If God is omnipresent, why would my church tell me not to go places where God is not?

[Anonymous]

Growing up, I was always taught that God is omnipresent, meaning that he is everywhere and always with us. However, recently, some church members have been warning me to not go to places where God is not. For instance, I love playing ping-pong and I occasionally go to a ping-pong bar to play. Some more conservative church members hate bars and they’ll warn me not to go because “God isn’t there” and I may die or something else bad might happen. I’m not going to this bar to do anything other than play ping-pong. If God is omnipresent, wouldn’t he protect me and be with me?

[Anonymous]

Congratulations you have found one of the innumerable contradictions in Christianity.

Try this one, if God is all knowing, all powerful, and all loving, why are people who go to hell created in the first place? Why did he create Lucifer? Why are people created to sin?

How about another. Who killed Goliath? Who killed King Saul? What exactly ARE the 10 commandments and in what order? Who was at the resurrection? Are baby boys required to follow all of the old law when their mothers have them circumcised? If God commands us not to kill, why does he then order genocides throughout the OT? Why is there no evidence of ANY of the Exodus story? How did Noah fit all of those critters on an ark? Why would God decide to only save Noah, a drunk, and his family? What did all of those animals do to deserve to die? How did both saltwater fish AND fresh water fish survive the flood? Are we saved by works or by acts (both are supported by books attributed to Paul), if Paul says women shouldn't lead churches, why did he appoint women to lead churches? Why, if there is only 1 God, is the commandment to "not put any other gods before me" implying there are others? Why is it okay for a primary attributed of God that he is a jealous God, but we are not to be jealous, yet we are told to be more like God?

Have fun with those.

[Asker]

Haha A lot of questions. I’ve been wondering about some of these too.

[Opinion Owner]

To prove the nonexistence of a thing is impossible, but this does prove that the Bible is self contradicting in a lot of places, which is evidence that, at least the translations we have are not, in fact, inerrant. If it can be erroneous, then the basis of belief in whonthe Bible says Jesus was also has the potential to be erroneous.

So where you will find yourself, as incredibly uncomfortable as it will be, will be trying to a) prove the existence of a diety without the Bible or other holy book written by men and then b) prove that your preferred diety is the correct one.

It's an uncomfortable thing, mind you i spent 15 years in Christian schools from the age of 3, but then you come to the realization that when you stop living for the afterlife, the moments in the life you have now are that much more precious. You appreciate the little things more.

Good luck on your journey.

[Asker]

Yeah. I do believe that the way Christians present the after life is kinda guilt trippy. There are so many beautiful moments to be enjoyed in this life this world is not all bad.

Thanks, hopefully I find peace and clarity.

[Opinion Owner]

There are a lot if helpful YouTube channels you may want to look into, one i think you'll really like is TheThinkingAthiest, it's hosted by Seth Andrew's, a former Christian Radio personality, he is well. informed and his. voice is beautiful.

[ChicoFromThe305]

God is there, God is everywhere, they aren't very informed if they are saying he isn't, but God also speaks on not tempting the devil, which by going to a bar, that is exactly what you are doing by intoxicating yourself making it easier for the devil to mess with you, weakening your mental state with intoxication, while intoxicated it opens doors to negativity and makes it easier to be manipulated by it, but speaking omnipresent wise, the only place mentioned to be biblically factual where God isn't there is hell, that's why when people choose to separate from him, they go to the only place where Gods presence doesn't exist, hell.

[Asker]

I don’t drink. I only get water when I’m there. I see your perspective though.

[jshm2]

Sheesh, were you home schooled?

They are telling you to be mindful, in as many words. Not the "location" of God.

It's like someone saying "don't catch a cold outside". They don't know where the cold virus may be, but are asking you to take precautions.

[Asker]

Private school actually. Sometimes 5-8 kids in one class.

[Avicenna]

Why aren’t you asking your fellow church members this?

[Snakeyes7]

The function of a church is just a place for people to gather to worship. It is not specifically where God is.

[strateguy632]

Sometimes words are not literal. they meant gods protection is not there.

[Anonymous]

the problem is people like you and others whether religious or not take the Bible word by word like it's meant to be some science textbook when it's not

[Dargil]

If God is omnipresent, why would my church tell me not to go places where God is not?

God is omnipresent.

[Malwi93]

there's a lot of inconsistencies in christian dotcrine

[Ariesman81]

Because you'd be in Hell