God is love. God is good. God is powerful. But God is not forceful and God is not magic. johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/no-christi... - ThreadSky

johnpavlovitz.bsky.social • 98 days ago

God is love.

God is good.

God is powerful.

But God is not forceful and God is not magic.

https://johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/no-christians-god-is-not-in-control

Comments

deuce6078.bsky.social•98 days ago

Free will, baby!

alexcatepdx.bsky.social•98 days ago

Faith without works is dead.

foxtci.bsky.social•98 days ago

I remember hearing this from a priest or nun in Catholic school: Believe in God, but lock your doors. God gave you a brain, so use it.

skigirlid.bsky.social•98 days ago

In historical dramas, there’s always some villain who tragically leads people to death or destruction by saying,”It’s God’s will.” And the hero does the opposite. It’s amazing to me that people still think that way.

vtgal.bsky.social•98 days ago

I believe “God” is actually the “Good” in the human soul. Evil is the darkness in the human soul. My belief is that every human has the potential for both good and evil. Humans choose which will prevail. You don’t need a religious text to tell you what’s right and wrong. Your conscience will.

winwinseattle.bsky.social•98 days ago

Supposed believers trot out that God is in control bs to justify their sloth.
The faith I once held meant we carry a heavy burden on earth to enjoy everlasting grace.
The earthly burden - "That which you do to the least among us, you do to Me."
Believers failing to do so should expect only Hell.

johnpavlovitz.bsky.social•98 days ago

God works through the hands and words of the people who aspire to this love and goodness, and choose to exercise the individual and collective power they have been entrusted with right where they're standing.

It’s time to stop passing the buck to God.

https://johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/no-christians-god-is-not-in-control

shuksanfan.bsky.social•98 days ago

You are so right, and thank goodness! Finally understanding the fallacy of that teaching has recharged my faith, and is a source of immense joy discovering the depth of His goodness, grace and love.

Barry Bennett on FB has taught extensively on this. https://www.facebook.com/officialbarrybennett

unawarewolf.bsky.social•98 days ago

Enough of the god shit! We have adult issues to deal with! You can play with your imaginary friends after.

marygolightly.bsky.social•98 days ago

Can one call oneself a Christian if one does not, in fact & deed, follow & practice the teachings of Jesus Christ. The greatest of these is, "Love one another as I have loved you." NOTHING these faux "christians" & their self-interested charlatan leaders do says,"I love you" as Christ commanded.

alicen22.bsky.social•98 days ago

God = US!

We are ALL God!

We ONLY have God, to rely on!!

Trust in God = Trust In YOURSELF!!

IMO!

iluvprogtears.bsky.social•98 days ago

Such a pretend Christian you are 🤡

alexiszino.bsky.social•98 days ago

He created Humans , version 1, hated them and flooded the world for 40 days. Moses, a magician, read the 6th and 7th book of Moses, olny got animals from each continent on a boat because of magic.

He asked humans to find him "good people" Why? Don't you know?

He sent blights, destroyed a tower..

gammking.bsky.social•98 days ago

God is a myth! And the sooner the world realizes this... the better off we will be.

run4cover.bsky.social•98 days ago

God is dead

inthebright.bsky.social•98 days ago

God is not a 'parental' other. We arise in God.

teridoolittle123.bsky.social•98 days ago

I absolutely love this article. Thank you.

bearatone75.bsky.social•98 days ago

God is imaginary.

tagger66.bsky.social•98 days ago

What a biblically-illiterate take. Not sure what “god” you’re talking about, but the God of the Bible is absolutely sovereign over all things…

— Psalm 135:6
— Psalm 115:3
— Daniel 4:35
— Job 42:2
— Isaiah 46:9-10
— Ephesians 1:11

…and many, many more.

cfallsstan.bsky.social•98 days ago

💯! In the old testament God was more gangster tho, a punishing God. He may have reared his head again with Trump I and Covid. I still believe that shit show started with Kobe and his daughter's passing (RIP).

rwpahrump.bsky.social•97 days ago

John... All due respect but it's hard to see why anyone would believe there's a god given the peril our nation is in. Was the pandemic, and more than a million deaths God's plan? Is it his plan to see tens of thousands of children murdered in their classrooms? If so then "God" is EVIL.

daroob.bsky.social•97 days ago

If you want to believe, have at it. Meanwhile, I find most atheists to be at least as spiritual and empathetic.

pfiore8.bsky.social•97 days ago

Well, that will put it to bed.

44girl.bsky.social•98 days ago

Truth

splatterthought.bsky.social•98 days ago

I like you John.
You're a good man.
I don't mean any disrespect...

But, your Bible is explicit on this.
A forceful and magical god are but a few of the ways one must interpret the Christian faith.
Ya'll have twisted yourselves into pretzels trying to rationalize it.

dirtylegdick.bsky.social•98 days ago

The Bible is a fucking fable. God is not real. People are fucking pathetic.

omnipotentqbear.bsky.social•98 days ago

God doesn't exist. If he did, he's absolutely responsible for what's happening in this country, in Gaza, and all the other bad and evil things going on.

jeffreypschultz.bsky.social•98 days ago

The article is more thoughtful than the click-bait title.

limegreensloth.bsky.social•98 days ago

I do understand the point you're trying to make, but as someone raised in fundamentalism, I think it's more important than ever to point out the lack of physical evidence for God. You can believe, but expecting others to believe as well is how we got into this mess.

valenciamerble.bsky.social•98 days ago

When the “rational” side posts nonsensical superstition.

willdarrell.bsky.social•98 days ago

Amen.

middlec62491843.bsky.social•98 days ago

Great piece ‼️ also very accurate.

minutello1.bsky.social•98 days ago

True Christians must stand up. Jesus would have nothing to do with what's happening to the United States of America! Please Wake Up

carlsaganspeaks.bsky.social•98 days ago

Which biblical version are you putting forward as real? The old Hebrew anthropomorphic bloodthirsty vengeful Yahweh, son of El, whose consort was Asherah, or the much later abstract omnipotent Father figure, or the 3rd-4th century 3- in-1 mystery divinity with the ritualized cannibalism eucharist?

sdecker-60.bsky.social•98 days ago

Sorry, but I'll agree to disagree. My belief is God is in control. I also believe there are no Kings above Jesus. I also believe people are free,according to the Bible, to think and believe freely. That is whether it be good or evil. Has been true throughout history. Free will.

radbradley.bsky.social•98 days ago

God doesn’t even exist.

rvanwijk.bsky.social•98 days ago

Despite repeated requests, Sweet Baby Jesus has not yet found the cap for my iPad Pencil. I seriously doubt he can fix the government.

jifi60.bsky.social•98 days ago

God also doesn’t exist.

gcmahdia.bsky.social•98 days ago

PASS IT ON: TRUMP IS A FILTHY, BASTARD, CRIMINAL TRAITOR ALLOWED TO RAPE, PILLAGE AND TERRORIZE AMERICA BY A COWARDLY, COMPLICIT REPUBLICAN PARTY.
WHO AMONG US IS BRAVE ENOUGH TO RID US OF THIS SCURRILOUS SCOURGE?

mindthecrows.bsky.social•98 days ago

We must grow up and stop believing in imaginary castles in the sky. #science

sheeptramp.bsky.social•98 days ago

God is not a personal wishing-well, or a lucky rabbits foot.

cairanne.bsky.social•98 days ago

If God were any of those things mt 1st ♡ wouldn't have died age 16, my step-dad at 29, and my in laws would be here and the brother who stole a co-owned villa in Florida wouod be gone, not them.

ullaberg.bsky.social•98 days ago

The God I am waiting for, would take the bad first and not the good.

howdydo.bsky.social•97 days ago

No offense, but I’m feeling more “hellfire & brimstone” right now. 😑 🔥

jclayton.bsky.social•98 days ago

Amen. As a physician and Christian, I've lived the truth that it is gross malpractice (in both callings) to treat sickness and want with words alone.

tim1957.bsky.social•98 days ago

Absolutely right

halgr.bsky.social•97 days ago

Hitchens was right, religion Poisons everything.

curiousuniverse.bsky.social•98 days ago

My brother said the other day... "It's all in God's hands, it's going to be fine." So I asked, where was God when Hitler, Stalin, Pal Pot, Khmer Rouge, Young Turks, Moa Zedong, et al were doing it? You think he's gonna save you because you're American, White and Christian? He's not.

adorablearies.bsky.social•98 days ago

The title of John's Substack is "No, Christians, God is not in Control." It's explicitly written to those who identify as Christians.

Yet, there are several ppl commenting that the notion of God is false...mythical.

Would you go on a cat lover's acct & talk about your disdain for cats? Sheesh...

veganmarshmallow.bsky.social•97 days ago

Crazy to think that people would comment on a social media platform about a social media post. Sheesh!
John has a lot of followers. Vocal followers, who are entitled to speak their peace.

adorablearies.bsky.social•97 days ago

Heard. Perhaps my thinking was one-sided.

veganmarshmallow.bsky.social•97 days ago

And this is precisely why I love blue sky. Polite banter, and disagreements that end in politeness.
I appreciate you!

ibrakeforcoffee.bsky.social•98 days ago

And God granted all humans Free Agency - the power to decide what you will do in a certain situation, knowing that your choices have consequences. He gave us the power to make decisions of our own rather than having Him or fate predetermine what we do.

brianterrill.bsky.social•98 days ago

He's also a delusion filled myth.

hummungbird.bsky.social•98 days ago

Following

thedudeinsf.bsky.social•98 days ago

expatmontanan.bsky.social•98 days ago

This planet is caveat emptor. We got what we paid for.
God doesn’t clean up the messes humans make.
We can ask God how to genuinely help others with the grace of Christ.
God does not endorse Project 2025, a book of bullshit.

wolf2point0.bsky.social•98 days ago

Not sure if there are any other Daredevil fans out there but in the trailer for Born Again he says, I was raised to believe in grace but I was also raised to believe in retribution. That resonated.

axebloodyspray.bsky.social•98 days ago

God doesn't exist, time to grow up.

joyouslegacy.bsky.social•98 days ago

Please share widely: https://substack.com/home/post/p-157568220?postPreview=paid&updated=2025-02-20T18%3A45%3A11.869Z&audience=everyone&free_preview=false&freemail=true

lexultimaveritas.bsky.social•98 days ago

He acts through us. Magic isn’t real. I’m not here to speak for God or anything but I’ve seen what hell looks like and it’s a place you put yourself in. You will just be there one day and not realize what you’ve done. And you can’t leave.

MAGA — your philosophy is wicked and anti-Christian. Stop.

dm-murdock.bsky.social•98 days ago

Christofascists don't care.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYkXGc4opls

ollie4isu.bsky.social•98 days ago

"God" is a social construct. People created the idea of "God" to attempt to explain the unknowable. The idea has then been perverted and harnessed to scare people into following some of the worst people in history. Organized religion is a pox on the world.

duxsi.bsky.social•98 days ago

The 'It's in Gods hands' position is convenient when you can't be arsed to stand up and fight.

sparkesw.bsky.social•98 days ago

There is no god. Just don’t be selfish douches and the world would be better.

hitch321.bsky.social•98 days ago

You are so wrong about this. God is omnipotent. It's a spiritual understanding, not a cliche. Keep at it.

godsown.bsky.social•97 days ago

Pneuma like the wind - no one knows where it comes from or where it goes . God has given to the Son all those WHO WOULD believe, and not one that the Father has given Me will I loose but , I will raise them up on the last day .
So if God is omnipotent and knows everything?

godsown.bsky.social•98 days ago

How so ? Yes - God is omnipotent but , he knows what’s in men’s hearts . Evil all of the time , we spend our lives looking for sin .
And once you understand this , you realize that Jesus Christ came to set us free from the sin that holds us all captive.
And yes it is spiritual-

godsown.bsky.social•97 days ago

Then he knew who would accept Him and who would reject Him . So my question is this , all those that claim to know Jesus Christ. Are they really saved ? Or are they being carried away by the gospel of hate ?

ad108.bsky.social•98 days ago

I believe his point is that people are responsible for what is happening which is correct. If you believe in a god but throw your hands up as evil is happening around by saying it’s gods will it is just a way to abdicate personal responsibility to stop the evil.

formerrepub.bsky.social•98 days ago

👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

islanddynamo.bsky.social•98 days ago

Reminds me of this song by Tim Minchin. It really kicks in at 1:11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcjQhXSNjtg

janet-40.bsky.social•97 days ago

I think god is just shaking his head wondering WTF is wrong with people’s brains!

amandaphd.bsky.social•98 days ago

You can believe what you choose but don’t impose those beliefs on anyone else…very few religions practice this.
As for me, it’s a hard pass on god.
(And don’t get me started on organized religion)
If I am mistaken and a god exists I’m going to have serious questions for him/her/it in the afterlife.

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