2 random thoughts...

2 random thoughts about God that are swirling in my mind today:

First, it irritates me when Christians respond so defensively and act irritated when others question or attack their faith in God. It looks bad. That's just the simple truth. It reinforces non-Christian's belief that we are ignorant and intolerant. On any discussion board I've ever seen in which a topic of debate about the existence of God has arisen, there are always ridiculous, biting comments from the Christian side. It makes me shake my head in disbelief and shame. When are people going to realize that you'll never be able to have a productive conversation with an atheist, agnostic, or non-Christian about God/Jesus when you take an attack stance? Even worse is acting like you have all the answers and anyone that doesn't believe what you have to say is an idiot. There are some very valid concerns/questions about God that don't have cookie cutter responses. That, however, brings me to my next random thought:

I am tired of people thinking they have to understand every single thing about God's nature and resolve every issue of possible conflict regarding God's exsistence or how we perceive Him to relate to humanity before believing in Him. If we could understand every nuance and concept of God and how He acts, then we'd be God ourselves. People get hung up on one little thing and cross God off their list of possibilities even when there are a hundred other things in life that point directly to Him. I heard it said this morning that we won't ever be able to wrap our minds completely around God because hopefully God is bigger than us.

I encourage people to ask tough questions and seek the answers. God can hold up in the face of scrutiny. Don't settle for blind belief. But, don't settle for blind unbelief either, without examining the possibility of God thoroughly. Don't cross Him off prematurely. And if you already believe, then for Heaven's sake reply with humility, peacefulness, and sincerity when a non-believer throws barbs. That will speak louder about the truth of God than becomming an crabby know-it-all.