Each person comes to God with a perspective and sometimes with a bias. God allows this to an extent because humans need on an individual bases and so He accommodates Himself to those needs by manifesting Himself in particular ways to particular people. Obviously this can lead to confusion when one person encounters God in a moment of deep sorrow as a ray of comfort in the darkness of despair, while another person encounters God in the form of a well placed jab at their pride. Two people, two real interactions with God, multiple possible interpretations of what God is like. We've all encountered God differently and we need to recognize this when fellowshipping and ministering.
What does this mean? Practically it means that if someone discusses a spiritual experience that doesn't match up perfectly with your own, they are not necessarily wrong.
However, it doesn't mean that they are necessarily right either. The spiritual world is in many ways more "real" than the world of our five senses and it does operate based on laws of absolute comparability. If someone shows me a picture of an apple and says, "this is an orange," they are wrong based on the definition of orange. This is the case regardless of their negative experiences with apples and oranges as a child. Similarly if someone approaches you and says, "God hates gay people" they are wrong for the character of God does not permit such an attitude.
The bible is a wealth of information about God and the non-material world. Zechariah a prophet of God can be read today and will provide the careful student some information about who God is and how He interacts with humanity. Here are just some reflections from my journal after reading.
1:2 The Lord was very angry with your fathers
For all the people who don't like to think of God as someone who gets angry.
1:3 "...thus declares the Lord of hosts: 'Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you.', says the Lord of hosts."
Rather than lashing out in his anger as humans would do, God's anger doesn't change His resolve to call people to fellowship with Himself.
1:11 "...We have patrolled the earth, and behold, al the earth remains at rest."
Here we hear the report of spiritual servants who patrol the earth. From an Israelite's perspective all is not at rest, war looms large and the kingdom is not secure. However, God's perspective is different and part of growing in godliness is to see the world as He sees it not as we would like it to be. So in the midst of the storm Jesus could sleep in the boat while the disciples were flipping out. (Mark 4:38)
I leave you with just these three reflections. Know that God is not absent from our world and He will be found by those who seek Him.
What does this mean? Practically it means that if someone discusses a spiritual experience that doesn't match up perfectly with your own, they are not necessarily wrong.
However, it doesn't mean that they are necessarily right either. The spiritual world is in many ways more "real" than the world of our five senses and it does operate based on laws of absolute comparability. If someone shows me a picture of an apple and says, "this is an orange," they are wrong based on the definition of orange. This is the case regardless of their negative experiences with apples and oranges as a child. Similarly if someone approaches you and says, "God hates gay people" they are wrong for the character of God does not permit such an attitude.
The bible is a wealth of information about God and the non-material world. Zechariah a prophet of God can be read today and will provide the careful student some information about who God is and how He interacts with humanity. Here are just some reflections from my journal after reading.
1:2 The Lord was very angry with your fathers
For all the people who don't like to think of God as someone who gets angry.
1:3 "...thus declares the Lord of hosts: 'Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you.', says the Lord of hosts."
Rather than lashing out in his anger as humans would do, God's anger doesn't change His resolve to call people to fellowship with Himself.
1:11 "...We have patrolled the earth, and behold, al the earth remains at rest."
Here we hear the report of spiritual servants who patrol the earth. From an Israelite's perspective all is not at rest, war looms large and the kingdom is not secure. However, God's perspective is different and part of growing in godliness is to see the world as He sees it not as we would like it to be. So in the midst of the storm Jesus could sleep in the boat while the disciples were flipping out. (Mark 4:38)
I leave you with just these three reflections. Know that God is not absent from our world and He will be found by those who seek Him.