@sonship saidNo, that isn't the case. A fully self-sufficient and loving deity may 'want' (as a consequence of his divine love) but never 'need.' Such a need would compromise His perfect state of completeness. I think you are in danger here sonship of humanizing God's divine nature. When it comes to 'need,' it really is one-way traffic.
@Ghost-of-a-Duke
Just a suggestion. IF you want to keep mentioning Lee how about reading one book from Lee all the way through?
If you're going to constantly posture as an expert on Witness Lee, read a book.
What you say about need could easily be transferred to the word "want". Like, God doesn't WANT anything because He is completely self existing and self sufficie ...[text shortened]... lso must remember what the Bible said.
"... according to the good pleasure of His will"
As for Lee's books, perhaps I'll finish the one you inexplicably abandoned...
@sonship saidAgain, a loving God 'wants' the best for his creation and will go to extraordinary lengths in the endeavor. It is, however, human vanity to believe He 'needs' it.
@Ghost-of-a-DukeA completely self-sufficient deity 'needs' nothing. - However, an omnibenevolent deity could be said to 'want' the best for his creation, purely out of love. That is Christianity sir, not Islam or Lee.
Did you answer my question about the Lord in the garden of Gethsemane?
He sweat drops of blood in strong petitioning. I take it as abs ...[text shortened]... at divine judgment from God and torture from men by just reminding the Father that God has no need ?
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No, that isn't the case. A fully self-sufficient and loving deity may 'want' (as a consequence of his divine love) but never 'need.' Such a need would compromise His perfect state of completeness. I think you are in danger here sonship of humanizing God's divine nature. When it comes to 'need,' it really is one-way traffic.
Statements of the Bible take precedence.
Creedal statements do not transcend pure words of the Bible, helpful as creedal axioms may be.
As for Lee's books, perhaps I'll finish the one you inexplicably abandoned...
You are still confusing Lee with Nee.
I told you that I did not read all of Nee's book The Ministry of God's Word.
Get unconfused about this for starters.
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As for Lee's books, perhaps I'll finish the one you inexplicably abandoned...
So you intertertain some fancy thought that I am AFRAID perhaps to read The Ministry of God's Word ?
You seem to harp on me not finishing it as if this is some sure source of embarrassment to me.
You have a funny thought there if you think I am terrified to open it up and read it.
"Oooo!, Ooooo!, you didn't FINISH Watchman Nee's book."
You're going to dwell on this silly little bit of pompousness now for how much longer?
@sonship saidWhy did you not read all of Nee's book The Ministry of God's Word?
@Ghost-of-a-DukeNo, that isn't the case. A fully self-sufficient and loving deity may 'want' (as a consequence of his divine love) but never 'need.' Such a need would compromise His perfect state of completeness. I think you are in danger here sonship of humanizing God's divine nature. When it comes to 'need,' it really is one-way traffic.
Statements ...[text shortened]... d all of Nee's book The Ministry of God's Word.
Get unconfused about this for starters.
Did you perhaps glimpse the wolf beneath the covers?
@fmf saidGod, being the author of everything, is the man who defines everything.
Why do you attribute "perfect morality" to your God?
Moreover, from an omniscient perspective alone can one have a clue as to what the good is.
There's no way that we can calculate such a thing -- we are far, far closer to dogs than God.
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@philokalia saidIt's very subjective of you to claim your particular God figure embodies "perfect morality".
God, being the author of everything, is the man who defines everything.
Moreover, from an omniscient perspective alone can one have a clue as to what the good is.
There's no way that we can calculate such a thing -- we are far, far closer to dogs than God.
@philokalia saidMore assertions. Morality is a set of norms and rules and inhibitions etc. that govern the interactions of human beings in their communal living. Here you are making assertions about dogs and your own God figure and, furthermore, making an assertion [i.e. a calculation] about something that you admit you cannot calculate.
Moreover, from an omniscient perspective alone can one have a clue as to what the good is.
There's no way that we can calculate such a thing -- we are far, far closer to dogs than God.
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Why do you attribute "perfect morality" to your God?
Probably the main reason is the elephant in the living room - Jesus Christ. Jesus of Nazareth manifested the highest level of morality on the planet in human history.
If you have another life which you feel offers a higher degree of morality than Jesus, offer that name, and I'll consider.
@sonship saidWhy do you attribute "perfect morality" to Jesus Christ?
@FMFWhy do you attribute "perfect morality" to your God?
Probably the main reason is the elephant in the living room - Jesus Christ. Jesus of Nazareth manifested the highest level of morality on the planet in human history.
If you have another life which you feel offers a higher degree of morality than Jesus, offer that name, and I'll consider.
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Why do you attribute "perfect morality" to Jesus Christ?
Now I asked you to offer another name of someone in history that you consider higher in this regard, and I would consider your candidate.
So who else do you think more perfectly manifested moral goodness then Jesus Christ ?
You're not afraid to offer a name or two are you?
@sonship saidGreat. Perhaps reading the book to its conclusion will amplify the concerns you had previously, resulting in you abandoning the book half way through. Such an amplification may finally shatter the Nee/Lee illusion that is causing you to misconstrue scripture. (For example that God 'needs' something from humanity).
Just for you it is now on my To-Do list for this summer.
@sonship saidI have no reason to think he actually represented "perfectly morality" during his life. We only have a carefully constructed story written decades and decades after his death by people trying to create a cult of personality and breakaway religion centred on him. Is it that story that causes you to attribute "perfect morality" to Jesus Christ?
@FMFWhy do you attribute "perfect morality" to Jesus Christ?
Yes.
Now I asked you to offer another name of someone in history that you consider higher in this regard, and I would consider your candidate.
So who else do you think more perfectly manifested moral goodness then Jesus Christ ?
You're not afraid to offer a name or two are you?