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To: Kolokotronis

Anthony the great needs to spend some time with Dr E's Random Scripture generator as well. Scripture says He gets angry. Anthony's response is "no he doesn't" without giving an alternative understanding - just Scripture says that but it isn't so. Sorry, that doesnt' work. Scripture says it. Now WHY does it say it and how can it be so if he is immutable? The article I posted above does a better job of explaining this - but again, I see us getting in trouble because we are trying to explain in human terms a God who is above full understanding and explanation. Scripture says God has emotions. That shouldn't be swept under the rug. And your strawman of Protestant belief is just that, a strawman. Our understanding of God is far more complex than that -for He is far more complex.


6,041 posted on 01/15/2007 1:28:03 PM PST by Blogger
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To: Blogger

I think this all illuminates the problems of sola scriptura.

You can, and do, get all sorts of differing views of the divine nature.


6,042 posted on 01/15/2007 1:43:05 PM PST by D-fendr
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To: Blogger
LOL. Dr. E's Random Scripture Generator...


6,050 posted on 01/15/2007 2:08:37 PM PST by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Blogger
"The article I posted above does a better job of explaining this" How does one leap from God is not impassible to God has emotions? It would seem to me obvious to all that God is not impassible. It is apparent from the Incarnation, indeed from our very existence. The apophatic statement, "God is not impassible" does not include as a necessary corrolary "God gets very angry at us because we offend Him". Beyond some appreciation for the demonstrable fact that God loves His creation, we really can't say much more about whatever it is that God "feels", though I think it is safe to say that whatever we observe which is truly of God is of God's love for creation. There is much that is good in the article, B. Theism is a particularly dangerous heresy. But then in the end, the author states: "Furthermore, God's hatred and His love, His pleasure and his grief over sin—are as fixed and immutable as any other aspect of the divine character (Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).[23] If God appears to change moods in the biblical narrative—or in the outworking of His Providence—it is only because from time to time in His dealings with His people, He brings these various dispositions more or less to the forefront, showing us all the aspects of His character. But His love is never overwhelmed by His wrath, or vice versa. In fact, there is no real change in Him at all." Isn't this just spin, B, a way to escape the West's unfortunate tendency to so emphasize "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", that millions upon millions have become atheists rather than accept worship of a God which, to them, desires and requires evil, indeed is the author of evil, without being forced into giving up the notion that the scriptures can be correctly interpreted by anyone who "has" the Holy Spirit upon him? The Fathers who decided on the canon of scripture didn't believe what that author has written. Fully familiar with scripture, they wrote: "Very often many things are said by the Holy Scriptures and in it many names are used not in a literal sense ... those who have a mind understand this." +Isaac the Syrian, Homily 83 "It is because fear edifies simpler people" +Basil the Great, That God is not the Cause of Evil. "For according to our own comprehension, we have given names from our own attributes to those of God." +Gregory the Theologian, Fifth Theological Oration.
6,052 posted on 01/15/2007 2:10:06 PM PST by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
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