Prayer (3). How Did He Decide ?

[Canary42]

In World War 1, padres on both sides prayed to the same God - so how did He decide which ones to listen to ?

[Atheist]

Roy, you've lost me now.

[Theland]

God answers genuine prayer.
Not to win or lose, but that is possible.
Death is not the end.
God answers the prayers that comply with His plan, to glorify Himself in the lives of His creation, even whilst they are foolish and killing each other.

[JimF]

"God answers the prayers that comply with His plan"

LOL!

[Atheist]

Theland, so God wants to glorify himself? What kind of disgusting god is that? Sounds like Trump, Putin or HItler. Wasn't he satisfied with being the Great Creator? Why make all his little creatures bend the knee and worship him?

[eve1974]

atheist 21:05 - I call God "Him" purely for simplicity reasons / habits over the centuries.

[JimF]

"Why make all his little creatures bend the knee and worship him?"

Exactly! What need does an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent deity have of continual praise?

"Once again, big fella, just gotta say what a fantastic thing you are! I know I said that yesterday but, well, you know..."

[Theland]

He knew they, His creation, given free will, would rebel.
That is sin, less than perfection.
Gods perfect justice demands the appropriate punishment which is death.
But He loves us so much that He allowed His sinless Son, Jesus, to take upon Himself the sin of us all, and then ta!e the punishment for it, so that we com!d be offered the free gift of forgiveness.
All we have to do is accept it.
And then?
Eternal life.

[naomi24]

Theland, Irrational. ‘Free will’ that comes with caveats isn’t free will.

[dance2trance]

Huh?

[Spungle]

My view is that, Everyone [whatever "side"] who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. As for the young men who were killed as a result of this terrible conflict (my ancestry), many thousands of them would have turned to God before going over the top; souls which otherwise may have been eternally lost.

[naomi24]

Spungle, I’d like to say that’s a nice thought but it isn’t. It means that regardless of how blameless, how altruistic, how intrinsically good, people may be, if they’re not Christian - and most of those raised in other cultures aren’t - they are condemned - and that’s cruel. So much for Christian love and compassion.

[Spungle]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Naomi. I can understand why you feel like this, and know there are many others who know doubt felt the same way. In my experience, Christianity is not about telling people what they wish to hear- your view that Christians should show love and compassion is true, although we may disagree on what love and compassion is. My personal view is better expressed by the apostle Peter, where he says, (regardless of culture or background), "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

[naomi24]

Spungle, //we may disagree on what love and compassion is. //

I don't doubt that.