Big Questions: Carpark Cop-out?

Here's a question that was let out of the bag last lifegroup (or something close to it, this is my take on the question xP ). All questions are good questions! Sorry if this post ain't too coherent, i typed this up without the premise of posting it =3

Q: Lady drives in to car park praying for a carpark, and the Lord grants her a carpark. The next day the lady drives in to car park, again praying for a carpark, but this time God does not grant her a carpark.

The first day, she is blessed with a car park, but the next day, she takes it as God is using this situation to improve her character. Why does it seem like Christianity tries to accommodate for God's actions?

A: The focus in the lady's life is the person of God (How good He is, His character and majesty etc) rather than the actions of God and what He can do for us. This is a contrast to a focus on God's actions, in which case, God would seem like an ever changing being (or us attempting to accommodate for God's actions)

An example of this would be Daniel's 3 friends. When they were to be thrown into the flames, they trusted in God no matter what the outcome and in this case, God did bring them through it. Their focus however, was on God.

On the other hand, in reality, we find that often God does not seem to answer our prayers. But an example which exemplifies an attitude focused on God is in the person of Paul in 2 Corinthians. Paul prayed that the thorn from his side would be removed three times, yet this did not happen. God answered Paul through saying My grace is sufficient. Paul's focus too, was on God.

Hopefully this'll add some clarity; keep asking questions!

Dave~

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at 12:05 AM on Sunday, August 3, 2008
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3 comments:

  1. Anthea August 5, 2008 at 10:20 PM

    Daave! that was a really great response--- GOd has filled you with His wisdom =)
    isn't that cool-- because GOd's nature is unchanging and eternal, we can know that whatever is the outcome of our circumstances-- God is always Just and is always Good =) and He cares about every little detail of our lives that we offer to him-- even things as simple as finding a carpark!

    haha what a complicated process just to post a comment--- i had to make a google account.. and retype this so many times :p

     
  2. ping August 6, 2008 at 4:33 PM

    Anttt! lol, this response was made after a discussion with my dad, so i'll definitely take no credit! its definitely always good to keep inquiring tho =]

     
  3. andy lee August 7, 2008 at 12:07 AM

    Good answer Dave!! =]

    Another aspect which I think should be considered when attempting to answer this question is pre-destination. A massively contentious issue, but it does change how we look at the situation if we consider two differing viewpoints-

    -if we do not believe in pre-destination (at the moment I hold this view), then the fact that the lady does not get a carpark is due to the amoral decisions made by people who have entered the carpark before her, and have chosen with their own free will to take up a carpark.

    -if we do accept that pre-destination exists however, then one could definitely conclude that Christians do seem to accomodate for Gods actions; which I believe is true. Knowing that God moves in weird and mysterious ways, it is natural for us as human beings and Christians, who know and trust that God is in control of ours lives, to seek an explanation as to why God actually allows things to happen to us. Take for example why God allows natural disasters to happen, when he could easily stop them (which is another whole question in itself). We try to determine why things are happening based on our understanding of God. It is exactly how scientists come up with scientific theory. We have a source (God) and an effect from that source (not getting a carpark), and we have a framework with which we answer questions (our beliefs). Just like scientists, Christians will naturally ask questions about the reason as to how and why the effect has actually taken place, and come up with answers which fits into our beliefs and relieves our curiosity behind the reasons for the work of Jesus Christ.

    Hope that makes sense!!! I love these apologetic type questions!! They are great faith builders!! Keep them coming!!!

    andy.

     

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