God is both personal and infinite. It is true that we do not relate to Him on an infinite level, but we do relate to Him on a personal level, as God. On an infinite level, we are simply part of His creation, like rocks and trees. But on a personal level we are separated from the rest of His creation. We can actually have a personal relationship with Him. Rocks and trees cannot.
Second, what is the nature of your "personal relationship" with God/Jesus? Does He appear to you? And then, how would you know it really is Jesus?
The nature of the personal relationship begins with being created in God's image. Before there was a creation there was the Trinity. Within that Trinity was love. God is personal. When He created us in His image He created us as personal beings, capable of love for Him. Therefore, we can relate to Him. We see the love in the Trinity (think side to side) and we see His love for us and our love for Him (top-down). That allows a personal relationship.
The alternative would be an impersonal God, whom we would experience as unknowable, irrational, and subject to chance. No personal relationship would be possible and man would be left unfulfilled. There would be no unified field of knowledge (i.e. man would be unable to make any sense of the universe and his place in it). Without a personal God we would just be rats wandering randomly through a maze. Fortunately, the life of the Christian is much more than that! :)
And no, God does not "appear" to me in physical form. He lives within Christians in the form of the Holy Spirit. While we are always taught to be discerning, we also trust in His promises that He will lead us for our good. He leads us to obey Him and He promises good gifts. We belong to Him and no one can snatch us out of His hands.
The Bible uses personal language about God. it seems to me that gives at least permission, and maybe, as in my thinking, a mandate to do the same.
I like to say God is AT LEAST persona,l and in no way LESS than personal.
And in the ju-jitsu of Scolastic Theology, we start with human fathers in our minds and say, "God is a Father, or like a Father." But then the more we pray and study, we realize that God is what a Father is, He is THE Father, and human-type fathers are cheap imitations, by comparison.
So God is a person, but I'm not so sure about whether I am, but I am LIKE a person.
***It is true that we do not relate to Him on an infinite level, but we do relate to Him on a personal level, as God. On an infinite level, we are simply part of His creation, like rocks and trees. But on a personal level we are separated from the rest of His creation. We can actually have a personal relationship with Him.***
I think that you might be mixing up the personal touch and interaction with Jesus the man with the impersonal and largely standoffish and angry God of the OT. Part of Jesus’ mission to us was to provide that.
***The alternative would be an impersonal God, whom we would experience as unknowable, irrational, and subject to chance. No personal relationship would be possible and man would be left unfulfilled.***
Exactly. That’s what the Jews experienced throughout the OT.
***Before there was a creation there was the Trinity.***
There was no ‘before’. God existed, exists and will exist at all moments in time.
***Without a personal God we would just be rats wandering randomly through a maze.***
A ‘personal’ God in many cases is one that an individual creates.
***And no, God does not “appear” to me in physical form. He lives within Christians in the form of the Holy Spirit. While we are always taught to be discerning, we also trust in His promises that He will lead us for our good. He leads us to obey Him and He promises good gifts.***
Leads, not frogmarches. The terminology is quite clear.
***We belong to Him and no one can snatch us out of His hands.***
We can, however, walk away.