So many times in life we find ourselves standing in the middle of a conflict, being asked to pick a side. I like to maintain peace and take the middle ground…to hold hands instead of going head-to-head with side picking.
Sometimes, however, it’s impossible to stay in that peaceful place.
When taking a position on any serious topic, most people believe that their decision is based on fact. In reality, picking a side can be as random as putting on a blindfold, spinning in a circle, and doing the ol’ Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe routine.
That got me thinking….how does God pick sides? That might seem like a silly question because the easy answer is that God always selects the correct side. So, let’s toss out a difficult question to God…because we can do that here in blog land. Cue the heavenly angelic harp music….
Dear God.
In war, both sides ask for your help. Which side will you help and why?
Tracy
Stop the music. Interesting question, isn’t it?
I don’t have a hotline to God’s throne so I couldn’t get a direct answer (drat!). The below reflects my opinion and imagination about what God would say.
God does not pick sides. He helps every person individually, giving each person exactly what he or she needs to reach heaven. If a person rejects that help, for example by being a terrorist or murderer, then they no longer have God’s help…not because God took it away, but because they rejected it.
Although wars usually have only two “sides” (and sometimes more), God is interested not in “sides” but in the individual people involved. He is watching each and every single soldier and civilian involved in this war, regardless of which “side” they are on, and offering love and assistance to each person there.
The question should not be “which side is God on?” Instead, the better question should be “who is on God’s side?”
When standing in the middle of a conflict, how do you chose which side to take?
Have a WONDERFUL week!
For everyone who submitted a suggestion for The Beating of the UNs, thank you so much! The collection of ideas is AWESOME and we created it together, which is a double dose of awesomeness! I’ll soon be posting a separate page to keep track of the 12 tasks and providing updates as these tasks progress and complete. Stay tuned…
The Chameleon's Backbone 
Posted by carldagostino on May 17, 2011 at 12:54 am
God doesn’t take sides(except allegedly, in the Old Testament). God does not pick people(except allegedly in the Old Testament). Jesus invites us to God, so people choose God, not vice versa.
Posted by Tracy on May 18, 2011 at 8:18 am
Bingo, or…God picks everyone equally…and it’s up to us to choose Him back.
Posted by Christine on May 17, 2011 at 1:06 am
I used to be the mediator but ages seems to encourage debate. Sometimes just asking for an elaboration is the easiest way out…keeps them focused on themselves and less on what I think. Doesn’t always works though 🙂
Posted by Tracy on May 18, 2011 at 8:16 am
Great suggestion – I’m going to try the question method.
Posted by Liane on May 17, 2011 at 4:50 am
What you explain makes me think of something that has often crossed my mind: People say all kinds of things out of the Bible when it works for them, but I – more often than not – hear people use the bits that don’t require anything much from them. The one I’m thinking of is “If God be for me, who can be against me.” I often think that people seem to think that you can do anything you want and God is right there cheering you on: steal someone’s wife/husband, murder someone, lie, steal, manipulate, envy, whatever. (I don’t think there’s big and small, just right and wrong.) But when we choose the wrong side I think God is ready with His love still, just in the form of correction rather than supporting us in what we do and blessing the wrong thing. He loves us, but He is holy and does not approve of everything we do. So yes, I agree that we must choose God. He has long gone chosen us.
Also, many promises are conditional: If you will do this then I (God) will do that – a partnership if you will. You do not get the same results regardless of what you do, just like mud and cherries don’t bake you a chocolate cake.
Posted by Liane on May 17, 2011 at 4:51 am
In conflict I try to do the same: I try to choose the right THING rather than the right PERSON.
Posted by carldagostino on May 17, 2011 at 6:34 am
Yes, conditional. The God/contract is called covenant. Yet the invitation is unconditional.
Posted by Tracy on May 18, 2011 at 8:25 am
Great comments in that first paragraph Liane…really great. I love cherries, but they can never mask the taste of mud – yuck!
Posted by Liane on May 17, 2011 at 6:47 am
Just to be clear, Carl… I’m not talking about a person accepting Christ. God accepts us all as we are – you do not have to be good enough or all sorted out before accepting His invitation of salvation. Maturing is a process after birth. My thought is in context with choosing sides in a conflict 🙂
Posted by carldagostino on May 17, 2011 at 8:40 am
Yes, I see
Posted by Penny on May 17, 2011 at 7:32 am
Standing in the middle of a conflict, its not good to choose till we know all the facts of both sides. I say stay out of controversy whenever possible-but if I have to choose it would be for the good points and not the person, as being one who believes in balancing-I would have to find the good on both sides.
Posted by Tracy on May 18, 2011 at 8:28 am
Are there certain people who you would stand behind and defend, even if don’t agree with them? I think about that question a lot, as I always tell my family I will stand behind them no matter what. I need to think about that a little more. What do you think?
Posted by suzicate on May 17, 2011 at 9:49 am
The question should not be “which side is God on?” Instead, the better question should be “who is on God’s side?” – what a fabulous conclusion!
Posted by Tracy on May 18, 2011 at 8:28 am
Smile.
Posted by Ron on May 17, 2011 at 10:20 am
Excellent post topic, Tracy!
And I have to agree with you…
“God does not pick sides. He helps every person individually….”
Therefore…
“The question should not be “which side is God on?” Instead, the better question should be “who is on God’s side?.”
It’s up to us to choose.
Have an awesome day, my friend!
Posted by Tracy on May 18, 2011 at 8:30 am
…and you have an awesome day, too, Ron! May the choice be with you.
Posted by Jo Schaffer on May 17, 2011 at 11:53 am
(= He wants all of us to succeed and be the best we can be– so he is on everyone’s side– but like you said– he can’t help those who turn their back on him and his excellent advice (commandments). (=
Posted by Tracy on May 18, 2011 at 8:36 am
I wish everyone would pay more attention to the 10 Points of Excellent Advice.
Posted by Dawn@Lighten Up! on May 17, 2011 at 5:19 pm
I try to choose the side that is kinder. Does that make sense? Have a great week, my friend.
Posted by Tracy on May 18, 2011 at 8:31 am
Makes perfect sense.
Posted by Beth Ann on May 18, 2011 at 7:27 am
I liked this post! It is hard to understand, especially in a war situation, how God can be “in” it. But He is. And I think it all goes back to our free will at times—“we” choose situations and the choice to allow sin in the world was done long ago….and now we no longer have the perfect world so we have to make the best choices that we possibly can as individuals. Do I always make the right choice? No. But that does not mean that God is not with me!!! I have chosen to believe and am grateful that I have a faith in a God who continues to grant mercy to me even in my decisions that are not so great!!!
Posted by Tracy on May 18, 2011 at 8:41 am
Well said Beth Ann. Our “enemy” says that God is on their side, but I fear they are praying to false gods – – or dare I say the devil in disguise.
Posted by Nutschell on May 18, 2011 at 6:33 pm
Another thought-provoking post! And certainly a question that has me thinking. I we’re all praying to the same God, really. I love your answer to this question though. “Who is on God’s side.” I Love it. I think it’s brilliant.
Nutschell
http://www.thewritingnut.com
Posted by Tracy on May 18, 2011 at 8:15 pm
This one was kind of deep, but not to worry, I’ll be back to non-brilliance posts soon enough. :=)
Posted by Stephanie Faris on May 20, 2011 at 2:33 pm
There was a comedian recently who referenced the “Footprints in the Sand” poem. He talked about someone asking God why there was an area where God wasn’t by his side and the comedian said the answer would be, “Because I was helping one of the other 7 billion people on the planet!” I have to say, I laughed but that is kind of how I feel. most of the time I feel like there are so many people out there that really need help — children who are victims of hunger, abuse…wars, etc. — how can God possibly have time to care about me? I know the answer…but it’s one of those things that a lot of Christians think about, I think.
Posted by Laura Best on May 21, 2011 at 10:19 pm
I often think that in many conflicts there is no wrong or right just people with different opinions who want to fight to prove they are right. I’m usually one who can see both sides of an issue, and can understand why people have the opinions they do although that doesn’t necessarily mean I agree.