I think God is power-tripping. What do you think?

Well, as you mentioned, God created you and me with a freewill to choose. Your situation is similar to many people who turn their backs against God. Yes they gained fortune, fame, and power, but lost their life. Elvis Presley used to be a Christian but went away from it. He died a tragic death, unhappy, unsatisfied. Michael Jackson used to go in a Christian Church, but walk away from God. He died a tragic death, unhappy, unsatisfied. I'd rather be in the will of God happy!

AS I understand it, before Jesus came the people were under the law. Only by keeping the law could they be saved but once Jesus came and succeeded in fulfilling the law we are now saved by grace. If we are saved we will show it by loving God and our neighbor as our self which by the way-are the 10 commandments. We have hope of being made perfect through Christ shed blood. The closer you walk with him the more you will hate sin and become more like him. In the Israelite day they did make up a lot of rules that were not honoring God. Jesus tried to show them that these laws they had made up were not from God. They were always after Jesus because of what he did on the 7th day Sabbath. Those who told you that it is impossible to know God in his entirety are correct. If we could then we would be a great or better than God. I have been able to understand God somewhat better since I have become a parent. The number one question I have since becoming a parent is why he hasn't destroyed the entire world more often then during the flood. His patience has been so great. His goodness toward us mighty. His willingness to love us in spite of our failures is unmatchable. Apparently, the church you joined must not have been really the true church as it left you empty. Don't give up. Find the church that follows the Bible to the T and hopefully that will help you revive your faith. Read the 10 commandments and find the church which follows them including the 4th.

Hi mynestegg, I feel that I can understand exactly where you are coming from as I couldn't believe in such a God either and I certainly wouldn't like him. I was raised in a church very similar to the Roman Catholic and like you believed it for awhile but soon realized that I could never accept such a God. I now consider myself Spiritual but not religious. It is difficult to believe in the God of the Old Testament but I'm now convinced that he is not real. Jesus tried to teach people the truth about God and life but he was misunderstood and people twisted his teachings and made him into a God himself. The only time that we have is now and we are meant to use that time for what needs to be done here right now. I believe in life after physical death and expect that there will be something for me to do in whatever follows. Study the teachings of Jesus in the sermon on the Mount and use that as your guide. Above all else know that you are loved and even if you decide to return to the church, there is nothing to fear- ever. Blessings.

Well, I don't believe hell is anything more than the grave and a state of mind. The ten commandments was added to keep everyone in line so to speak, the bible says they weren't added for perfect but because of transgression. But even giving rules of thumb don't make you spiritual perfect and that's why we needed an example like Christ. I used to feel that god was this old guy with a beard sitting on a throne throwing down lightening bolts when he was offended but the truth is he has put up with a lot out of humanity and has just watched most of the time waiting for the big day. I know now that God is a spirit and we are meant to be spiritual not self absorbed, materialistic, greedy human beings that most of us have become. If you have children I am sure there has been times you have had to discipline them and times where you weren't too happy about things that they have done but the fact is you still love them.