Putting God First: A Ridiculous Idea
By Gretchen
The first time I ever heard this phrase, it came from my Grandmother's lips. In her way, she was trying to instill in me the same wisdom passed down from generation to generation. The idea that having god as your number one priority would cure all of your ills and grant you everlasting life in Heaven. Mind you, she meant well. I am sure someone in her young life said those words to her, meaning no harm but trying to save her soul. But, now that I am older and away from the trap, I no longer think this phrase to be true -- or even correct.
It is the idea that a supposed all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, all-[insert your description here] would need so much (or anything) that makes it hard to believe. Basically, I fail to see what something that is supposed to be perfect and complete could gain from people praying to or worshiping it. By definition, being perfect implies there is no fault or defect or lack. Yet, Christians state that God wants you, needs you to love Him, even though He is fully complete and perfect already.
In all of the twisting and contorting, everyone forgets one thing: You can't have it both ways. Either God is perfect and requires nothing from us, or he is faulty and needs our love and adoration. God is not supposed to be like a flawed human, yet love, pride, jealousy, wrath, kindness, caring, hatred, and rage are all attached to Him -- all traits a human possesses. This is always explained away though. "God is outside of everything, and logic does not apply", they say. Well, unfortunately, this is not an answer. It is just mental gymnastics at it's best, trying to answer something that is impossible.
Another thing I have come to hate about the phrase is the implication that family and even children are to take a back seat to a deity. Again, why does a god need more from me than a child would? A child is helpless up to a certain age. They cannot survive without a parent's love and care. On the other hand, something that can answer prayers, punish the wicked with awesome displays of power, and created everything in existence, wouldn't need to care about whether or not I paid my lip service for the evening or read a few lines in a book. Yet, the mantra stands: "Put God First," and people believe it.
In my opinion, this idea is meant to keep you fastened to the cult. If everything is focused on the main character of the story, how can you entertain any other view? Kids, spouses, other family members, work, hobbies, and other things become second class to a deity. Who, if given the chance, would take pleasure in watching you suffer forever and ever. But forget about that, He loves you. Eye on the prize, baby, eye on the prize.
Christians can cut this any way they want. Main thing is, however, it's just another ridiculous example of cult mentality. When you take all of your energy and being, and put it into something that requires your full compliance, you are asking for trouble. It is dangerous to lose who you truly are in anything. But, it is even more dangerous to buy into a way of thinking that would put you in the place of choosing something you can't see over the people you love.
"Put God first."
The first time I ever heard this phrase, it came from my Grandmother's lips. In her way, she was trying to instill in me the same wisdom passed down from generation to generation. The idea that having god as your number one priority would cure all of your ills and grant you everlasting life in Heaven. Mind you, she meant well. I am sure someone in her young life said those words to her, meaning no harm but trying to save her soul. But, now that I am older and away from the trap, I no longer think this phrase to be true -- or even correct.
It is the idea that a supposed all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, all-[insert your description here] would need so much (or anything) that makes it hard to believe. Basically, I fail to see what something that is supposed to be perfect and complete could gain from people praying to or worshiping it. By definition, being perfect implies there is no fault or defect or lack. Yet, Christians state that God wants you, needs you to love Him, even though He is fully complete and perfect already.
In all of the twisting and contorting, everyone forgets one thing: You can't have it both ways. Either God is perfect and requires nothing from us, or he is faulty and needs our love and adoration. God is not supposed to be like a flawed human, yet love, pride, jealousy, wrath, kindness, caring, hatred, and rage are all attached to Him -- all traits a human possesses. This is always explained away though. "God is outside of everything, and logic does not apply", they say. Well, unfortunately, this is not an answer. It is just mental gymnastics at it's best, trying to answer something that is impossible.
Another thing I have come to hate about the phrase is the implication that family and even children are to take a back seat to a deity. Again, why does a god need more from me than a child would? A child is helpless up to a certain age. They cannot survive without a parent's love and care. On the other hand, something that can answer prayers, punish the wicked with awesome displays of power, and created everything in existence, wouldn't need to care about whether or not I paid my lip service for the evening or read a few lines in a book. Yet, the mantra stands: "Put God First," and people believe it.
In my opinion, this idea is meant to keep you fastened to the cult. If everything is focused on the main character of the story, how can you entertain any other view? Kids, spouses, other family members, work, hobbies, and other things become second class to a deity. Who, if given the chance, would take pleasure in watching you suffer forever and ever. But forget about that, He loves you. Eye on the prize, baby, eye on the prize.
Christians can cut this any way they want. Main thing is, however, it's just another ridiculous example of cult mentality. When you take all of your energy and being, and put it into something that requires your full compliance, you are asking for trouble. It is dangerous to lose who you truly are in anything. But, it is even more dangerous to buy into a way of thinking that would put you in the place of choosing something you can't see over the people you love.
Comments
I absolutely agree, I don't think God needs us at all. Again this relates to humans but when I think of my relationship with my dog, I (his owner) find great joy when my dog behaves when people come over. I don't need that dog, yet it makes me very happy to watch the work I have spent training and loving it get reflected when it plays with kids and other people. In the same way, I think God gets great satisfaction when His creation (us) works hard for peace and love in our own lives.
You are correct, I don't think anyone can possibly understand God yet I'm not sure that not understanding explains away the fact that there can be a greater power. I think God's teaching of love really carries over. From the book of Matthew: "What you have done to the least of my people, you have done to me" basically explains that we are to treat one another with respect because we are all God's creation and therefore by putting God first, we can actually be catering to the needs of our own families and friends. So sitting in a building isn't necessarily what it means to put God first, often it is more like going out and helping and loving His people. I also agree with the fact that religion does become cultish often times and even Jesus himself recognized that. Who did he hang out with? The tax collectors and prostitutes. The "religious" actually scorned him and critisized him- I guess not much has changed over the past 2000 years! The funny thing is, the bible actually takes the focus off himself and focuses on others. Jesus never asked his disciples to get down and worship him, yet go love others was his main teaching.
Your comments got me to think and I appreciate that! I don't have all(hardly any!) of the world's answers yet I find strength in my faith. Hopefully what I've said gets you to think as well. Have a great day!
But then they found company property in his locker.
bye bye atheist.
We served God best by serving each other
So much for building families.
to suit their own needs. The more involved it gets the harder it will be to accept.
I am soooo glad that I don't have to concern myself with that crap.
I throw this in my step-dads face once in a while because he is a lousy provider. He is one of those "sacrifice yourself and family to server others" types.
We served God best by serving each other"
Is this a convincing argument? Absolutely not......serving god is the ignorant thing to do if you can not think critically and logically enough to see the truth.
Christianity in of itself baffles me, but people who put an imaginary being over their loved ones puzzles me more. I will never understand why it is supposed to be "moral" to neglect anyone for a fairytale. I guess those emotional scars are supposed to be some sort of twisted badge of honor.
I'm glad I got out of the cult before it was too late.
Christianity in of itself baffles me, but people who put an imaginary being over their loved ones puzzles me more. I will never understand why it is supposed to be "moral" to neglect anyone for a fairytale. I guess those emotional scars are supposed to be some sort of twisted badge of honor.
I'm glad I got out of the cult before it was too late.
Know how you feel man.
After first hearing that lovely buybull story (and being totally horrified) about Abraham ready and willing to sacrifice his child because "god told him to", I asked my parents if they would do that? Would they kill me if god told them to? In fact, for a while I asked everyone I knew/met if they would do that to their kids. I probably drove my parents, their friends, and aunts/uncles nuts for years....not to mention those poor unsuspecting folks in the grocery store. Yep, I'd go right up to them and ask them my million dollar question.
I was five years old.
I guess I was one of the lucky ones though....no one ever told me YES.
Your statement feels as a cruel whipping on the backs of struggling Christians who feel that their God isn't there for them.
Of course, in reality, God isn't there for them because He doesn't exist, not because He is bad or anything. In order for God to be bad, He would have to EXIST first.
whoa that is the best use of vocabulary I have seen an xtian fundie display for some time.
Lorena aptly showed how the above statement simplifies matters to the point of absurdity. Read many of the testimonials and you realise that many families use Lord's will to merely impose an authoriatrian sadistic method of obedience.
perhaps thats how they see their Lord anyhow.
You're a disingenuous, narcissistic twit looking for a bit of rough trade, and, AS YOU KNOW, you'll get slapped around plenty for using that pious tone and lying through your teeth on this site.
Enjoy.
(This is not an example of slagging off "...innocent christians", it's character assessment. Go suck on a relic.))
Most of you who have written bad things about God have no clue at all.
Oh really, and I'm sure you're a super-genius who will clue us in -- aren't ya?
It is not God that needs us to put Him first. It is us that needs to put Him first.
...and how the fu(k are you privy to this information, scooter?
If we do put Him first then He will answer prayers in a way that we have never witnessed before.
Yeah maintain that rationalization, skippy -- You sound more and more like a deluded christian dipsh*t, the more you babble on with your preposterous assertions.
Because as humans we are imperfect and need God in our lives to make us stronger.
Again, how are you privy to this information. Are you just pulling this out of your arse? Why would we believe in ANYTHING you vomit?
If you really think humans are so good look at the mess we have made of this world.
Silly fallible humans.
In the next world God will reign and all those who have chosen to follow Him.
Der -- run on sentence.
The notion that faith in Christ is to be rewarded by an eternity of bliss, while a dependence upon reason, observation, and experience merits everlasting pain, is too absurd for refutation, and can be believed only by that unhappy mixture of insanity and ignorance called 'faith.' -- Robert G. Ingersoll
If you do not chose to follow Him in this life then you are claiming that you do not want to be part of His family.
Uh -- that's your asinine evaluation, based solely on unsubstantiated bullsh*t. I can't make an educated choice in the matter because as of now, NO objective evidence has been provided to me for the existence of a personal god.
Just like you would follow your mother and father in this life you need to decide if you want to follow your father in Heaven.
My mother and father are REAL. I was able to make educated decisions on whether I should follow them or not, depending on their reliability. Thank goodness they were great parents and NOT abusive, neglectful parents -- they did a marvelous job of taking care of my sister and I. Now if the REALITY of the situation was opposite of that I might have chosen to rebel against them or segregate myself from them -- regardless I had reality based situations that I could actually base my decisions on, as opposed to your imaginary christian god that ONLY resides in the confines of your vacuous mind.
The best minds will tell you that when a man has begotten a child he is morally bound to tenderly care for it, protect it from hurt, shield it from disease, clothe it, feed it, bear with its waywardness, lay no hand upon it save in kindness and for its own good, and never in any case inflict upon it a wanton cruelty. God's treatment of his earthly children, every day and every night, is the exact opposite of all that, yet those best minds warmly justify these crimes, condone them, excuse them, and indignantly refuse to regard them as crimes at all, when he commits them. Your country and mine is an interesting one, but there is nothing there that is half so interesting as the human mind. -- Mark Twain
Is your cosmic father-in-the-sky so petty and insecure that his poor, precious, little feelings will be hurt if we don't choose him and believe in him -- so much so that he won't let you reside in the bliss of heaven and instead damn you to hell, to be tortured with flames for an eternity? You and your god-concept are twisted and screwed.
Face it zippy, we are NOT down with your infantile delusion.
Oh and I didn't realize that this site was a place to slag off innocent Christians.
Listen here, loony-tunes, either verify the existence of your god-concept with objective evidence or face the slagging -- you deer-in-the-headlight christian drone.
--S.
What 'next world', Mickie? There is no evidence for life after death and no evidence for your god. When you die, that's the end of your Christianity.
"Oh and I didn't realise that this site was a place to slag off innocent Christians."
Ironic... "Stumbled-in" Christian visitors like yourself regularly try to tell us that no one is innocent. I do wish you Bible-botherers would make up your d*mn minds before you come tracking mud all over our carpets.
What 'next world', Mickie? There is no evidence for life after death and no evidence for your god. When you die, that's the end of your Christianity.
"Oh and I didn't realise that this site was a place to slag off innocent Christians."
Ironic... "Stumbled-in" Christian visitors like yourself regularly try to tell us that no one is innocent. I do wish you Bible-botherers would make up your d*mn minds before you come tracking mud all over our carpets.
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