The other night, I was sitting in a Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath) service and listening as the Rabbi did the service a little bit differently than usual. You see, the difference about that night was that there was a group of local students in attendance that the Rabbi had been spending the day with. When he began his message, instead of just talking to everyone, he stepped down and walked among us and led a discussion. It began with a question, are we followers of G-d by choice or by command? It’s a small congregation, so people were able to raise their hands and speak when they felt lead. There was no gray area with most; it was either one or the other. Some would say it’s a commandment for the simple fact that G-d handed down the Ten Commandments, not the ten suggestions. Some would say it’s choice because of the fact that G-d blessed us with the freedom of choice. As I watched and listened I saw a student raise her hand. The Rabbi turned and pointed to her and she declared that you can’t compare the following of G-d to choice or command. The Rabbi smiled and asked her how she came to that. She responded by saying that while G-d does in fact command us to do certain things, we have a choice to follow those commands. There for, a person’s walk with G-d would have to be both command and choice.
This isn’t going to be a normal blog where I lay down my thoughts and feelings to all of you. In fact, you may have noticed I haven't at all presented what my opinion would be on this. I want this one to be an opening to a discussion for all of you to participate in with each other. So I am going to simply ask the same question to all of you...Is the act of following G-d command or choice? I think it will be very interesting to all of us to see what different people have to say about it.
G-d Bless!
K
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29 comments:
I don't see it as a command to follow G-d at all. That would make Him seem like a bully. He does have requests of us and it is our choice to follow Him or not.
I was told from little that I have to or I will burn in hell. Later on in life I realised it needed to come from me. I needed to choose to follow. So I say it should be choice not command.
A good question. G-d has given us choice. The term "fear of G-d" is often used in the Torah. What does it mean? I would say it has the following meaning: A man who fears G-d is a man who takes G-d seriously; who takes His words and commandments seriously; who listens to what He has to say with seriousness and respect.
He is a man who believes G-d's commandments are supposed to be kept and that breaking them is dangerous. He is a man who is afraid to go against G-d, afraid to disobey Him, afraid to disregard any of His commandments or take them lightly. He is a man who is afraid of G-d in this sense.
G-d has put the line in the sand for us not to annoy us but to stop us from falling into temptation. And G-d will bless us if we don’t fall into temptation but live righteously. G-d has set us up to live a life of purity, if we stand by Him. He will continue His good work in us as we grow in His presence and He will bless us for following His commands.
G-d knows what’s best for us and He has personally given us His will for us. If we obey, G-d will bless us and our relationship will grow and we will have more love for G-d.
You may think, but I don’t want to be restricted by commands! I want to be free – But if you live by G-d’s word, your life will be free and also fulfilling.
So yes, you can choose but He does command us to be loyal to Him as His children and we should follow all His commands not just the one's we choose to.
To follow G-d is a choice we make.
G-d gives us many commands and it would be silly for us to not listen. We do have the choice to listen or not, because He is a loving G-d and would never force us to do something. So it is a command that you can follow if you want to. Choice and command.
Its a choice for us to make.
We have choice to buy a car, where to live, what work to do, but G-d's commandments can never be choice. He is the Creator of all things, we can never not listen to what He says. If we disobey G-d then we will be punished. He should be respected always. To follow G-d is a privelege. Why people choose wrong I will never understand. We must follow His commands.
Wow.... Good question and discussion I might add. I was raised Catholic. For various reasons I didn't really enjoy the religion. It wasn't until later in life that I really understand God and his calling in my life. I understood right from wrong and an eye for an eye but didn't ever think God was commanding me to follow him. I'm not sure that thinking about it that I still believe he commands me. We each have a different book or path of faith should I say that we follow. It gives us the direction that our God request us to take... but even in Christianity there are many different ways of interpreting the Bible... if there wasn't we wouldn't have so many different churches (Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Church of Christ, etc... ) to choose from. They all broke off from one another because people had different beliefs as to how it should be interpreted. God or my Bible gives me the path I should follow in my life.... I find most of it to be common sense (i.e. don't commit adultry, don't lie, be honest) but I do find temptations in life that I have to stop and questions why this is happening to me. I believe in him and that he is in my heart and know that through the choices I make to follow him that I will join him in eternal heaven one day. Some one once said to me that Earth was just a holding tank.... a place where God tested us to make sure we were ready for him... I try my best every day to be ready for his calling.... whenever that might be.
Δεν πρέπει να υπάρχουν επιλογές όταν πρόκειται για τον Θεό και τις εντολές του. Όλες ανθρωπότητα θα πρέπει να τιμήσει και τον σεβασμό ό, τι λέει η λέξη.
This is indeed a very good question and as you can already see there are many different views. I really liked what Denice said about earth being a holding tank, because we are all here waiting for G-d and through all our trials and tribulations we are being tested. Back to the question; being Jewish I was born into a religion that follows every command G-d has given us. I do however believe that as children these commands are taught to us by our elder's but as we get older and individually develope minds of our own, we discover choice. I also believe that this was G-d's intention for us. Thus, yes, it is a command to follow G-d but He did give us the choice whether to do so or not.
I would also say it's our choice to follow G-d. To believe what we want to believe. To follow what feels right inside us.
G-ds commands are certainly very important; however, He did give us the freedom of choice. This in itself is self-explanatory. I choose to follow Him because He is a kind and caring Father who would never force me to do anything.
We all know right from wrong, so the choice we make should be simple. To follow G-ds commands are our choice, afterall it is He that gave us the freedom of choice. I choose to follow G-ds commands because I know it's the right thing to do.
I do want I want so choice is what I say.
I will always follow His commands; nothing will ever change that. I could never disobey Him even if I wanted to try. We do have choice; He gave us that, but to choose to follow His commands should not be a choice.
Choice is our right, from Him, to be free; but I believe we must follow His commands if we want to get to spend eternity with Him.
Interesting comments. Varied opinion's are always interesting. The question you have put forward is a good one. I follow G-d because it is His command for us to do so. I would have it no other way. If it was a choice, I would choose to obey His commands and follow Him.
Scelgo di seguire Dio, perché egli è mio padre e io lo amo perché mi ha dato la vita.
Tough question K. I follow G-d because it is written that I must; I love Him because I choose to love Him.
Ons kies natuurlik om die vader te volg. Hy het vir ons ons eie keuse gegee toe Adam en Eva in die tuin van die lewe was. Die is n keuse wat n eer moet wees nie ietsie wat op ons gevorseer is nie. Ons moet vanself wil.
Ya have a choice.
I say its a choice.
I remember this conversation well, and their opinions at the synagogue varied as much as they have here. :) I know when I think of the word commandments, I think of the Ten Commandments. They're called Ten Commandments for a reason, not the Ten Choices. We are commanded to live our life accordingly. G-d did however bless us with free will, so He gives us the choice to either live with these commandments He has laid down or not. If we do not, we sin and turn away from G-d. The miracle is that G-d will always be waiting to receive us should we make the wrong choice, turn away from Him, and want to return to His loving arms! What we must remember is that we should not live this life according to what feels right by us, choices made to make us happy. We should live our lives so that we are following G-d's will and following His commandments. I choose to follow G-d using my free will, and I follow Him using the commandments that He has provided for us in His word. I believe that life and following G-d is both choice and commandment, a balance if you will. You must freely chose to follow Him, but you are given commandments in His word on the way to follow Him. I am commanded to love my G-d with my whole heart and soul, and I choose freely to do so because our G-d is a loving G-d and He has given us the choice because He loves us so much.
A command is a command and a choice is a choice. If your boss tells you to do something at work you have to do it. Same principle applies to G-ds commands. He doesn't command you unrealisticly so you should obey. Some things are choice in life and others not. People follow what they want and see things religiously as it suits them and thats wrong.
Definitely a difficult question to answer. Almost a trick question. I will have to think this over before I can respond.
To obey G-ds commands and live the way way He tells us to, ensures us of a seat in His Kingdom one day. We must follow His commandments.
I must follow His commands.
Choice he gave us for our lives and daily decisions. Commands were give for us to obey and follow.
I know that I have to follow His every command. Choice should not be a question when it comes to following Him.
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