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God in Court - 4/22/2008 4:31:59 PM
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mvic
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What would God say if He read the many entries in this Forum (and other Forums) questioning His nature, characteristics, motives, power, love and so on and so on.
We've all (me included) asked many questions about God, the Trinity, Jesus etc ...
Would God say: "Stop analysing me and interrogating me as if I'm in Court. Just trust me on this one and believe!"
Or would He be pleased with our endless questions?
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RE: God in Court - 4/22/2008 8:10:16 PM
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earthless
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He would be pleased that we are asking, seeking, knocking, studying, discussing.
The Bereans did similar and were called noble (Acts 17:11) for doing so. There is a grand difference between asking questions and being blasphemous.
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Probing Today's Religious Movements | Promoting Doctrinal Discernment & Critical Thinking | Providing Reasons for Christian Faith & Ethics
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RE: God in Court - 4/22/2008 10:50:09 PM
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faithfulservant_
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There are many things that are not pleasing to God. One of them is making up words about God that is not in scripture and then spreading this false report. The bible condemns this kind of behavior and anyone who commits this malicious act will be judged severely.
"You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice" (Exodus 23:1-2)
"Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." (2 Peter 1-2)
< Message edited by faithfulservant1 -- 4/23/2008 10:50:57 PM >
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RE: God in Court - 4/23/2008 2:29:47 AM
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FurGodWurLivin
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Putting the Berean argument aside, I think the answer is really a yes and no answer.
First off, God loves it when we talk about Him. I can't say much for questioning His existence or attributes because I think that is getting off into dicey territory. 1 Corithians 13 is a great way to start the dialogue about who God is because He is love.
As much as God loves it when we talk about Him, I also know that He is not into being mocked or maligned. For example, rather than asking "why is God so merciless in the Old Testament?" (which is somewhat slanderous) we should be asking "how are God's acts in the Old Testament His mercy?" The difference being that the second form of the same question is asking for understanding while the first is questioning God's character.
So, is God pleased at our discussions? Yes and no. I would advise all to use as much caution as possible when treading these waters...
Adam
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I am hyena, Jesus is my Mufasa...
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RE: God in Court - 4/23/2008 2:29:44 PM
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faithfulservant_
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quote:
original: FurGodWurLivin
God loves it when we talk about Him.
Thats not true. There is a difference between honoring the name of God verses talking about God disrespectfully. God has revealed to us the distinction and consequences.
"If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name," says the LORD of hosts, "then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart." (Malachi 2:2)
"Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed." (1 Timothy 6:1)
< Message edited by faithfulservant1 -- 4/24/2008 11:46:00 AM >
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RE: God in Court - 4/24/2008 3:15:14 PM
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JordanW
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From: Bakersfield, California
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I don't think that it's bad for us to question it at all. It wouldn't be considered blasphemous or anything, God would be pleased.
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RE: God in Court - 4/24/2008 5:04:19 PM
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figmentPez
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quote:
ORIGINAL: faithfulservant1
There are many things that are not pleasing to God. One of them is making up words about God that is not in scripture and then spreading this false report. The bible condemns this kind of behavior and anyone who commits this malicious act will be judged severely.
Surely you're aware that the Bible was not written in English, aren't you? There are quite a few words in English translations of scripture that do not have their roots in Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic. Words like:
omnipotent
soveriegn
vindication
commandment
transgression
justified
revelation
begotten
Is using these words wrong? Maybe they've somehow been sanctified by being used in translations of scripture, despite the fact that English was an immature language when scripture was first translated, and there were many words that had to be made up in order to contain the concepts found in scripture. There are even words that had to be created that weren't used in translations words like "apologetics" (Greek root, but still nto found in scripture) and deacon. Surely you're not going to argue that because "apologetics" is made up, that it is somehow sinful to defend the Christian faith via the study of scripture? And I'm certain you take issue with various denominations that have deacons, but I'm going to bet you have no problem with the idea of servanthood (which is what deacon means, servant). Perhaps you also have issues with any church building that has a narthex? I'm sure you'd take issue with any church singing the Doxology, but is that because it proclaims the triune God, or simply because "doxology" is a made up word?
Or maybe you're referring to made up words like "oneness", "modalism" and heresy, the false doctrines you apparently subscribe to. Then, of course, you could be referring to made-up pronunciations like Jehovah and Jesus, because there are no "J" sounds in Hebrew. Are you sinning every time you say "Geee-zhus" because you're using a made-up name that the real Jesus Christ probably never heard in His time on earth?
Or maybe you're referring to words like "praylessness", which is not to be found in scripture, but I've found you using in recent posts.
Words are just convenient handles to put on concepts, to make them easier to talk about. Certainly, we could be like the French, who don't want to use "computer" because it isn't French, and officially are supposed to use some long-winded phrase in place of a simpler word, but why should we? The truth is not in what words are used, but in what is said with those words. Even without using the word "trinity", the Bible still teaches that God has eternally existed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaches very specific things about the nature of these three, things that are easiest to summarize as triune, but are not reliant on the word to be true.
Which brings me back to the OP:
quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
Would God say: "Stop analysing me and interrogating me as if I'm in Court. Just trust me on this one and believe!"
NO! God would most certainly not say that! God does NOT want us to continue in ignorance of who He is. The greatest commandment is "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." How are we supposed to love the LORD with all that we have, if we don't know who the LORD is? If we don't seek to know God, how are we to trust and believe in Him?
2 Timothy 3:14-17
14You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Knowing who God has revealed Himself to be, knowing this by studying the scripture, which tell us about Him, is the way that we are to be "eqipped for every good work".
_____________________________
I make this challenge to all Christians:
Read Daniel 7:13-14
And tell me: Who do you say that the Son of Man is?
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RE: God in Court - 4/24/2008 7:47:31 PM
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mvic
Posts: 461
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Thank you all for your input.
We can all of course quote the Bible at length to prove the point we want to make. For example Jesus said: "Do you believe because you see me? How happy are those who believe without seeing me!" John 20:29
By all means let's ask each other (and those more learned than us) about God, Jesus, the Trinity etc ... But surely there comes a time when what He requires is less in depth questioning and more (blind) Faith.
Just a humble opinion !
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http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
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RE: God in Court - 4/24/2008 10:24:12 PM
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faithfulservant_
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quote:
original: mvic
Thank you all for your input.
Your welcome. Someday, we will need to give account of all of our actions, words, and thoughts before the Lord. The bible refers to this as the "day of judgement." On this day, God will judge everyone for every careless word they have spoken about God or His people. I hope God speeds up this day........
"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36)
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