How do you see God?

AsifinPassing · Jan 17, 2013

Ijustwantthetruth's thread spurred (or should I say, resurfaced) an age-old but important question in my mind!!

How do you see God?

Is God strictly a "He', or could God be 'She' (since both were made in God's image)?

Is God transcendent of things like gender?

Do you see God as a person? ...a wind? ...having any form?

To you, what role does God play?

Is God only a King and Father? Could be a servant? Could he be a mother?

Can you see God as a lover?

Think about God physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally...and in every way you can!!

The way you see God will speak to (or touch on) everything about your faith, way of life, and a great many other areas!!

...so...let the seeing, posting, reading, and responding...BEGIN!!

arwen83 · Jan 17, 2013

I'm just gonna copy paste what I wrote in the cuddling thread regarding Jesus as one of the poll choices-

I cannot imagine cuddling with Jesus, its not congruent with my image of Jesus. It might be for some people and thats their personal image, but I never thought of him a cuddler at all. Is it okay to even say that I think it's unbiblical? Some of you might disagree. But i dunno, doesn't seem right to me. I always thought of him as a strong loving man (and God), courageous, not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not always nice but good in every sense of the word, he told it how it is regardless of the consequences to promote change, for people to wake up and seek God, and know the truth. To show them the way to salvation.

ijustwanttheTruth · Jan 17, 2013

though all of nature reflects a piece of God's character, i know he is not a female being bc of the way the bible speaks of him. that's not to say he is wholly without feminine character traits. He is the best of every world.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVTFcT_nwGw[/video]

NodMyHeadLikeYeah · Jan 17, 2013

Can i see God as a lover? Do i think he is a he and a she?

I'm not even God, and i'm offended by these two questions alone.

AsifinPassing · Jan 17, 2013

Thank you Arwen, Ijustwanthetruth, and Nodmyhead.

I post it not to be offensive, but to actually make you think. I also hope to hear you respond.

You see, if you go to many (not all) Bible colleges, seminaries, or other such places...you'll very likely be asked this same question (as I've been).

Who is God to you? Does God limit God's self to being male or female? Is God only a distant Divine Ruler (as Deists believe), or can God be more intimate and personal than anyone you have ever or could ever know?

These are important things! If you feel uncomfortable or unsure in any way, talk to God about it. Ask God who and how He is. Spend time with God.

You see, how we see God (theology) basically defines the majority of our actions, feelings, beliefs, thoughts, ext.

Perhaps this is an area we haven't really delved into on a personal level. The same could be said for many other questions of the faith, but this is not the place (singles) for those, I think. Your perception of God; however, directly relates to the way you treat or see people. I find it very pertinent for the singles thread.

arwen83 · Jan 17, 2013

AsifinPassing said:

I remember reading the book The Shack (I am sure you guys heard of it/ read it). Anyways, in it the character meets God. My memory of it is kind of hazey but.. The way God looked was not how the character though He would, but God explained that He needed to look a certain way that was more relatable to him. I guess the character has dad issues growing up and for God to take on the appearance of a father/male would cause more issues between them.

If God is everything, then God is everything.

If He is a loving, personal God, then He must be relatable whatever that looks like.

NodMyHeadLikeYeah · Jan 17, 2013

I apologize if i came off as rude, it was not my intent. Those two things just seemed so bizarre to me.

As for an answer to your question

I see God as my father, it says in his word though my father and mother forsake me the Lord will take me in.

I see God as compassionate, i see him as a man who loves us to death.... literally. He is a God who takes those of us who are in slavery and sets us free. I see him as being close to those who are afflicted and brokenhearted.

I also see him as a God that will come after me when i'm on the wrong path. I see him as not being afraid to do what it takes to get someones attention.

He is a God that says vengeance is mine.

He is not the wind, he is not some cosmic spirit that floats around from cloud to cloud, nor is he santa claus willing to give you whatever you want whenever you want.

I used to be afraid of God, but that's because i didn't know him.

progressivenerdgirl · Jan 17, 2013

The Bible is clear that God is a male.
As far as what He looks like, well, whatever He wants to.
The Shack. *Shudders*
That's called 'hinduism', honey.

ijustwanttheTruth · Jan 17, 2013

NodMyHeadLikeYeah said:

well i wasn't offended by your comment. i was also offended by the he/she question

but as for the lover- i am able to think of God as a lover, without the sexual connotations of the word. as i believe God to not be a sexual being, but, as He DESIGNED sex, it must also reflect a part of His character and the relationship He desires to have with us

(not saying here that God desires to have a sexual relationship with His children, but rather that sex illustrates a piece of intimacy that i believe He desires with His creation. that level of union.)

annnyyywhoooo. i might get some flak for that but um. i meant no harm.

NodMyHeadLikeYeah · Jan 17, 2013

ijustwanttheTruth said:

well i wasn't offended by your comment. i was also offended by the he/she question

but as for the lover- i am able to think of God as a lover, without the sexual connotations of the word. as i believe God to not be a sexual being, but, as He DESIGNED sex, it must also reflect a part of His character and the relationship He desires to have with us

(not saying here that God desires to have a sexual relationship with His children, but rather that sex illustrates a piece of intimacy that i believe He desires with His creation. that level of union.)

annnyyywhoooo. i might get some flak for that but um. i meant no harm.

I was not apologizing to you, it was to the creator of this thread. Asifinpassing

ijustwanttheTruth · Jan 17, 2013

i know

i was just saying. if you thought it was offensive, i didnt think it was

ijustwanttheTruth · Jan 17, 2013

yeah i did despise 'the shack' but ya know. that's how the author chose to paint God in His scene. we shouldnt go making doctrines from that book. but it's art. and art is what it is.

oOfallen_angelOo · Jan 17, 2013

AsifinPassing said:

I wholesomely believe that there is both a Father God and a Mother God.

I know I know, two God's? What the hell right? Especially when the bible says there is only one God. I've noticed though, that the bible also incorporates the women automatically with the man. That famous verse

" For all men have fallen short of the glory of God," or " all men have sinned,"

Just logically thinking here; the bible isn't saying only the male gender has sinned, but rather mankind which automatically includes woman kind.

I noticed in Genesis 1:6 God says " Let US make man in OUR image," instead of " And God made man in his image and his likeness."

What's perplexing about this is that this plural form of God was mentioned on purpose, or else it wouldn't had been.

Also note that 2 images came of man - the male form in the likeness of God, and the female form in the likeness of God.

If " mankind " automatically includes " womankind," then if God had a partner and the men represent the women...then perhaps God also represents his partnership with a wife God he is united to?

The bible does say when a man and woman marry, they become ONE body. Just one whole unit.

Besides, God takes the title " Father," and a father really can't be a father logically without a mother right? God's people are also called " the children of God," again children come from a mother. People at church call each other " sister " or " brother " too - it's like the bible is making this big spiritual family.

God the Father and God the Mother - seems right to me. It's like how a woman takes her husband's last name and is thus one with him. Not to mention that Adam was incomplete without Eve, so why would God not follow his own philosophy here if we are so much so in the likeness of God?

~

Hmm as for how God looks to me? I would say they would have some type of figure or form; not like a mists floating about or blinding light you have to shield yourself to talk to. God has a face; the bible mentions this mysterious God face all the time. I'm sure the angels see his ( or their) faces all the time.

I'm terrified in a respectful way of God, but at the same time I just want to jump into his ( or their,) arms and love on em because they are so awesome

Though I fear my soul would probably implode from their great majesty, so maybe running into all that magnificence isn't such a great idea ha ha -

I do hope though that we can hug and kiss God; in a family way of course ( sickos!)

Idk...

Ever since I was a little girl, I would have this dream of holding God's fingers and walking through some gorgeous looking scene, just talking about everything. I also fancy the idea of just laying my head on his ( or her,) lap and just basking in their greatness.

I'm a cuddly person so I hope it's no disrespect to chill out with daddyo and mama if I make it to heaven.

I know for a fact that God will have wisdom beyond anything, and probably be so full of love and give sooo much love that no soul will go unfulfilled.

I cannot even begin to speak on the mind and spirit of God...they are extremely beyond me.

arwen83 · Jan 17, 2013

I guess just an add-in from my last post, I do view God as a father figure and that is the best way that I can relate to Him. I heard a lot of people who have had bad, disengaged, disinterested, abusive, etc. earthly fathers say that God is the ultimate father, and to let Him be everything that your earthly father wasn't. I've also noticed from talking to many unbelieving males, I see a correlation between how they were treated by their earthly father growing up, and how they view God. Most often there is a connection there.

AsifinPassing · Jan 17, 2013

Thank you, everyone!! This is good!! Share how you feel, where you think, and what you see!!

@ progressivenerdgirl: The Shack was actually written as a beautiful illustration of Triune Nature of our God. It illustrates God in a much more personal and intimate way than many Christians speak of. Truthfully, it's not doctrine or perception that saves us, but a personal, intimate relationship with The Living God.

Now that said, doctrines and perceptions are important. They can either build or destroy; enhance or detract; free or imprison.
Like I said, this not the place to be discussing the argument of inerrancy (whether the Bible is literal, figurative, or both...and done so directly by God, or just by man, or a combination of the two...and whether or not it's accurate to the point of perfection, or if it contains 'flaws' or 'cultural lenses' which change and shape the message, and how you deal with that...just to touch the surface).

What I do want to lift up are your thoughts of God. Your thoughts! Now, this likely contains scripture (obviously), but I already know what the scriptures say. I've read and can read them just as anyone here.

What I DON'T know...is what YOU think, and hopefully through expressing your thoughts, feelings, ext...perhaps you can better come to understand, further define, or even change your faith.

MaranathaSoonQuick · Jan 17, 2013

Well, first of all, you wait, and wait till the end of the world as we know it, THEN you will SEE GOD.

MaranathaSoonQuick · Jan 17, 2013

btw, there's this thing called a Holy Bible, if you read it, it will give you a good idea of what our God is like.

progressivenerdgirl · Jan 17, 2013

@ progressivenerdgirl: The Shack was actually written as a beautiful illustration of Triune Nature of our God. It illustrates God in a much more personal and intimate way than many Christians speak of. Truthfully, it's not doctrine or perception that saves us, but a personal, intimate relationship with The Living God.

I think you mean 'Visnu', not 'God'.

arwen83 · Jan 17, 2013

I'm not gonna even bother biting.

AsifinPassing · Jan 17, 2013

Lol, thanks Maranatha. I do read my Bible, quite frequently. I've read, studied, and used many versions, and will continue to for the course of my lifetime.

There is more to life than the Bible; however, and more to a relationship than just reading a book. Do you know and spend time with God, or only read scripture? Don't get me wrong, I have experienced and am well aware of God's trans-formative power and spoken word through the conduit of scripture. I know that more than any other book, God uses what we know as the Bible to speak to, connect with, and change lives. I also know and have experienced many other ways and facets in which God has spoken to me, helped me feel His presence, and walked with me in this growing and learning process of life.

I must stress again; however, that this is not a thread I've posted to make arguments or debates over. It's not the place to treat people in any negative, arrogant, or poorly type of manner. It's not the place to have a proverbial battle of differing views, opinions, theologies, philosophies, or otherwise.

NOR is it a place to forcefully push any one thing onto someone. I simply am asking for YOUR PERSONAL thoughts, feelings, experiences, and views on God.

WHO is GOD to YOU?

How do you see God?

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