Is God A Magical Being?

[JAL]

Although I can't really spell out in detail (much less defend) my views on this issue on the orthodox forum, I can give you some food for thought. I can challenge you to rethink the biblical data.

Don't get me wrong. I'm orthodox in the sense of being a Nicene-creed adhering, bible-believing, born-again Christian. That's why I don't like to spend much time in unorthodox forums debating with people who deny the Trinity and Christ's deity.

I find it very disturbing, however, that for the last 2000 years, the church has bought into a kind of wizard/sorcerer/magician view of God. He merely opens His mouth, utters an abracadabra or a hocus pocus, and BAM! Suddenly miracles start happening.

'Miracle' is actually a questionable translation of the Greek terms at issue, as this article almost seems to suggest.
http://custardy.blogspot.com/2006/09/miracles-word-study.html
In my view, the biblical 'miracles' (such as healings) are not works of sorcery. Instead, a healing, for example, is the great PHYSICIAN performing a work of surgery by His own hands, the same hands that formed Adam at the outset. The power He wields is not qualitatively differently than your own, rather it is quantitatively different - He is simply stronger, more knowledgeable, and more deft than you (exponentially so).

Food for thought....

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Although I can't really spell out in detail (much less defend) my views on this issue on the orthodox forum, I can give you some food for thought. I can challenge you to rethink the biblical data.

Don't get me wrong. I'm orthodox in the sense of being a Nicene-creed adhering, bible-believing, born-again Christian. That's why I don't like to spend much time in unorthodox forums debating with people who deny the Trinity and Christ's deity.

I find it very disturbing, however, that for the last 2000 years, the church has bought into a kind of wizard/sorcerer/magician view of God. He merely opens His mouth, utters an abracadabra or a hocus pocus, and BAM! Suddenly miracles start happening.

'Miracle' is actually a questionable translation of the Greek terms at issue, as this article almost seems to suggest.
http://custardy.blogspot.com/2006/09/miracles-word-study.html
In my view, the biblical 'miracles' (such as healings) are not works of sorcery. Instead, a healing, for example, is the great PHYSICIAN performing a work of surgery by His own hands, the same hands that formed Adam at the outset. The power He wields is not qualitatively differently than your own, rather it is quantitatively different - He is simply stronger, more knowledgeable, and more deft than you (exponentially so).

Food for thought....

I think i've lived in questions related to this subject matter. It's kind of like both magic and the holy are being used in the church. I've figured out why and how to manage that if I encounter it.

 

[brinny]

Although I can't really spell out in detail (much less defend) my views on this issue on the orthodox forum, I can give you some food for thought. I can challenge you to rethink the biblical data.

Don't get me wrong. I'm orthodox in the sense of being a Nicene-creed adhering, bible-believing, born-again Christian. That's why I don't like to spend much time in unorthodox forums debating with people who deny the Trinity and Christ's deity.

I find it very disturbing, however, that for the last 2000 years, the church has bought into a kind of wizard/sorcerer/magician view of God. He merely opens His mouth, utters an abracadabra or a hocus pocus, and BAM! Suddenly miracles start happening.

'Miracle' is actually a questionable translation of the Greek terms at issue, as this article almost seems to suggest.
http://custardy.blogspot.com/2006/09/miracles-word-study.html
In my view, the biblical 'miracles' (such as healings) are not works of sorcery. Instead, a healing, for example, is the great PHYSICIAN performing a work of surgery by His own hands, the same hands that formed Adam at the outset. The power He wields is not qualitatively differently than your own, rather it is quantitatively different - He is simply stronger, more knowledgeable, and more deft than you (exponentially so).

Food for thought....

Food for thought:

God Most High, El Elyon, abhors "magic". It is written in His Word that "magic" is abomination to Him. Do you know where it is written? Do you know why He abhors it or whom it is associated with and the "origin" of it?

Thank you kindly.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

the difference between magic and what God teaches/demonstrates is that magic tends to use the will and forces it on others, and the supernatural interactions of God use trust toward the direction of surrender.

I've experienced both being used on me in prayer and in large gatherings, how people interpret the bible profoundly influences application.

 

[JAL]

the difference between magic and what God teaches/demonstrates is that magic tends to use the will and forces it on others, and the supernatural interactions of God use trust toward the direction of surrender.

I've experienced both being used on me in prayer and in large gatherings, how people interpret the bible profoundly influences application.

The dictionary definition of white magic per a google search:
noun: white magic

1. magic used only for good purposes.

Ok so in your view God uses white magic rather than black magic. In my view He doesn't use any kind of magic, He doesn't do anything 'supernatural', rather He just performs surgery with His own hands.

Ok so how does His supernatural white magic actually work, in your view? If He isn't doing surgery, how does He accomplish a healing? Presumably He would utter some kind of chant or incantation, right? I mean, He wouldn't necessarily say 'Abracadabra' or 'Hocus Pocus' but He would presumably use an incantation of the sort, "Be healed !!"

Ok so how that does pan out? Give me the specifics, for example:
(1) Does God have a mouth that speaks/exhales the words 'Be healed!'
(2) And having exhaled this incantation, precisely how does doing so effect the healing?
(3) If I utter those same words, why does my magic usually fail?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

The dictionary definition of white magic per a google search:
noun: white magic

1. magic used only for good purposes.

Ok so in your view God uses white magic rather than black magic. In my view He doesn't use any kind of magic, He doesn't do anything 'supernatural', rather He just performs surgery with His own hands.

Ok so how does His supernatural white magic actually work, in your view? If He isn't doing surgery, how does He accomplish a healing? Presumably He would utter some kind of chant or incantation, right? I mean, He wouldn't necessarily say 'Abracadabra' or 'Hocus Pocus' but He would presumably use an incantation of the sort, "Be healed !!"

Ok so how that does pan out? Give me the specifics, for example:
(1) Does God have a mouth that speaks/exhales the words 'Be healed!'
(2) And having exhaled this incantation, precisely how does doing so effect the healing?
(3) If I utter those same words, why does my magic usually fail?

Magic is like electricity, the alignment of it depends on the heart that uses it, to boast that you only have good intentions may indicate a blind spot. In general, people use magic and "pre-magic" all the time subconsciously, God teaches us a better and safer way. I'm sensitive to all sorts of "energy" but I've noticed "magic" is harmful to people that are not initiated to take in the energy, talking like it's harmless because the label "white" is placed on it is irresponsible.

The words are supposed to inspire the other person to believe it is possible, generally all of this conducts through the heart. Words are not necessary. On uttering words failing, it depends on the person who speaks them and it matters more what is in their heart than what is said.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Food for thought:

God Most High, El Elyon, abhors "magic". It is written in His Word that "magic" is abomination to Him. Do you know where it is written? Do you know why He abhors it or whom it is associated with and the "origin" of it?

Thank you kindly.

(Deuteronomy 18:10–16; Leviticus 19:26, 31; 20:27; Acts 13:8–10)
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). Real spiritual power only comes from God, from a right relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ, and from the Holy Spirit who lives in the hearts of believers.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

On 1 Timothy 4:1

The two things listed in that verse were forbidding to marry (which some churches have been known to do on some occasions) and forbidding to eat certain types of food, like militant vegans do.

Here's the whole context.

1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

So the questions that rose from this verse, the energy that is used to do "magic" was this created by God? If so then it needs to be consecrated by the word of God and prayer. If the energy used to do "magic" was not created by God, who then "created" it, and how does this line up with your view of creation?

food for thought.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Luke 10:27)

This passage which is the core teaching of God, illustrates the correct distribution of "energy."

 

[Gunny]

Eternal, All Powerful, All Knowing, and Everywhere-No magic.

 

[James Is Back]

What do you think God is Harry Potter or Merlin?

God is not a magical being but an all powerful being who is omnipotent. Nothing magical in that.