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The Question Every Convinced Reformed Person Should Ask Themselves

Why should I ask, "Why me?" :unsure:

The question presumes either 1) God has explained why somewhere in His word (or will do so in some expression of rhema), or 2) I can know God's mind where He has not revealed it, and 3) there is some explanation that is unique to me (or you) that isn't one of the categorical explanation found in scripture.

If there is no special, particular reason then the question is somewhat risky because it is focused on the self, not God. I am quite busy fulfilling the purposes of God we all share. However, in my case I believe I was saved to help others as a counselor. That's not particularly unique given the large number of Christians who become counselors, but it is not a purpose common to all believers.
 
JesusFan said:
Due to the love and will of God
Click to expand...
I'm sure the backup references are many... here are three,,,

Romans 11:33-36 KJV
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! [34] For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? [35] Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? [36] For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:16-19 NASB
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 2:1-5 NASB
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, [2] in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. [3] Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ ( by grace you have been saved),
 
prism said:
Why Me?
JesusFan said:
Due to the love and will of God
Click to expand...
It's a curious thing to me, how we humans tend to think of love two ways: 1. It is something that WE do (feel, express, etc) 2. It is something that happens TO US.

With God, however, it is intent and grace, for his own sake. His will and love are one and the same, you might say. The implications of those two statements are somewhat confusing to us to sort out, because of our limited understanding and self-centeredness.

I mention this not to compare his love vs ours, quite, but to show how unlike his love our notions of love are. And that is not just because of our limited understanding and self-centeredness, but because we are creature, while he is self-existent. His love comes from himself only. It is not increased by our response. Ours, on the other hand, is necessarily entirely dependent on our creator, (whether directly or through means), though we claim our own motivation is in addition to that source.

As to the OP—why me? One thought that comes to mind for me is that we are not now quite who we will be then—at least, not what we conceive of ourselves as, now. We are not completed creation. Not consummated. So it is a bit of a bogus question in that sense.

But, too, like the question that asks why was I born here and not in Arabia, or the Amazon, it is a bogus question in that it assumes some ontology to a purpose aside from God's purposes, as though we existed in and of ourselves. The difference between one person and another is in God's purposes. That's my answer to the OP. And if that's begging the question, then let this suffice: Because God said so—that's why. It is not because I am me. It is because GOD loves me.
 
For God's will is so much the highest rule of righteousness that whatever he wills, by the very fact that he wills it, must be considered righteous. When, therefore, one asks why God has so done, we must reply: because he has willed it. But if you proceed further to ask why he so willed, you are seeking something greater and higher than God's will, which cannot be found. Let men's rashness, then, restrain itself, and not seek what does not exist. John Calvin Institutes of the Christian Religion

Nothing out of God can be the effect of an external cause; for then there would be a cause prior to him, the Cause of himself, and that would be God, and not he. John Gill - Body to Doctrinal Divinity

God is the first cause and therefore there is no “WHY” when referring to God as there is nothing to affect Him.

God’s pleasure in his creatures is the joy of the Giver of all good (it is better to give than receive Acts 20:35). His aseity and sufficiency teach us that he never receives any good that is not already His (Job 35:7 “If you are righteous, what do you give God, Or what does He receive from your hand? 8 “Your wickedness affects only a man such as you, And your righteousness affects only a son of man [but it cannot affect God, who is sovereign]”; Job 22:2-3; Acts 17:25; Romans 11:34-35; Isaiah 40:13, see Aseity (independence) of God. Romans 11:20 "Who art thou, O man, that repliest against God?"

 
That is a question all right.
I used to wonder about that. How I could be so certain of God?
And I wondered, Why me?" When so many around me could doubt and not see what was so plainly evident.

However, lately I have been more thankful and wondering about the "why me?" of this present life on earth.
Even if there isn't any "ever after" I marvel at the blessing of having this one brief moment of time as a being.
When I look back at the "bad times" that are now just intersting stories, I marvel at the simple fact of being alive, of experiencing all the wonder of creation.
So even if this brief moment of time is all there is, I thank God for every moment I have had and every moment I will have.
I marvel at this amazing thing called life and wonder at the majesty of the Lord of Creation
Never mind the next life. I am asking "why me?" for the short and simple life I have now.
Even this brief moment of life is a great gift as we did nothing to merit our existence.
It is simply the will of God that we live, and by His will we will have life eternal.
 
JesusFan said:
He made that unconditional choice , and sense/due to Him first loving me, I can in turn love Him back
Click to expand...
Is that "love Him back" a result of the feeling and/or evidence seen that he loves you? Or is his love operational upon you to love him back.

Is your love for him because you are motivated, or because his love has particular effects causing your love?
 
QVQ said:
That is a question all right.
I used to wonder about that. How I could be so certain of God?
And I wondered, Why me?" When so many around me could doubt and not see what was so plainly evident.

However, lately I have been more thankful and wondering about the "why me?" of this present life on earth.
Even if there isn't any "ever after" I marvel at the blessing of having this one brief moment of time as a being.
When I look back at the "bad times" that are now just intersting stories, I marvel at the simple fact of being alive, of experiencing all the wonder of creation.
So even if this brief moment of time is all there is, I thank God for every moment I have had and every moment I will have.
I marvel at this amazing thing called life and wonder at the majesty of the Lord of Creation
Never mind the next life. I am asking "why me?" for the short and simple life I have now.
Even this brief moment of life is a great gift as we did nothing to merit our existence.
It is simply the will of God that we live, and by His will we will have life eternal.
Click to expand...
With the 'why me' question, I was thinking more in terms of the awe of it all than of certainty and/or doubt in an apologetic sense.

However, lately I have been more thankful and wondering about the "why me?" of this present life on earth.
Even if there isn't any "ever after" I marvel at the blessing of having this one brief moment of time as a being.
When I look back at the "bad times" that are now just intersting stories, I marvel at the simple fact of being alive, of experiencing all the wonder of creation.
Click to expand...
I'm a bit too sinful to find much solace in the 'here and now'. my solace comes more from the fact that God has imputed the righteousness of Christ to my account.
 
makesends said:
Is that "love Him back" a result of the feeling and/or evidence seen that he loves you? Or is his love operational upon you to love him back.

Is your love for him because you are motivated, or because his love has particular effects causing your love?
Click to expand...
because he changed me and gave to me a new nature that can now freely love Him back in return
 
fastfredy0 said:
For God's will is so much the highest rule of righteousness that whatever he wills, by the very fact that he wills it, must be considered righteous. When, therefore, one asks why God has so done, we must reply: because he has willed it. But if you proceed further to ask why he so willed, you are seeking something greater and higher than God's will, which cannot be found. Let men's rashness, then, restrain itself, and not seek what does not exist. John Calvin Institutes of the Christian Religion

Nothing out of God can be the effect of an external cause; for then there would be a cause prior to him, the Cause of himself, and that would be God, and not he. John Gill - Body to Doctrinal Divinity

God is the first cause and therefore there is no “WHY” when referring to God as there is nothing to affect Him.

God’s pleasure in his creatures is the joy of the Giver of all good (it is better to give than receive Acts 20:35). His aseity and sufficiency teach us that he never receives any good that is not already His (Job 35:7 “If you are righteous, what do you give God, Or what does He receive from your hand? 8 “Your wickedness affects only a man such as you, And your righteousness affects only a son of man [but it cannot affect God, who is sovereign]”; Job 22:2-3; Acts 17:25; Romans 11:34-35; Isaiah 40:13, see Aseity (independence) of God. Romans 11:20 "Who art thou, O man, that repliest against God?"
Click to expand...
Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
 
JesusFan said:
because he changed me and gave to me a new nature that can now freely love Him back in return
Click to expand...
Do you not find that you love him, and can't help it?

I'm not saying that you don't even choose to love him, but that the love is endemic to that new nature. "We do so because it is so", is how my family puts it. "¡Porque sí!"
 
Last edited:
makesends said:
Do you not find that you love him, and can't help it?

I'm not saying that you don't even choose to love him, but that the love is endemic to that new nature. "We do so because it is so", is how my family puts it. "¡Porque sí!"
Click to expand...
The Holy Spirit Himself puts in us that new desire in our new nature to love back unto God
 
JesusFan said:
The Holy Spirit Himself puts in us that new desire in our new nature to love back unto God
Click to expand...
That is true, but the question this op asks is why you? Why did the HS put that new nature in you and then put that new desire in you?
 
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