out to us He will have passed the test and I will report this faithfully back here tomorrow.
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeWell sonship and his type will make a big hullabaloo about such things. Chances are that your dream has nothing at all to do with God contacting you. If it happens often then you should get worried [or excited]. What God dislikes is ultimatums like .. contact me or I will kill myself. Some have done it like that and you know what happened ... 😀
I did share previously about a strange 'dream' I had a year or so ago when a hand (quite possibly God's) reached down towards me from the sky. (No, I didn't reach up to grab it, or at least have no memory of doing so). - Theists will probably read a lot into this (I believe sonship did last time) but you need to keep in mind that due to my erratic a ...[text shortened]... ing out to us He will have passed the test and I will report this faithfully back here tomorrow.
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeI dont think so. I actually know someone who did that. A young guy got mixed up with some Pentecostal born again foolishness. Apparently the pastor told him that he has the Holy Spirit and anything he asks God will grant him. Well he decided to demonstrate that he can drink poison like the bible says and live. No box of doughnuts for him.
I'm hoping the answer is:
God sent them a box of doughnuts.
09 Jun 18
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeSooooo???
I did share previously about a strange 'dream' I had a year or so ago when a hand (quite possibly God's) reached down towards me from the sky. (No, I didn't reach up to grab it, or at least have no memory of doing so). - Theists will probably read a lot into this (I believe sonship did last time) but you need to keep in mind that due to my erratic a ...[text shortened]... ing out to us He will have passed the test and I will report this faithfully back here tomorrow.
Did God reach out to you and your wife??
Are you now a theist? With no more talk of banquets?
- Joined
- 14 Mar 15
- Moves
- 30613
10 Jun 18
Originally posted by @chaney3No. 2 possibilities:
Sooooo???
Did God reach out to you and your wife??
Are you now a theist? With no more talk of banquets?
1. God doesn't exist.
2. God doesn't respond to tests by arrogant atheists.
10 Jun 18
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeI think it’s OK to test God to see if he is faithful. But testing God in sinful ways is a different way of testing God.
Matthew 4:7 tells us, "Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” - While Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much bless ...[text shortened]... able for me, as an unbeliever, to ask God to 'prove' His existence to me in some kind of a test?
10 Jun 18
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeNo disrespect, but I'm going with 2.
No. 2 possibilities:
1. God doesn't exist.
2. God doesn't respond to tests by arrogant atheists.
10 Jun 18
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeDarn, I was hoping God would 'speak' to you. Oh well.
No. 2 possibilities:
1. God doesn't exist.
2. God doesn't respond to tests by arrogant atheists.
And I agree with Suzianne and option #2.