Moderator: Moderators
Does God suffer emotional pain?JehovahsWitness wrote:]
When In the wilderness when the Israelites rebelled, complained, threatened to kill his representatives, and openly defied him time and time again, he fed them, clothed them and protected them and that for 40 years. And dispite the emotional pain they caused him, he didn't renounce on his promise to lead them as a people to the promised land.
Just the definition of the word perfect is enough, isn't it? If something doesn't have it all together, then they can't be considered perfect by definition2timothy316 wrote:What evidence do you have that what you say is true? Or are you just expressing a personal opinion?OnceConvinced wrote:A perfect being would have it all together. He'd be able to handle any situation without getting emotional. He would always be in control of his emotions. Nothing would ever be able to hurt him, not even emotionally.onewithhim wrote: [Replying to post 1 by OnceConvinced]
To suffer emotional pain does not mean that someone is "imperfect." Humans were designed to be emotional people, even being able to shed tears. How can that be construed as imperfection? We have been made "in God's image," so if we can be pained, surely God can, for He made us that way.
Why do you see emotional pain as an indication that someone is imperfect?
Yes so we shouldn't just confine ourselves to the bible for truth. We shouldn't just hold it up as the benchmark. We should be looking outside the bible too and if the truth shows us the bible is wrong, we should be willing to admit the bible is wrong.2timothy316 wrote: Why am I bringing up this example? Isn't it more beneficial in examining the truth rather than what we think is true?
If something is perfect it can't be hurt or corrupted in anyway. There would be no way at all it could be compromised in any manner.2timothy316 wrote: What evidence do you have that nothing would hurt a perfect being? Or are you going on 'smell' alone?
So, to be truly perfect, God should be a full-blooded Vulcan or an android? I see...OnceConvinced wrote: I'm fine to say that God is imperfect because he can be hurt emotionally.
When it comes to truth about God, I disagree. It has never worked out well for those who looked to themselves or others for insights on the Almighty. They end up worshiping and doing the will of something completely corrupt. But ultimately it is a choice we all must make. To ignore what the Bible says, that God does can be hurt emotionally doesn't make Him weak but lets us know that Jehovah our God can feel, and for many that makes us feel closer. It means that he can show pity for us too because His heart is hurt when our heart is hurt. On the other hand, a god that can't feel emotional pain makes that god seem distant and unrelateable. Psychopaths can't feel emotion and they really struggle to relate with people. My God Jehovah is no psychopath, unable to feel emotion.OnceConvinced wrote:
Yes so we shouldn't just confine ourselves to the bible for truth.
Ok so we can only ever look for truth with bible-glasses on? That doesn't seem like you're interested in the truth. Just that you want to back up your beliefs you already have.2timothy316 wrote:When it comes to truth about God, I disagree.OnceConvinced wrote:
Yes so we shouldn't just confine ourselves to the bible for truth.
There are millions of Muslims out there who would disagree with you. Not to mention millions of people in other religions who seem quite content.2timothy316 wrote:
It has never worked out well for those who looked to themselves or others for insights on the Almighty.
Says you.2timothy316 wrote: They end up worshiping and doing the will of something completely corrupt.
2timothy316 wrote: But ultimately it is a choice we all must make. To ignore what the Bible says,
In your opinion.2timothy316 wrote: that God does can be hurt emotionally doesn't make Him weak
I'm not saying God is emotionless. Of course he's not, he shows his wrath throughout the bible, throwing all sorts of terrors on people due to his "righteous anger". So I don't think God is a Vulcan like Pinseeker has jokingly insinuated.2timothy316 wrote: but lets us know that Jehovah our God can feel, and for many that makes us feel closer. It means that he can show pity for us too because His heart is hurt when our heart is hurt. On the other hand, a god that can't feel emotional pain makes that god seem distant and unrelateable. Psychopaths can't feel emotion and they really struggle to relate with people. My God Jehovah is no psychopath, unable to feel emotion.
. However allowing one's emotions to get the better of them (like unleashing ones wrath) is a sign of weakness. LLikewise, being emotionally scarred is a weakness.
It makes him something less than God. He becomes a being that is dependent on others for emotional stability.2timothy316 wrote:
To ignore what the Bible says, that God does can be hurt emotionally doesn't make Him weak but lets us know that Jehovah our God can feel, and for many that makes us feel closer.
Yet these are opinions based on what? Where are these teachings coming from? Where did I ever say or the Bible say He is dependent on others for emotional stability? And please don't tell me what I feel because what I feel isn't a factor. I learned about Jehovah God's feelings through the Bible, and its the Bible that is my ultimate authority and has the final say about who God is and what kind of person He is. If the Bible said that He doesn't get emotionally hurt than I'd believe it and whatever my feelings are wouldn't change that fact. Yet that is not what the Bible says. It says that God can 'feel hurt in His heart'. (Gen 6:6) You read that and reject it based on what? Feelings?Tcg wrote:It makes him something less than God. He becomes a being that is dependent on others for emotional stability.2timothy316 wrote:
To ignore what the Bible says, that God does can be hurt emotionally doesn't make Him weak but lets us know that Jehovah our God can feel, and for many that makes us feel closer.
Of course you feel closer because he has become something less than God. He has become a human, just like you.
Tcg
Aren't glasses what one puts on to correct a deficiency? Would you trust a hearts surgeon if he told you his vision was less than perfect but he would be operating on you without his glasses? When it comes to seeing God as He really is, yes we absolutely need our "bible glasses"!OnceConvinced wrote:Ok so we can only ever look for truth with bible-glasses on?2timothy316 wrote:When it comes to truth about God, I disagree.OnceConvinced wrote:
Yes so we shouldn't just confine ourselves to the bible for truth.
My question always is, if not the Bible than what should we be listening to? We Bible folks always have someone wagging a finger at us saying things like "That doesn't seem like you're interested in the truth. Just that you want to back up your beliefs you already have." Yet the Bible predates my feelings!! Years ago, there were things in the Bible that I didn't want to believe because my lifestyle was not in harmony with what the Bible said. Did I change the Bible to what I wanted? Nope. I changed behavior and faith to what the Bible wanted. Millions such as JW and myself have done this, yet people falsely accuse us of "wanting something to back up our beliefs". They have no idea what they are talking about. The only reason we have backup is because it became backup when we changed our behavior and faith to fit the Bible. Before the Bible I had no backup. I truly was looking for things to backup my faulty lifestyle...the Bible though didn't back me up in those days, so I looked elsewhere. So folks that think they 'get me', they do not. I know more about their sources than they do about mine because I used to be like them. I have been on both sides of the fence and the side without the Bible is barren and dry with people trying to catch the air with their bare hands.JehovahsWitness wrote:Aren't glasses what one puts on to correct a deficiency? Would you trust a hearts surgeon if he told you his vision was less than perfect but he would be operating on you without his glasses? When it comes to seeing God as He really is, yes we absolutely need our "bible glasses"!OnceConvinced wrote:Ok so we can only ever look for truth with bible-glasses on?2timothy316 wrote:When it comes to truth about God, I disagree.OnceConvinced wrote:
Yes so we shouldn't just confine ourselves to the bible for truth.
JW
When I say "bible glasses" I am talking about bias. Is that what you are advocating?JehovahsWitness wrote:Aren't glasses what one puts on to correct a deficiency? Would you trust a hearts surgeon if he told you his vision was less than perfect but he would be operating on you without his glasses? When it comes to seeing God as He really is, yes we absolutely need our "bible glasses"!OnceConvinced wrote:Ok so we can only ever look for truth with bible-glasses on?2timothy316 wrote:When it comes to truth about God, I disagree.OnceConvinced wrote:
Yes so we shouldn't just confine ourselves to the bible for truth.
JW
OnceConvinced wrote:
When I say "bible glasses" I am talking about bias. Is that what you are advocating?
