OT: Re: This holiday season, remember...

[Guest guest]

CALLIE WROTE: > I am still at a loss to understand how so many of you

> reconcile the concept of a benevolent god with what you see and live every

day.

MY RESPONSE: Hi Callie. I understand how you would feel this way. How I have

handled this question myself is to dig deeper, search, seek, research, learn,

pray, etc. As fiercely as I research and seek answers regarding autism, I

equally or more seek to learn more about God. (Because what is the point of

solving autism if we miss God...don't want to miss seeing the forrest for the

trees kind of thing. The Bible says it this way " what profits a man if he gains

the world but loses his soul " ). In my faith (the Christian faith) it is my

understanding that those who receive more of a revelation as to who God is are

the ones who " seek with all their heart. "

One thing that I love about God is that He is a God of freedom. He forces no

one to believe in Him or to love Him. He wants to be loved freely (as do we

all). With that freedom comes choice. You ask how we can believe in a

benevolent God in the midst of suffering? It is because suffering, poverty,

sickness, etc., was never God's desire or will. I believe that God hates sin,

evil,

sickness, etc., just as we do. Therefore God is my ally, not the enemy. A

phrase you sometimes hear in the Christian faith is " We live in a fallen world. "

Simply put, things are not as they should be here because man has chosen

(remember freedom) to be their own god in their own lives. The fallen world is

the many forms of chaos that has ensued as a result (in so many forms). In the

story of Adam and Eve, the tool the devil uses to turn them from God and to

replacing their knowledge for Gods, was to have them question God's goodness.

He still uses that tool today.

CALLIE WROTE:> I can't fathom how to conform what I see, hear, live, etc.

> with any notion of a god who actually gives a hoot.

MY RESPONSE: I love the appropriateness of the timing of this question

(Christmas). The Bible speaks of Christ being the bridge to reconcile a sinful

man back to a God who still loves His creation and does not desire that " even

one should perish. " God is a God of justice and sins are serious and cause

unimagined, widespread, long-term harm (think pharmecutical greed, vaccines and

our

children!!!). But Christ was sent to pay for those sins. We can simply

accept his payment for our sins. We are then washed clean and our debt is

forgiven. The hard part is that sins can be forgiven but they still have

consequences. This is why they are so serious. The dr. who injected my

daughter with

mercury without telling me of this even though I asked all the right quesitons

in an age long before Internet and knowledge of this, well he and the

pharmecutical company sinned against us. We are living with the consequences of

his

sin. I hate sin. We all are in this world together and we all suffer as a

result of sin.

CALLIE WROTE: > " Well, that prayer doesn't seem to be being answered in our

> population, unless you consider ACE and other adrenal support, Andy's

> advice, etc. a gift from god :-)

RESPONSE: Yes, I consider ACE and Andy a gift from God. God answers prayers

in many different way. And I'm not sure about the effectiveness of prayers

that are just said rotely without thought or sincere communication but just part

of a service.

CALLIE WROTE: > Okay, enough blathering. I am not a troll, not looking to

> pick a

> fight, just thinking about all of this in a very uncoherent way as the

> holiday season is upon us, and don't really have others to talk to about this.

RESPONSE: I'm in agreement...not trying to pick a fight either and this list

is wonderful. Just answering your question from my perspective. In writing,

I thought of a website I like. It is a science-based, interdenominationals

site and since the folks on this site are pretty science oriented, I thought it

might be a good fit. In their FAQ section your question is there (as it is

so common a questions) and they have posted an answer. It is at

reasons.org. You will probably enjoy this site.

I would like to add that I definitely believe in the scripture that God can

use all things for the good for those who love Him. Autism sucks but I can

tell you a few good things that has come from it and I bet others on the list

can

relate and add to the list:

1. I now have a confidence I did not have before as I have had to learn to

search for answers and not blindly turn my duaghter over to drs or teachers

2. Patience like I have never had before

3. Love, compassion and understanding for all disabled people

4. Love, compassion and understanding for caregivers of disabled people

5. A closer walk with God as I seek answers, wisdom and knowledge and an

increase in faith as He answers my prayers one at a time.

6. Learning who my true friends (including family members) are as times of

trouble sift the sands

7. Enjoying the innocence of my child's heart

........to name a few.

I hope no one is upset that I answered this on the list but I did put " OT " in

the subject line and my spiritual and religious post was only posted in

response to a question that is very appropriate for our situations.

God bless you all!!!

Kristi

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