Don't Mistake Your Desires for the Lord's Desires for You (belief, theist)

[thrillobyte]

This is a spin-off to Carlos123's thread about saving lost souls. While it's highly commendable that he wants to do the Lord's work, I hope he doesn't go running off tomorrow to a foreign Muslim country where his life would be put in jeopardy in a mistaken belief that that's what God wanted him to do. I've always believed (possibly wrongly) that if God wants us somewhere or wants us to do something He will "bash us over the head" as He did Jonas in order to get our attentions to carry out His Holy Will. I often think of this young, wet-behind-the-ears Christian couple I saw on Intervention (A&E) who were early twenty-somethings and were certain that God wanted them to adopt a child from a foreign country, no doubt to "save" him. Twenty years later they are basket cases - hearts broken, at the end of their ropes over the son who they adopted from India who is atheist; who feels totally alienated from his lily-white family of five brothers and sisters all because of his dark skin and uses drugs and alcohol all day long to numb the pain of a lonely existence. Who knows, maybe a miracle will occur. Just a lesson to ponder.

[Omahabound]

Originally Posted by thrillobyte

This is a spin-off to Carlos123's thread about saving lost souls. While it's highly commendable that he wants to do the Lord's work, I hope he doesn't go running off tomorrow to a foreign Muslim country where his life would be put in jeopardy in a mistaken belief that that's what God wanted him to do. I've always believed (possibly wrongly) that if God wants us somewhere or wants us to do something He will "bash us over the head" as He did Jonas in order to get our attentions to carry out His Holy Will.

Were that the case, all of our comings to the Lord would look like Pauls conversion on the road to Damascus.

I often think of this young, wet-behind-the-ears Christian couple I saw on Intervention (A&E) who were early twenty-somethings and were certain that God wanted them to adopt a child from a foreign country, no doubt to "save" him. Twenty years later they are basket cases - hearts broken, at the end of their ropes over the son who they adopted from India who is atheist; who feels totally alienated from his lily-white family of five brothers and sisters all because of his dark skin and uses drugs and alcohol all day long to numb the pain of a lonely existence. Who knows, maybe a miracle will occur. Just a lesson to ponder.

There are millions of ways to interpret such a situation in life and all of theme would be pure guesses. What this has to do with someone serving their country, I have no clue but it sure does seem you're not crazy about people protecting their fellow citizens.

ETA: Perhaps I jumped to a conclusion there about serving in the military. Not sure if that's what Carlos intends or if that's what you were leaning towards in your post. If it's just heading off to a Muslim country to proselytize, then he needs to be prepared for the dangers but again, I think it'd be a great thing.

[.sparrow.]

thrillobyte... I don't understand your reasoning at all.

So we are not to reach out and help someone because it may end up being too difficult?

What about all of the thousands of people who adopt from other countries and they end up being healthy, well-balanced people who are so grateful that someone came and WANTED them??

What your saying doesn't make much sense.

Am I missing something? Maybe I'm not understanding...