Very good. Let's begin with comparing God and the finite mind of man and how human language reflects an unbreechable barrier between the world of man and the unseen world of God. Language exists initially only in the mind. The tongue can only communicate what the mind is able to conceive. In order for one to communicate through the medium of language, one must first be able to attach language to an idea. For example, any time we think about a person or an object our mind automatically creates an image to correspond with that object as a frame of reference. This is simply how the mind works. When we talk to another person about our favorite car, our mind creates an image of that car. We are then able to connect language to that image and effectively communicate that image to the other person. If the other person has had somewhat similar experiences with cars then both parties have a common frame of reference as a foundation for communication. If, on the other hand, we attempt to talk about something with which we have no experience or familiarity we find we are unable to create an accurate image of that unfamiliar object in our mind. As a result, we are unable to connect language to the idea and effectively communicate the idea to someone else. One would not be able to explain the concept of a car to someone who has never seen a car or even knew that such a thing existed. The receiver would not have the language available to create that image in his mind and the communication process would quite naturally break down. The hearer receives the description as a string of words but is unable to formulate the concept of a car in his mind. We simply cannot comprehend or communicate accurately that which we have no language to describe.
When we talk about God, our mind is unable to formulate an accurate image since we have no experience with God at the sensory level. We simply have no point of reference from which to envision God. Every individual, despite cultural or religious exposure, will envision God in their own mind according to his or her concept of God, which is invariably formed out of one’s exposure to various religious teachings and cultural experiences. We do this because our mind must have some frame of reference to which to connect language. Since we are unable to connect our senses to the unseen world, we connect what is unseen to the natural world. We can only create a mental image of God according to our own individual points of reference. Idolatry creates god in the image of things that are part of human experiences. This is precisely what Israel did when they came to Mt. Sinai. Moses had been their only visible iconic connection with the invisible God. When Moses disappeared for forty days, Israel decided to adopt a familiar image that they could corporately associate as God. What they did was create a familiar frame of reference. They created a god in the form of something with which they all had experience, the golden calf of Egypt. It seems that when visible representations are taken away, man will attempt to replace them in order to maintain some sense of connection with their idea of the unseen. In the Hebrew camp, there was a sense of abandonment and uncertainty. Since their only visible representation had disappeared, they replaced him with another. They turned to the natural world to create something they felt would give them a sense of continuity. Apart from a revelation from God about himself, man will always fall into some form of idolatry. The farther away man gets from revelation the more naturalistic and perverted his image of God will become, Deuteronomy 4:15-19.
How we understand ourselves and interpret our interaction with the world is directly proportionate to our understanding of God and his involvement in the natural dimension. The reality of God and our perception of God will always be two different things. God will always transcend what man says that he is and man will never be able to grasp all that God says he is. The personality of God is not fully accessible based on the parameters of human language or reason. God never exists on the same plain as man. He always transcends the natural world and stands outside of man’s ability to rationalize. We cannot conceptualize God based on language that is formed out of the natural world. As a result, man is incapable of developing a language use that will allow him to formulate a legitimate understanding of God. The only language use upon which we can rely is a revealed grammar. God uses scripture to provide a linguistic link to the mind of man. Although scripture allows us to see God through the eyes of faith, we are still unable to understand fully all that scripture tells us about God. Since this is true, how will a representational study of scripture help to develop a clearer understanding of God?
One barrier we must confront if we are to approach this study on the nature of God less encumbered must be that of our own intelligence. Since our intelligence is something that we routinely rely upon to help us understand certain things about the natural world, this will not be an easy thing to bring under control. Although it serves us well in this respect and fulfills a proper created function, it will not serve us well as a requisite for understanding God. To understand God, we must look beyond the limitations of human intelligence into revelation. Human intelligence operates from the platform of pragmatic experience. Faith, on the other hand, is grounded in things that are unseen and operates outside experiential parameters. While our intelligence has an assigned place in our connection with the universe, it must be rendered subordinate to the intelligence of God. God does not call us to intellectualism but to faith. If human intelligence were in any way sufficient to understand things of the non-natural world, what need would we have for revelation? Human intelligence that is unconditioned by revelation will always prove a hindrance to man’s understanding of God.Therefore, we must bring the human intelligence factor under the control of the superior intelligence of the Creator. God will not prostrate himself to man’s image of who he believes God to be. If we are to develop a clearer understanding of God, it must be on God’s terms.
I will break here to offer you time for questions or for anything in this post you would like to challenge or discuss further.
