Being a Christian and a Soldier is Hard

[Scott_Fraser]

Hi there Tabitha.
No the Church of Scotland is not tied to the State and always has been independant of the state and of the Queen. I did my duties to the best of my abilities and sometimes I bent the rules but I never broke them. I just worked my socks off and became a Platoon Sergeant at 25. And yes I've fired my weapon in anger many times, and I had know beef about that. As that was my job. But it was seeing the horrors in Bosnia and in particular a little girl of 4 was murdered right in front of me by a Croat Sniper as I gave her a bar of Chocolate. And from then that image has lived with me. I started to lose my faith after that. And I haven't been in a church for over 10 years. Nor do I intend to in the future. If their was a god he wouldn't have allowed these horrors to go on.
Thanks for listening to me Tabitha.
Take Care
Scott:hello:

 

[lumberjack]

hi scott
Scott i say that faith is for who ever wishes to follow it. I know myself that how could a "GOD" allow such acts of violence, over and over agian. I have been all over the world and it has never changed whether its been, christian, islam,cathloic or what evr relgion they belief in. They all have there so called battles in the name of there GOD and do such horrible things in his name. Its the place we live in and we cant change it....mj

 

[cookie]

hey, as to God allowing terrible things to happen, yes He does ALLOW it(not cause) yes He could, and sometimes does stop it. also he allowed His son to go through some very awful things for our sin, and He had to turn His back on His son there while He took our place.God is not a teddy bear, not a genie to keep in your pocket til you need Him, He is creator and owner of the universe and all that is in it. He gets to make the rules, He chooses to love us. we will never understand everything til we get to Heaven(hopefully) when we see something awful happen, and we don't try to stop it, does that make us terrible people, or suggest that we weren't real? ok, off my soapbox, don't get mad at me, i want to take as many with me as i can!
cathy

 

[Scott_Fraser]

Thanks Cathy for your words. Much appreciated.
Take Care
Scott:hello:

 

[No-Twitch-Tabitha]

I understand that God is the Creator and Owner of the universe. That I get.

What I don't get is ...why make the rule not to kill, maim, and otherwise harm other human beings and then not prevent it's breakage? Why command (through His son) to love thy neighbor and then not prevent abuse, neglect, etc? What is the point? Why make the rules and then not do much of anything when they get broken?

Reminds me of a quote from Constantine: God is a kid with an ant farm.

 

[Scott_Fraser]

Hi Tabatha how are you.
I'm getting a little confused here could you give me a little explanation of what you said.
Cheers
Scott:hello:

 

[No-Twitch-Tabitha]

What I meant by the quote? I was quoting Constantine the graphic novel/movie character, btw.

Whenever I think about the nature of God, I get frustrated. What's the point of making rules for human behavior, claiming those who break them will be punished, and then just standing by and watching them get broken without really intervening?

I understand God gave humans free will and that may have a part in it, but it still confuses me. It's like we're just ants in a giant ant farm. It's like we're just His Little Experiment. There's an underlying cruelty there.

 

[Scott_Fraser]

Thats true Tabatha.
But I still don't want a man in a pulpit telling me what to do with my life.
I'm not proud of what I've done, but I think that I did it for the right reasons.
And being a soldier was part of that. I suppose when you live in a country that has a monarchy like the UK, Canada and Australia. But also I'd do it all again, I wouldn't change it. There is still the soldier in me trying to get out. Just ask any ex-servicemen. I've never done drugs or broke the law, nor do I intend to start trying now.
Whenever I see my old regiment in the news (There in Basra again) I wish that I was with them. As I see a lot of the guys that I trained are now senior NCO's. That will never change.
Why don't we log onto live chat sometime and we can have a better talk about this subject. Let me know when you are going on and I'll try and be there. I don't have a web-cam but we could still chat.
Cheers
Scott:hello:

 

[cookie]

i've seen God intervene in many ways, and sometimes not intervene when i don't understand. God does not force Himself on mankind, He could, but He does not.He did give some basic laws for the Jews(not the pile of things they have accumulated, lol) He knew men would break them, because we are sinful by nature. there are consecquences of sin, and even if you're forgiven, that doesn't mean you won't suffer the "natural" consequences of sin. the laws that people make for themselves, which include some form of many of His laws(at least in the us) are to be upheld by people. God could do it, but He does give us free will, about more than just accepting Him. i wouldn't call allowing Himself to come to earth as the Son, to suffer the consequences of our sin, so that we could have redemption, as standing back and watching.
Have you ever told a child that you were going to punish them if they did something.(like grounded from tv for a week, etc.) and then, when they did just that, you backed off of the punishment, maybe making it easier, or "forgetting" to enforce it.(like: but mom, I HAVE to watch American Idol!)
if we got what we deserve for our actions, there wouldn't have been anyone left a long time ago. and God did send the flood. and He is going to send fire some day to destroy this earth, after the millenium. ok, i know you can't hear the tone in typing , so know that i am not upset or wanting to force something on you. but i would love for everyone to be able to have the personal relationship that i have with the LORD, that is what He wants--a relationship/love from us that is not forced, but given freely. "nuff said"
cathy

 

[cookie]

But I still don't want a man in a pulpit telling me what to do with my life.

If the man in the pulpit is a true servent of God, he is not telling you what to do with your life. he is telling everyone what the Word of God (God's own direction)
says about each life. God is to lead your life, if you have surrendered. the minister is simply someone to explain God's Word, and draw your attention to it.
there some that are in some kind of power thing, but that is not from God.
cathy:hello:

 

[Scott_Fraser]

Hey Cathy, strong stuff girl. Have you ever considered becoming a minister, lol.
But there is a line from "Romans" 5, which says "Vengence is mine, I shall re-payeth said the lord". I've always liked that even more after the scum that shot that little girl in Bosnia 13 years ago. But the last chapter in the bible is good. The Book of Revelations. I some times read that.
But I love a lot of friends that are Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Catholic and they are great mates and we always wind each other up about our religeons. Which is fun. If you take it serious you could end up in the Nut House.
Take Care Cathy, You always shoot from the hip, good on yer girl.
Scott:hello:

 

[cookie]

scott i am not trying to be harsh. i have friends that are other religions, and just non-christians. my job is to love them, to show them the love of Christ, and be available to pray for them, or with them, and show them how to get a personal relationship with Him IF they ask. we are not to mistreat anyone, reguardless of religion, race, even sexual pref.(not condone, love the person, God will take care of the rest) you would like my husband, he teaches a lot of prophecy classes in Rev. and Daniel. yeah, he's a preacher (that's country for minister) and yeah i'm hardheaded sometimes, but it's out of love, really!
cathy