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womanatwell
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The perspective of worshiping the true God, Post 1 of 2
There has been discussion about whether the God of Abraham is the same as the Christian God. I know many think He is the same, but I think there is some confusion and the argument depends on perspective. I would like to present my thoughts and get your feedback. Due to family health problems I probably won’t interact much but I will definitely read responses.
First we have to keep straight whether by the term “God” we are referring to the ultimately true (Catholic) God or to the concept of God within each person.
Catholics believe the Trinitarian God is and always has been God of all. Our Catholic God is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons and one essence. But the other perspective of “god” would be from a person’s point of view: what that person considers as his or her spiritual creator and/or controller of him/herself and surroundings and therefore worships. We know of examples of ancient Romans, Greeks or Native Americans who believed in multiple gods, some of which supposedly created then others who controlled fertility, rain, etc. Yet we Christians believe our Trinitarian God was ultimately their God because He was the one who really created and sustained their lives even though they didn’t know or worship Him as He is. We don’t consider their concept of God to be correct and therefore from our perspective they worshiped false gods. Catholics believe humans are affected by fallen nature and deception is part of that. Perhaps some of these groups had inklings of the true God but others carried on with the false ones.
Ancient Jewish people worshiped one God, and some still do. When Moses asked His name, God answered “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14), and said this would be his name forever (and He is 3 in One forever). They believed “The Lord our God is One God” (Deuteronomy 6:4). I believe that from the current Christian perspective, the God that interacted with Abraham and Moses and the Old Testament Israelites before Christ came to Earth was the true God, our God. I believe because of the revelation of the Bible which is the inspired book of my faith and because the Father had an especially close relationship with the Israelites since Christ was born from that people.
On the other hand, our true God allowed the Israelites at that time to think of Him as one person, which was not fully complete. He acts with His own purpose and the time had not come to fully reveal Himself. I had argued before that this was a different God, but that argument was based on the belief of the people. Even though they pictured Him differently from what He really is, I don’t think He would have considered them worshiping a false God since it is what He told them and perhaps knew they would not understand the concept of 3 in One at that time. Later, however, God speaks of a New Covenant with His people, which is repeated by Christ in His last supper: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you” (Luke 22:20).
Please see The Perspective of Worshiping the True God, Post 2 of 2
There has been discussion about whether the God of Abraham is the same as the Christian God. I know many think He is the same, but I think there is some confusion and the argument depends on perspective. I would like to present my thoughts and get your feedback. Due to family health problems I probably won’t interact much but I will definitely read responses.
First we have to keep straight whether by the term “God” we are referring to the ultimately true (Catholic) God or to the concept of God within each person.
Catholics believe the Trinitarian God is and always has been God of all. Our Catholic God is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons and one essence. But the other perspective of “god” would be from a person’s point of view: what that person considers as his or her spiritual creator and/or controller of him/herself and surroundings and therefore worships. We know of examples of ancient Romans, Greeks or Native Americans who believed in multiple gods, some of which supposedly created then others who controlled fertility, rain, etc. Yet we Christians believe our Trinitarian God was ultimately their God because He was the one who really created and sustained their lives even though they didn’t know or worship Him as He is. We don’t consider their concept of God to be correct and therefore from our perspective they worshiped false gods. Catholics believe humans are affected by fallen nature and deception is part of that. Perhaps some of these groups had inklings of the true God but others carried on with the false ones.
Ancient Jewish people worshiped one God, and some still do. When Moses asked His name, God answered “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14), and said this would be his name forever (and He is 3 in One forever). They believed “The Lord our God is One God” (Deuteronomy 6:4). I believe that from the current Christian perspective, the God that interacted with Abraham and Moses and the Old Testament Israelites before Christ came to Earth was the true God, our God. I believe because of the revelation of the Bible which is the inspired book of my faith and because the Father had an especially close relationship with the Israelites since Christ was born from that people.
On the other hand, our true God allowed the Israelites at that time to think of Him as one person, which was not fully complete. He acts with His own purpose and the time had not come to fully reveal Himself. I had argued before that this was a different God, but that argument was based on the belief of the people. Even though they pictured Him differently from what He really is, I don’t think He would have considered them worshiping a false God since it is what He told them and perhaps knew they would not understand the concept of 3 in One at that time. Later, however, God speaks of a New Covenant with His people, which is repeated by Christ in His last supper: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you” (Luke 22:20).
Please see The Perspective of Worshiping the True God, Post 2 of 2