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Niall Big Goldfish
Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 74 Location: Columbia SC
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 10:14 am Post subject: Why does God hide? |
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Any ideas without 3 pages of quoted scriptures  |
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Zathrus King Kong
Joined: 28 Aug 2002
      Posts: 2192 Location: WI USA
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 11:03 am Post subject: |
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This question is like one from our dear Adventist friends, making a large presupposition.
Who says God is hiding?
What do you need Him to show you? |
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RevJP Moderator
Joined: 18 Apr 2003
     Posts: 6828 Location: USA
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 12:23 am Post subject: |
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| God doesn't hide, He stands at the door and knocks. Seems to me that anyone that doesn't see Him simply isn't opening the door. |
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Niall Big Goldfish
Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 74 Location: Columbia SC
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:05 am Post subject: |
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| RevJP wrote: | | God doesn't hide, He stands at the door and knocks. Seems to me that anyone that doesn't see Him simply isn't opening the door. |
You've actually seen him? What does he look like?
He's actually knocked on your door?
Metaphorically speaking, you've heard him knock and have seen him. Realistically it hasn't happened. |
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Niall Big Goldfish
Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 74 Location: Columbia SC
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:06 am Post subject: |
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| Zathrus wrote: | This question is like one from our dear Adventist friends, making a large presupposition.
Who says God is hiding?
What do you need Him to show you? |
Himself would be kind of nice.. |
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lone-traveler Emperor of the Universe
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
   Posts: 6342 Location: USA
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:43 am Post subject: |
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Hi Niall,
Well, we know God is Spirit. And we know God's spirit manifests itself by the fruits it bares in his children. And Jesus says, if you have seen me you have seen the father. And we are told that as often as we do things to our brothers and neighbours and enemies, we do them to him. So then his spirit is in those who bare his fruit.
So, I believe if one doesn't see or hear him.maybe their not looking or listening hard enough.
And one day, when we look in the mirror we will be able to see him even in ourselves.
So maybe the only thing hiding God is our own understanding of him and his ways.
hugs Niall
lone |
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Zathrus King Kong
Joined: 28 Aug 2002
      Posts: 2192 Location: WI USA
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 5:04 am Post subject: |
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John 1:18 | Quote: | | 18No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. |
I think by "declare", the writer meant much more than talking about Him. |
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Niall Big Goldfish
Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 74 Location: Columbia SC
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 9:23 am Post subject: |
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| lone-traveler wrote: | Hi Niall,
Well, we know God is Spirit. And we know God's spirit manifests itself by the fruits it bares in his children. And Jesus says, if you have seen me you have seen the father. And we are told that as often as we do things to our brothers and neighbours and enemies, we do them to him. So then his spirit is in those who bare his fruit.
So, I believe if one doesn't see or hear him.maybe their not looking or listening hard enough.
And one day, when we look in the mirror we will be able to see him even in ourselves.
So maybe the only thing hiding God is our own understanding of him and his ways.
hugs Niall
lone |
So you have seen and heard him also? Or is that just metaphorically speaking?
According to the bible he's more than a spirit.... |
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holly102869 Show Poodle
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
 Posts: 270 Location: Central, Florida USA
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 9:51 am Post subject: |
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Do you know if you have seen him or not? How would you know if you had? or Not?
What if the guy on the corner asking for money is God. Did you give him your pocket change?
God does't hide!!
People don't seek!!
Why would God show himself to unbelievers?
And if he showed himself to a believer nobody would believe this person anyway...
Have you moved any Mountains lately?
Faith not as strong as a mustard seed?
I don't know about you but I keep trying to move it. Oneday I just might!!! |
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45degreeN King Kong
Joined: 02 Aug 2005
   Posts: 2437 Location: Salem Oregon
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 10:36 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | Why would God show himself to unbelievers?
And if he showed himself to a believer nobody would believe this person anyway...
Have you moved any Mountains lately?
Faith not as strong as a mustard seed?
I don't know about you but I keep trying to move it. One day I just might!!!
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We need to look with our hearts not our physical eyes.
Mountains are not always made out of rocks and dirt sometimes mountains are made out of financial situations, or oppression, or even illnesses. And that famous mustard seed is so small that the tiniest faith on the part of a human would equal that amount of faith. |
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Niall Big Goldfish
Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 74 Location: Columbia SC
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 6:04 am Post subject: |
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| holly102869 wrote: | Do you know if you have seen him or not? How would you know if you had? or Not?
What if the guy on the corner asking for money is God. Did you give him your pocket change?
God does't hide!!
People don't seek!!
Why would God show himself to unbelievers?
And if he showed himself to a believer nobody would believe this person anyway...
Have you moved any Mountains lately?
Faith not as strong as a mustard seed?
I don't know about you but I keep trying to move it. Oneday I just might!!! |
Why answer with questions? It certainly doesn't answer anything LOL
I think god would want to show himself to unbelievers. That would be the absolutely the quickest way to get a convert. There's no reason for god not to show up.
I think if an all omnipotent, all-powerful god showed up in person, it would be very believable. Big difference from one claiming to be god but without the omnipotence and the powerfulness.
I haven't moved a mountain, nor have I tried. You keep trying to move that mountain. Also when you move it, make sure you don't kill anyone. I hate it when that happens....
Do you know anyone that has literally found god? Its a rhetorical question, I already know the answer. |
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RevJP Moderator
Joined: 18 Apr 2003
     Posts: 6828 Location: USA
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 6:34 am Post subject: |
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Exo 33:18-23 And Moses said, I beseech You, show me Your glory. (19) And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, THE LORD, before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy and loving-kindness on whom I will show mercy and loving-kindness. [Rom. 9:15, 16.] (20) But, He said, You can not see My face, for no man shall see Me and live. (21) And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand upon the rock, (22) And while My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. (23) Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).
Rom 1:19-22 For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God [Himself] has shown it to them. (20) For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], [Ps. 19: 1-4.] (21) Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened. (22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools [professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves]. |
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45degreeN King Kong
Joined: 02 Aug 2005
   Posts: 2437 Location: Salem Oregon
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 9:19 am Post subject: |
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| Another point of view is that humans just cannot endure the presence of God, we would just wither away and die in His presence and His grace is such that He doesn't demand this until we are ready. |
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holly102869 Show Poodle
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
 Posts: 270 Location: Central, Florida USA
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 9:33 am Post subject: |
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Yes, Good point 45
Didn't Moses have to turn away from God while in his presence. |
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Evee Moderator
Joined: 13 Sep 2005
  Posts: 596
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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I think what you're possibly looking for Niall is a man with a white beard & big booming voice saying I am God perhaps? That's what it sounds like anyway.
| Niall wrote: | | I think god would want to show himself to unbelievers. That would be the absolutely the quickest way to get a convert. There's no reason for god not to show up. |
And just how would you know it was Him? Maybe He has appeared to you & you didn't recognize Him. Is that a possibility?
| Niall wrote: | | I think if an all omnipotent, all-powerful god showed up in person, it would be very believable. Big difference from one claiming to be god but without the omnipotence and the powerfulness. |
Again, I ask, just what would an all omnipotent, all-powerful God look like in order for you to recognize Him or what would He say? I am God, believe in me? |
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