Once per week or so, Fallon’s faith leaders offer their thoughts on faith and life. Any church or faith community of any kind is welcome and encouraged to participate. We have room for just a few in each column, and so we will publish in a rotation. If you have ideas for topics we should write about, or if you are a faith leader and would like to participate, please call Pastor Dawn Blundell at Epworth UMC, 775-423-4714. If you’d like to talk more about anything you read here, or if you would like prayer or a listening ear, we hope you will reach out to one of us. If you don’t already have a church home, you are invited to join us for worship, too! You’ll find contact information and worship times below.
Rev Dawn Blundell, Epworth UMC
www.epworthfallon.org, 775-423-4714
In-person worship Sunday mornings at 9:00am, sermon at 9:30am on Facebook Live and KVLV Radio AM980
The first and truest answer to this is, it seems to me, we just don’t know exactly. I have seen things happen in my life as a result of prayer that would not have happened without it. I have seen God work in the hearts and relationships of people, when and only when they ask for God’s help. That might be because God changed his mind, that our prayers caused God to change course. I think it’s more likely, though, that God created us with free will and, in order to build our spiritual strength and teach us to grow toward perfect love, God will wait to act until we invite him, and until we join with God in working toward whatever we are praying for.
Adam Bayer, base chaplain Naval Air Station Fallon
Worship at the NAS Fallon Chapel at 10:00am, or on Facebook Live beginning at @10:25
*The views or opinions expressed herein are solely his, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense or the United States government.
A mother’s children know not to hit each other. They know such behavior results in parental punishment. But the siblings hit at the store, so the mom says the consequence will come at home. If the children sincerely apologize to each other and the mom before the punishment comes, so that she withholds it, does she change her mind?
In a sense, yes, we can change God’s mind. When we ask for mercy through faith in Jesus, God generously extends it. He withholds the otherwise forthcoming punishment. Coincidentally, each biblical instance I see where God changes His mind, I see someone confessing or pleading for mercy, so that He withholds His judgment.
Don’t forget to read Pastor Behimer’s response—I agree with those thoughts too!
Pastor Brennen Behimer, Parkside Bible Fellowship
www.parksidebible.com, 775-423-3855
On-site worship services Sunday mornings at 10:15am
Humans change their minds because of alterations either within themselves or in the information they have. Can God’s mind change? First, we must remember that the God of the Bible is, Himself, unchanging. Thus, there can be no alteration within Him that would cause Him to reconsider. Second, God is all-knowing. There is no such thing as new information to be presented to Him since He already possesses all knowledge. Thus, God’s mind cannot change. Where it seems in Scripture that God’s mind is changed, the Bible is teaching the value of repentance. God is quick to forgive those who turn to Him in true faith. He often issues warnings of judgment to come in order to bring us to repent and believe in Him.
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