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Original poster

Does God withhold blessings from Christians who are living in disobedience?

479 replies

Jewcy · 03/05/2013 18:00

I am a Christian but my husband is not. I am desperate to be a better person in God's eyes but can not escape the instruction in 2 Corinth ch 6 re being unequally yoked to non-believers. I am nearly 42 and desperately trying to start a family (I mc'd last year). We are due to fly to the Czech Republic in June for donor egg IVF but I can't help worrying that God will not bless me with a child whilst I continue to willfully live a disobedient life. I entered into a relationship with my husband knowing that it is not God's will for me to be with a non-Christian. Am I to be forever outside of God's will? My prayer life has become almost non-existent as I don't feel I can appeal to the Lord for his blessings re a baby and yet it is all I can think about.

I guess the real problem here is that my obsession with starting a family has superceded my devotion and surrender to God's will. Please help me Sad

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daftdame · 05/05/2013 16:56

Well everyone has a choice. As you'd guess I don't feel the same as you about it. You do need to be ready to take some things in faith, as you do with science (all science involves assumptions). I believe truth exists beyond our realisation of it. Best book I've ever read...and I read a lot too.

PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 05/05/2013 17:03

all science involves assumptions

We've been having this debate elsewhere. Science doesn't have to include assumptions and scientists don't have to have faith of any kind.

Most things religionists think are assumptions of science are actually either conclusions of science or are due to a lack of understanding of science.

daftdame · 05/05/2013 17:57

That one is really new to me. Have you found purest green? I have -got- to know. I'm quite excited. Tell me -now-!

daftdame · 05/05/2013 18:29

By the way Pedro what is your take on the Ellsberg paradox?

PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 05/05/2013 18:46

I'm not sure I understand what statistical probability has to do with scientific assumptions.

PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 05/05/2013 18:49

That one is really new to me. Have you found purest green? I have -got- to know. I'm quite excited. Tell me -now-!

I don't think so....it's not really green...If it has a name it's probably "orange".

daftdame · 05/05/2013 19:10

pedro humour me...it's fascinating. If only for the reason of paradox - the other I feel it's quite telling about human nature.

What's it got to do with anything? Just EVERYTHING! Most people would rather take a known risk that promises a very poor return rather than an unknown risk that promises a far better return...says it all!

What's this orange all about then?

daftdame · 05/05/2013 19:22

pedro I'm being a pest I know, but what do you think of epigenetics...'Sins of the fathers', anyone?

Also the nocebo and placebo effect?

Spero · 05/05/2013 19:27

O dear. God certainly moves in mysterious ways.

Original poster
Jewcy · 05/05/2013 19:33

Paul wrote extensively in the New Testament about the freedom of the believer from the demands of The Law (Old Testament). It is widely accepted within Christianity that the Law was meant to point the way towards our need for a savior, and to foreshadow Christ, and is thus no longer binding upon us because of the grace of God.

The point of Paul's writings, of course, is that we no longer have to strive to be perfect (an impossible goal), because we have salvation through Christ. If you truly love and follow Him, however, you will want to live according to God's will. This means honouring your parents and the sabbath, not worshiping idols or committing murder or adultery, etc. In other words, this means obeying His law because we want to please Him, not because we have to in order to be saved.

Jesus Himself said that the greatest commandment is to "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your mind, and all of your soul," and that the second is to "Love your neighbour as yourself." He didn't make these up when questioned, but rather quoted an Old Testament law that would have been well-known to His disciples and other people of that time.

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Spero · 05/05/2013 19:35

Yes and Paul also said it is better to marry than to burn. He approved of marriage only grudgingly as a way to slake horrid lusts.

I can't take Paul seriously.

Spero · 05/05/2013 19:36

So if you are a Christian, do you have to follow the rules laid down in Leviticus?

daftdame · 05/05/2013 19:48

Jewcy Is your worry that you think you don't want to live according to God's-will enough?

I think in order to 'die' to oneself you have got to forget yourself, somewhat...that means give yourself time to know God's will and focus on loving others as he loved us. Humility is more about not focussing on yourself than self degradation, which involves a certain amount of self obsession.

Did you expect your transformation to be overnight? There are years of sin in us...generations of it. Be patient, with yourself and others - it is one of the fruits...

Spero you are no fun! I thought scientists liked a puzzle!

Original poster
Jewcy · 05/05/2013 19:49

Spero! You're obsessed with Leviticus! The OT isn't that cerayzee, you know. It's not that long ago that this country put people to death for certain 'sins'. Societies move on; evolve. The rules in Leviticus were laid down for an exceptionally disobedient/stupid/arrogant/proud/thought-they-knew-it-all people who really should have listened to God in the first place. I wish you would read the OT from the very beginning and try to see in actual fact how much God loved his people. They were so special to Him - He calls Himself a 'jealous God' and was so angry when they continued to worship false idols and lead themselves to ruination. He wanted the best for them but, being human, they thought they knew best. Nothing changes in that respect.

When atheists try to negate Christianity by beating them with the OT I wonder if they feel the same about, for example, the Children's Act which, as we know, has changed and evolved since its inception. Do we think the Act of 1908 was a pile of irrelevant crap? No. It was formed for the protection of children and has had many, many additions and alterations since. The 1908 Act was appropriate for those times and so was the Old Testament.

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daftdame · 05/05/2013 19:53

Spero Leviticus, no too complicated to follow.

The Holy Ghost writes the laws in your heart if you seek God's will with all of your heart and all of your mind. It's like when you get a massive manual and don't read it but get shown by the person who designed the machine, bit by bit, just as you need it.

Original poster
Jewcy · 05/05/2013 19:54

Daftdame, my worry is that I do not surrender to God's will for my life. Yes, I pray about everything I face in life but I don't think I listen hard enough or for long enough. My biggest problem is that I am highly-strung; an anxious person really; an overthinker; a worrier. I don't relax easily and worry about how I am fitting into this world and whether I'm doing all I can to be what God wants me to be.

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PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 05/05/2013 19:57

So the OT is no longer relevant. Right. I don't think the NT is relevant any more either, would you agree? Probably not. But the problem is that you'd be hard pushed to find two Christians who agree 100% on which bits to still follow and which bits to discard. You will also find a great number who insist that the entire bible is timelessly relevant.

Original poster
Jewcy · 05/05/2013 19:58

I will never, ever listen to those who say there is no God. I can see His handprints on every stage of my life - particularly when I was a God-hater. I have never been so wretched as when I lived by my own rules and for my own pleasures.

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daftdame · 05/05/2013 19:59

Although Leviticus has some very sensible, things in it, washing hands and surfaces after handling meat for example.

I think you have just got to remember the people of the Old Testament didn't have complete redemption through Christ available to them.

Original poster
Jewcy · 05/05/2013 20:00

I'm the latter, Pedro. I think the whole of the bible is relevant.

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daftdame · 05/05/2013 20:01

Pedro the Old Testament is still relevant to those who don't accept Christ!

Original poster
Jewcy · 05/05/2013 20:02

Some of the greatest lessons I have ever learned I gleaned from the Old Testament.

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daftdame · 05/05/2013 20:03

And those who do, although thankfully we have the new covenant and promises.

Original poster
Jewcy · 05/05/2013 20:07

And some of the most reassuring promises from God, which honestly lift my heart and soul:

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah ch 29 v 11.

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daftdame · 05/05/2013 20:10

Jewcy well you know Jesus told you not to worry... Have you read Joyce Meyer 's 'Battlefield of the Mind', I think you may find it useful re. the worrying. God didn't give you the spirit of fear...