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In my mind, at least, this site is dedicated to discussion and debate of substantive matters, particularly of God. This forum in particular is intended for that purpose. And I do not like to speculate in such a place, but all doctrinal truth —even the most well defined by us— induces within us incomplete thoughts, speculations, intuitions. Hopefully if admitted that it is speculation can keep us from much error.
But it seems to me that there is something missing from our notions modern day, of God's character that was assumed in earlier times, as being, not in antithesis to his love, compassion, tender care and positive intent toward those he made in his own image, but in antithesis to what WE consider to be his love, compassion, tender care and positive intent toward those he made in his own image.
The Simplicity of God teaches us that none of what we consider his attributes is without the others. They are not parts of him. Thus we need to understand that the power, burning purity and retribution against sin is entirely in keeping with his intent and actions towards those he made in his own image, and in keeping with his love, compassion and tender care, and vice versa.
One part of our humanity that is not of itself sinful, is the necessary self-determination (No, I did not say 'self-determinism') of the individual, to, as it is said, pursue happiness, self-preservation and other important things such as service and love for God and others. But that necessary part of us, perverted by the sin nature, reduces in one's mind the power, aseity (or self-ness), sovereignty and pertinence of God within and over all fact, because of the perceived importance of our own wonderful concepts.
The following, which seems almost entirely removed from our modern lexicon, is what I wish to discuss here: In the past, there was a general attitude toward life that admitted to the comprehension of the God of such things as the Angel of Death, and what CS Lewis described somewhere as, (as I remember it), a smoky, dark, stifling, viscous, engulfing, inescapable thickness of holiness. This is not just a lightning bolt and over with.
This discussion will of necessity involve speculation. I have heard little teaching on the matter. But my intuition tells me that it has a emanant truth to it—that there is something there, that, though in the hundreds of years past was a concept dealt with superstitiously, (just as it would be now, were we to consider it true), it should nevertheless be attributional toward the God to whom we show little fear.
What I would like to hear, is scripture passages with references that sound something like that. I would also enjoy reasoning that deals with this. To me, this too, speaks to God's superiority to all things, and that all fact descends from him, and is about him. I don't know if you will get that from it, but I would still like to hear responses to the question: Where do we see this, or read of this, in Scripture. And is it something he does, or something he is?
For example, does the horror of blood sacrifices touch on this?
But it seems to me that there is something missing from our notions modern day, of God's character that was assumed in earlier times, as being, not in antithesis to his love, compassion, tender care and positive intent toward those he made in his own image, but in antithesis to what WE consider to be his love, compassion, tender care and positive intent toward those he made in his own image.
The Simplicity of God teaches us that none of what we consider his attributes is without the others. They are not parts of him. Thus we need to understand that the power, burning purity and retribution against sin is entirely in keeping with his intent and actions towards those he made in his own image, and in keeping with his love, compassion and tender care, and vice versa.
One part of our humanity that is not of itself sinful, is the necessary self-determination (No, I did not say 'self-determinism') of the individual, to, as it is said, pursue happiness, self-preservation and other important things such as service and love for God and others. But that necessary part of us, perverted by the sin nature, reduces in one's mind the power, aseity (or self-ness), sovereignty and pertinence of God within and over all fact, because of the perceived importance of our own wonderful concepts.
The following, which seems almost entirely removed from our modern lexicon, is what I wish to discuss here: In the past, there was a general attitude toward life that admitted to the comprehension of the God of such things as the Angel of Death, and what CS Lewis described somewhere as, (as I remember it), a smoky, dark, stifling, viscous, engulfing, inescapable thickness of holiness. This is not just a lightning bolt and over with.
This discussion will of necessity involve speculation. I have heard little teaching on the matter. But my intuition tells me that it has a emanant truth to it—that there is something there, that, though in the hundreds of years past was a concept dealt with superstitiously, (just as it would be now, were we to consider it true), it should nevertheless be attributional toward the God to whom we show little fear.
What I would like to hear, is scripture passages with references that sound something like that. I would also enjoy reasoning that deals with this. To me, this too, speaks to God's superiority to all things, and that all fact descends from him, and is about him. I don't know if you will get that from it, but I would still like to hear responses to the question: Where do we see this, or read of this, in Scripture. And is it something he does, or something he is?
For example, does the horror of blood sacrifices touch on this?
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