Seek and Ye Shall Find
My "wake up" call, a teaching program on the local Christian Radio station is doing a study on Psalms. The last two mornings the teacher was discussing Psalm 8.
"Oh LORD, my Lord" "Oh YHWH, my master"
He started out talking about just what the word God means, and just who the LORD is.
He said, that although man might seek after a god, a purpose, or a sort of enlightenment...man is incapeable of discovering God except for the fact that God chose Himself to reveal Himself.
He further said that God has and continues to disclose Himself to mankind through and in Nature (Romans and Job), History, the WORD (Bible) and Jesus. Then the teacher went on to explain four aspects of the true God that seperates Him from all false gods and all false perceptions of god. This particular teacher likes alliterations, his four points were
1. God - LORD - YHWH is PLURAL (He is They) The trinity is explicity a Christian revelation.
2. Powerful and Self existant - Self sustaining
3. Perfect
4. Praise Worthy (and as we worship we become truly human)
There were two points that stood out in my often muddled mind.
When I was seeking "enlightenment" I tried a lot of "stuff". Meditation, Out of Body Experiences, Power Stances, Vision and Spell casting. I was very interested in the occult. Surely there were some hidden secrets that would lead to this allusive enlightenment. Some ancient methods to achieve the highest level of humanity. When I finally realized that Jesus was the Way, I was amazed that the Truth was so available and so obvious. Anyone, in this country at least, has access to a Bible. You can buy them for a dollar at the Dollar Store. God has not hidden Himself in some labynyth, mantra, or talisman. (excuse spelling there). Nature declares His glory and His attributes, History proves His interaction with Humankind, and to make things perfectly clear He gave us His written Word, and became Flesh.
And as far as the Trinity. There are a lot of "christians" out there (in here in blogland) that firmly believe that Roman Catholics are satanic, evil, idol worshipers, etc. But I contend that they do a much better job of teaching the Trinity than most non-Catholic Christians. Most of the Sunday School, Children's Church, VBS curriculum that I've previewed and/or used, identify Jesus as the Son of God without attempting to explain that He was infact God. This "three in one" business is seldom mentioned. How can God be his own father? It's easier to brush over it.
But the Catholics teach their littlest ones that there are three persons in one God. They acknowledge the Trinity at the beginning and end of every prayer session.
Well, that's all I have to say about that right now. I'm reading Ecclesiastes and soon will move on to Job. It is very windy, dusty and dry here in New Mexico. And oh so HOT!
Blessings all!
me
11 comments:
What a beautiful thing the teacher said about God's attributes. might I add from what I have learnt so far ?
The 99 Names of God according to the tradition of Islam are:
1. Allah (الله) The God
2. Ar-Rahman (الرحمن) The All Beneficent
3. Ar-Rahim (الرحيم) The Most Merciful
4. Al-Malik (الملك) The King, The Sovereign
5. Al-Quddus (القدوس) The Most Holy
6. As-Salam (السلام) Peace and Blessing
7. Al-Mu'min (المؤمن) The Guarantor
8. Al-Muhaymin (المهيمن) The Guardian, the Preserver
9. Al-'Aziz (العزيز) The Almighty, the Self Sufficient
10. Al-Jabbar (الجبار) The Powerful, the Irresistible
11. Al-Mutakabbir (المتكبر) The Tremendous
12. Al-Khaliq (الخالق) The Creator
13. Al-Bari' (البارئ) The Maker
14. Al-Musawwir (المصور) The Fashioner of Forms
15. Al-Ghaffar (الغفار) The Ever Forgiving
16. Al-Qahhar (القهار) The All Compelling Subduer
17. Al-Wahhab (الوهاب) The Bestower
18. Ar-Razzaq (الرزاق) The Ever Providing
19. Al-Fattah (الفتاح) The Opener, the Victory Giver
20. Al-Alim (العليم) The All Knowing, the Omniscient
21. Al-Qabid (القابض) The Restrainer, the Straightener
22. Al-Basit (الباسط) The Expander, the Munificent
23. Al-Khafid (الخافض) The Abaser
24. Ar-Rafi' (الرافع) The Exalter
25. Al-Mu'izz (المعز) The Giver of Honor
26. Al-Mudhill (المذل) The Giver of Dishonor
27. As-Sami' (السميع) The All Hearing
28. Al-Basir (البصير) The All Seeing
29. Al-Hakam (الحكم) The Judge, the Arbitrator
30. Al-'Adl (العدل) The Utterly Just
31. Al-Latif (اللطيف) The Subtly Kind
32. Al-Khabir (الخبير) The All Aware
33. Al-Halim (الحليم) The Forbearing, the Indulgent
34. Al-'Azim (العظيم) The Magnificent, the Infinite
35. Al-Ghafur (الغفور) The All Forgiving
36. Ash-Shakur (الشكور) The Grateful
37. Al-Ali (العلى) The Sublimely Exalted
38. Al-Kabir (الكبير) The Great
39. Al-Hafiz (الحفيظ) The Preserver
40. Al-Muqit (المقيت) The Nourisher
41. Al-Hasib (الحسيب) The Reckoner
42. Al-Jalil (الجليل) The Majestic
43. Al-Karim (الكريم) The Bountiful, the Generous
44. Ar-Raqib (الرقيب) The Watchful
45. Al-Mujib (المجيب) The Responsive, the Answerer
46. Al-Wasi' (الواسع) The Vast, the All Encompassing
47. Al-Hakim (الحكيم) The Wise
48. Al-Wadud (الودود) The Loving, the Kind One
49. Al-Majid (المجيد) The All Glorious
50. Al-Ba'ith (الباعث) The Raiser of the Dead
51. Ash-Shahid (الشهيد) The Witness
52. Al-Haqq (الحق) The Truth, the Real
53. Al-Wakil (الوكيل) The Trustee, the Dependable
54. Al-Qawiyy (القوى) The Strong
55. Al-Matin (المتين) The Firm, the Steadfast
56. Al-Waliyy (الولى) The Protecting Friend, Patron, and Helper
57. Al-Hamid (الحميد) The All Praiseworthy
58. Al-Muhsi (المحصى) The Accounter, the Numberer of All
59. Al-Mubdi' (المبدئ) The Producer, Originator, and Initiator of all
60. Al-Mu'id (المعيد) The Reinstater Who Brings Back All
61. Al-Muhyi (المحيى) The Giver of Life
62. Al-Mumit (المميت) The Bringer of Death, the Destroyer
63. Al-Hayy (الحي) The Ever Living
64. Al-Qayyum (القيوم) The Self Subsisting Sustainer of All
65. Al-Wajid (الواجد) The Perceiver, the Finder, the Unfailing
66. Al-Majid (الماجد) The Illustrious, the Magnificent
67. Al-Wahid (الواحد) The One, the All Inclusive, the Indivisible
68. As-Samad (الصمد) The Self Sufficient, the Impregnable, the Eternally Besought of All, the Everlasting
69. Al-Qadir (القادر) The All Able
70. Al-Muqtadir (المقتدر) The All Determiner, the Dominant
71. Al-Muqaddim (المقدم) The Expediter, He who brings forward
72. Al-Mu'akhkhir (المؤخر) The Delayer, He who puts far away
73. Al-Awwal (الأول) The First
74. Al-Akhir (الأخر) The Last
75. Az-Zahir (الظاهر) The Manifest; the All Victorious
76. Al-Batin (الباطن) The Hidden; the All Encompassing
77. Al-Wali (الوالي) The Patron
78. Al-Muta'al (المتعالي) The Self Exalted
79. Al-Barr (البر) The Most Kind and Righteous
80. At-Tawwab (التواب) The Ever Returning, Ever Relenting
81. Al-Muntaqim (المنتقم) The Avenger
82. Al-'Afuww (العفو) The Pardoner, the Effacer of Sins
83. Al-Ra'uf (الرؤوف) The Compassionate, the All Pitying
84. Malik al Mulk (مالك الملك) The Owner of All Sovereignty
85. Dhu al Jalal wa al Ikram (ذو الجلال و الإكرام) The Lord of Majesty and Generosity
86. Al-Muqsit (المقسط) The Equitable, the Requiter
87. Al-Jami' (الجامع) The Gatherer, the Unifier
88. Al-Ghani (الغنى) The All Rich, the Independent
89. Al-Mughni (المغنى) The Enricher, the Emancipator
90. Al-Mani'(المانع) The Withholder, the Shielder, the Defender
91. Ad-Darr (الضار) The Distressor, the Harmer (This attribute can only be found in hadith)
92. An-Nafi' (النافع) The Propitious, the Benefactor
93. An-Nur (النور) The Light
94. Al-Hadi (الهادئ) The Guide
95. Al-Badi (البديع) Incomparable, the Originator
96. Al-Baqi (الباقي) The Ever Enduring and Immutable
97. Al-Warith (الوارث) The Heir, the Inheritor of All
98. Ar-Rashid (الرشيد) The Guide, Infallible Teacher, and Knower
99. As-Sabur (الصبور) The Patient, the Timeless
More here
I am glad you left the hideous practices of dark crafts, and seeking help from any other but God Himself. He is the Lord of the worlds (seen and unseen), and a true believer is she/he who completely believes all of the above attributes, and does not negate them in practice as well.
What stumbled me was your question: "How can God be his own father?" If God can have a son, then can't He be His own father? I am not expressing any opinion here, but just using your own reasoning. I know a man cannot be his own father, but can have a son. Anyways, I didnt think that answer to that question was as obvious as you expressed it!
There are many easy ways to become close to God, and lift one-self above average humanity. Go beyond matter. This is scientifically proven. Enligthenment never ends. click here to see what I mean.
Brainsyke - this commenting seems a little disjointed. I don't understand what you were getting at with the names. Do these correlate with biblical tradition?
"'How can God be his own father?' If God can have a son, then can't He be His own father? I am not expressing any opinion here, but just using your own reasoning. I know a man cannot be his own father, but can have a son. Anyways, I didnt think that answer to that question was as obvious as you expressed it!"
Perhaps it is the common background of Catholic teaching, but it still seems relatively obvious. The problem is that too many people put too much emphasis on individual components as if they indicate separation. All three parts are equally God. The Father/Son/Holy Spirit thing doesn't define barriers, it defines the aspect of God you are dealing with.
The simple answer provided is the obvious one. How can God be His own father? He can't, by conventional wisdom. But conventional wisdom doesn't confine God. God birthed Himself to this world. No need for complications. Just acceptance. This is what He did. Trust me, this won't be the only area we are called on to realize that God is more complicated then we can understand.
The last part also seems disjointed. The video explains some interesting concepts about looking beyond matter, but I fail to see its cohesion with the first part (names) and the second (trinity) portions of your comment.
I guess, at the core I am asking if you can clarify what in the world you are trying to say here.
I've seen posters that present the names for the God of the Bible, mostly they explain their attributes, much like the list that brainsyke posted.
There is only one God, that is why the goddess confused and continues to confuses me Wanderer. That little thingy on you site that gives a discription of various goddesses, dieties.
There is only One God, the LORD God, they are One...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Brainsyke, I too am confused with the point you are trying to make in your comment. Not to say do not comment, rather comment more and more clearly.
sorry folks...I was at work, when I quicklky posted this comment, and didnt realize it would come off totally disointed....
I think, eah disjointed peice refers to something you have talked about in you original post here. The severalattributes I mentioned also include the ones you mentioned.
You also mentioned you tried: "Some ancient methods to achieve the highest level of humanity". If you understood the video, you will realize that God isneed the closest thing to our soul, and that all of that exists is completely reliant upon Him, and only He is worthy of worship. I assumed, you did not understand this concept clearly since you sought power from 'spells', and other crafts.
I just wanted to share what I thoguht was a profound way of thinking about matter, and reality of life, soul and God.
as far as my question about God being His own Father, etc goes..it was just something that I and other non-catholic Christians struggle with. But, blind leap of faith always rejected conventional wisdom. I dont think our God wants blind faith, and disregard conventional wisdom.
He gave us wisdom, intellect, free will, so we can use it to beleive in the right by Choice, and not by ignorance of them. Even to believe that 'there is God' doesnt not require blind faith. It requires open-minded critical thinking. God doesnt want to shun our critical thinking to bleieve in the right? what kind of God expect us to ignore His gifts of conventional wisdom, knowlege, free will, and command us to stay in the 'Dark ages'?
OK. Sorry about lenghty comments. I dont have all the answers...me is a learner too. I just am too anxious to share my findings.
-Peace
Brainsyke - You misunderstand me if you are under the impression that I was calling upon blind faith instead of use of intellect. It was quite the opposite that I was stating.
By being beyond conventional wisdom, I didn't mean we couldn't reason it. I meant that since He is God, conventional rules don't apply. I.E. The birthing of one's self. Since God is in all places and all times, this birthing is just a shifting of manifestation, not a true beginning of life. One has to accept God is God, and incorporate those complexities in any consideration we give to the nature of God.
Similarly this must be considered in the Trinity. Just as you pointed out that Islam has 99 names for the attributes of God, while still referring to the same God who possesses these qualities, we see the same in the Trinity. We have the sovereign God (the Father), we have the teacher/redeemer (the Son) and we have the word (the Holy Spirit). All one God, just broken down to the aspects that we interact with.
"I assumed, you did not understand this concept clearly since you sought power from 'spells', and other crafts."
I think the concept is not necessarily what would be missing in this area. Rather, from your perspective, it would be the details that might be flawed.
"what kind of God expect us to ignore His gifts of conventional wisdom, knowlege, free will, and command us to stay in the 'Dark ages'?"
I would think that we are in agreement on this sentiment, since we are in fact discussing this subject instead of making simple, blind leaps.
MaryEllen - "There is only one God, that is why the goddess confused and continues to confuses me Wanderer."
There is a perceived non-sequitor here. Read one way, a holding to the christian faith lead to a confusion during your search for Her. Read another way, it is a belief that whomever God is, there can only be the one. In that case I don't see the confusion, since many of us are either monotheistic or pantheistic, both of which point to the same basic thought process.
I have never stated that there was more than one Goddess. Quite the opposite actually.
"That little thingy on you site that gives a discription of various goddesses, dieties."
I must admit that this reference made me smile, especially since I wasn't sure if anyone had noticed that yet. That database contains thousands of names of deities of all cultures, and you can follow a link to learn more about them. It is an interesting source for cliffnote mythology, though it is frequently more humor based than anything else. It does not speak to any belief I have of a massive pantheon to draw from, and I think I have illustrated in past conversations that this was not the case.
Now God has a sex too? well, I agree with some of your points Wanderer. I am not going to get into a futile argument about Trinity.
brainsyke,
since you are rather new to my site, I would just claify, that although my friend wanderer is wise and well versed in Scripture due to his upbringing as a Roman Catholic, he currently identifies himself as a Pagan, and although he seldome uses the feminine pronoun here on my site, he honors the Goddess, and not the God of the Bible, so to him, although we might agree that God does not actually have a "sex" she does have a gender. Fair explaination Wanderer?
interesting....
'gender' from a linguistic perspect? or 'gender' with idological implications?
if no, ideological implications, then what is "he"/"she" about?
In addition to what you stated about finding the biblical Jesus in VBS currucula, try and find a VBS curriculum that addresses the Holy Spirit in any way shape or form!
MaryEllen - Yes, that was fairly well addressed, thank you.
Brainsyke - There are definite ideological implications. You can see them in the background of my debates and conversations here. You can see them in a wide open expose that I have spent months on at my own site. It is not coincedental, by the way, that MaryEllen and I aren't tackling all of the aspects of my beliefs here, but I do there. There is a time and a place for everything. The place to tackle many of those aspects of my theology would be in my "house" not hers. You are welcome to go through the archives there and ask any questions you would like.
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