God or Satan? It’s not that simple…

29/3/2012

This blog was written a week ago and wasn’t meant to be posted until the weekend but something happened today that required that I post it right away. I explain the event at the end.

When I first came to England I had never spent any time thinking about the concept of atheism. In fact, having never met an atheist I thought the term was a dictionary concept rather than anything that actually happened in practice.

The first time someone told me that they didn’t believe in God I recall being appalled. I went from having a mild crush on the guy to thinking: I don’t really like you, for if you don’t believe in God you have got to be satanic. That moment was a turning point in my friendship with this guy because I don’t think I put very much into being friends with him after that. When he told me that he suffers from depression, I remember thinking that it was probably linked to his non-belief of a higher power!

Being at the University of Cambridge, that was just the first of many encounters. Cambridge is a breeding ground for thinkers, people that question everything and from that moment on I met many atheists with the end result that I now understand and respect their view.

I think it takes a lot more effort to not believe than it does to believe. Most of us were born within a certain religion. We were indoctrinated with it from a young age and have never thought to question it.

A lot of introspection resulted from my meeting and questioning so many atheists. Every single atheist I know has a very sound moral code. In fact many behave better than some of my fellow Christians, I know that if I misbehave I can just go to confession and God will forgive. An atheist has to live with it in their conscience, they can’t pass the buck on to God.

Upon looking at myself I accepted that:

I have never known hunger. I have never known cold. I grew up in a two-parent home where I was loved and cared for. I have never known any real want. Mine has been a safe and sheltered existence and that in itself means I cannot judge those that have suffered in ways I can only imagine:

Many people out there are going to bed without any food tonight. If such a person told me they didn’t believe in a God, how could I even begin to judge them negatively?

There are many little boys and girls out there tonight being abused by the people that are supposed to protect them.

A girl out there is zealous and enthusiastic about a trip she has been promised to a developed country where she can better herself – little does she know that she has just become someone’s drug mule or sex slave.

I watched a program a couple of weeks ago where a woman was being forced by her husband to sleep with other men for money; he beat her if she refused. Some punters came to her house at lunch time, her husband made her cook lunch for all of them, he then accepted some money and she had to a go to a room to let the man do his business. She described herself as being “the unluckiest woman in the world”.

“What could be worse than this?” she asked the journalist. Indeed, what could? I for one could only weep as I watched the injustice unfold.

So, what ominous event happened today?

Sometimes events call one to question whether God does truly exist and today was one such day for me. My sister’s Facebook status update in the morning said something about God always knowing what was going to happen in advance of its occurrence and as such we should trust him.

Cynically, I thought, “Does he know in advance when a helpless five year old child is going to be molested by those that should be trusted?” Watch enough episodes of Law and Order: SVU and you too will think in these mysterious ways. Anyway, the very thought made me begin to question God’s existence.

When I got home from work I decided to do a patch of housework, I very rarely do housework during the week, I save it for the weekend. I would say this event occurs but once a month, if that (my husband says once a year!)

As I was cleaning I decided to clean out a compartment of my tumble dryer that’s supposed to be cleaned once every three to six months – it hadn’t been cleared in at least a year.

On the second scoop out of the gunk, I found a ring that belongs to neither me nor my husband; a guest must have forgotten it. It reads: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding Pr 3:5. I was spooked! Can a question be more directly answered?

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17 Comments

Malenga Chienda

29/3/2012 06:39:42 am

Wow! This is so touching. God is trying to say something to you Heather,He wants you to believe that He is out there watching over you that's the reason He has sent that ring into your household.

Ms. Katsonga

29/3/2012 05:15:23 pm

I'm 100% sure of that. I don't think I would ever stop believing there's a God out there even if I occasionally question it.

Fumba Chibaka

29/3/2012 06:53:53 am

Thanks for sharing this, Heather.

Tiamo

29/3/2012 10:00:22 am

Well.. to start.. I love Jesus and the fact that He works in mysterious.. but that is MY ring that I have asked you about for months that I forgot over there!!!! It's fine I bought a new one so please keep it!

But as to the rest of the blog. A thorough read through of scripture tells us that the world is a terrible place, terrible things will happens and in fact according to scripture, perhaps more so to those who DO believe. Suffering is to be expected. Why couldn't God just make us all happy and perfect if He is all powerful.. I plan to ask when I arrive.

I have never... and it is a mistake to assume that because people say they don't believe in God that they are bad people.. That is not the case.. the bible does say that people can and WILL be 'moral' but that is not enough. If we are gonna think in terms of Satan and God.. it is in Satan's best interest that we think that we are good enough people without God. But I shall stop there lest I get into a whole sermon!

29/3/2012 12:37:51 pm

Heather my love..might I add. I am in no way attempting to downplay the fact that God is tryna tell you something here.. because I mean, the fact that I forgot it there.. i didn't forget many things, especially thing I wear everyday.. and then what are the odds that You would find it on the very day when your heart is in such turmoil and your faith is being shaken.. God does know everything, perfectly orchestrates everything that happens in out lives!

29/3/2012 03:19:09 pm

I know right. I almost NEVER do so much housework mid-week and in the two years I've had the machine, that compartment has only ever been cleaned once before yesterday! I thought you had complained of a missing ring. You must have left it in a pocket which is odd?!

Angela

29/3/2012 03:18:39 pm

Heather, I have had my fair share of doubts!!!! But there have been certain things that have happened in my life recently that has made me realise that we should always trust God no matter what!!!! His ways and actions are those that we can never comprehend!!!

29/3/2012 05:17:56 pm

Angela, if I look at my own life, I could never doubt it for a moment but sometimes we look at other people's suffering and ask "why?".

Janet Ansah

29/3/2012 08:27:28 pm

This is wonderful and thought provoking indeed.
God has a plan for us all and wishes us well and for us to enjoy the blessings that were/are meant for us. There is a constant battle and in the process things are lost and we do not get the full blessings that God had intended for us.
Now the bible states in Jeremiah17:9 The heart (of man) is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]?

now that would give an answer for the evil that is in the world because it comes from us as human beings. Gods original plan for us was to enjoy life as he had provided for Adam and Eve in the garden and they lacked nothing....now of course all that led to the serpent/devil etc coming and deceiving etc and we were separated from God through sin then suffering and came etc and the rest is history.........now fortunately God made a plan B which was to send his son Jesus to come and die and redeem us and restore us back to God's original plan...
now.....
if we read 1 Corinthians 2:11-15..

11For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man's thoughts except the man's own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

12Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God.

now i think the clincher to answer this article is verse 14.
14But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

15But the spiritual man tries all things [he []examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him].

I think the scriptures above are self explanatory and I don't want to add or subtract from them...I've used the Amplified version of the Bible so that we can get a fuller understanding..........please let me know if any points need clarification.......
but at the end of the day God gave us free will and does not force himself on us as human beings this was demonstrated when he gave Adam and Eve the choice and told them of the consequences of eating from the tree.
So during this time coming up to Easter let us continue to reflect about our choices and appreciate God's ultimate act of love in sending his son for us and I hope we make the choice to love one another and pray for one another for Gods love and goodness to be evident to each other so that love can replace the evil that is rife in our society and communities.
So instead of crying out why is this evil in the world and the molestations etc...we should be praying for LOVE because God has been looking down and HE is asking why is all this evil going on and in order to deal with it he sent his ONLY son out of love so that we may come to the truth and understand Gods original plan and leave our evil ways behind and that we would all be restored to the people he intended.

Talumba

29/3/2012 08:35:56 pm

I am truly humbled by this. Let man be liar and God be true. God will always find means of communicating to us about his existence. Remain blessed!

Ethel

29/3/2012 08:53:18 pm

Thanks for sharing this touching experience, in addition to Tiamo's response/s.....there are so many awesome scriptures in the Bible, yet it was Proverbs 3:5 you had engraved at the time you got the ring and that was the very scripture that unbeknown to you would later minister to Heather such a unique way. God sure is awesome in His ways.

That Believer

29/3/2012 08:54:39 pm

Great Blog,

With fear of coming across as judgmental and not accomadating to your view I have just a few comments but I will add one at a time. The first comment for me is in the title of this blog. "God or Satan- Its not that simple".

I would like to propose that it is that simple. As someone who does not see the Christian faith as one of the many routes to the same destination, but the ONLY route as quoted from JESUS himself in John 14 verse 6, I would like to propose that it is that simple. When I say simple, I do not mean its easy to do but rather pointing out that if we are talking about CHRISTIANITY then the bible makes that completely clear. Its either you believe in this ONLY redemptive plan that God has provided as confirmed in Acts 4:12 which says:

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

That believer

As someone who has experienced the difficulties of growing in the faith

29/3/2012 11:10:34 pm

Thanks Aubs. I'm afraid I can't agree with your view. The dictionary definition of Satanic is "supremely evil or wicked". To say the choices are God or Satan is the same as saying Good or Evil.

However, atheists simply don't believe in a higher power. The think the world as we see it is where it all ends and we need to deal with life as such.

That Believer, still believing

30/3/2012 11:49:22 pm

I get so excited about having such discussion, especially with an intellectual such as yourself. Maybe let me express my view in a different way. When I am at work and there is an accounting issue that requires solving, if the answer is not my immediate knowledge, i refer to accounting guidance as per the International Financial Reporting Standards.

Same as issue like this, when discussing issues such as this I refrain from giving people just my opinion but rather what the MANUAL says. God's word is the ultimate guidance on these issues. Hence my references in the above comment. If we are to hold this discussion to reach an agreeable end, let hold this discussion on agreeable basis.

For me, I believe what the bible says in its entirety. I even believe the CONTENTS page and the INDEX. Which is why I hold such view when it comes to this topic.

Ms Katsonga

31/3/2012 12:44:23 am

I don't know why the reply button isn't working - anyway to "That Believer":

Atheists do not believe either God or Satan exist. I think it is fundamentally wrong for Christians to see themselves as Godly and everyone else as evil. The view is fundamentally wrong and slightly arrogant.

In fact, the arrogance of religious folk is what turns some people off religion - a lot of non-believers find believers to be conceited in their beliefs and as such do not wish to be associated with them. If you want to effectively pass the word of God on to people they need to feel there is no superiority involved, they don't want to join groups or societies that perceive themselves as better than other people.

I for one believe in God and that the bible is not a fabrication. I am Christian but I am not specifically religious by that I mean I don’t believe any single doctrine has got it 100% correct. I am actually quite comfortable to enter any house of worship Christian, Hindu or Muslim because I think we all praise the same God.

I do believe that the bible was written by spiritual people and because large sections were written at the time when Jesus was alive it does have a special status. However, I think there are sections of it that lack relevance in the current world. Importantly, as a document that was not written in English there is some meaning that was lost in translation.

With all that said, I think your views will develop over time. You have only been in the land of atheists for a year whereas I have been for 10 years. It took me OVER 5-years to comprehend atheism. The UK is a secular country. Less than 10% of people regularly go to church.

The UK is actually unlike the US. For instance, if you follow UK and US politics both of which I follow with keen interest, you will notice one thing: in the US God and spirituality are aspects that the voting populations looks upon favorably; in the UK, they are not, in fact being too religious is a negative in the UK. Politician craft their speeches to appeal to the majority, Obama and Romney constantly make references to God, Milliband and Cameron do not. I will be looking to see whether you have exactly the same views in four to five years time.

That Believer, still believin even after 10 years

31/3/2012 05:15:18 am

You have my attention on this issue, 100% of my attention. I think this is great conversation and to be honest a challenging one at that. It is with great pleasure that I get to respond.
Let me firstly agree with you that Christians are at fault for the misrepresentations that we make. We are at fault for the “holier than thou” attitudes. We are at fault for seeing ourselves as perfectly righteous especially when we are NOT. You are also right that we are a key reason why people keep away from Christianity. There is a poem I love that says “Why I Hate religion but love Jesus” please watch this and see where I am coming from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY

Don’t get me wrong when I say this heather, I have very strong relationships and bonds with people that are not Christians, actually some are of different faiths. You have misunderstood me, because I am not saying if you are not Christian then you are a satanic evil being. That is not by far what I am saying. But there are a lot of things that can be said, from a biblical point of view about this issue and I look forward to this discussion.
But as soon as someone says they are a Christian, the bible is the only guidance and instruction they should live by.
One statement that has caught my attention in a particular way. In the above statement you said “ I am actually quite comfortable to enter any house of worship Christian, Hindu or Muslim because I think we all praise the same God” This I believe is wrong, we do not all praise the same God. You see in some religions the recognise Jesus Christ as a prophet, or at least a symbolic figure in humanity. On the other hand, Christians believe that Jesus Christ is God, Christians believe in a triune God who are God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
This is a canon of the Christian faith that other faiths do not have. I therefore will disagree with you that “we all praise the same God”.
Another point I would like to make is an extract from 2 Timothy 3:16 which states
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right”
I believe it when God says “ALL SCRIPTURES” God means all scriptures.
In response your statement of my views developing over time, I surely hope that in my development I will not stray away from my faith and growing in wisdom in my faith in Jesus Christ. But through all that development I surely pray I remain in that 10% that regularly go to church, and I pray the same for you. There are certain things in me that my parents and God have instilled in me and I can assure you Heather that these views will never leave me in correlation of how long I stay in the UK, with that said, just a point of correction too, I have lived in the UK for 7 years in total and with every passing day I am assured that we need Jesus Christ more than ever.

Q. Barriere

10/4/2012 01:24:04 am

God or Satan? It’s not that simple…

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By Heather Katsonga-Woodward