What is your understading of God?

[PJM]

Is God of the OT and NT the same God?

When you pray; who do address your payers too?

God the Father sitting on the Throne of Judgement; surrounded by angels?

The Infant Jesus?

Jesus while on earth?

Jesus on the Cross?

The Holy Spirit?

Do you see God as a vengeful God just waiting for us to screw-up?

Or do you see God so full of love and mercy that He can and does ignore our sinful actions?

How do you see God nd why?

 

[Barbkw]

I pray to the Trinity and I divide them mentally (3 persons in one Godhead) - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Each made themselves known in specific points of history for our salvation.

I felt God the Father as a very very small child, exploring the great outdoors.

It actually took me a very long time to understand the mystery of Jesus.

 

[GEddie]

Is God of the OT and NT the same God?

Our LORD said so and I believe HIM:shrug:

When you pray; who do address your payers too?

God the Father sitting on the Throne of Judgement; surrounded by angels?

The Infant Jesus?

Jesus while on earth?

Jesus on the Cross?

The Holy Spirit?

To our LORD in HIS Resurrectional form. Fully divine and fully human, ever living, ever breathing; with Divine knowledge and Divine power over life and death, yet with human arms able to embrace me

ICXC NIKA

 

[Publisher]

When I address God…I call Him Father.

He has no gender…but has been revealed in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament as having many male attributes…Protector, Disiplinarian, King, Lord and other male based words…so to me this tells me what others believed about God and scripture is a record of that developing understanding of Who God Is.

By the time we get to Wisdom, Proverbs and portions of Isaiah…we see the attributes and Names take on a profound female nuance. Shekinaha, Ruach, Spirit, Wisdom of God, Sophia…

So we know God is neither male nor female…but each of us, whether male or female relfect some of God’s attributes in our world.

God became most well known and understood in Jesus of Nazareth…he is the Exact Representation of His Person…He is the Image of the Invisible God…He dwells among His People within the Kingdom of God NOW…not some future kingdom…but a Present Kingdom…we who claim to know Him must LIVE in a Realized Kingdom of God and change our world for the better NOW…not in some future far off “Never-never”.

God’s nature is Love and Grace and Mercy…Justice is not cancelled out by Mercy…Justice is satisfied and vindicated through Mercy.

I believe God is Truly Present…Christ is Truly Present among us when we gather in His Name as His People…He still Speaks to us…not so much about the intricacies of faith…but He is more interested in the Pragmatic Side of Faith…“I was hungry…I was thirsty…I was alone…” This is where we find the Real Presence of Christ…among those who wear His Face in our midst…my understanding of God? What church would He go to? He would probably pay each congregation a visit and ask them to “Please, be about my Father’s business.”…but first He would be among those in most need of love and mercy and understanding…He would visit the lowliest of the low before He ever came to our Meetinghouses.

God is so tied to humanity that we cannot be separated from His Love as displayed in Jesus of Nazareth…nothing can sever that Deep Love…“God is Love and in Him is no darkness.”

 

[Barbkw]

The official teaching of the Church, as stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a helpful resource and is such a beautiful book.

It of course has many references to the Trinity.

"CHAPTER ONE
I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER

198 Our profession of faith begins with God, for God is the First and the Last, the beginning and the end of everything. The Credo begins with God the Father, for the Father is the first divine person of the Most Holy Trinity; our Creed begins with the creation of heaven and earth, for creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s works.​

The CCC is available online but a paperback is only $9 and the larger print copies are around $15.

The Vatican website has the CCC online and there is one at:

scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s2c1p1.htm

I can’t say enough about that Catechism, it’s really great. As a revert, I picked up a copy and quickly glanced through it. When I saw all the side numbers if freaked me out. I thought it was a book of rules and laws.

It isn’t

It’s a reference book that reads like a prayer book.

 

[Araninski]

Originally Posted by PJM

Is God of the OT and NT the same God?

When you pray; who do address your payers too?

God the Father sitting on the Throne of Judgement; surrounded by angels?

The Infant Jesus?

Jesus while on earth?

Jesus on the Cross?

The Holy Spirit?

Do you see God as a vengeful God just waiting for us to screw-up?

Or do you see God so full of love and mercy that He can and does ignore our sinful actions?

How do you see God nd why?

The God of the OT and NT are the same.

When I pray, I address my prayers to God, and only to Him. Jesus is God, The Father is God, The Holy Spirit is God. If I address my prayer to Jesus, I am addressing it to God. They are the same, and they are accord. The Trinity is a mystery…

God will certainly claim the revenge at the end, but that doesn’t mean He is not merciful nor all-loving. God is love. He created us, because He wants to love us, however, if we don’t want to be loved by Him, He will not force us, and at the Judgment Day, He will cast away the ones who don’t want to be with Him. Our God is a God of love, mercy and justice. He loves us so much that He lets us decide, where do we want to be, even though it hurts Him.

I view God as a loving God. As a perfect friend,as a humble person, who tells you"Hey! I want to be your friend", and wants to help you, protect you and love you.

 

[StrawberryJam]

I could be mistaken, but I think I saw God in a four year old today. His mom left him at Panera.
He asked me if I knew his mother. I told him I did not, but would make sure he found her again.
She knows me. I don’t know if that is why she left him there. But, I waited there with him until he was finished with his food. I bought him a cookie, and we talked about Nanny McPhee.
She came about a half hour later on. I did not want to call the police, or anyone else.
I think she is really struggling to cope with her divorce. Why would she leave me like that with her child??? That, I have no idea about.
Oh. How he told me about God.
He said that he saw someone who waited with him at a bus stop.And, it was an angel.
The person made sure he woke up at the right stop to get off, and walked him home.

I walked him home. I know this person from Sunday Mass. She has 3 kids. Please pray for her.
She did not say anything to me when she answered the door. She was intoxicated beyond belief. Thankfully, I saw his mother come to the door. She thanked me for taking the son home.
He looked at me, and asked- can you come over tomorrow?

I am NOT an angel, nor am I ready to take on even more than I have taken on…
Why this now? I can’t stop worrying about this kid. But, I can not do anyting about this. I have forwarded this information on to my priest. Hoping he has someone more skilled at this stuff, that can do something for this family I certainly can not. My heart is breaking thinking about how he was left alone like that, and how many people could have hurt him.
I wish I could do something for her too, she needs help.
I can not. I can not help her. She spit on me when I talked to her.

I wanted to die inside.
How can this happen?
I feel
Like dung.

 

[JonNC]

=PJM;6991476]Is God of the OT and NT the same God?

Yes

When you pray; who do address your payers too?

Heavenly Father

God the Father sitting on the Throne of Judgement; surrounded by angels?

And all the company of Heaven

The Infant Jesus?

Jesus while on earth?

Jesus on the Cross?

Yes

The Holy Spirit?

Yes

Do you see God as a vengeful God just waiting for us to screw-up?

No

Or do you see God so full of love and mercy that He can and does ignore our sinful actions?

No, He forgives them when we confess. There’s a difference between ignore and forgive.

How do you see God nd why?

From the Small Catechism

II. The Creed

As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household.

The First Article.

Of Creation.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

What does this mean?–Answer.

I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my limbs, my reason, and all my senses, and still preserves them; in addition thereto, clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and homestead, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods; that He provides me richly and daily with all that I need to support this body and life, protects me from all danger, and guards me and preserves me from all evil; and all this out of pure, fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I owe it to Him to thank, praise, serve, and obey Him. This is most certainly true.

The Second Article.

Of Redemption.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

What does this mean?–Answer.

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won [delivered] me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, in order that I may be [wholly] His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

The Third Article.

Of Sanctification.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; one holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean?–Answer.

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith; even as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith; in which Christian Church He forgives daily and richly all sins to me and all believers, and at the last day will raise up me and all the dead, and will give to me and to all believers in Christ everlasting life. This is most certainly true.

Jon

 

[Silyosha]

I definately see the God presented in the OT and in the NT as one and the same. The way I look at it, during the time when the OT events occured (whether figuratively/symbolically or literally; as informed Catholics, we must be aware that it really doesn’t matter), God was paving the way for our understanding of the future. He may seem extremely harsh in the OT, but it was all for our benefit; a world such as ours isn’t brought into being as we know it without conflicts, disasters, etc. among the sinful creatures that populate it; after all, we have been given free will by God, and though we are ultimately held in His hand, we have the freedom to make choices, with all kinds of results possible.
I see the Trinity as one, but seperate. This is kind of hard to explain. When I address a prayer to God the Father, I’m aware of the other persons of the Trinity; it’s just that I want and need the image and idea of a “Father” based on what I’m feeling spiritually. The same with addressing a prayer to God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, just adjusted based on what I need spiritually at that time. I think this is one of the amazing gifts that God gives us; we have the opportunity to be reached in so many different ways by Him, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is really around us at all times, letting us know that we’re loved.
I don’t picture God as vengeful. He wants us to live good lives according to His teachings as F, S, and HS, but we have free will. Our choosing to ignore Him saddens Him (in a hugely incomprehensible way), but it is our choice, one that He freely gives us. He forgives our sins because we are so loved; it’s really incredible. It’s an idea that never fails to stun me–imagine all the horrible acts we commit, all the evil things we do and say as a species, and even accepting that, God still loves and forgives what we do. It’s stunning.

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

Is God of the OT and NT the same God?

Of course.

When you pray; who do address your payers too?

The title “Lord.”

God the Father sitting on the Throne of Judgement; surrounded by angels?

I believe God is, yes. God the Father specifically, not specifically, but I’m sure that’s valid.

The Infant Jesus?

Was the Incarnate Word after birth (yes, I’m one of those people, unlike certain Speakers of the House, who believes the Word became incarnate in the womb).

Jesus while on earth?

Of course.

Jesus on the Cross?

Yes.

The Holy Spirit?

Yes. BTW, I recently debated via PM on another forum with an Australian Non-Trinitarian Messianic Jew (there’s a combination for you) who argued that the Holy Spirit was an angel. Personally I think the Jehovah’s Witnesses have a better argument. :whacky:

Do you see God as a vengeful God just waiting for us to screw-up?

God’s wrath will be poured upon all unrighteousness, as Paul writes in Romans. In terms of “waiting for us to screw-up,” no I don’t believe that God sits in heaven giggling and twiddling his fingers, waiting for me to make one sin so He can hit a button and nuke my life with bad things.

Or do you see God so full of love and mercy that He can and does ignore our sinful actions?

I don’t think he “ignores” my sinful actions. I believe that through the Son I am justified before the Father, but I don’t believe God just forgives all sin all over the world.

How do you see God nd why?

I see Him as the Bible portrays Him.

 

[Barbkw]

Strawberry Jam,

Churches need intervention centers for families who are falling.

Please become proactive for this family and call in the mother’s behavior to Social Services.

That child you saved today, is begging for help, in the only way he knows how. He needs a savior everyday until his family is healed.

Call today. You are Christ’s hands and feet.

Once Social Services intervines, and the alcoholic mother begins treatment (and stops spitting on you) she will accept your help. In the mean time, gather together a group of volunteers around you, who will help heal this broken family.

You and your group of volunteers could set up a program of intervention, each volunteer spending one hour with the family, to help them cope, heal and recover.

 

[benidict]

I could be mistaken, but I think I saw God in a four year old today. His mom left him at Panera.
He asked me if I knew his mother. I told him I did not, but would make sure he found her again.
She knows me. I don’t know if that is why she left him there. But, I waited there with him until he was finished with his food. I bought him a cookie, and we talked about Nanny McPhee.
She came about a half hour later on. I did not want to call the police, or anyone else.
I think she is really struggling to cope with her divorce. Why would she leave me like that with her child??? That, I have no idea about.
Oh. How he told me about God.
He said that he saw someone who waited with him at a bus stop.And, it was an angel.
The person made sure he woke up at the right stop to get off, and walked him home.

I walked him home. I know this person from Sunday Mass. She has 3 kids. Please pray for her.
She did not say anything to me when she answered the door. She was intoxicated beyond belief. Thankfully, I saw his mother come to the door. She thanked me for taking the son home.
He looked at me, and asked- can you come over tomorrow?

I am NOT an angel, nor am I ready to take on even more than I have taken on…
Why this now? I can’t stop worrying about this kid. But, I can not do anyting about this. I have forwarded this information on to my priest. Hoping he has someone more skilled at this stuff, that can do something for this family I certainly can not. My heart is breaking thinking about how he was left alone like that, and how many people could have hurt him.
I wish I could do something for her too, she needs help.
I can not. I can not help her. She spit on me when I talked to her.

I wanted to die inside.
How can this happen?
I feel
Like dung.

oh yes you are strawberry! you really are an angel! you just dont know it yet i will be praying for this family. and also for your peace and well being as well. Peace and Grace to you my friend.

 

[Sufjon]

I could be mistaken, but I think I saw God in a four year old today. His mom left him at Panera.
He asked me if I knew his mother. I told him I did not, but would make sure he found her again.
She knows me. I don’t know if that is why she left him there. But, I waited there with him until he was finished with his food. I bought him a cookie, and we talked about Nanny McPhee.
She came about a half hour later on. I did not want to call the police, or anyone else.
I think she is really struggling to cope with her divorce. Why would she leave me like that with her child??? That, I have no idea about.
Oh. How he told me about God.
He said that he saw someone who waited with him at a bus stop.And, it was an angel.
The person made sure he woke up at the right stop to get off, and walked him home.

I walked him home. I know this person from Sunday Mass. She has 3 kids. Please pray for her.
She did not say anything to me when she answered the door. She was intoxicated beyond belief. Thankfully, I saw his mother come to the door. She thanked me for taking the son home.
He looked at me, and asked- can you come over tomorrow?

I am NOT an angel, nor am I ready to take on even more than I have taken on…
Why this now? I can’t stop worrying about this kid. But, I can not do anyting about this. I have forwarded this information on to my priest. Hoping he has someone more skilled at this stuff, that can do something for this family I certainly can not. My heart is breaking thinking about how he was left alone like that, and how many people could have hurt him.
I wish I could do something for her too, she needs help.
I can not. I can not help her. She spit on me when I talked to her.

I wanted to die inside.
How can this happen?
I feel
Like dung.

I can’t say that I have an understanding of God given my background, but given the story you related, I’d say that’s about as close as it gets. A very close encounter. It’s very sad, and sadder still that there are so many children who live that way - on the fringes of the life most of us take for granted. They’re all over the place. I don’t think anything happens without a reason though. Maybe there’s a reason you were there, aside from the fact that you were needed. Maybe this is a bigger part of your life story too. Who can say? I for one am grateful to you for doing what you did.

 

[Alcrusader]

I pray to the father and Jesus and our lady Mary.
I pray for the father to give me the blessings, to Jesus to give me strength and help me in my current life and whatever I need, and to our lady Mary for help and grace to me, my family, and all the world.