God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?

[Deeje]

When we worship something we have made we have fallen into the pit of worshipping a false idol. So I reject all man-made theologies, belief systems and doctrines about God, because I believe it is better to worship no God at all then to worship a false picture of God, a Golden Calf.

I couldn't agree more. I extracted myself from that rabble about 45 years ago. My God is as real to me as my own family members. He interacts in my life and always has. I don't see him in Christendom, (where I grew up) and never did....but I saw him in the Bible and he introduced himself to me when I was quite young....it was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

I believe it is God who searches for us as much as we search for him (if we do at all).
At John 6:44 and 65 Jesus tells us that no one can come to the son without an invitation from the Father.
If God has the capacity to "draw" certain people in whom he sees the right qualities and grant them understanding....then he is just as capable of 'repelling' those who don't meet his criteria. They just go on thinking that there is no God because he does not interact with them at all.

Without God, nothing makes sense in this world. I have studied his word for all of those 45 years and I am still learning. I feel for those who give up and 'throw the baby out with the filthy bathwater'. (Acts of the Apostles 17:24-27)

Part of the reason I am an atheist is because I reject all forms of idolatry.

I do too. But perhaps those who worship a false god have more of a chance to change their minds than one who rejects God altogether....?? At least they may have a spiritual nature....something for God to work with? We will all know soon enough I guess.

Nice chatting with you....

 

[The Reverend Bob]

I couldn't agree more. I extracted myself from that rabble about 45 years ago. My God is as real to me as my own family members. He interacts in my life and always has. I don't see him in Christendom, (where I grew up) and never did....but I saw him in the Bible and he introduced himself to me when I was quite young....it was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.

I believe it is God who searches for us as much as we search for him (if we do at all).
At John 6:44 and 65 Jesus tells us that no one can come to the son without an invitation from the Father.
If God has the capacity to "draw" certain people in whom he sees the right qualities and grant them understanding....then he is just as capable of 'repelling' those who don't meet his criteria. They just go on thinking that there is no God because he does not interact with them at all.

Without God, nothing makes sense in this world. I have studied his word for all of those 45 years and I am still learning. I feel for those who give up and 'throw the baby out with the filthy bathwater'. (Acts of the Apostles 17:24-27)



I do too. But perhaps those who worship a false god have more of a chance to change their minds than one who rejects God altogether....?? At least they may have a spiritual nature....something for God to work with? We will all know soon enough I guess.

Nice chatting with you....

I didn't throw the baby out, just the bathwater. Having not to deal with theology just forced me to put Christ and his work directly in the center, exactly where I want him to be. I am spiritual but I am not like some "having a form of religion but denying the power thereof" the message of Christ is more powerful for me now, I cannot deny its power like some do who call out Christ's name everyday but do not demonstrate his works and his message in their life. I have a long way to go, but I will get there.

Nice chatting with you too.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Jesus, because he should be central as well as his Cross. I don't believe God exists, so God isn't important to me. And I believe that the Holy Spirit is symbolic of the church as an emancipatory community of believers, so that does have importance to me but not has much as Jesus does.

So...Jesus exists, but not God?

Did I miss something?

@metis , to answer your question, God.

 

[The Reverend Bob]

So...Jesus exists, but not God?

Did I miss something?

@metis , to answer your question, God.

You don't believe that Jesus existed?

 

[Hockeycowboy]

You don't believe that Jesus existed?

Oh, yes. 'Sent by God'.

 

[The Reverend Bob]

Oh, yes. 'Sent by God'.

Define God and let me see if you don't fall into idolatry

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Define God and let me see if you don't fall into idolatry

Could you please just answer my question first?

 

[Deeje]

I didn't throw the baby out, just the bathwater.

If you can accept Jesus Christ but not his Father whom he represented here on earth, then from my point of view you have 'thrown the baby out with the bathwater'. Jesus is a creation of his Father (Revelation 3:14; Colossians 1:15-17)....as I see it, without God there would be no Jesus.

Having not to deal with theology just forced me to put Christ and his work directly in the center, exactly where I want him to be.

That is interesting.....but the question I would ask now is....is this where Christ wants to be?
When he said to the devil in Luke 4:8...."It is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service."....do you think he demonstrated that he wanted to be in the center? Sounds like he wanted his Father to be in the center.
He also said in John 17:3....."This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ." Again, Jesus put his father first and himself second.

I am spiritual but I am not like some "having a form of religion but denying the power thereof" the message of Christ is more powerful for me now, I cannot deny its power like some do who call out Christ's name everyday but do not demonstrate his works and his message in their life. I have a long way to go, but I will get there.

I fully agree with this too. But eliminating false Christianity doesn't mean eliminating God. I find it hard to imagine a believer in Christ who claims to be an atheist.....the two positions are in complete opposition IMO.

I left Christendom all those years ago, but found a body of Christians who didn't do any of that. Truth is...they found me. These ones, though not any more perfect than Jesus' own apostles, actually practice what they preach. Putting God first, they follow the teachings of Jesus Christ whilst being careful not to 'have a form of religion but deny the power' of it. The power of a true religion is shown in its obedience to Christ's teachings...all of them, not just the convenient ones. It is shown also in the peace and love enjoyed by this global brotherhood. (John 13:34-35)

If you know of Jesus' parables, then you will understand what the 'wheat and the weeds' were all about. (Matthew 13:24-30) Jesus foretold that a counterfeit form of Christianity would be sown in the world by God's adversary. He identified the characters in his parable. (Matthew 13:36-43) So its no wonder that we have so many fragmented sects in Christendom...all teaching different things. Yet none of them teach the truth, which seem to be what we can both agree on...? And if that is the case, then we agree with Jesus on this issue too...?

 

[pearl]

I had never heard that question asked of me before, so it did catch me off guard, and I ended up changing my mind after thinking about it.

It does at first seem an odd question. But when I think about it, it is the Spirit that moves us, to prayer, action, and guide us on our faith journey. At the same time the Spirit is the Spirit of God who breathed life into being.

 

[pearl]

'The Gift of John's Gospel, the Paraclete' has formed much of my understanding of the Holy Spirit.

The Gift of Johns Gospel -- In the Hot Pursuit of Knowledge

 

[metis]

After the priest asked the question, my first impulse was to say Jesus as being the one I can relate to the most. But after thinking about it as the mass continued, I switched to the Holy Spirit, and I did so because it was the HS at work with me that led me back to conversion in the Church-- a long and somewhat painful process that took almost three years. And now I am the most content that I have ever been over my 74 years even though I have always been an upbeat kinda person, and it has pushed me towards more commitment and service.

 

[The Reverend Bob]

Could you please just answer my question first?

Deeje and I had a who conversation about it in this thread

 

[TransmutingSoul]

After the priest asked the question, my first impulse was to say Jesus as being the one I can relate to the most. But after thinking about it as the mass continued, I switched to the Holy Spirit, and I did so because it was the HS at work with me that led me back to conversion in the Church-- a long and somewhat painful process that took almost three years. And now I am the most content that I have ever been over my 74 years even though I have always been an upbeat kinda person, and it has pushed me towards more commitment and service.

The key now is to see the Holy Spirit as the rays from the Sun, embrace the Light no matter who it shines upon and no matter where it is reflected from.

All Good is from God, all evil from our own selves.

Regards Tony

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Deeje and I had a who conversation about it in this thread

Ok, I'll just follow your conversation

 

[Jesuslightoftheworld]

Last Sunday, our priest asked the congregation which of the three do you tend to more relate to, and why? This is not about the Trinitarian concept, so please don't bring this into the discussion. Also, no fudging by saying two or all three of them-- one only.

I had never heard that question asked of me before, so it did catch me off guard, and I ended up changing my mind after thinking about it.

So, what do you think and why?

I would say Jesus because He is my salvation and my rock. I also relate to Him because He experienced the worst of human suffering.

 

[Mitty]

I test my reasoning to see if it is rational and logical, if it doesn't fit that criteria then it isn't reasonable. No creator god. The universe is a result of an event we call the big bang. There was always something, like the quantum vacuum or the singularity that resulted in the Big Bang. I mean he is the Anointed One, a Greek term meaning he was set apart to accomplish a certain task such as emancipating us from imperfection. As Lord and Savior.

But where does Jesus say that he was the "Anointed One" given that David was his god's begotten son (Psalm 2:7)?

And where does Jesus say that he was a saviour, given he unsuccessfully asked for help from his god when he was being executed by the Romans for sedition and why he was mocked as "The King of the Jews"? And Jesus only claimed to be a prophet, even though his own family (including his mother and her husband) didn't believe him (Matt 13:55-8).

 

[Mitty]

I would say Jesus because He is my salvation and my rock. I also relate to Him because He experienced the worst of human suffering.

But his suffering was only miniscule compared to my father's suffering and those of the other Japanese POWs who were slaves of the son of heaven.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Last Sunday, our priest asked the congregation which of the three do you tend to more relate to, and why? This is not about the Trinitarian concept, so please don't bring this into the discussion. Also, no fudging by saying two or all three of them-- one only.

I had never heard that question asked of me before, so it did catch me off guard, and I ended up changing my mind after thinking about it.

So, what do you think and why?

I think both the Father and the son as in John 14.20