by jimwalton » Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:11 pm
> What you are insinuating is erroneous. You've either purposefully, or due to lack of thought, simplified numerous points I've made and are therefore arguing against a strawman.
Not trying to establish a straw man to easily tear down, but to get at your point.
As we've already agreed, there is nothing about God that is mundane, but a lot about humans that are. Our being in His image speaks to a human responsibility (rule the earth and subdue it), not to a quality of God.
Nor do I consider ruling the earth and subduing it as mundane. In essence, we are being delegated to care for the planet (environmentalism), to figure out the planet so as to govern it well (all the sciences), and to use our every capability to create an environment similar to what God would do (working for justice and peace). I don't see it as mundane in the least.
> But god is often compared to our less desired traits
Let's discuss these a little, because your understanding seems to be underwhelming as to what the Bible is talking about.
> like being jealous
"Jealous" is used by the Bible to describe God's determination to not desire that anything comes between Him and us. Like if someone started hitting on your wife, you would be acting rightly to intervene and ask them to back off. God is jealous when he claims we rightly belong to Him, and he has a right to intervene when other forces would steal us away. It's not so much petty or emotional intolerance as it is exclusiveness, like a marriage. Jealousy is a bad thing if it's just to protect the petty; it's a good thing when it fiercely protects what is precious and what is its own. Throughout the Bible God is a concerned lover of his people, and full of anguish and grief when his people turn against him (Ex. 20.4-6). God is jealous for our best interests. He is trying to protect a relationship worth protecting.
> waging war
God is perceived as a divine warrior, as were all the gods of the ancient Near East. Any god worth his salt would fight for his people, to gain or protect what was rightfully theirs. This is not a "less desired trait." Primarily in the Old Testament God is seen waging war during the conquest in Joshua. Other than that, not much. In the NT, God wages war against sin, not against cities.
> controlling others
People have free will. God doesn't control people without their permission. To what, exactly, are you referring here?
I see no contradiction.
> What you are insinuating is erroneous. You've either purposefully, or due to lack of thought, simplified numerous points I've made and are therefore arguing against a strawman.
Not trying to establish a straw man to easily tear down, but to get at your point.
As we've already agreed, there is nothing about God that is mundane, but a lot about humans that are. Our being in His image speaks to a human responsibility (rule the earth and subdue it), not to a quality of God.
Nor do I consider ruling the earth and subduing it as mundane. In essence, we are being delegated to care for the planet (environmentalism), to figure out the planet so as to govern it well (all the sciences), and to use our every capability to create an environment similar to what God would do (working for justice and peace). I don't see it as mundane in the least.
> But god is often compared to our less desired traits
Let's discuss these a little, because your understanding seems to be underwhelming as to what the Bible is talking about.
> like being jealous
"Jealous" is used by the Bible to describe God's determination to not desire that anything comes between Him and us. Like if someone started hitting on your wife, you would be acting rightly to intervene and ask them to back off. God is jealous when he claims we rightly belong to Him, and he has a right to intervene when other forces would steal us away. It's not so much petty or emotional intolerance as it is exclusiveness, like a marriage. Jealousy is a bad thing if it's just to protect the petty; it's a good thing when it fiercely protects what is precious and what is its own. Throughout the Bible God is a concerned lover of his people, and full of anguish and grief when his people turn against him (Ex. 20.4-6). God is jealous for our best interests. He is trying to protect a relationship worth protecting.
> waging war
God is perceived as a divine warrior, as were all the gods of the ancient Near East. Any god worth his salt would fight for his people, to gain or protect what was rightfully theirs. This is not a "less desired trait." Primarily in the Old Testament God is seen waging war during the conquest in Joshua. Other than that, not much. In the NT, God wages war against sin, not against cities.
> controlling others
People have free will. God doesn't control people without their permission. To what, exactly, are you referring here?
I see no contradiction.