My Views Of God And Faith - It Helps To Proof Read
Submitted by A Blessed One on June 13 1999 at 16:18:22
In reply to glad you made it :) Submitted by F.O.D. on June 12 1999 at 09:25:40
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With regard to the metaphysical approach, I tend to view a lot of "Christian phenomena" as being the result of the natural order of things (not so much of Christ directly, but of nature). I don't find this to diminish the role, presence, or nature of God, because it was He that established nature to be that which it is and to function in an orderly manner (hence natural law is merely a portion of God's law). With regard to gnosticism, I meant to say agnostic. In effect, I have a problem with attributing to God humanicentric charecteristics (i.e., father). I am fully aware that Christ himself did so, but in my own limited view, His charecterizations were for these ease of understanding by man. I don't claim to, nor do I recognize the clims of others to, be able to identify and charecterize God. To me, God, in his infinite nature, is beyond the comprehension of man, and man's attempts to label and charecterize God diminish our ability to dwell in the fullest of God's glory that He has made available to us. I am very much a spirit centered individual. I try to live in accordance with that which the Holy Spirit leads me to withing the framework of a limited knowlege of the will of God as provided through the witings of the Old Testament. I do, very much, believe in Christ, and have accepted Him as Saviour. I do not, however, accept the prevailing limitations that man has imposed upon Christ through the narrow frameworks man has placed upon Him in man's attempt to comprehend Him. To try to describe my beliefs in Christ would inevitably start a serious debate (and possibly flame war) due to the limited ability of myself (as man) to adequately describe that which the Spirit has led me to with regard to the nature of Christ. One of the reasons I rely so much upon the Old Testament is the manner in which the New Tetament came about. Also, if one is to believe the New Testament, Christ said 'I will send another to walk with you' (the Holy Spirit). There was no reference to a manual or book to guide us. There is a direct contrast in the way the Old Testament discerns and discusses God and the way the New Testament does. There has also been many more centuries that went into the formation of the Old Testament. I am quite disturbed with the centuries old battle between Science and Theology. There are a number of theologians today that refute any and all scientific discoveries that the theologians find in conflict with the Bible. These same theologians that assert that the Bible is to be taken literally seem find interpretation through a contextual perspective OK when it fits their own idiology. To me, the church and the sciences should be the greatest of allies. We are finding more and more that the old rabinical laws had definate benefits, however, they were discounted by the world due to the conflict between the church and science. Likewise, I feel, if many believers would open their hearts to be filled by the Spirit, as opposed to seeking to validate that which they have determined to be truth through their limited perspective (based upon Biblical study performed by man's limited comprehension abilty) these believers would find the magnitude and granduer of God to be far greater than they ever imagined. I will give a brief synopsis of a conversation I had with one of Blessing's teachers who is very fundamentalistic. She expressed to me that they teach creationism and she wanted me to know that since my views were more secular. I told her that I would respect their teachings and would not seek to contradict them to Blessing, though I was in disagreement with them. That led to a friendly debate. She proceded to inform me of the inconsistencies and falacies in radiocarbon dating. I had no arguement with that. There has been ancedotal evidence of i ts inadequacies for years. I referred to atronomical evidence of the age of the universe through better and better telescopes. She acknowleged this evidence, and then referred to the Earth in a manner that excluded the Earth form the context of the larger universe. She then proceded to explain that she felt safer with the Bible than the beliefs of man. I asked if it wasn't true that our beliefs in the Bible wasn't based upon the presumptions and beliefs of man when reading the Bible. She concurred but proceded to explain that we had to be led by the Spirit in our study of the Bible. I inquired regarding the Spirit's ability to lead us in our reading of secular material. She said yes, but tht it wasn't inspired of God and therefore was less valid than the Bible. Understand, I respect the lady and am impressed with her walk. She is a person of great faith and adherance to a code of conduct that she bases on her study of "the Word". I do not condemn, nor do I seek to belittle or trivialize, people with her views. I do, however, have a serious difficulty in restricting my view of God and faith to the teaching of a single perspective and a single body of writings. I was being interviewed by a church extremely fundamental church to be a youth director. When asked about the creation, I told them that I believe the Earth is billions of years old and that the rise of mankind is (according to history and science) very recent. I expounded with the statement that "I find it far more taxing on one's faith to view God and His work as encompassing billions of years in the presence of an evolving ecosystem, as opposed to a instantanious developemnt of a planet and mankind a few thousand years ago." Well, you asked question, and I answered twenty. :) As I have said, I have no desire to ever criticize the beliefs or views of another believer who is truely seeking the face of God. I just have different views. It is this different outlook that has caused me sooooo much trouble in finding a church home. Were I to sit down and thoroughly describe my beliefs and views with a mainstream protestant minister, I feel I would imediate be proclaimed an unbeliever. Nothing would be further from the truth. Love ABO |