Notes From Off Center - Latest Comments in God Can’t Be That Personal

Re: God Can’t Be That Personal

Lenny — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:03:13 -0000

I don't think that "personal" or "in love" sentiments concerning God are in any way intentionally cheapening. In fact, I would argue that the Incarnation makes such sentiments viable. The varieties of mysticism we encounter are attempts to bring about palpable union between Creator and creation in a very personal way. I think John Piper's argument s about "desiring" God feed into this discussion as well. God is more than an abstraction or idea, as are we. Thus to deny the realm of emotions to the contemplation/experience/study of God can be as equally debasing of both God and us as an overly emotional focus.

Re: God Can’t Be That Personal

Quixie — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:17:33 -0000

The "personal relationship" version of Jesus was virtually unknown before 1747 - see Count von Zinzendorf's Nine Public Lectures . . .. How on earth did it get elevated into the chief essence of Christianity to so many these in only a couple of hundred years?

Re: God Can’t Be That Personal

Kathy — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:33:33 -0000

I agree with you, Drew. I can't really love something that's disembodied. And when you come right down to it, when I exclude the emotional and subjective experiences, God has never loved me back in a tangible way except through people.

Re: God Can’t Be That Personal

Alan — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:17:36 -0000

I can only agree to being puzzled by people claiming to have a personal “love” relationship with Jesus. The weirdest manifestation of this in my mind is the bumper sticker that says "Real Men Love Jesus".

(Theological conundrum for Drew... would that be adultery?)

Re: God Can’t Be That Personal

Drew Tatusko — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:32:02 -0000

This is correct. And it also points to that relationship as a rather mystical union, not something "personal" in the way that is oft characterized in especially evangelical circles.

Re: God Can’t Be That Personal

Ken Brown — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:44:04 -0000

I agree with your objection to emotionalism and certainly think that Jesus' death is too often trivialized, but I completely disagree about God being personal. I can only speak for myself, but I have found God to be intensly personal. My relationship with God has been, in many ways, more lively and volatile than any other, if you would believe that. He even seems to have a sense of humor.

Re: God Can’t Be That Personal

jim — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:33:53 -0000

And yet, in some way, classical Trinitarianism affirms that God is Love. God is love between the three persons of the Trinity. God, Son and Spirit. And through the outpouring of that love between the three, God invites us into a relationship with Godself and with others that is built on the same activity of love between the three. To me that invitation into community, is a much more appropriate and attractive notion of love than "Jesus died for me."