re: 10 questions that every intelligent Christian must answer

full transcript at:
http://calenfretts.com/2011/03/08/re-10-questions-that-every-intelligent-chri...

This is my response to the video called "10 questions that every intelligent Christian must answer".

Question #1: Why Won't God Heal Amputees?

Though not constrained by them because of His omnipotence, God tends to work within the bounds of natural laws governing our physical world -- in fact, there are solid cases for scientific (rather than "magical") explanations for almost everything He has ever done, including Creation. Most occurrences regarded as miracles (at least, those which are detectable by humans) could be explained away by secular means -- they are, however, usually extremely improbable by rational measures, and over a series of occurrences, are recognized as more than just patterns of coincidental, infinitesimally small "chance" encounters of good fortune by those who are not blinded by doubt.

Of course, before Jesus' birth (in the Old Testament), God did reveal Himself in much more direct ways -- however, because of Jesus' salvation, God no longer had a need to physically manifest Himself in our world -- Jesus paid the price for our sins, and God leaves the onus of whether to believe on us (at least, in a manner of speaking). And, during his time on earth, Jesus healed a leper and a blind man -- both miracles of the same nature posed here -- both well-documented, eyewitness cases.

Specifically regarding amputees, it is important to realize that God does not create miracles -- at least in the modern age -- that fly in the face of measurable, natural laws. This question is a clever twist on the age-old paradox "Can God create a rock so heavy that even He cannot lift it?". It is not a question of God's power or whether He answers prayer, but instead a deceitful manner of asking "can 1 = 0?", and the answer is, of course not.

It is important at this point to establish a principle that can be applied to this as well as many of the rest of the questions going forward: it is up to God to decide how His justice is best done -- in this specific instance, whether or not to grant our requests -- since He is the perfect Creator and we are not, and much (perhaps most) of the time, what we think is "best" (our requests) are not in line with His perfect will. This can perhaps best be summed up in the quote, "God always answers our prayers, but sometimes the answer is no."

full transcript at:
http://calenfretts.com/2011/03/08/re-10-questions-that-every-intelligent-chri...

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• Why Won't God Heal Amputees

[GretchenHunemuller]

Not meant to offend, but your videi is boring. If you want to reach people, you need to speak simply and directly, keep it brief, and consider your audience, who are mostly made up of average people. Not geniuses. Hope this helps. God bless.

[Frettsy]

@GretchenHunemuller thanks for the comment friend. this topic doesn't tend to be "exciting", it is an intellectual issue. if you've made a video that you think more excitingly answers these questions, please feel free to post as a video response.

[Kecojones]

Faith in Gods allows you to blindly advocate for a stack of myths contradicted in a man-written book. Even though it is clear that all those bible theories do not hold in today's world.

[Frettsy]

@Kecojones the Old Deluder claims another soul.

[SMontgomery2007]

Appreciate this video as a believer. In reference to the question about prayer and healing you were mostly accurate, except when you said that God can't go against natural law in performing miracles. What God cannot do is go against His own nature, such as is stated in Hebrews 6.

[Frettsy]

@SMontgomery2007 I said "God does not create miracles -- at least in the modern age -- that fly in the face of measurable, natural laws". not that He cannot, because certainly, He can :)

[1withiam]

Because there is no belief.

[1Daphdong]

@ADMusker You do not understand what was happening there. Whether you believe it or not, these people were the children of Fallen Angels, there DNA had been changed. that is why they were destroyed, not because of their humanity, but because of their inhumanity. The children of Fallen Angels were not nice people, they even had cannibalism amongst them.

[bigjriddell1]

what an idiot... Way to Rationalize your strong beliefs! Brainwashed people by the billions... actually read the bible, you can use the bible to impeach the bible.

[sockyquest]

Isn't it funny how 'God' did lots of miracles back in the day, but is quiet nowadays when we have the means to prove them scientifically?

"God no longer has a need to physically manifest himself in our world.. "

This is the kind of twisted doublethink a seemingly educated person such as yourself must use to make sense of your religion.

'God' is clearly the invention of men living in a backward, pre-scientific age.

[pajhuabvang013]

preach! it

[pajhuabvang013]

great words of choice. i had trouble finding my path but you have really helped.. your answer are much more intelligent than these questions thanks!

[MrWrongevolution]

Thanks you verry much. Really good, keep go on. Thanks for subtile. It's really helpfull because English isn't my first language.

[ADMusker]

@Frettsy “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”

So the LORD our God also gave into our hands Og king of Bashan and all his army. We struck them down, leaving no survivors.

We completely destroyed them, as we had done with Sihon king of Heshbon, destroying every city—men, women and children.

God encouraging the murder of children.

[ADMusker]

@Frettsy I agree that a loving God would want us to have an understandable translation of the bible, but what evidence do you to suggest that God is 100% loving? The bible is full of horrendous moments, many of which are supported, or even encouraged, by God. Let's keep the debate specific, with the examples from Deuteronomy 3:1-7 (NIV), all quotable here at the Bible Gateway website.

[Callamatteomatisch]

@Frettsy You're absolutely right in every point!