An interesting point Willard makes in HG (not going to cite at the moment because I don't have the book in the room with me, but I'm sure it will come up again) - he says that to believe that God no longer speaks to us in the ways in which he spoke to folks in the Bible is to not believe that God is who He says He is. Early in my reading, I have found myself thinking that he would confirm my idea (and one shared by many that I've spoken to on the subject) - that God no longer uses the methods found in scripture to speak to His people. I went through this elaborate logic path to basically conclude that the presence of scripture and the Holy Spirit are sufficient for this day and age and that the presence of angels and visions and dreams are unheard of today.
I find that in my heart I harbor a great spirit of skepticism, and I realize that some of this has to do with that idea I shouldn't have and don't want to have, that I know it all. It is all too easy for me to assume that I can reason out the modern times and what I know of church history and of theology and conclude that the God of the Bible is not exactly the same today as He was then. Willard would retort that this is a blasphemous thought. If God gave us scripture as our guidelines for living (and this is what we say we believe), then we must believe that who He is in scripture is who He is today. And if who He is has not changed, then the way He relates to us has not changed.
This is a fascinating thought that I want to continue to revisit and to search out for myself, because if it is true - if God still speaks to His people through angels and His voice and visions and dreams - then this opens up the possibility that anyone (myself included) can have REAL conversation with God. And Willard says this is exactly what God wants. And in my heart that seems to be true - conversation is essential to any relationship.
Anyway, that thought excited me in the midst of some really intellectual stuff about space and time and physics, so I thought I would point out the bit that I understood... (I think)
1 comment:
Yes! This is good stuff. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the God of us as well. In seminary I began to wonder if God was actually speaking in those same old ways, but we as Americans aren't listening (for all kinds of various reasons-busyness, etc.). He has continued to speak through signs, wonders, dreams, etc. in other countries all along. Did you check out that email from Aunt Kathy? Akiane the child painter! Amazing story, I had seen it a while ago on Montel. Check it out. God invaded her whole family through visions and an incredible gift
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