What is god?
- Thread starter Mr.Bill
- Start date
Dont question authority... things can get ugly.
I cant say Ive ever seen God as a man with a white beard "and such". I cannot put God into a human form as he is far superior.
Non taken =] I dont recall saying I could explain what God is. As you said, I said God cannot be explained. Though God cannot be explained, he can be described, which you have mostly done already in other topics. I cannot associate a physical image with God, but I can express his knowledge and the fact that he is the great I Am.
[b said:
I cant say Ive ever seen God as a man with a white beard "and such". I cannot put God into a human form as he is far superior.
[b said:
Non taken =] I dont recall saying I could explain what God is. As you said, I said God cannot be explained. Though God cannot be explained, he can be described, which you have mostly done already in other topics. I cannot associate a physical image with God, but I can express his knowledge and the fact that he is the great I Am.
CCGR
Member
I know what byblohex is trying to say, we cannot grasp God in all his glory. it would kill us if we saw him. it's not about brain size
God is love.
God is the light of the world.
How many times have I read that He is the Alpha and Omega...the Beginning and the End? Yet, only recently have I realized that he is HUGE! He is far beyond what I can ever comprehend. He is everything I need and becomes just what I need at any given time.
He has shown Himself in a burning bush, and the Bible says if I make my bed in hell, He is there. Moses could only see Him as He passed. I am made in His image, but even that is difficult to comprehend.
As I pursue Him, I think that knowing truly what He is will never completely be exposed. I recently heard it preached that for eternity we will be discovering gems in God's Word. By the same token, I think He has only given us a glimpse of Himself, we will be learning of Him throughout eternity! That is exactly what your heart desires when you are loved and in love!
Therefore, what is God? The half has not been told! He loves me beyond my comprehension...so I expect Him to be awesome! He has proven Himself thusly so far!
God is the light of the world.
How many times have I read that He is the Alpha and Omega...the Beginning and the End? Yet, only recently have I realized that he is HUGE! He is far beyond what I can ever comprehend. He is everything I need and becomes just what I need at any given time.
He has shown Himself in a burning bush, and the Bible says if I make my bed in hell, He is there. Moses could only see Him as He passed. I am made in His image, but even that is difficult to comprehend.
As I pursue Him, I think that knowing truly what He is will never completely be exposed. I recently heard it preached that for eternity we will be discovering gems in God's Word. By the same token, I think He has only given us a glimpse of Himself, we will be learning of Him throughout eternity! That is exactly what your heart desires when you are loved and in love!
Therefore, what is God? The half has not been told! He loves me beyond my comprehension...so I expect Him to be awesome! He has proven Himself thusly so far!
I would like this thread to move in this direction, please.[b said:
phrased the question with a 'what' instead of a 'who' for a reason. For, while 'he' has be characterized in dozens of different ways, the nature of god is still highly nebulous. God is not a person, god is not a man, god just IS. The image of god, with the white beard and such, originally came from the Greeks' Zues.
But my question remains, what is god? The answer that must be given, I suppose, is 'I don't know.' But consider the following possibility. Could it be that, while god has been formed into a being with human-like properties over our history, is it not concievable that god is merely the chance circumstance that may or may not have resulted in our 'creation' and has governs the nature of matter, the environment, space, etc. The wonders of science if you will. Could god be that?
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:24
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:17
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
Ephesians 5:9
For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24
For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. Psalm 47:7
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Matthew 22:32
For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29
We cannot put Him in a box. We make enough "gods" as it is. He is everything, it would be impossible to recreate Him in any manner!
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:17
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
Ephesians 5:9
For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24
For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. Psalm 47:7
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Matthew 22:32
For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29
We cannot put Him in a box. We make enough "gods" as it is. He is everything, it would be impossible to recreate Him in any manner!
Dark Virtue
New Member
Marcylene, would you be willing to describe the character of God?
I can answer because He has chosen to reveal it to us in His Word.
He is loving:
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
He is longsuffering:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9
He is loyal:
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5
He is trustworthy:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3: 5&6
He is considerate:
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Psalm 139: 17&18
He is caring:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
He is gentle:
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Song of Solomon 2:4
He is truthful:
Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. Psalm 31:5
He is sinless:
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. Deuteronomy 32:4
He is joyful:
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
He is peaceful:
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
He is good. He is patient. He is longsuffering:
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering: not knowing thta the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentence? Romans 2:4
These are only a beginning!
He is loving:
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
He is longsuffering:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9
He is loyal:
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5
He is trustworthy:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3: 5&6
He is considerate:
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. Psalm 139: 17&18
He is caring:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
He is gentle:
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
Song of Solomon 2:4
He is truthful:
Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. Psalm 31:5
He is sinless:
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. Deuteronomy 32:4
He is joyful:
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
He is peaceful:
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
He is good. He is patient. He is longsuffering:
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering: not knowing thta the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentence? Romans 2:4
These are only a beginning!
Dark Virtue
New Member
Let me help round it, out:
God shows partiality:
Genesis 4
4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
God grieves:
Genesis 6
6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
God is Jealous:
Exodus 34
14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD , whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
God is angry and hostile:
Leviticus 26
28 then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over.
God is wrathful:
Psalm 6
1 O LORD , do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
God chastens:
Psalm 118
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
God is a warmonger:
Isaiah 42
25 So he poured out on them his burning anger,
the violence of war.
It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand;
it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.
God is accusatory:
Isaiah 57
16 I will not accuse forever,
nor will I always be angry,
for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me-
the breath of man that I have created.
God is enraged:
Isaiah 57
17 I was enraged by his sinful greed;
I punished him, and hid my face in anger,
yet he kept on in his willful ways.
God is futile:
Jeremiah 2
30 "In vain I punished your people;
they did not respond to correction.
God is cruel:
Jeremiah 30
14 All your allies have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy would
and punished you as would the cruel,
because your guilt is so great
and your sins so many.
God rebukes:
Hebrews 12
5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
God is fearful:
Leviticus 19
14 " 'Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD .
These are only a beginning, but they will do for now.
God shows partiality:
Genesis 4
4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
God grieves:
Genesis 6
6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
God is Jealous:
Exodus 34
14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD , whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
God is angry and hostile:
Leviticus 26
28 then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over.
God is wrathful:
Psalm 6
1 O LORD , do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
God chastens:
Psalm 118
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
God is a warmonger:
Isaiah 42
25 So he poured out on them his burning anger,
the violence of war.
It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand;
it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.
God is accusatory:
Isaiah 57
16 I will not accuse forever,
nor will I always be angry,
for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me-
the breath of man that I have created.
God is enraged:
Isaiah 57
17 I was enraged by his sinful greed;
I punished him, and hid my face in anger,
yet he kept on in his willful ways.
God is futile:
Jeremiah 2
30 "In vain I punished your people;
they did not respond to correction.
God is cruel:
Jeremiah 30
14 All your allies have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy would
and punished you as would the cruel,
because your guilt is so great
and your sins so many.
God rebukes:
Hebrews 12
5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
God is fearful:
Leviticus 19
14 " 'Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD .
These are only a beginning, but they will do for now.
God shows partiality:
Not entirely true, or rather, you are misquoting here. Abel was giving a blood sacrifice. Cain was wanting to do it his way, by works. Why would we attempt that when all of our righteousness are as filthy rags?
God grieves:
Genesis 6
6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
Yes, He has a heart! He also wept at the death of Lazerus. I am sure it did grieve Him to make us for love and fellowship and all we could do was stray. But wait! His death on the cross made it easy for us to reel in our hearts to Him if we choose.
For whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved. Romans 10:13
God is Jealous:
Exodus 34
14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD , whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
True, He loves us more than we can ever know. He wants what is best for us. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11
God is angry and hostile:
Leviticus 26
28 then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over.
You sure left out many times over some love versus and wonderful promises in that chapter!
God is wrathful:
Psalm 6
1 O LORD , do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
David was a wise man, he knew that he deserved the opposite of what the Lord always blessed him with. He was asking forgiveness here. But, yes, He can be wrathful, and he urges us to believe on Him to avoid the day of wrath. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Revelation 7:17
God chastens: AMEN!
Psalm 118
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeh with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth?
Hebrews 12:6&7
God is a warmonger:
Isaiah 42
25 So he poured out on them his burning anger, the violence of war.
It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand;
it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.
Oh, not to worry! What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us: Romans 8:31
God is accusatory:
Isaiah 57
16 I will not accuse forever,
nor will I always be angry,
for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me-
the breath of man that I have created.
God is enraged:
Isaiah 57
17 I was enraged by his sinful greed;
I punished him, and hid my face in anger,
yet he kept on in his willful ways.
YIKES! Glad He also went on to heal him
see verse 18
God is futile:
Jeremiah 2
30 "In vain I punished your people;
they did not respond to correction.
Hmmm, it is not His fault that we do not respond to Him, that would be our choice!
God is cruel:
Jeremiah 30
14 All your allies have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy would
and punished you as would the cruel,
because your guilt is so great
and your sins so many.
Yes, check out the beautiful wooing He was attempting in the previous chapter.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
God rebukes:
Chastisment, correction, rebuke...yes!
Hebrews 12
5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
God is fearful:
Leviticus 19
14 " 'Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD .
SOMEONE to be feared!
Not entirely true, or rather, you are misquoting here. Abel was giving a blood sacrifice. Cain was wanting to do it his way, by works. Why would we attempt that when all of our righteousness are as filthy rags?
God grieves:
Genesis 6
6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
Yes, He has a heart! He also wept at the death of Lazerus. I am sure it did grieve Him to make us for love and fellowship and all we could do was stray. But wait! His death on the cross made it easy for us to reel in our hearts to Him if we choose.
For whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be saved. Romans 10:13
God is Jealous:
Exodus 34
14 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD , whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
True, He loves us more than we can ever know. He wants what is best for us. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11
God is angry and hostile:
Leviticus 26
28 then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over.
You sure left out many times over some love versus and wonderful promises in that chapter!
God is wrathful:
Psalm 6
1 O LORD , do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
David was a wise man, he knew that he deserved the opposite of what the Lord always blessed him with. He was asking forgiveness here. But, yes, He can be wrathful, and he urges us to believe on Him to avoid the day of wrath. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Revelation 7:17
God chastens: AMEN!
Psalm 118
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeh with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth?
Hebrews 12:6&7
God is a warmonger:
Isaiah 42
25 So he poured out on them his burning anger, the violence of war.
It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand;
it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.
Oh, not to worry! What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us: Romans 8:31
God is accusatory:
Isaiah 57
16 I will not accuse forever,
nor will I always be angry,
for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me-
the breath of man that I have created.
God is enraged:
Isaiah 57
17 I was enraged by his sinful greed;
I punished him, and hid my face in anger,
yet he kept on in his willful ways.
YIKES! Glad He also went on to heal him
see verse 18God is futile:
Jeremiah 2
30 "In vain I punished your people;
they did not respond to correction.
Hmmm, it is not His fault that we do not respond to Him, that would be our choice!
God is cruel:
Jeremiah 30
14 All your allies have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy would
and punished you as would the cruel,
because your guilt is so great
and your sins so many.
Yes, check out the beautiful wooing He was attempting in the previous chapter.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
God rebukes:
Chastisment, correction, rebuke...yes!
Hebrews 12
5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
God is fearful:
Leviticus 19
14 " 'Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD .
SOMEONE to be feared!
Dark Virtue
New Member
[b said:
[b said:
Where, in the context of this story, did God say He required a blood sacrifice? Cain was a farmer, Abel was a shepherd. They each brought sacrifices applicable to their work and lifestyle. I don't see where it says that God required a blood sacrifice of Cain and Abel. If you can point that out to me I would appreciate it.
[b said:
What the heck are you talking about? Try to keep this in context. Why was God grieved? Because he had made man on the earth. Sounds like a mistake to me. If God is indeed omniscient, then there would not be a reason for Him to be grieved, He should have seen this coming and changed His creation, no?
[b said:
That has nothing to do with an explanation of why the most supreme being in the galaxy would be JEALOUS. Isn't jealousy a weakness? How is jealousy a positive attribute?
[b said:
And you sure left out how many times God was angry and hostile. The reason we're discussing God's attributes is to gain an understanding of this being. You, however, are only showing one side, one facet. I have posted the other side to get a more accurate picture.
[b said:
Ok, so you admit God can be wrathful. Next...
[b said:
Ok, so once again you agree with me, God chastens..severely no less.
[b said:
Uh, ok. Once again, no dispute, God is a warmonger.
[b said:
Once again, no refutation, God accuses.
[b said:Quote[/b] ]
God is enraged:
Isaiah 57
17 I was enraged by his sinful greed;
I punished him, and hid my face in anger,
yet he kept on in his willful ways.
YIKES! Glad He also went on to heal him
That doesn't mean God wasn't enraged. Tell you what, let me pop you in the eye. But don't worry, I'll give you an icepack for it later.
[b said:
Actually this describes a failed punishment. Doesn't sound like the outcome of an omnimax.
[b said:
That doesn't dispute that God was cruel though.
[b said:
Once again we agree, God rebukes.
[qutoe]God is fearful:
Leviticus 19
14 " 'Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD .
SOMEONE to be feared![/quote]
That is what the definition of fearful means. Check the dictionary, "causing or likely to cause fear, fright, or alarm especially because of dangerous quality".
God causes fear.
Please understand the reason for my doing this. As I have stated, we are looking for a FULL picture of God, not just the pretty little nice side. Had I not posted the negative side, would you have brought them up? If you would have, eventually, then hey, I just saved you some time.
Nope, wouldn't have! I still remember the quote at the front of my fifth grade class...Between the optimist and pessimist the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut and the pessimist sees the hole. Never really thought about someone reading the Bible and not seeing God's love and forgiveness first and foremost!
As I said to start with, we will be learning from and about God throughout eternity. I trust Him. He will be and do, what I need. He is all things, and even the seemingly bad, are done out of love. He goes beyond love; that was shown when He gave his life for me. He would; have died on that cross if only I, or any individual needed it solely. He does everything for my good.
As for Cain and Abel. I can only assume that when God sacrificed animals to clothe their parents...now, as you can already tell, I am no Bible scholar, I have much to learn. I find that exciting! If you read Genesis 4: 5-7 Cain clearly had an attitude problem! vs. 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at thy door. (I'd say! It was probably not some overnight sensation that he killed his brother. Those thoughts were probably on his heart long before his offering!) It is all about the heart! That is, afterall, our altar of today! Notice, God said if he does not well. He was giving him an opportunity to correct his actions. Once again, He is not willing that any should perish.
As I said to start with, we will be learning from and about God throughout eternity. I trust Him. He will be and do, what I need. He is all things, and even the seemingly bad, are done out of love. He goes beyond love; that was shown when He gave his life for me. He would; have died on that cross if only I, or any individual needed it solely. He does everything for my good.
As for Cain and Abel. I can only assume that when God sacrificed animals to clothe their parents...now, as you can already tell, I am no Bible scholar, I have much to learn. I find that exciting! If you read Genesis 4: 5-7 Cain clearly had an attitude problem! vs. 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at thy door. (I'd say! It was probably not some overnight sensation that he killed his brother. Those thoughts were probably on his heart long before his offering!) It is all about the heart! That is, afterall, our altar of today! Notice, God said if he does not well. He was giving him an opportunity to correct his actions. Once again, He is not willing that any should perish.
Dark Virtue
New Member
Well YOU were the one that accused me of misquoting, so I was simply defending my position.
So, what you are saying is that you simply do not know why God chose Abel's sacrifice over Cain's?
So, what you are saying is that you simply do not know why God chose Abel's sacrifice over Cain's?
Jim
New Member
Holy moley, DV, 15.8 posts a day.
You are a machine my friend.
You are a machine my friend.
Dark Virtue
New Member
I blame Byblos for my post count
http://calvarychapel.com/library/Tozer-AW/PursuitOfGod/0.htm
Great book! Chaper 5 the 8th paragraph talks about knowing "what" God is! Imagine that!
Great book! Chaper 5 the 8th paragraph talks about knowing "what" God is! Imagine that!
Dark Virtue
New Member
Marcylene, in the future, we would appreciate YOUR take on the discussion at hand.
YOU are the one participating in this discussion, not Tozer.
That being said, I read chapter five and I have a huge problem with it.
Tozer blames the individual for not being able to believe in God. He claims that only through a regimine of excersize can man begin to discover God. Tozer says, " Our pursuit of God is successful just because He is forever seeking to manifest Himself to us." Why is it so hard for God to manifest Himself to us? Didn't God say if we seek, we shall find? Sorry to break it to you, but some of us DID seek and we found absolutely nothing. Tozer, of course, would seek to blame us. We didn't work hard enough or study long enough to merit God manifesting Himself to us. We haven't exercised enough to strengthen our "spiritual receptivity". This "receptivity" is "an affinity for, a bent toward, a sympathetic response to, a desire to have." And here we are, back to desire. I said it once, I'll say it again; no amount of desire will present evidence for the existence of God. I could sooner squeeze blood from a rock than I could prove God's existence out of sheer will and desire.
Tozer says, " Let us say it again: The Universal Presence is a fact." A fact he declares with no evidence or reason to back it up. It is simply a statement, one that can not be proven. "We have within us the ability to know Him if we will but respond to His overtures. (And this we call pursuing God!) We will know Him in increasing degree as our receptivity becomes more perfect by faith and love and practice."
As I have said before, If God truly wants everyone to follow Him, then He can use His power of omniscience to see into our hearts and find that switch that will allow us to believe. The switch is waiting to be flipped.
YOU are the one participating in this discussion, not Tozer.
That being said, I read chapter five and I have a huge problem with it.
Tozer blames the individual for not being able to believe in God. He claims that only through a regimine of excersize can man begin to discover God. Tozer says, " Our pursuit of God is successful just because He is forever seeking to manifest Himself to us." Why is it so hard for God to manifest Himself to us? Didn't God say if we seek, we shall find? Sorry to break it to you, but some of us DID seek and we found absolutely nothing. Tozer, of course, would seek to blame us. We didn't work hard enough or study long enough to merit God manifesting Himself to us. We haven't exercised enough to strengthen our "spiritual receptivity". This "receptivity" is "an affinity for, a bent toward, a sympathetic response to, a desire to have." And here we are, back to desire. I said it once, I'll say it again; no amount of desire will present evidence for the existence of God. I could sooner squeeze blood from a rock than I could prove God's existence out of sheer will and desire.
Tozer says, " Let us say it again: The Universal Presence is a fact." A fact he declares with no evidence or reason to back it up. It is simply a statement, one that can not be proven. "We have within us the ability to know Him if we will but respond to His overtures. (And this we call pursuing God!) We will know Him in increasing degree as our receptivity becomes more perfect by faith and love and practice."
As I have said before, If God truly wants everyone to follow Him, then He can use His power of omniscience to see into our hearts and find that switch that will allow us to believe. The switch is waiting to be flipped.