Some points

We all love a good Gospel post about God's love and the Gospel. Indeed Christ's sacrifice on the cross is the only means by which we can be saved and our works contribute nothing to our eternal salvation.

But we cannot pretend Christ has no commands for us as Christians.

It's all well and good if I keep mentioning God's love and the Gospel but if I completely disregard the sacraments and the COMMAND to be part of a local church and fellowship with believers I'm not doing this wholeheartedly and I'm even being seeker sensitive.

Lots of articles here actually have quite a undertone of self-centredness and that is not the Bible- again, the New Testament assumes church membership.

Oh and by the way does God use a Country's leader for his purposes? Sure according to Romans 13- as he does for the UK with Keir Starmer, the government of Somaliland, etc. If you're in political idolatory- bluntly put- get your head out of the sand and start worshipping our eternal creator who is eternally glorious and will reign forever unlike your government.

And sorry if this makes you uncomfortable but God is even sovereign over the devil himself- go and read the book of Job if you don't believe me.

So being this Reformed guy am I a grump? Nope. My in laws see a change, my wife sees a change and at family events my six and two year old nephews always pick on me to play with them out of all the uncles, eagerly tugging at my jeans!

Stay Reformed. Stay Christ Centred.

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Richard65 · M

Why did Christ have to die on the cross to save us? That's human sacrifice. God is all powerful, He makes the rules. He decided his son had to be tortured and crucified to save us, but why THAT? God is all loving, but consistently chooses torture, suffering and death (sometimes genocide) as a means to His end.

BritishFailedAesthetic · M

@Richard65 That is the Gospel. That was the ultimate demonstration of love.

Blood is necessary for atonement under God's law and Christ's sacrifice fulfilled that.

Asking about why God does things is not even comparable to an ant with it's brain trying to find out everything about the universe. God is infinite, so even with all of eternity we won't even be able to scratch the surface of God's mysteries.

As for world events nowhere does it say God approves of them- great examples are the French Calvinists in WW2 helping the Jews to find safety in Europe.

We don't sit and eat popcorn at tragedy- we do something.

Richard65 · M

@BritishFailedAesthetic you say trying to understand God with our ant's brain is pointless, yet you go to Bible studies to try and interpret God's word with your ant's brain. If God decides a blood sacrifice is what is needed for us to atone for our sins, we ARE expected to understand that act and interpret what it means, yet then you say we won't even be able to scratch the surface of God's mysteries. Your entire view is utterly contradictory.

BritishFailedAesthetic · M

@Richard65 Nope. I see the consequences of my sin and why Christ's death on the cross (and the wrath of God being poured out on Christ, God the Son) was very necessary.

The whataboutery isn't necessary.

Richard65 · M

@BritishFailedAesthetic it isn't whataboutery. I'm literally questioning your own flawed logic. You clearly state two contradictory positions, then refuse to acknowledge them. Maybe put my point at your next meeting and see what others have to say about it.

BritishFailedAesthetic · M

@Richard65 I'd get a range of insightful responses from more knowledgeable people who care more about debating.

Richard65 · M

@BritishFailedAesthetic aww, mate, even YOU can see my point, but you're reluctant to engage because I can probably debate better than you can. I'm well aware of the flawed position you took and challenged you on it. Now, you choose to run away. I see right through you. Please yourself, but it's clear you can't back up your own belief. I thought you guys welcomed questions about the faith? Seems not....

BritishFailedAesthetic · M

@Richard65 We cannot fully comprehend God's actions and glory.

We can comprehend the Bible's words but we learn new things each time we read it.

I have read the Bible everyday for many years and it still grips me. Try any other book that does that.

We cannot comprehend God's actions. We can understand the Bible but never fully comprehend it's glory.

Does that help with your fictional paradox?

22Michelle · 70-79, T

@BritishFailedAesthetic Fictional???????