29 May 2017
The Rebuttal
Psalm 103:17-18
But the Lord’s love for those who respect him continues forever and ever, and his goodness continues to their grandchildren and to those who keep his agreement and who remember to obey his orders.
I watched an interview on Tucker Carlson’s show last week where the Freedom From Religion co president, Dan Barker, went off on how cruel, destructive and crazy God is. This guy claims to be informed on what the Bible “really” teaches, but he clearly does not know God at all, and he must be completely unaware that Psalm 103 is even in the Bible.
All of Psalm 103 clearly expresses what God is really like. He is accurately described as the One who doesn’t treat us harshly, saves us, satisfies us with GOOD things, and loves us like no one else ever will. These attributes to Him are amazing and true. How God gets saddled with the evil in the world that are a result of people’s free will is ridiculous. He is the only one who offers the solution, relief and protection from the wickedness in the world; he doesn’t cause it. Mr. Freedom from Religion is saying God isn’t too powerful if he allows wickedness to go on, but that man sure does love his free will, and he uses his free will, ironically, to freely misunderstand, misrepresent, and misinterpret the One, True, Living God.
Here’s what the Bible really says about those who use their free will to obey all that God offers...
But the Lord’s love for those who respect him continues forever and ever, and his goodness continues to their grandchildren and to those who keep his agreement and who remember to obey his orders.
These are not the actions of a cold, heartless, maniacal being. Believers are not being duped; we’re being blessed! I love Psalm 103. It articulates so completely and accurately the attributes of God in one place and is the perfect rebuttal to smug, atheistic God mockers.
All that I am, praise the Lord;
everything in me, praise his holy name.
My whole being, praise the Lord
and do not forget all his kindnesses.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He saves my life from the grave
and loads me with love and mercy.
He satisfies me with good things
and makes me young again, like the eagle.
The Lord does what is right and fair
for all who are wronged by others.
He showed his ways to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
The Lord shows mercy and is kind.
He does not become angry quickly, and he has great love.
He will not always accuse us,
and he will not be angry forever.
He has not punished us as our sins should be punished;
he has not repaid us for the evil we have done.
As high as the sky is above the earth,
so great is his love for those who respect him.
He has taken our sins away from us
as far as the east is from west.
The Lord has mercy on those who respect him,
as a father has mercy on his children.
He knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.
Human life is like grass;
we grow like a flower in the field.
After the wind blows, the flower is gone,
and there is no sign of where it was.
But the Lord’s love for those who respect him
continues forever and ever,
and his goodness continues to their grandchildren
and to those who keep his agreement
and who remember to obey his orders.
(Psalm 103)
Dear God,
Thank you that you are not hiding your attributes from us, but you actually freely express them to us in your Word so that we know exactly what you are like and can freely choose to follow you. Thank you for making these good things even available to us. If you were cruel, you wouldn't! I love how you treat me with love and do not hold my sins against me, and how you give me good things -- really good things. I love you so much, and I thank you, and I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
The interview starts at 22:55 on the following youtube clip:
The Rebuttal
Psalm 103:17-18
But the Lord’s love for those who respect him continues forever and ever, and his goodness continues to their grandchildren and to those who keep his agreement and who remember to obey his orders.
I watched an interview on Tucker Carlson’s show last week where the Freedom From Religion co president, Dan Barker, went off on how cruel, destructive and crazy God is. This guy claims to be informed on what the Bible “really” teaches, but he clearly does not know God at all, and he must be completely unaware that Psalm 103 is even in the Bible.
All of Psalm 103 clearly expresses what God is really like. He is accurately described as the One who doesn’t treat us harshly, saves us, satisfies us with GOOD things, and loves us like no one else ever will. These attributes to Him are amazing and true. How God gets saddled with the evil in the world that are a result of people’s free will is ridiculous. He is the only one who offers the solution, relief and protection from the wickedness in the world; he doesn’t cause it. Mr. Freedom from Religion is saying God isn’t too powerful if he allows wickedness to go on, but that man sure does love his free will, and he uses his free will, ironically, to freely misunderstand, misrepresent, and misinterpret the One, True, Living God.
Here’s what the Bible really says about those who use their free will to obey all that God offers...
But the Lord’s love for those who respect him continues forever and ever, and his goodness continues to their grandchildren and to those who keep his agreement and who remember to obey his orders.
These are not the actions of a cold, heartless, maniacal being. Believers are not being duped; we’re being blessed! I love Psalm 103. It articulates so completely and accurately the attributes of God in one place and is the perfect rebuttal to smug, atheistic God mockers.
All that I am, praise the Lord;
everything in me, praise his holy name.
My whole being, praise the Lord
and do not forget all his kindnesses.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He saves my life from the grave
and loads me with love and mercy.
He satisfies me with good things
and makes me young again, like the eagle.
The Lord does what is right and fair
for all who are wronged by others.
He showed his ways to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
The Lord shows mercy and is kind.
He does not become angry quickly, and he has great love.
He will not always accuse us,
and he will not be angry forever.
He has not punished us as our sins should be punished;
he has not repaid us for the evil we have done.
As high as the sky is above the earth,
so great is his love for those who respect him.
He has taken our sins away from us
as far as the east is from west.
The Lord has mercy on those who respect him,
as a father has mercy on his children.
He knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.
Human life is like grass;
we grow like a flower in the field.
After the wind blows, the flower is gone,
and there is no sign of where it was.
But the Lord’s love for those who respect him
continues forever and ever,
and his goodness continues to their grandchildren
and to those who keep his agreement
and who remember to obey his orders.
(Psalm 103)
Dear God,
Thank you that you are not hiding your attributes from us, but you actually freely express them to us in your Word so that we know exactly what you are like and can freely choose to follow you. Thank you for making these good things even available to us. If you were cruel, you wouldn't! I love how you treat me with love and do not hold my sins against me, and how you give me good things -- really good things. I love you so much, and I thank you, and I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
The interview starts at 22:55 on the following youtube clip:
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