Because God is a relationship of three persons who love and enjoy each other: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
So there are multiple Gods?
No. Just one.
But you just said...
I know. It's not a contradiction, though. Really.
Yes it is.
Well, what makes something “one”?
Something is one if it's a single unit.
Is God a physical unit?
No.
If God is not a single unit in a physical sense, in what sense is He a single unit?
In a spiritual sense.
Is the Trinity one in a spiritual sense?
I guess. But there are multiple persons in it.
Yes, but their relationship is perfect. So perfect that they are one in the truest sense of the word.
So God was never lonely?
No.
Because He is three persons.
Yes, but not just because He is three persons. He was never lonely because those three persons are one.
What do you mean?
Well, you can be lonely even if you are surrounded by others.
True.
But that's because your relationship with them is imperfect. They don't really know you. You don't really know them. It's not like that with the Trinity.
So if God is perfect and He was never lonely, why did He create?
Because He wanted to.
Why did He want to? I thought He was perfect. He doesn't need anything.
I guess because it gave him joy.
* * * * *
God didn't need this. He wanted it. Science attempts to measure and label the physical forces that bind the material world together, but it can never uncover their true source. What holds an atom together? Nuclear forces? What are those forces? If the universe is the product of God's will, all forces are a consequence of His desire - products of His delight.
(If only he had believed he wasn't going to get any supper)
This is a short article from the July/August issue of Relevantmagazine (which, may I add, is worth far more than its subscription price). It got me thinking.
Cheaters Never Win - But a Lot of Them Are Christians
Some people won't cheat because God says not to - but other people will because they know He'll forgive them. A new study called "Mean Gods Make Good People: Different Views of God Predict Cheating Behavior" says there aren't too many notable differences between believers and non-believers. However, among those who profess faith in the Big Guy, behavior and attitudes are greatly influenced by how the individual views the object of their belief. For example, if one sees God as an angry judge, they're less likely to cheat. But if one sees Him as gracious and loving, they're more likely to bend the rules and bank on forgiveness.
"The take-home message is not whether you believe in God, but what God you believe in," said Azim Shariff, a University of Oregon psychologist who worked on the study. Research involved experimenting with 100 undergraduates taking a math test. The students were told about a "computer glitch" that would soon show them the correct answers - unless they opted out by pressing the space bar immediately. In addition, students were also given a survey about the details of their personal faith perspectives. In the end, those who associate a deity with compassion were more likely to peek at the correct answers.
While one experiment can hardly define the morality or behavior of all believers, scientific research is becoming an increasingly important component of ethical debate. "It provides a powerful tool to study what is a powerful force in the world," Shariff said.
I don't think cynicism or skepticism is a fruit of the Spirit, but I do think a healthy concern for truth is. Would it please God if I accepted this report without any further evidence than the report itself? I don't know. I know God values faith, but He values faith in Himself, not necessarily faith in what I hear on youtube. Do I want this report to be true? Absolutely. Do I think it is? Maybe. I feel like the father of the demon-possessed boy in Mark 9: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
Yesterday in church the sermon was on Micah 6:8 - "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Act justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. That's what God wants. Not burnt offerings, rivers of oil, and sacrificed firstborns (verse 7). Thank goodness.
But wait a minute - how are we supposed to act justly and love mercy at the same time? Aren't those things at odds with each other? Mercy is, by definition, what we receive when we are spared the consequences of what we deserve. Justice, in contrast, is what we receive when we do get what we deserve. Therefore, if we are to receive or grant mercy, justice must be abandoned. If we are to receive or grant justice, mercy must be abandoned. And yet God requires that we do both. How is this supposed to work?
