Where's God?

[POI]

Does he pop up in my dreams? Is he the one whom produces my goose-bumps? Is He the one giving me my "moral compass"? Is he only experienced during deep meditation? If I have enough faith, will he appear to me? But seriously. Where is he? I was a Christian for decades. I earnestly prayed for him to reach me, to no avail.

For debate: Why have I not felt his presence?

A) I never tried hard enough; lack faith
B) He does not want to reveal Himself to me (yet)
C) Evil is blocking the request(s)
D) I'm too dumb to realize he's reaching me
E) He's not really there at all <- Current conclusion

Do not answer yet. This topic has spawned from another unrelated topic. I decided to devote this large topic to itself. Below are some premises:

P1) does god exist? (dunno)
P2) does god want a relationship with all, especially the ones who seek him (apparently so)
P3) is god capable of communicating (apparently so)
P4) can god communicate his message in a way in which the recipient could no longer deny (apparently so)
P5) have I asked for this communication earnestly and repetitively (YES)
P6) does the Bible state god answers the call to all who seek him (YES)

At best, god has opted not to contact me YET. And this would be after decades of actively seeking him. Without any emotion, I'm logically left with 2 options.

A) God is not really there <- Current conclusion.
B) God is not adhering to his promise (yet).

[POI]

[Replying to POI in post #297]

I did not say that because some people are terrified, @POI, God doesn't speak. I said that God chose to speak through his prophets and preachers instead of directly in connection with the people's Sinai experience.

It's completely irrelevant to mention this ancient story if you then later also say there's a chance he will speak to others - (while applying the necessary additional "steps").

Thus, you can find him speaking to you through his Word, the Bible; in small groups who discuss the Bible; and through preachers and teachers who are faithfully proclaiming his Word.

See my response directly above.

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to POI in post #301]

What kind of "contact" do you expect, @POI, an audible voice or what? When I pray throughout the day, God pops ideas and words into my mind as his answers.

In my 67 years of being a Christian out of my 83 years of life, God has never contacted me with an audible voice; but he guides me through the circumstances of my life, other people who agree with his Word, preachers and teachers of his Word, small groups, those ideas and words he plants in my mind, and the reading of the Bible cover-to-cover many times. He uses all those means; I don't need any other kind of contact. Why would you expect any other kind of contact?

[OneJack]

[Replying to POI in post #297]

Is it going to work this time? I've already had countless earnest believers tell me the exact same thing as you are doing here now, and yet, here I am, decades later, 100% devoid of any felt external spiritual presence and/or contact from any (Jesus/god/spirit).

Like Bruce's claim that he is a Christian, yours, as you premised in this debate, is the same 'self-claimed' to being a Christian; you are both on the same train bound to St. Assumption, in Opinion City. Bear in mind that Christians [even in the Biblical view, not to mention the Godly view, per se] are directly under the shepherding and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself across all generations; therefore, they are always in contact with Him. The fact that you are requesting help here for the Lord Jesus to reach out to you proves one absolute and undeniable reality in your spiritual life: the Lord Jesus is not the shepherd and teacher who now guides you to your salvation and eternal life. In this regard, your claim of being a Christian, which appears skewed as claimed, is the major reason why you feel isolated from the Lord Jesus Christ.

[OneJack]

[Replying to POI in post #301]

What kind of "contact" do you expect, @POI, an audible voice or what?

If I may butt in, why not? Who are you to gag God in this context?

When I pray throughout the day, God pops ideas and words into my mind as his answers.

You're biblically based, yet you fail to see the reality [in the bible/scriptures] that God speaks audibly with mankind in various ways, but speaking with someone through the scriptures is absolutely not one among those various ways, except for your opinion.

In my 67 years of being a Christian out of my 83 years of life, God has never contacted me with an audible voice;

You should have asked yourself why [in the Bible] God spoke audibly to others, but in your actual life, it seems different this time? Where have you erred this time?

but he guides me through the circumstances of his life, other people who agree with his Word, preachers and teachers of his Word, small groups, those ideas and words he plants in my mind, and the reading of the Bible cover-to-cover many times. He uses all those means; I don't need any other kind of contact. Why would you expect any other kind of contact?

Opinion kills souls when used abusively, totally ignoring God's capability to guide and grant us the salvation and eternal life that our souls need.

[POI]

[Replying to POI in post #301]

What kind of "contact" do you expect, @POI,

Does god have the ability to communicate with all folks (in a way in which the human recipient cannot deny)? I'll answer for you here. Yes.

I've exchanged with countless beings who possess a mind. I do not question if they even exist. This even includes you. I know you exist. For the claimed mightiest of beings to exist, why do I doubt his mere existence when his powers of communication are far greater than yours. And to boot, his desires to communicate his message(s) are far greater than any of ours. Is it maybe because he is not really there and god is imaginary?

When I pray throughout the day, God pops ideas and words into my mind as his answers.

See the red question above.

In my 67 years of being a Christian out of my 83 years of life, God has never contacted me with an audible voice; but he guides me through the circumstances of my life, other people who agree with his Word, preachers and teachers of his Word, small groups, those ideas and words he plants in my mind, and the reading of the Bible cover-to-cover many times. He uses all those means; I don't need any other kind of contact. Why would you expect any other kind of contact?

See the red question above.

[POI]

[Replying to OneJack in post #303]

What you say above is false, as the Bible god had no problem contacting folks, (regardless of where they were in life, as a believer or not even).

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to OneJack in post #304]

@OneJack, "2Ti 3:16  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 
2Ti 3:17  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #304]

@OneJack, "2Ti 3:16  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 
2Ti 3:17  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 

Paul's teaching about the scriptures is not in agreement with Jesus' teaching that the scriptures are testimonies to Him for us to acknowledge the reality of His existence, contrary to what Paul specifically said in the above verses. You don't see here that you perpetually confine God in the scriptures, and, worse, you fabricated the notion that God speaks with mankind today through the bible.

[OneJack]

[Replying to OneJack in post #303]

What you say above is false, as the Bible god had no problem contacting folks, (regardless of where they were in life, as a believer or not even).

What I'm trying to point out, in particular, is this - If you were a Christian, why would you need help for Christ to reach out to you? I do not say Christ has a problem contacting you because you’re not His follower; it’s your claim, as a Christian, that is the problem. You don’t see that Christians are under Christ’s shepherding across all generations, as the apostles were during His incarnation. Therefore, Christ would have personally reached out to you already if you were a Christian for decades. But why seek help for Christ to reach out to you?

[BruceLeiter]

[Replying to OneJack in post #308]

Psa 19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 
Psa 19:8  the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 
Psa 19:9  the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. 
Psa 19:10  More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 
Psa 19:11  Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 
Psa 19:12  Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 
Psa 19:13  Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 
Psa 19:14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.