Protestantism

» paper_turtle - Would we believe them?

I wrote:
But if you look at the Psalms, you see the psalmist conversing with a God who does not seem to be pulling all the strings.
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Migisi answered:
Agree. Is it another biblical contradiction? Or is it merely the Psalmist's personal poetic concept of who God was.
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I think a simiar view of God is found in the Wisdom literature (including the Apocrypha--I'm very fond of Ecclesiasticus/Sirach). Its also present in some of the the writing of the Essens, and some of the Talmudic commentary Jesus might have studied.
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I think we're here because God wanted company, someone to share the experience of beingness with him.
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That's a pleasant idea, for sure, and I'd love to believe it. But does God need company? Apparently, he already had(s) company according to the 'us', 'we', and 'our' dialogue we read in Genesis (1:26, 3:22). And it's clear throughout the Bible that he didn't and doesn't want the company of imperfect humans who 'miss the mark', so where does that leave us? According to scripture, we must change and become perfect like God before God will want our company.
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If you haven't read Conversatiions With God I recommend it. It will explain a lot of what I believe (including that "pleasant idea")
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I don't agree with that notion about God wanting nothing to do with imperfect humans. The Pslamist David was far from perfect. Moses protested that he was unworthy because he was not good at speaking. Jonah tried to escape his duties as a prophet. Jeremiah protested he wasn't worthy because he was "a mere child."
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In some OT manuscripts, the word "perfect" is rendered "merciful." In any event, why would a just and loving God create us as imperfect and then demand the impossible of us? He wouldn't--its as simple as that. According to the narrative in Genesis, we are made in God's image, AND God thought highly enough of humankind to let Adam name all the animals.
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peace and love,
Paper Turtle

-- posted by paper_turtle