A question for Christians: what IS God?

[Dionysus]

... and by this, I don't want your typical platitudes.

I require, in specifics, exactly what God is. I find the phrase 'God is Love', for instance, to be highly suspect: it refers to an unstable, nebulous inner passion as if it were a Platonic Form. So instead I'd like something a bit more concrete - what is the ontological nature of God? Is it a being or Being? Does it live as we do? Is it sentient in any intelligible sense? Is it static or permeable? What, if any, is its purpose? And, most importantly, what does it feel like to the believer, who supposes himself to have direct contact with it through the mediation of the Holy Spirit?

Please, no romantic semantics (lulz, rhyme). 'God is Love', 'God is Triune', and so forth will not do. In short, I want a daseinalysis of God. What is its Being?

[rusty]

twobitsmedia wrote:

rusty wrote:
Clear away all man's lies and misunderstanding and God's Word is understandable.

But is there not something called "Rhema" word which would give give some more understanding?

I don't know what "Rhema" is. My Webster doesn't list it. But, I believe there is a Spirit of Love that gives meaning to the Truth.

rusty wrote:
His Word tells us what God is

I am aware that the Bible says God is Spirit, but doesn't really define spirit. I am aware that one of the epistles says God is love, but does not really define love except as a descrition of how man behaves. Paul defines charity in Corinthians, but does not put God in the definition. The Bible seems to give an idea of what God is all about, but I don't see that it answers "what God is."

I found this passage which I believe defines "spirit." John 6:63,64 "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe."

I look at it this way. If you want to be filled with the spirit, fill yourself with the Word of God. "Man shall not live on bread alone." "The flesh counts for nothing" means you must get "self" out of the way. You do this by loving God above "self." By obeying God, rather than "self," the flesh, and the errors. This results in a renewing of the mind to conform to God's will rather than man's will. What is better than KNOWING what your creater wants you to know. If I knew that, wouldn't I be returning to the TRUE knowledge that was given Adam and Eve before the fall? Adam and Eve fell because they allowed "self" to lie to them, they believed a lie. Their love for the truth and obedience to righteousness was overcome by the "lie," and a selfish love of themselves rather than God and His Truth. The rusult is; now we live in a world FULL of lies and error, and full of selfish love missing a love for God and righteousness. CHAOS, each to his own desires, no love because God is love. "Self" is not God.

Now, God has given us an example of His love for us in order to draw us to Him and out of error. "Greater love has no man than this; that He lay down his life for his friends." Pretty extreme example in my book! I shall return this love. He loved me first, and I shall love Him in return.

Once at this point, with repentance and submission to God's instruction rather than self, a man/woman can search the word of God in order to know God. He/she does this with a love for God and through prayer to God requesting more "Love" in their heart for more understanding and righteousness, leaving behind error. Again, we come to a renewing of the mind. A new mind that desires to love wisdom, justice, righteousness, AND the neighbor who may or may not have this love for God. Note: Many people confess a love for God, and they are sincere, but error stunts the spiritual growth. Notice: "The words I have spoken to you..." Trust God's Word more than man's possible error. Trust God's Word more than you trust me, for I desire only to point you to God, not myself. The Truth is in the Bible by itself.

rusty wrote:
It does not change from person to person.

The various interpretations seem to.

Obviously, an unchanging God does not change. Man's "various interpretations" do change. Be alert for man's misunderstanding and error. Desire God to "Create in me a clean heart." Stay innocent, and obey God and you will draw near to Him. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

This is my desire, to help draw more people to God, "Therefore go and make desciples,....." We are in dire need of more men of God in this country. Either wake up, or suffer the consequences.
rusty

[Zzyzx]

.

This is my desire, to help draw more people to God,

Rusty, ask yourself if you have EVER "drawn more people to god". Is there even ONE person that you can say that YOU have drawn to god or even influenced in that direction -- honestly?

It does not appear as though people here take you seriously -- or that anyone would follow your advice or preachings. Are you fooling yourself into thinking that you are actually moving people toward god? It would appear, from what I can see, that not only is no one moved toward but that some might be actually turned away by your self-righteous, chauvinistic and elitist preachings, your low opinion of humanity, and your apparent lack of awareness of the real world.

We are in dire need of more men of God in this country.

A place to start would be to become a good man who practices what he preaches and who sets a good example (such as by supporting his children without being forced to do so by the court). Those who have no credibility and who are hypocrites have little influence upon others. What you have said about yourself is NOT the picture of a good man.

Perhaps it would be advantageous to STOP talking about yourself and your problems and to debate ideas (as is the intent of this forum). You are not the center of the universe or the focus of anyone’s thoughts except your own.

[MikeH]

what IS God?

A higher-dimensional being which is (necessarily) eternal and can interact with us in a way which cannot yet be fully explained, as we have much to still learn about the metaphysical.

[LittlePig]

MikeH

A higher-dimensional being which is (necessarily) eternal and can interact with us in a way which cannot yet be fully explained, as we have much to still learn about the metaphysical.

So, if God inhabits a dimension of the physical universe, does that make God part of the physical universe? How is she then 'metaphysical?' Is this the new G Theory meant to replace M Theory?

Also, can the physical universe be eternal?

[MikeH]

So, if God inhabits a dimension of the physical universe, does that make God part of the physical universe? How is she then 'metaphysical?'

All laws of physics break down at the big bang. Since an eternal being would exist before and after these laws were put into play, that's why I would refer to that being as metaphysical.

Is this the new G Theory meant to replace M Theory?

Not meant to replace the M Theory, because you can still explore the M without the G. I sure hope it is the new G Theory, however. It would be the most rational G theory yet.

Also, can the physical universe be eternal?

Yes it can, but you have to think of the concept of eternity more as walking along the surface of a sphere, rather than a straight line that extends forever. So there is "more" beyond the physical universe, but you could also walk without end.

[LittlePig]

MikeH

Yes it can, but you have to think of the concept of eternity more as walking along the surface of a sphere, rather than a straight line that extends forever. So there is "more" beyond the physical universe, but you could also walk without end.

I'm getting confused here.

Do you mean eternity or infinite extent of the universe? Why would you think there is 'more' beyond the physical universe?

And by eternity do you mean infinite past and infinite future, or only infinite future?

All laws of physics break down at the big bang. Since an eternal being would exist before and after these laws were put into play, that's why I would refer to that being as metaphysical.

But I thought she was a higher dimensional being? Aren't dimensions part of space-time? Did dimensions exist prior to the Big Bang? Does God dwell in some metaphysical dimension beyond physical dimensions? Wouldn't that make God a dependant element of a larger metaphys-o-verse?

[McCulloch]

All laws of physics break down at the big bang. Since an eternal being would exist before and after these laws were put into play, that's why I would refer to that being as metaphysical.

Ever since Einstein's relativity we know that time is part of the fabric of the universe along with spacial dimensions. There is no before the big bang.

[twobitsmedia]

I don't know what "Rhema" is. My Webster doesn't list it. But, I believe there is a Spirit of Love that gives meaning to the Truth

From wikipedia:

Pentecostal Christians view Rhema as the voice of the Holy Spirit as it speaks to the believer at the present moment. In this sense, the Christian should be guided by the Holy Spirit as he/she is guided through inner feelings, impressions and experiences. God's Rhema, the direct words of God to the individual, can also be imparted through the words of others, such as a preacher in a worship service, or a friend who counsels them. In this sense, God's direct guidance can be determined by a variety of means. The test of the authenticity of a Rhema from God is simple... How does it compare to the whole of Scripture? Orthodoxy says that God will not speak a word that contradicts His written word, the Scriptures, so there is a built-in safeguard to prevent misinterpretation.

rusty wrote:
His Word tells us what God is

I am aware that the Bible says God is Spirit, but doesn't really define spirit. I am aware that one of the epistles says God is love, but does not really define love except as a descrition of how man behaves. Paul defines charity in Corinthians, but does not put God in the definition. The Bible seems to give an idea of what God is all about, but I don't see that it answers "what God is."

I found this passage which I believe defines "spirit." John 6:63,64 "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe."

I don't think that defines what it is. It tells how it functions.

The Truth is in the Bible by itself.

I thought Jesus said He was the truth?

Either wake up, or suffer the consequences.
rusty

Which are?

[MikeH]

I'm getting confused here.
Do you mean eternity or infinite extent of the universe?

There is no real difference between the two if you think about it.

Why would you think there is 'more' beyond the physical universe?

Because the physical universe refers to everything that is ruled by the laws of physics we have come to know and love. We have observed that the physical laws, however, break down in certain areas like black holes, and theoretically before the big bang none of the physical laws would apply. If physics do not always apply, then that makes me think there must be 'more' than the physical universe.

And by eternity do you mean infinite past and infinite future, or only infinite future?

Infinite past and infinite future.

But I thought she was a higher dimensional being?

Yep.

Aren't dimensions part of space-time?

Not "part of" as in "confined to." Space refers to the third dimension (length, width, height), time is just another measurement - so the fourth dimension is measured by (length, width, height, time).

Did dimensions exist prior to the Big Bang?

According to theory, yes. In fact, from the seventh dimensional view, every possible timeline of our universe from beginning to the end would look like a single point.

Does God dwell in some metaphysical dimension beyond physical dimensions? Wouldn't that make God a dependant element of a larger metaphys-o-verse?

Perhaps, but we'd better stick to the little pieces that we can grasp right now, as even this is theoretical science at this point.

[Goat]

So, if God inhabits a dimension of the physical universe, does that make God part of the physical universe? How is she then 'metaphysical?'

All laws of physics break down at the big bang. Since an eternal being would exist before and after these laws were put into play, that's why I would refer to that being as metaphysical.

I don't agree with the 'laws of physics break down'. I would say that our understanding of the forces involved break down at 10 ^ -43 seconds after t=0.
Our mathematical models do not apply. That is different than saying 'all laws of physis break down.