Does God Have A "plan"?

[Maggyie]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1584520' date='Jun 27 2008, 02:22 AM']Are you saying that marrying for love is bad?
...
My dreams have been crushed.
Lol. [/quote]

Naw lol, don't get me wrong, marrying for love is the ideal! It is good! Back in the day it just usually wasn't the main idea when people started looking around for a spouse. That didn't become more popular until the 19th century hit or so

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Maggie' post='1584536' date='Jun 27 2008, 12:48 AM']Naw lol, don't get me wrong, marrying for love is the ideal! It is good! Back in the day it just usually wasn't the main idea when people started looking around for a spouse. That didn't become more popular until the 19th century hit or so [/quote]
I know.
I knew what you mean, just wanted to bug you.
Sorry, bit of a thread hijack.

[Maggyie]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1584537' date='Jun 27 2008, 02:50 AM']I know.
I knew what you mean, just wanted to bug you.
Sorry, bit of a thread hijack. [/quote]

Don't worry, your thread hijack is alllllll a part of God's plan

[CatherineM]

I think God's plan is a bit like a baseball game. It's his will that we have one, but he's not going to interfere with all the details. He's not going to decide the batting orders, or who's going to pitch, or influence how the ball bounces. That doesn't mean he's not in the stands cheering us on, and enjoying the sunshine.

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Maggie' post='1584497' date='Jun 27 2008, 01:43 AM']I don't think God micromanages whom we marry, and even doesn't particularly care who it is, so long as the relationship leads to the cultivation of virtue and the glory of God.[/quote]

Then what about Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Joseph and Mary, etc? Were none of them specifically called to be married to each other, or did they just happen to be in the right place at the right time?

I also don't think God micromanages this stuff in most cases, but it certainly looks to be a possibility at times, especially when God has a greater plan at work.

That's why I go with "both/and" with this question. There's no reason to believe either way at the exclusion of the other.

Edited June 27, 2008 by LouisvilleFan

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='rkwright' post='1584205' date='Jun 26 2008, 09:26 PM']Fr. you should post more often, I like reading them... in threads other than your current video games! [/quote]

I don't often like to get involved in these types of threads or even the debate ones, because I don't have time, patience, or desire to stay involved in those types of threads. This thread was pointed out to me and someone asked me if I could respond, to clear up some things that may have been a little confusing. Basically, I only responded because I was asked, not because I was following this thread

Also, I cover a lot of this stuff in my homily thread. I just "fleshed it out" a bit more for this purpose.

Edited June 27, 2008 by Theologian in Training

[aalpha1989]

[quote name='Maggie' post='1584497' date='Jun 26 2008, 11:43 PM']I think the whole "God has a plan" thing especially with regard to spouse selection has a lot to do with the way modern secular society views marriage. The romantic idea is that we are all supposed to be looking for a "soul mate." Marrying anyone other than this individual is "settling" and if you do it you are a sell-out, a phony with a dry husk shell that resembles human features but which conceals an inner core made entirely from porridge. I think some Christians have adopted this view and "christianized" it in the way you describe, although it has its roots in more pagan concepts like Fate.

The reality is that any number of people would make good husbands and/or wives for each other, in fact I read somewhere the comment that almost all marriages are almost certainly "mistakes" in that somewhere on the globe there could probably be found someone else who was better looking, funnier, more even-keeled, more perceptive, more kind, or otherwise more "perfect" for you. Of course the most perfect marriage is the one you're in.

The idea of marrying a soulmate, or marrying for love at all, is of relatively recent vintage. For most of history, including the Christian era, this was not usually the first priority! I don't think God micromanages whom we marry, and even doesn't particularly care who it is, so long as the relationship leads to the cultivation of virtue and the glory of God.[/quote]


[quote name='CatherineM' post='1584746' date='Jun 27 2008, 10:33 AM']I think God's plan is a bit like a baseball game. It's his will that we have one, but he's not going to interfere with all the details. He's not going to decide the batting orders, or who's going to pitch, or influence how the ball bounces. That doesn't mean he's not in the stands cheering us on, and enjoying the sunshine.[/quote]


I agree with you guys.

[Veridicus]

I like the analogy Tom Cruise's character uses against Colin Ferrel's character in Minority Report. Movie Premise: These humans have the capacity to see the future and they are used by police to catch criminals before they commit crime and are then charged for the crime they haven't committed yet. Colin Ferrel's character doubts the clairvoyant's capacity for irrefutible prescience. Tom Cruse's character rolls a ball across a table and it starts to fall off the other side...so Colin Ferrel's character reaches out and grabs it before it hits the ground. Then Tom Cruise's character is like "Why'd you do that?" and the other character responds "Because it was gonna fall to the ground." But Colin Ferrel's character's KNOWING that it is gonna fall to the ground in no way CAUSES it to fall to the ground.

This may add nothing to the thread, but it sure helps me get my head around omniscience without utter predestination. By the way, I do think God sweeps in and catches the balls in our lives sometimes (but it would might be superfluous for him to completely micromanage everything).

Edited July 1, 2008 by Veridicus

[aalpha1989]

[quote name='Veridicus' post='1587810' date='Jul 1 2008, 12:34 AM']This may add nothing to the thread, but it sure helps me get my head around omniscience without utter predestination. By the way, I do think God sweeps in and catches the balls in our lives sometimes (but it would might be superfluous for him to completely micromanage everything).[/quote]

I guess that's kinda what I think... I don't think he totally stays out, but I also don't think he plans everything.

[rckllnknny]

i think 'Gods will' is purposely intended to us as our 'free will.''
our inheritance as heirs to the throne.

Edited July 11, 2008 by rckllnknny

[rckllnknny]

our gifts. and our place at home by eternal dynasty. in revelations it says 'all things.'
it was all predestined.

[Seven77]

[quote name='rckllnknny' post='1597754' date='Jul 11 2008, 11:15 AM']i think 'Gods will' is purposely intended to us as our 'free will.''[/quote]

God willed us to have "free will"--the ability to freely disobey or obey. He wants us to obey of course...but when we freely disobey we have ability to repent and obey again (
Because of the Cross and Resurrection, the Holy Spirit helps us obey) and our mistakes could be turned around into opportunities of holiness.

Rom. 8:28 "God works all things for good..." even our sins.

[running the race]

My favorite part of the creation story is the part where God gives everything He creates a purpose. We not only are blessed enough to be created by God, but to be given a purpose by God. So does God have a plan for us? I believe so. We are also free to choose this path for our lives. It's also important to remember that even if we choose to do what God asks of us, everything that happens to us is not necessarily part of God's plan because other people's choices effect our lives. God can however, take whatever happens to us and make it work for His glory.

[rckllnknny]

i couldnt exist without a purpose.

Edited July 23, 2008 by rckllnknny