{"id":14251,"date":"2013-01-07T10:00:42","date_gmt":"2013-01-07T18:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/?p=14251"},"modified":"2013-01-09T16:59:44","modified_gmt":"2013-01-10T00:59:44","slug":"did-god-cause-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/did-god-cause-this\/","title":{"rendered":"Did God Cause This?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

This is a guest post by Sam Riviera.\u00a0He\u00a0spends most of his time and energy caring for others in his community so that through his life and actions they might see Jesus. He has also written \u201c14 Reasons I Never Returned to the Institutional Church.<\/a>\u201c<\/p>\n

If you would like to write a guest post for this blog,\u00a0check out the guidelines here.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"God\u201cThis happened because God _________\u201d. Fill in the blank. It\u2019s tempting, isn\u2019t it, to fill in the blank when something bad happens, whether it is something that affects one person or millions?<\/p>\n

Presuming to appoint oneself as God\u2019s spokesperson who presumes to know the mind of God is the ultimate presumption. Of course one can point to their knowledge of the Bible, quote some Bible verses, and attempt to establish their authority to speak for God. Add in their title of pastor, elder, deacon, head of a nationally known ministry or self-appointed lunatic and they think their credentials are unassailable.<\/p>\n

Please! Give us all a break! We hear so many stupid, conflicting OPINIONS of what God is doing when a hurricane strikes, when a mentally ill person shoots school children or when someone\u2019s spouse, parent or child dies that the only obvious conclusion is that most, if not all, of the people who are presuming to speak for God are themselves delusional.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Tell Me That!<\/h2>\n

Please! Don\u2019t tell me why my dad died! Don\u2019t tell me why my baby died! Don\u2019t tell me that some whacked-out crazy person shot my friend\u2019s little boy because God is punishing my country because Obama was re-elected, because abortion is legal, because gay marriage is legal in Connecticut, because church attendance is declining or because of whatever other reasons you and your political and religious cronies can imagine.<\/p>\n

Who appointed you God\u2019s mouthpiece? If God\u2019s ways are beyond ours, how is it that you understand them? If God didn\u2019t think it necessary to explain Himself to Job, prove to all of us just how it is that He decided to explain Himself to you.<\/p>\n

If you are such great buddies with God, show me your love for Him by showing me your love for your neighbors. Then I\u2019ll know you\u2019re tight with God. You won\u2019t need to spout Bible verses, ministry titles and the current positions of your church and political party.<\/p>\n

Love God And Neighbor<\/h2>\n

Stop embarrassing yourself and those who are trying to love God and neighbor. It\u2019s time to shut up and do something. Weep with those who weep. Hold us while we cry for our lost loved one. See that we have a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. Be there for us when we feel lonely and abandoned.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow find some really nasty oversized clothes in the dumpster behind the thrift shop. Put \u2018em on and wear \u2018em while you sit with the homeless downtown in the cold rain. Be sure to go during lunch time or when the downtown office workers are getting off work, so you won\u2019t miss getting spit on and being told to \u2018get off your lazy ass and get a job\u2019.<\/p>\n

\"HomelessDay after tomorrow fill your car with just a little of all the extra stuff you have in your house. Take it and give it to single mothers, people living in the streets or the homeless shelter. Don\u2019t tell them your ministry title or the name of your church. If they ask, tell them you\u2019re giving them a little something to show them that they\u2019re not forgotten. You know they\u2019re there. If it\u2019s true, it\u2019s o.k. to tell them you follow Jesus. Of course, they probably already knew that.<\/p>\n

Bake some cookies. When they\u2019re still warm take them to the neighbor you can\u2019t stand and tell him you want to give him something to let him know you\u2019re glad he\u2019s your neighbor. Take another plate to the widow down the street. Stay awhile and listen as she tells you about her life.<\/p>\n

Now I Hear You<\/h2>\n

Now I\u2019m starting to hear what you\u2019re saying. Now the people you\u2019ve touched with your love, your kindness and with your hands and arms are hearing you. Now we know who you\u2019re tight with. Now you\u2019re talking the language we understand, the language of love. Be the hands, the arms, the feet of Jesus. We hear and understand that language.<\/p>\n

Please! We don\u2019t want to hear your opinions.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t tell us why God decided the person we love should die. Don\u2019t talk to us about your politics. Don\u2019t tell us anything to try to get us to give you money. Just be here when we need someone, when we\u2019re lonely and afraid.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t do that, please just SHUT UP!<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do not tell us why God decided the person we love should die. Just be here when we need someone, when we are lonely and afraid. This is a guest post by Sam Riviera. 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