I think the scriptures are lost on me. They were used to justify a lot of abuse in my childhood household. There was a day when I was very young, and I was running my hand in a stream by a lake, and a baby turtle was just suddenly in my hand. I had been extremely sad and lonely without even really realizing it, and I just felt like "God" (whatever that really means) had given it to me. I tried to tell my father and he used his warning look/voice that always turned me to stone. He used the scriptures, likely in a twisted way, to have "God" be authority, and the authority was that I wouldn't even be worthy of receiving any recognition or gifts from "God" so how dare I even suggest such a thing. And since my father had killed a lot of my other pets, I let that baby turtle go, even though I wanted to keep it, because I loved it. And that was what love was. And to me that was my version of "God", a gift and teaching me about the nature of things.
See I know it sounds weird/stupid/crazy. It's hard to explain it. I think that whatever anyone calls it, I think it is something you feel, not something you read.
One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch (your dad). Yes, I was messed up by parents and esp. public school (I later homeschooled all my kids). You say you were told "I wouldn't even be worthy of receiving any recognition or gifts from God." This was actually a message (good one) to you, as that is the heart of the gospel, that none of us are worthy but that Christ's death atoned for us (for our sins). There's very little truth being voiced today (the message is corrupted), I only find it in the Dutch Reformed Churches and the 'Free Presbyterian' churches of Scotland. The truth, the gospel, will be revealed to you (inwardly) if you seek it, but will be 'verified' or substantiated by the outward objective word of God, the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. They will bear witness to the truth that is revealed inwardly.
Nah we are worthy, that is why we are loved so much. Duh.
A God who can never lose, can never know the pain or fear of defeat.
A God who can never be wrong, can never experience what it is like to grow, or experience humiliation, and then humility.
A God who knows everything, never has to ponder, overcome doubt or make a difficult decision, or trust.
And so on.
Humans are very impressive and beautiful in our own right. We are like.. modules of a greater being, that allow that being to experience things, that it otherwise could not. There has to be that separation, and then we experience things, and then we get reabsorbed.
Sorry you never overcame your abuse yet. I'll tell you in case no one else ever has: You are definitely worthy.
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bopper ago
Maybe you guys should give the scriptures a second chance. Go back to the Reformation and the Puritans, forget the trash out there nowadays.
SheSaidDestroy ago
I think the scriptures are lost on me. They were used to justify a lot of abuse in my childhood household. There was a day when I was very young, and I was running my hand in a stream by a lake, and a baby turtle was just suddenly in my hand. I had been extremely sad and lonely without even really realizing it, and I just felt like "God" (whatever that really means) had given it to me. I tried to tell my father and he used his warning look/voice that always turned me to stone. He used the scriptures, likely in a twisted way, to have "God" be authority, and the authority was that I wouldn't even be worthy of receiving any recognition or gifts from "God" so how dare I even suggest such a thing. And since my father had killed a lot of my other pets, I let that baby turtle go, even though I wanted to keep it, because I loved it. And that was what love was. And to me that was my version of "God", a gift and teaching me about the nature of things.
See I know it sounds weird/stupid/crazy. It's hard to explain it. I think that whatever anyone calls it, I think it is something you feel, not something you read.
bopper ago
One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch (your dad). Yes, I was messed up by parents and esp. public school (I later homeschooled all my kids). You say you were told "I wouldn't even be worthy of receiving any recognition or gifts from God." This was actually a message (good one) to you, as that is the heart of the gospel, that none of us are worthy but that Christ's death atoned for us (for our sins). There's very little truth being voiced today (the message is corrupted), I only find it in the Dutch Reformed Churches and the 'Free Presbyterian' churches of Scotland. The truth, the gospel, will be revealed to you (inwardly) if you seek it, but will be 'verified' or substantiated by the outward objective word of God, the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. They will bear witness to the truth that is revealed inwardly.
SheSaidDestroy ago
Nah we are worthy, that is why we are loved so much. Duh.
A God who can never lose, can never know the pain or fear of defeat. A God who can never be wrong, can never experience what it is like to grow, or experience humiliation, and then humility. A God who knows everything, never has to ponder, overcome doubt or make a difficult decision, or trust.
And so on.
Humans are very impressive and beautiful in our own right. We are like.. modules of a greater being, that allow that being to experience things, that it otherwise could not. There has to be that separation, and then we experience things, and then we get reabsorbed.
Sorry you never overcame your abuse yet. I'll tell you in case no one else ever has: You are definitely worthy.
bopper ago
Thanks, I appreciate your message and kindness.