Does God respond to Man?

[canadyjd]

I….
Concerning God, if His interactions with us are one sided and anthropomorphic then I would say no true relationship exists.

Ok, a question.

If our interaction with God is marked by anthropomorphic condescension, does that necessarily mean it is one sided?

Personally, I’ll have to ponder that for a while, though off the cuff I’d say no.

peace to you

 

[JonC]

Ok, a question.

If our interaction with God is marked by anthropomorphic condescension, does that necessarily mean it is one sided?

Personally, I’ll have to ponder that for a while, though off the cuff I’d say no.

peace to you

It would be one sided by necessity as our action would not be a part of the "relationship". God would not react to man sinning by punishing sin (as that "response" would be anthropomorphic). Same with "answering prayers", etc.

Note - I am not saying there is no room for anthropomorphism. But if God is unable to react to man, even if this reaction is a part of His predetermined plan, then no genuine relationship exists. God is static in terms of human interaction.

 

[canadyjd]

…

Note - I am not saying there is no room for anthropomorphism. But if God is unable to react to man, even if this reaction is a part of His predetermined plan, then no genuine relationship exists. God is static in terms of human interaction.

Well, the use of “unable” isn’t necessary for this discussion. The question isn’t “ability” but reality.

Is God always “acting” to carry out His predetermined plan? Do all of His interactions with humans further His plan? Are the apparent “reactions” of God (punishing sin, answering prayers, etc) actually part of His predetermined plan?

Like I said, I’ll ponder this a while.

peace to you

 

[MrW]

Et cetera is etc.

 

[canadyjd]

Et cetera is etc.

Oh, I missed the period after “etc.”

The question is…. Was I predestined to make that mistake and were you predestined to correct it?

peace to you

 

[Alan Gross]

Oh, I missed the period after “etc.”

The question is…. Was I predestined to make that mistake and were you predestined to correct it?

peace to you

Is God always “acting” to carry out His predetermined plan?

Do all of His interactions with humans further His plan?

Are the apparent “reactions” of God (punishing sin,
answering prayers, etc) actually part of His predetermined plan?

John 5:17 "But Jesus answered them,
My Father worketh hitherto, and I work."

 

[JonC]

Well, the use of “unable” isn’t necessary for this discussion. The question isn’t “ability” but reality.

Is God always “acting” to carry out His predetermined plan? Do all of His interactions with humans further His plan? Are the apparent “reactions” of God (punishing sin, answering prayers, etc) actually part of His predetermined plan?

Like I said, I’ll ponder this a while.

peace to you

There is a lot that we cannot know because God is so much above man. God reveals Himself to us. And the fullest revelation of who God is can be seen in the person of Jesus Christ.

Did Jesus react to man? I'd say He did. But at the same time His interactions were predestined.

 

[canadyjd]

There is a lot that we cannot know because God is so much above man. God reveals Himself to us. And the fullest revelation of who God is can be seen in the person of Jesus Christ.

Did Jesus react to man? I'd say He did. But at the same time His interactions were predestined.

This is a good point.

God the Son added humanity to His deity in the person of Jesus, and somehow “emptied” Himself.

His actions/reactions were within the scope of His humanity, so they were actual actions and reactions. He develop close relationships with specific people as any human being would. He ate when He was hungry, slept when tired, weeped when seeing the grief of those He loved at the death of Lazarus knowing He would soon raise Him from the dead.

And He said “if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father”

hummmmmm……….

Ok, you have convinced me, JonC. It is both. It is actual action/reaction and it is predestined.

peace to you

 

[Van]

Obviously to claim everything is predestined is unbiblical because God says some things happen by chance. Full stop

 

[MrW]

Oh, I missed the period after “etc.”

The question is…. Was I predestined to make that mistake and were you predestined to correct it?

peace to you

It's etc. Not ect. That would be "ec terera", when it's actually "et cetera". Very simple word--etc.

You were not predestined to make the error--it was your choice. It's easy to type it correctly, at least once in a while.

 

[Baptist Believer]

If God's character can be characterized by love (1 John 4:16), then God must respond to humankind.

Love requires an interactive relationship, including responses to appeals from the other person in the love relationship.

You can know you have gone overboard on the sovereignty of God when you turn God into an unresponsive heavenly Father (Matthew 7:7-11).