Is God Listening?

[rockclimber]

This came from a commentary that i read. Your thoughts please.
Surely you've been there. And you just might be "there" at this moment in time. How many times have you prayed for a breakthrough in your finances, or maybe your health. So, why hasn't there been some recognition from God, a little intervention here and there? Are you really listening? Ahh, but I've led you astray today. I am really not asking if God is "listening" or even if He is "hearing" your prayers. I want to take this little leg of the spiritual journey a bit deeper. And, it just might help you get some of your prayers answered. You ready?


Here's the real question.

You're visiting a grocery store in Southwest Houston where Anglo-Americans are by far the minority, as well as the Hispanics, and African-Americans: we're in India-laden territory. Hindus abound, as well as Buddhists. And there standing near the apples in the produce department, you see a woman who is obviously praying. Does she have enough money to purchase a luxury such as apples, or should she stick to the basics?

More importantly, as she is obviously praying to Vishnu (her Hindu God, also known as Narayana is the Supreme Being or Ultimate Reality of Brahman in the Smarta traditions of Hinduism). Say what? Are you kidding me?

Hold on now.

>If God is NOT listening, what kind of God would He be who created her?
>If God is everywhere (omnipresent) isn't He there by the apples WITH her?
>Since God is Spirit, and so is she, isn't God IN her as well?

But, dear saint, of the Western Christian community, IF God is indeed listening what's that say about this "special relationship" that the Catholics especially proclaim (defining even the billion Protestant Christians as LOST) that they (we) have? What's up with that now: IF God is listening? Ahh, now here's the crux of this little detour that I took you in to.

The core question isn't IF God is listening or not, but one of of perception of "our God". You know, the one that just so happens to be "the God" that we embrace, the true God. How convenient! My, my aren't we the lucky ones. Do tell! Surely God isn't listening to the communal prayers of millions of Muslims on Holy Night. How insane is that? Let's get 'em saved (ah, but from what or whom?)!

Many who loved C.S. Lewis turned around and called him a heretic when he wrote, "I think every prayer which is sincerely made, even to a false god..is accepted by the true God, and Christ saves many who think they don't know Him."

Tell me it ain't so Martha!   :sigh:

In the Fall of 1999, the Southern Baptist Convention asked its members to pray for 900,000,000 hopeless lost individuals in the darkness of Hinduism, (and I now quote) "who worship gods which are not our God." Is there any wonder American Hindus carried posters decrying such divisiveness in front of Second Baptist Church of Houston.

Can't we allow others of a different faith worship as they choose, and maybe say a prayer (of all things) that God would answer "their prayers".

You know God Listens, and you didn't have to read that on a bumper sticker to affirm it!

[Casstranquility]

As far as my beliefs go, there is only One God, and there are no false gods, all gods are perceptions or ideas about God. If we believe there is only one God, we cannot say that someone is worshipping a false god, for that means this other god exists, and that would be an oxymoron. "There is only one, don't worship any others." Huh? There aren't any others!

Yes, let others worship as they want to! As they must, because all humans are different and by nature cannot worship the exact same perception of God as anyone else.

[sparrow]

Great post rockclimber!

As far as my beliefs go, there is only One God, and there are no false gods, all gods are perceptions or ideas about God. If we believe there is only one God, we cannot say that someone is worshipping a false god, for that means this other god exists, and that would be an oxymoron. "There is only one, don't worship any others." Huh? There aren't any others!

Yes, let others worship as they want to! As they must, because all humans are different and by nature cannot worship the exact same perception of God as anyone else.

I love what you wrote here cass... :HeartThrob: You put into words what I've been trying to, for some time now, but just couldn't. Thank you...!!

[arcticmonster2003]

Not sure exactly where this is going Rockclimber. Lets remember first and foremost what Christ has laid before us when dealing with people.

1. To love
2. To forgive (kinda comes automatically with those that you love)
3. not to judge

also

we are to witness to people that Jesus, who came from the Father, came here in the flesh, to show us a way of life, here is an example set up for us by Paul, in which he did not show harsh condemnation:

16  ¶Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
17  Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
18  Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
19  And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
20  For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
21  (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
22  ¶Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

I personally believe that many of these other religions, ultimately reduce their followers down to Idol worship, (worshipping inanimate objects), I also believe that many are doctrinces of demons, but I am not going to judge these people harshly, nor do I claim to understand everything. Here is what I do understand though, that God saved all of mankind through Jesus. God is a God of love.

Sorry, but I believe that people who believe that they are going to be re-incarnated into a cow have been wholly deceived by the enemy (I would be pretty, pretty sad if I held this belief for myself). These countries in which the majority of people follow these doctines of demons (again, in my opinion, and not to say that they are intentionally worshipping demons, but this is what they know) also seem to be the worst places on earth (lowest hells) that one could be born into, literally a "whole different world", certainly hell on earth, when seen from a better place at least (countries that have a majority of christians). If for no other reason (the whole hell on earth thing), this is a good one to witness Jesus, and when they receive the Holy Spirit, they will witness as well, and God will bless those who serve him in truth.

As for Muslims, they also worship the same God christians do, the God of Abraham. I believe that they would be very receptive to the teachings of Jesus, except, in the same way many christians are, there are many who really don't care about God at all, and these often deceive many, condeming those who might actually be looking for God, cause they already found a doctrine that works perfectly fine for their purposes (normally power, money ect..), examples range from Islamic terrorists to Spanish Inquisitions.

[gatheredfragments]

Deu 4:27  And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.
Deu 4:28  And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
Deu 4:29  But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.




Joh 10:7  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:8  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Joh 10:12  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
Joh 10:13  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
Joh 10:14  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Joh 10:15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.



We have to trust.