Anthropomorphism and Adventist Religions.

[Pythons]

From my experience in a couple other Christian discussion forums on the internet & from looking at early SDA publications…
…It appears that approximately half of Seventh-day Adventists are staunch Anthropomorphites.
…There is no dispute that the SDA Church was solidly in this corner throughout Ellen White’s life yet today it appears many are rejecting this teaching.

Anthropomorphism = the belief that because humans have vocal cords, rectum, hair, fingers, etc - that God the Father does as well…
…Scriptures are quoted that speak of God’s voice, arms, etc to support this position.
…Also the Scripture in Genesis that says humans were made in God’s image is quoted.

I’m not talking about God the Son subsequent to the Incarnation…
…I’m talking about people who believe that God the Father & God the Son had literal bodies of flesh prior to the Incarnation.

I understand this teaching to be heretical and know aside from the Mormon’s and Adventists ( JW’s Christadelphians & SDA’s )…
…The Historic Christian Faith has rejected such teachings.
…Saying that this belief is due to ignorance / stupidity of the Scriptures.

I would be interested in hearing what others may have used as far as reasoning to help people who are stuck in this belief…
…What seems to get through to them?

I already know that God is described as having feathers and wings and that does not mean He is a bird or an angel…
…I’m looking for something a little deeper than that.

Thanks.

 

[bogeydogg]

Christ tells the woman at the well that God is spirit. As such He cannot possibly have a physical body. Why?

Christ claimed to be God and God cannot lie so if Christ told a formal untruth He could not be God.

Christ claimed that everything He said He first heard from the Father, so if the Father has a body then it would stand to reason that either the Father lied to Christ or Christ lied about where His words came from. In which case He could neither be God nor a Prophet.

And for those who argue that we are spirit and flesh so why not God?

I think the reason is that Bible stresses again and again what God is not; like us.

Therefore when Christ says God is spirit He cannot mean that God is spirit in the way that we are Spirit.

Unless of course we want to be Marcionites and reject the OT in which case we would also have to reject Christ since He used the OT to validate His own ministry.

God Bless

 

[Pythons]

Thanks bogeydogg! That was some good reasoning…
…I have used the 'God is Spirit" Scripture previously but still wanted to expand my war chest for weapons against this odd teaching.