Anthropomorphism, and the use of language that humanizes GOD are the focus of today’s presentation. The writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the screen ID Buss W@nkers! says i love Liverpool FC” posted the following:
Why do people talk about God. like he's a man?
THE BATTLE AXE: No Free Will? (10/19/2010)—Rightly understood, there is no such thing as free will for angels, for mankind, for any other created being, or for any living creature. However, for all, there is the reality of self-will. The problems surrounding application of will center in the distinction between self-will and the will of GOD. In the same way all human beings are obliged to breathe oxygen (like it, don’t like it), all are obliged to operate under the influence of either sin, or divine will. The presence and action of sin is invisible and undetectable to all human senses and faculties of mind. Thus, sin’s dominion over human will is not a matter of human choice. Rather, it is a matter of human content, existence, and the framework of all being. Awareness of sin is only by the operation of the Spirit of GOD. Just as men are not deprived by having no ability to breathe underwater, men are not damned and persecuted by having to acknowledge GOD. Men are challenged; and meeting the challenge, men have applied human intelligence, and the focused operation of our full potential and will to develop diving gear, snorkels, and even submarines. Similarly, men are challenged by sin and must continually direct conscious being and person to achieve right relationship where the will is properly surrendered and yielded to GOD. When human will conforms to, expresses and performs divine will, mankind prospers. When divine will is despised, forgotten, neglected, or refused the human condition becomes one of agony, desolation, misery and wretchedness.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1: 1-2)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Two Wisdoms? (10/12/2010); Systems (09/10/2010); Sin Defined? (06/28/2010)
The task of providing a “language” that would allow us to speak about GOD in clear, direct, effective ways has best been met through the holy writings we call the Bible. However, the use of holy scripture to know the fullness of divinity is comparable to the use of bananas in order to speak about watermelon: On the one hand, the two are exactly the same—both are fruit, have the same function of distributing and protecting seed, and both are fairly tasty!). On the other hand, there are major differences in their several characteristics (color, shape, size, texture, weight). Where we maintain a strict focus on their sameness, and for the sake of meaning ignore their various differences (counting them as insignificant, and irrelevant), we definitely can use bananas in place of watermelon, have meaning, still make sense, and connect in understanding.
When communicating to one another about GOD, and the things that exist totally as spirit, mankind is forced to apply language that basically comes from, and is designed to express carnal, material, and social realities. In the same way, one must be born again to acquire divine substance that establishes correct awareness and consciousness of the active presence, intent, and purposes of GOD; one must be reborn in order to hear, grasp, and speak the new language given by the Bible for the revealed truth of GOD.
There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, the Bible provides a divine perspective on human experiences of GOD: thousands of lives, and thousands of years are reported. While many sinful acts come into view, the focus is less upon “crime and punishment,” and more upon the revealing divine person as the most complete expression of compassion, forgiveness, justice and righteousness.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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