Some more food for thought

These verses come to mind:

Isaiah 55:8-9

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

theoneandonlypencil said:

Something that occurred to me today; One of the biggest mistakes I see a lot of people make, is attaching 'human reason' to God. I hear a lot of people saying "why would God do [x] or [y]? It doesn't make sense" but at the same time, even if it doesn't make sense to US, it might very well be in the realm of God's thought process. Furthermore, can I just point out that we only know what God wants us to know? Honestly, he could have already done waaaaay more than what he tells us, and we'd never know. For all we know, we could be his fifth 'project', of sorts. The bible never said what God did before he created us, after all.

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The only way we would be prohibited from questioning a purported act of God would be if we knew absolutely nothing about God's character, but that simply isn't a Christian idea. If God's acts were altogether unintelligible then theology would fall apart entirely.

One of the biggest mistakes too is limiting God to a book that consists of 1200 pages. Appealing to reason isn't trying to comprehend God but also being careful with our views. Many people have given the Bible a bad name mainly by misrepresenting them with silly and refuted views, in addition giving a horrible illustration of God being some insecure deity in where any good is absolutely meaningless because it's all about soothing his vanity.

theoneandonlypencil said:

The bible never said what God did before he created us, after all.

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Our Father and Jesus were sharing with one another in God's own glory > John 17:5 >

"'And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.'" (John 17:5)

So, one thing They were doing was sharing with one another in glory. And our Apostle Paul says >

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:29)

My opinion is this predestining was done before creation. So, if this is correct, then this is something God did before He created us. And all things are in His control, with the priority of having children who are like Jesus.

Cis.jd said:

a horrible illustration of God being some insecure deity in where any good is absolutely meaningless because it's all about soothing his vanity.

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Well, some or many might think it would be vain for God to want many children who are like His Son. But Jesus is the most pleasing to God, more than any created being or thing. And Jesus is real and genuine in love, more than all other beings.

So, it is good, how God desires to change us to be like Jesus, and to have us sharing as His family. This is not conceited, how God is pleased to share His own Self and Son and love with us, and make us like Jesus so we are pleasing like Jesus, to God, and we can benefit from being with God like Jesus His Son does.

And Jesus has claimed this in prayer >

"'And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.'" (John 17:22-23)

So, Jesus is not conceited and vain, if He desires to have our Father love us as He loves His own Son Jesus.

So, this is what God is about; so because humans are not first attentive to this, their actions and lives are not fitting with God's priorities; and so their lives and actions do not work out > their vanity is the problem, then, and ones who are wrong can see God as being wrong. But they need to speak for themselves, and become humble with Jesus so we can share as His family >

"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love," (Ephesians 4:2)

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

theoneandonlypencil said:

Something that occurred to me today; One of the biggest mistakes I see a lot of people make, is attaching 'human reason' to God. I hear a lot of people saying "why would God do [x] or [y]? It doesn't make sense" but at the same time, even if it doesn't make sense to US, it might very well be in the realm of God's thought process.

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I don't think it's about reducing God to our level.
God speaks, and relates, to us in ways we can understand because he wants us to know him. So, rather than appear as a Spirit, or bright light, or something we couldn't understand/would be afraid of, he took on flesh, was born as a human being; one of us.
When Jesus gave his parables, he started from where people were and talked of everyday things they would understand and be familiar with. For example, if a man loses a sheep and goes off to look for it .... how much more will God rejoice over those who have been lost? If a father is overjoyed when his wayward son comes home again, how much more will God rejoice? If human fathers, sinful as they are, give their sons a fish when they ask for one, rather than a snake which will do them harm, how much more will God, (being a perfect Father) give good things?

We can know the character of God because it is revealed in Scripture and demonstrated in Jesus. So if someone says something which contradicts what we know of God, it is natural to ask "why would God do that?" Just as, on a human level, you could do something unexpected and people would say, "why would .... do that? It's out of character; it goes against what we know about him/her."

His mind is in all times.

theoneandonlypencil said:

Sorry, I should've clarified--I'm mostly talking about topics that either was not very clear in the Scriptures, or other topics that weren't mentioned directly/at all. Of course, the scripture gives a lot of insight as to God's character, but my main point is that I think a lot of us really limit God down to the same level as human reasoning when it comes down to it.

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Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe 1Cor1:20&21
The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile. 1Cor3:20

theoneandonlypencil said:

Sorry, I should've clarified--I'm mostly talking about topics that either was not very clear in the Scriptures, or other topics that weren't mentioned directly/at all. Of course, the scripture gives a lot of insight as to God's character, but my main point is that I think a lot of us really limit God down to the same level as human reasoning when it comes down to it.

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An example if I may:
But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’

16 Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’

17 Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. Matt16:15-17

An alternative conversation: