Standing in Awe – A Freeper Research Project

Freeper Research | November 14, 2004 | Various

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When I meditate it's on waves crashing on the shore, or fields of flowers. Nothing sinister. God would strike me dead if I did.

I have enjoyed talking to you. My hubby keeps asking for his supper, Fried chicken. The man loves my fried chicken.

Edmund, I hope to see you around here again.

You can catch my act from 5:00-7:00 on weeknights. And 9:00-12:00 on weekends....lol, I like being a smarty-pants. See ya.

[D Edmund Joaquin]

okay, I'll watch for you and you watch for me. You have a rare intellect if you can discern my humor! happy fried chicken!

[onedoug]

In possibly millions...billions...trillions of ways.

Personally, just a thought, but I've always wondered if God made an investment in us, to accumulate a net "goodness" from humanity. And too, whether our end may come if God tires of waiting for this investment to pay off.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your posts and for pinging me to your engaging conversation with pbrown!.

Indeed. The natural man does not worship God in Spirit and in Truth (John 4). He must be born again (John 3). If a man is not indwelled by the Spirit, he is none of His but carnal (Roman 8). Man cannot “find” God by reasoning – the method is very clear (John 10, Romans 10). His sheep hear His voice, He knows them and they follow Him – faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

But I would never discourage a seeker because God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6) and will have mercy and compassion according to His own will (Romans 9:15). So when the Spirit compels me to reason with seekers, like Paul did in Athens in Acts 17, I shall.

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. - 2 Timothy 2:24-26

[D Edmund Joaquin]

So when the Spirit compels me to reason with seekers, like Paul did in Athens in Acts 17, I shall.

Yet all the reasoning in the world will never save anyone, though they be "almost persuaded". None come to the Lord, lest the Father draw them.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for your reply!

Indeed. Reasoning saves noone. All it can do is get their attention, so they might hear "if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth".

[D Edmund Joaquin]

Yes, if God give them... No amount of reasoning will ever bridge that gap to spiritual understanding. That is why you have so few posters responding, though your thread is certainly ambitious. I fear your friends can't make heads or tails of 1/2 what you know.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for your reply!

That is why you have so few posters responding, though your thread is certainly ambitious. I fear your friends can't make heads or tails of 1/2 what you know.

If posting this thread was of my own counsel, no good can come of it. However, if I am following the Spirit's leading in posting here, then it doesn't matter how many Freepers respond on thread.

BTW, the thread has been viewed nearly 500 times making it the most viewed thread on the religion forum today.

[D Edmund Joaquin]

Oh I'm sure it piques their interest, for it's the best thread going. I didn't really mean that.

However, I believe all it can come to is just philosophy, and you know what Paul said about that. Or, perhaps it will go into some orbit no one expected. I hope so

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for the encouragement! Whatever becomes of it, as long as it is the Lord's will, it's fine with me.

[D Edmund Joaquin]

For instance, I would say that even now, believers are in eternity. The natural man will be perplexed at that. He thinks that faith is something that comes out of us, like he thinks that his gift of reason emanates out of his senses and experiences.

Though he can understand the concept of parallel universes, he cannot understand someone living in more than one at one time. It just won't make any sense to him

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for your great contribution!

For instance, I would say that even now, believers are in eternity... Though he [natural man] can understand the concept of parallel universes, he cannot understand someone living in more than one at one time. It just won't make any sense to him

I agree with you that mortal believers exist concurrently in eternity and are quite aware of it because it is the state of being indwelled by the Spirit, i.e. born again.

WRT your contribution being rejected by "natural men" - I wouldn't rule out mathematicians or physicists who are not atheistic. After all, in Tegmark's Level IV universe every existent is already a mathematical structure (non-corporeal, non-spatial, non-temporal) in a higher dimension. To such a worldview, this could be a frog (4 dimensions) who also has birds-eye vision (higher dimensions).

[D Edmund Joaquin]

Ok. They're not atheistic. What does that mean? That they believe in God, or something? I'm not sure what you mean.

Mathematics, even the highest form, is still just opinion, or conjecture, not absolute reality.

Theology, when it comes from men, is just opinion as well. But our theology does not come from man. Yet, we have in ourselves, no language to convey this to our brothers on the other side of the gulf. We have to use the Words of God which quickens them. And after all, isn't that what the rapture really is, the quickening?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for your reply!

I'm not sure what you mean.

I mean that a mathematician or physicist working under the constraints of "scientific materialism" would not necessarily dismiss out-of-hand the notion that one can exist concurrently in a temporal dimension as well as eternity (non-temporal or timelessness).

Mathematics, even the highest form, is still just opinion, or conjecture, not absolute reality.

On other threads, we've gathered up and compared quite a range of views on "what is reality?" It is a fascinating conversation starter and is particularly useful in understanding where the other poster is "coming from" in his remarks. Here's a summary:

To a metaphysical naturalist, "reality" is all that exists in nature

To an autonomist "reality" is all that is, the way it is

To an objectivist "reality" is that which exists

To tpaine, “reality” is all about us, and it is best defined by the bad things that happen when it is ignored.

To a mystic "reality" may include thought as substantive force and hence, a part of "reality"

To Plato "reality" includes constructs such as redness, chairness, numbers, geometry and pi

To Aristotle these constructs are not part of "reality" but merely language

To some physicists, "reality" is the illusion of quantum mechanics

To Christians "reality" is God's will and unknowable in its fullness.

[D Edmund Joaquin]

So then, is Truth relative?

[ladyinred]

I fear your friends can't make heads or tails of 1/2 what you know.

You been peeking inside my brain or something? :-)

[D Edmund Joaquin]

LOL, you are always a delight

[Alamo-Girl]

Of course not, God is Truth.

It's getting mighty late here so I have to call it a night, but I'll be looking forward to any posts you might have tomorrow! Thanks for the great conversation!

[D Edmund Joaquin]

I will begone on business for a few days, but the point I was leading up to, regarding the title of your thread: The greatest awe that should shock Christians is that they have been quickened. They have been infused with the Spirit of God. Imagine such a thing! Yet they walk around like they have no awareness of it whatsoever!

[xzins]

After my initial scan, I can only say that this is an awesome endeavor. I've ready writings and musings from both of you, AG & BB, and they've always focused ultimately on God's faithfulness....so this should be a feast.

As you get more into the thread, perhaps in some way the Lord might have the 2 of you and some of your friends here come up with a "Devotions from Creation on the Reality of God."

That would be so good for Christendom.