Protestant spammer claims God is not the least bit interested in unbelievers–could that be true?
I get a lot of religious spam. Here is part of some spam that a Protestant religious leader sent me:
I see a lot of fervent people engrossed with all sorts of cares and issues but it seems to me that very few people ask the question “what does the Almighty Creator of the Heavens and the Earth REALLY want from ME?”
Based on my experience to date I will give you what I believe He wants from every Believer on Earth INCLUDING YOU! – note that He is NOT in the least bit interested in the unbelievers, those who do NOT believe He exists, He is ONLY concerned about those that Believe at some level:
- Draw intensely close to Him and develop a DEEP PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Him
This entire Universe, this Solar System, this Planet, the plants and the animals and human beings exist for ONE REASON ONLY – to have a deep personal relationship with the Almighty Creator because He was lonely.
NO! God is not lonely. He is not selfish. God is love (1 John 4).
NO! The ONLY reason for the creation is not to develop a relationship with God–though He does want a relationship with us as our Father (Matthew 6).
And NO, God does care about unbelievers and His loving plan includes them:
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
In addition to John 3:16-17, see also the following free scripture-filled online book: Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation.
Here are some Protestant views and the proper scriptural understanding on some of these matters from our free online book: The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you?
There are reportedly just over 800 million Protestants, and they are divided by many denominations, ministries, and sects (note: the Continuing Church of God is NOT Protestant—details as to why are found in our free online books: The Continuing History of the Church of God and Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism).
However, despite the variety of Protestants, there seems to be some general agreements on why God made anything.
Notice one Protestant view of why God made humans:
Why Did God Create Humans?
He did so to give himself glory. God created us to live and enjoy relationships as he did. Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). …
To bring glory to God—that is, to exalt him, lift him up, give him praise, to reflect upon him honorable—is in fact our purpose in life. (Bell S. Josh McDowell Ministry. posted April 11, 2016)
We in the CCOG would disagree. God did not create us because He is some ego-driven spiritual entity that needed people to give Him glory. Nor is giving glory to God the purpose of human life. But it is true that God wanted to increase joy.
Here is another, somewhat similar Protestant response:
Why did God create in the first place? Was He bored? Was He lonely? Why did God go through the trouble of making humans?
The Bible tells us that God’s ultimate purpose for the universe is to reveal His glory. The Bible tells us that God’s ultimate purpose for mankind is to reveal His love. (Was God Bored? All About God Ministries, accessed 03/21/19)
Well, this is slightly closer as love is part of it, but again the implication is that God made everything because of His need to have His ego stroked. God is not vain and does not need that.
Here are views from two other Protestants:
Why Did God Create the World?
The short answer that resounds through the whole Bible like rolling thunder is: God created the world for his glory. (Piper J. September 22, 2012. https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/why-did-god-create-the-world accessed 01/16/19)
Why Did God Create?
God did not create because of some limitation within Himself. Instead, He created everything out of nothing in order to put His glory on display for the delight of His created beings and that they might declare His greatness. (Lawson J. Ligonier Ministries, July 3, 2017)
Two more claiming God made things for His personal glory.
So, those Protestant (including Baptist) sources seem to agree. But we in CCOG do not believe they really understand the mystery of God’s plan. …
The Beatific Vision
Some feel that eternity will be spent primarily gazing upon the face of God. This is known as the ‘Beatific Vision.’ …
The editor of the Lutheran Journal of Ethics wrote:
But the end goal of God’s purpose for the human creature shines through an eschatological understanding of sanctification, where we are promised the beatific vision of holiness and full communion with God in eternity. (Santos C. Editor’s Introduction: Lutherans and Sanctification. © September/October 2017. Journal of Lutheran Ethics, Volume 17, Issue 5)
Many Protestants that believe in the Beatific Vision lean toward the view that this vision is a spiritual, not physical sight (e.g. Ortlund G. Why We Misunderstand the Beatific Vision. First Baptist Church of Ojai, September 26, 2018).
Those who accept versions of the Beatific Vision as the end goal tend to think that seeing God will fill them with His or their own happiness.
Here is an opposing view of that vision from a onetime Church of God writer:
If eternity is to be spent gazing blissfully up into God’s face, or having our every wish immediately fulfilled — as many religions teach — after a few months (or after a few octillion years, it doesn’t really matter), life would get boring. And once life got boring, it would be sickeningly and fiendishly terrifying. Because there would remain nothing but an unending eternity of boredom to come — with death a wonderful but impossible way of escape (see Luke 20:35-38). This would indeed be the ultimate torture.
But our Eternal Father has a better idea. He has designed a plan in which eternity will not grow progressively more boring. But, as unbelievable as it seems, eternity will grow progressively more exciting, more scintillating, and more enjoyable as each eon follows eon. (Kuhn RL. The God Family – Part Three: To Inhabit Eternity. Good News, July 1974)
Yes, God made what He did so that eternity could be better. Notice something from a deceased Church of God writer:
The God who put this world together did so with a plan in mind. That plan was not the hopeless Nirvana of one major religion of the world which promises you will become an unconscious part of the great whole of nothing with no worries forever — because you have no individual consciousness forever. It is not the bliss of slumbering in a hammock slung between two date palms in an oasis, being fed by voluptuous maidens forever, the promise of which the followers of Allah are assured. It is not walking the golden streets with golden slippers, strumming on a harp with your only worry being how to keep your halo straight, as seems to be the promise of the majority of Protestant groups. It is most certainly not the promise of finally being able to look into the face of God and appreciate the beatific vision (whatever that is), as is the promise to those who follow the Catholic faith: What the God who created everything proposes is to bring you into His very family. To be God as God is God! Not just to be a God in the euphemistic sense of us all being brothers and sisters with God as our figurehead Father, but to share His divine nature completely. …
God’s real plan is practical. He says of His family Kingdom that there will never be an end to its expansion. His plan is to continue adding sons and daughters who look, feel, act like Him and who are composed of the same self-regenerating eternal spirit life as He is, forever! That is why the goal God has set before Himself is a hope that not even He will ever fulfill. Endless, eternal, forever creating an ever-expanding family to enjoy and rule the great creation He has already made — and to have you and me share in future creations without end. A busy, practical, interesting, challenging, ongoing plan that gives an eternal reason to live.
There is no boredom in that plan. Never a time when your interest will run out. No mythical, religious-sounding folderol about some spiritual never-never land where you do nothing forever — but an eternal job of creating, governing! problem-solving with visible benefit. … He has the power to resurrect you … (Hill DJ. What the World Needs Now Is…HOPE. Plain Truth, February 1979)
Notice something from a late Church of God leader:
“If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14). This should be a time of HOPE, because even if THIS WORLD dies — and it shall — there will follow a RESURRECTION of a new and better world — a world at PEACE — a world of contentment, happiness, abundance, JOY! God help us to comprehend! Not merely continuous existence — but the full, happy, interesting, ABUNDANT life! Yes — and that for ALL ETERNITY! (Armstrong HW. What Is the Purpose of the Resurrection? Good News, March 1982)
Because many do not fully understand scripture, they have promoted views, like how they teach the beatific vision, which are not fully consistent with God’s plan.
Us looking at God does not, of itself, make eternity better. Though Him blessing us forever certainly will do that (cf. Psalm 72:17-19). …
God wants good for you and if you truly love and “obey Him” (Acts 5:32; Hebrews 5:9), that is how everything will turn out (Romans 8:28).
Notice the following:
24 Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. (Ecclesiastes 2:24)
12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor–it is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. (Ecclesiastes 3:12-14)
The above is true, essentially because being productive in work is intended to make things better. And humans should enjoy being productive.
Furthermore, God’s plan takes into account what has happened to you. Notice Old Testament teachings related to that:
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. 13 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. 14 From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; 15 He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. (Psalm 33:11-15)
1 For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. (Ecclesiastes 9:1a)
9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
24 A man’s steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way? (Proverbs 20:24)
73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; (Psalm 119:73)
17 … “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.” (Ecclesiastes 3:17)
Notice, now, passages in the New Testament:
11 But the one and the same Spirit is operating in all these things, dividing separately to each one as God Himself desires. … 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and you are all individual members. (1 Corinthians 12:11, 27, AFV)
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6:7-8)
10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name … (Hebrews 6:10)
God has a plan for ALL! That includes YOU INDIVIDUALLY whether you are called in this age or not. And He considers ALL OF YOUR WORKS.
All that you have been through, all that you have suffered, all of which you accomplished, etc. is preparing YOU to make eternity better (unless you will ultimately refuse to support God’s Kingdom). Everything you have been through has been preparing you for the calling and work God has for you! YOU will be able to give in a unique way and help make eternity better! …
God MADE humanity in order to give love (cf. 1 John 4:7-12) and so that there would be more love in the universe (cf. Matthew 22:37-39). That is the meaning of life.
What is the mystery of God’s plan? Why did God create anything?
God created what He did so eternity would be better (cf. Hebrews 6:9, 11:16; Philippians 1:23).
That is why He created the universe and that is why He created men and women. He specifically created the universe as a heritage/inheritance for Jesus and all humankind.
Humans who are granted eternal life will make eternity better.
God’s plan includes all who will heed His call in this age (see also the free online booklet Is God Calling You?), and others in the age to come (see also Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation).
Christian or not, why did God make you?
Your purpose in this life is to build character so you can maximize your potential and increase how much better you can improve eternity.
God made YOU so that you will be able to use your unique talents (Matthew 25:14-23; Luke 19:11-19) to give love in order to make eternity better!
That is why God created what He did. That is why God made YOU.
The reality is that Protestants do not truly believe in sola Scriptura nor understand God’s plan of salvation. For documented details, check out the following free online book: Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism.
God MADE humanity in order to give love (cf. 1 John 4:7-12) and so that there would be more love in the universe (cf. Matthew 22:37-39). That is the meaning of life.
What is the mystery of God’s plan? Why did God create anything?
God created what He did so eternity would be better (cf. Hebrews 6:9, 11:16; Philippians 1:23).
That is why He created the universe and that is why He created men and women. He specifically created the universe as a heritage/inheritance for Jesus and all humankind.
Humans who are granted eternal life will make eternity better.
God’s plan includes all who will heed His call in this age (see also the free online booklet Is God Calling You?), and others in the age to come (see also Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation).
Christian or not, why did God make you?
Your purpose in this life is to build character so you can maximize your potential and increase how much better you can improve eternity.
God made YOU so that you will be able to use your unique talents (Matthew 25:14-23; Luke 19:11-19) to give love in order to make eternity better!
That is why God created what He did. That is why God made YOU.
Sadly, Protestants do not know that (see also Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism).
As far as why God made you, you might find the following Continuing Church of God sermon helpful:
Why did God make YOU? What is the biblical meaning of life? Are you supposed to do good? Is there a place for works? What will you be rewarded for? What about love and the commandments? Does God have a specific role for you personally? Do you really trust God? Will you be able to give love in a unique manner in order to make eternity better for yourself and others? What about character and deification? Why did God create anything? This is third part of a three-part sermon series by Dr. Thiel.
This sermon series is based on the following free online book: The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you?
Here is a link to the sermon: The Mystery of YOU.
The time to do what God wants you to do is now, before it is too late (cf. Zephaniah 2; watch Zephaniah’s ‘Gather Together’ Prophecy).
We produced a short video related to this:
‘Get Ready: The World is About to Need You’
According to a secular source, related to COVID-19, Matt Smith wrote, “We could have been better prepared.” He also went over many issues, including lockdowns, illness, and deaths that should be anticipated related to COVID-19. But he then said, “Get ready. The world is about to need you.” Are you willing to step up spiritually and support the Philadelphian work? Most end time Christians are prophesied not to do so. Do the words that Mordecai passed on to Queen Esther have meaning for you today? Could you have been called into the Kingdom of God for a time such as this? What are the plans that God might have for you? Are you one who may have been prophesied to “instruct many” in the end time? Are you watching and praying? Are you cold or lukewarm when it comes to God’s work? Are you mainly a hearer of the word or a doer? Dr. Thiel goes over these subjects.
Here is a link to our video: ‘Get Ready: The World is About to Need You’.
Yes, life has a purpose!
It is NOT because God is lonely or selfish–do not rely on faulty Protestant reasoning!
IF you are willing and will take steps, you can make eternity better for yourself and all who will later hear God’s call.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN Why Did God Create Anything? Why did God make you? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, and The Mystery of YOU.
Why Were You Born? Why did God make you? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject. You may also wish to read the article What is Your Destiny? or watch the video, also titled What is Your Destiny?
Building Character: Going on to Perfection Once you have accepted Jesus, do you need to strive for perfection and build character? A related video sermon is available: Going on to perfection and building character.
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally? If you would like to watch videos covering subjects of this article, you can click on the following links: Why YOU? Why Do YOU Suffer? and What is the meaning of your life?
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Will all get a fair chance at salvation? This free book is packed with scriptures showing that God does intend to offer salvation to all who ever lived–the elect in this age, and the rest in the age to come. Here is a link to a related sermon series: Universal Offer of Salvation 1: Apocatastasis, Universal Offer of Salvation 2: Jesus Desires All to be Saved, Mysteries of the Great White Throne Judgment (Universal Offer of Salvation part 3), Is God Fair, Will God Pardon the Ignorant?, Can God Save Your Relatives?, Babies, Limbo, Purgatory and God’s Plan, and ‘By the Mouth of All His Holy Prophets’.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection; here is a message in Spanish: Me Está Llamando Dios Hoy? A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
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