tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post114285905527369212..comments2024-03-10T10:40:32.319-07:00Comments on Pyromaniacs: The laziness of unbeliefPhil Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00649092052031518426noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1142897937984133872006-03-20T15:38:00.000-08:002006-03-20T15:38:00.000-08:00Fine post, Dan. I also sympathize with the one lo...Fine post, Dan. I also sympathize with the one looking for work. I left my job last year to get out of a horrible situation. The struggle to find a permanent place has been very taxing.<BR/><BR/>Unbelief takes many forms. There is also that form that says, "God loves me but He has not helped me in my situation. So what is the practical difference between his loving me and not loving me"?<BR/><BR/>Self-pity stinks.Away From The Brinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01437744242086239050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1142872569731491492006-03-20T08:36:00.000-08:002006-03-20T08:36:00.000-08:00I was thinking about this exact topic this morning...I was thinking about this exact topic this morning..thank you for the timely post.Bethanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18218582402990383568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1142871250235840502006-03-20T08:14:00.000-08:002006-03-20T08:14:00.000-08:00Unbelief sprouting from laziness results in a dera...Unbelief sprouting from laziness results in a deranged belief system based in, around and through "selective rationalization." Self-deception is always the easy way out.<BR/><BR/>In Christ<BR/><BR/>Mike RatliffMike Ratliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14067841429011899105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1142868342889575222006-03-20T07:25:00.000-08:002006-03-20T07:25:00.000-08:00"Jesus loved and prized John"My heart was very enc..."Jesus loved and prized John"<BR/><BR/>My heart was very encouraged. Thanks for expounding on this wonderful passage of Scripture.<BR/><BR/>"we embrace our feelings as if it were truth, and we sulk".<BR/>And when we cry out to the Lord, He is so faithful to reply.<BR/><BR/>What a kind and gracious Savior we have. He is the "good Physician".donsandshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03665794015011057098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1142864585690716062006-03-20T06:23:00.000-08:002006-03-20T06:23:00.000-08:00This is a struggle for many Christians, even me at...This is a struggle for many Christians, even me at times. I've been looking for a job for almost six months now, and it's been quite a roller coaster of emotions. God has been gracious in giving me the strength not to fall into this type of doubt 90% of the time, but I slip occasionally. <BR/><BR/>Our pastor yesterday preached on John 11, where Jesus raises Lazarus. Martha and Mary sent to Jesus while Lazarus was still sick, and he did not come until Lazarus had passed. Our pastor pointed out that we can learn by Christ's delay in coming: we ought not judge God's love toward us by what's going on in our life right now. God is actively working, but He isn't on our timetable (which is the hardest for me to get at times!).<BR/><BR/>It's hard for us to step back and look at the grander picture, seeing all the blessings and grace that He has given us over our life when we are now stuck in a rough situation.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for reminder to get out of a "slump."Dan B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10018881780363017344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1142864091308829872006-03-20T06:14:00.000-08:002006-03-20T06:14:00.000-08:00This has long been one of my favorite passages in ...This has long been one of my favorite passages in Scripture and I think that beyond laziness in unbelief there is selfishness in unbelief. While John’s unbelief could have extended from his refusal to look at the facts; however, I think it more than likely extended from his lack of personal prosperity. The key to understanding this is Christ’s reply, “And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” John was not doubting because he failed to see the evidence but because Christ was not rescuing him. We are all prone to doubting God in the situations when we should rely on Him the most.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1142863674020003182006-03-20T06:07:00.000-08:002006-03-20T06:07:00.000-08:00You wrote: "I will tell you from too much bitter p...You wrote: "I will tell you from too much bitter personal experience: it goes down a lot easier when we preach this sermon to ourselves, than when we get to where we need to hear it from another. Best not to be the last to know, and deal with, the truth."<BR/><BR/>I always appreciate your transparency for it is never at the expense of the Gospel and typically hits dead-on target with, I would think, everyone. Very well said reminder to be always on the look out for such things in our own lives. It is that horrid thing of thinking of ourselves too comfortably, more highly of ourselves than we ought... or just merely not thinking at all.<BR/>Thank you.4givenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604421713579961024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1142862926221252032006-03-20T05:55:00.000-08:002006-03-20T05:55:00.000-08:00I for one wouldn't fault John the Infuser at all....I for one wouldn't fault John the Infuser at all.<BR/><BR/>He had every right to question Jesus' identity. Virtually no one expected the Messiah to rule through suffering servant-hood; they expected a warrior. And what kind of messiah would let his forerunner go to prison? What Jesus tells John's disciples to relate is a bit more robust than "You have seen enough." He says, "The year of Yahweh's favor (see Isa. 61:1ff) has broken in to the middle of history, unexpectedly, and I am inaugurating it. Now align your expectations, John, with God's — such is His kingdom." <BR/><BR/>Good words about distrust, though.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05006685610827238652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1142862868457678952006-03-20T05:54:00.000-08:002006-03-20T05:54:00.000-08:00I for one have serious problems of this nature fro...<I>I for one have serious problems of this nature from time to time</I><BR/><BR/>Brother, I wish I could tell you that I write this as a detached observer, rather than as a recidivist. But there's that pesky "honesty" thing....DJPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16471042180904855578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1142860158921059472006-03-20T05:09:00.000-08:002006-03-20T05:09:00.000-08:00Thanks Dan,for articulating this so clearly. I for...Thanks Dan,<BR/><BR/>for articulating this so clearly. I for one have serious problems of this nature from time to time. This is worthy of being saved and re-read when it rears its ugly head again.Ephemeral Mortalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11192318495950849715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1142860104014211302006-03-20T05:08:00.000-08:002006-03-20T05:08:00.000-08:00Like John Piper says, "Unbelief in God's promises ...Like John Piper says, "Unbelief in God's promises is the root of all sin."<BR/>Unbelief is lazy. It is the easy thing to do. It is our nature. Everyday I have to spot unbelief creeping into my life. If I don't shoot it down with God's word I am a goner.<BR/>Thanks for this post. It is good to remember even John had his problems with this.Jon Owingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09384264013465967166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21212024.post-1142859718918991912006-03-20T05:01:00.000-08:002006-03-20T05:01:00.000-08:00I remember hearing a sermon once where the pastor ...I remember hearing a sermon once where the pastor was speculating on what was going through John's mind. He wondered if it was something like "This is not what I expected. If Jesus is the Messiah, then what am I doing rotting in this hole? What if I have failed? This isn't what I expected the Messiah to be like."<BR/><BR/>That's just speculating, but it's true that even John was taken aback by Jesus. That is encouraging to me in a weird way.Neilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16625691560372353977noreply@blogger.com