BACKWARDS DAY: Robbie Fulks is wrong
I have an idea for a series of one-on-one threads. I got this idea from a conversation I had with someone where I took a devil's advocate position arguing against legalized gay marriage.
Here is the idea. In a "BACKWARDS DAY" thread you must--with all sincerity and to the best of your ability--argue the position of your opponent. One-on-one debate will continue with reversed roles until an impasse is reached or one party is not able or willing to continue the debate. A peanut gallery thread will may take place on the side, where all will be permitted to participate and critique the arguments, so as to increase the mutual understanding of both of the original participants.
Does this sound interesting?
Here, let me begin. The first person who--in reality--agrees with the following statement and wants to try this concept out will be my partner in this BACKWARDS DAY one-on-one and will therefore argue against the statement.
Ready?
Quote:
A world filled with wonder, a cold, fathomless sky
A man's life so meager, he can but wonder why
He cries out to Heaven its truth to reveal
The answer: only silence, for God isn't real.
Go ask the starving millions under Stalin's cruel reign
Go ask the child with cancer who eases her pain
Then go to your churches, if that's how you feel...
But don't ask me to follow, for God isn't real.
He forms in his image a weak and foolish man
Speaks to him in symbols that few understand
For a life of devotion, the death blow he deals
We'd owe Him only hatred, but God isn't real.
Go tell the executioner of the power he can't defy
Go tell his shackled victim of the mercy on high...
Then go to your churches, go beg, pray, and kneel,
But don't ask me to follow, for God isn't real.
No, no matter how He should be, God isn't real.
Shall I refute it stanza by stanza?
Quote:
A world filled with wonder, a cold, fathomless sky
A man's life so meager, he can but wonder why
He cries out to Heaven its truth to reveal
The answer: only silence, for God isn't real.
First and most obviously, God's alleged silence in the life of one unhappy man is insufficient to show that there is no God. This man's life may seem meager to him, or it may be the case that he lacks perspective on the blessings in his life. It is also possible that God is acting in his life in ways the man does not understand or recognize.
Quote:
Go ask the starving millions under Stalin's cruel reign
Go ask the child with cancer who eases her pain
Then go to your churches, if that's how you feel...
But don't ask me to follow, for God isn't real.
Stalin? Stalin's reign was a terrible example of the evil perpetrated by men. Men! I cannot imagine that God would have been pleased to have seen such a thing, but it is not up to us to make demands upon God when our fellow humans are overcome by evil. God gave us free will, and gave us the opportunity to choose salvation or evil. Those who choose evil--even if they get away with it in this life--are accountable to God in the end.
The child with cancer provides a heartbreaking image. But one must remember two things. First, we live in a fallen world. Death and disease and evil surround us because ours is a world of sin. Our hope for salvation comes not from an expectation that we are entitled to endless health and happiness in this life, but that we may please and serve God in order to be with him forever in the next one. Second, God is sovereign and in control, even over the illnesses we and our loved ones face. Sometimes we may feel that we understand why He calls some of us to him, and in many more cases we will not understand. All we really need to understand though, is that God is in control. We must trust that even if we cannot see the good in what grieves us, everything that happens is according to His plan.
Quote:
He forms in his image a weak and foolish man
Speaks to him in symbols that few understand
For a life of devotion, the death blow he deals
We'd owe Him only hatred, but God isn't real.
My earlier answers apply here too: we are weak, flawed, sinful and foolish, we humans. Our only hope for salvation is through God. There may be disagreement about whether our scripture is to be taken literally or symbolically, but with an open heart one can definitely know God through prayer, brotherhood and scripture. And God does not reward a life of devotion with a "death blow." On the contrary, a life of devotion is rewarded with the promise of everlasting salvation. It would be folly to hate God for such a promise.
Quote:
Go tell the executioner of the power he can't defy
Go tell his shackled victim of the mercy on high...
Then go to your churches, go beg, pray, and kneel,
But don't ask me to follow, for God isn't real.
I regret I don't really understand the first line. But the Bible provides a persuasive answer to the second, and to the song in general.
Quote:
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Psalm 23, of course.
(Remember, this is a "backwards day" thread. Do not answer arguing against the existence of God unless you are a believer. "Normal" commentary from anyone is welcome, but in a separate thread.)
