God is perfect: he cannot change, he cannot please or hurt. How so?
- AnnieOgoo
- Posts: 73
- Joined: 06 Dec 2020, 09:26
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 27
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-annieogoo.html
- Latest Review: Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat by R.F. Kristi
God is perfect: he cannot change, he cannot please or hurt. How so?
a. God cannot change
b. He cannot please or hurt.
The reason behind this later conclusion being that: "Admitting the possibility of such would be admitting to an inherent defect in God’s perfection and would completely negate the concept of perfectness. Pleasing him admits to the existence of a pleasure port that is insufficiently filled, a partial void, a defect, and certainly not perfect. Hurting him would admit to the existence of cracks in His armor where noxious agents could penetrate and cause damage eliminating His perfection."
I find the reasons behind this conclusion (that God is perfect) to be unconvincing, even faulty.
Yes, I believe God is perfect, but not because he cannot be pleased or hurt. That would make him an unfeeling God. Perhaps he is perfect because he is the highest authority and the standard for perfection, i.e God is perfect because he is God.
This whole syllogism brings to mind the question, "What is perfection?"
So I ask:
a. Is God perfect because He cannot change, or please or hurt? And;
b. What is perfection?
- Maddie Atkinson
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 403
- Joined: 13 Nov 2020, 05:30
- Favorite Book: gender euphoria
- Currently Reading: Dear Little Corpses
- Bookshelf Size: 87
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-maddie-atkinson.html
- Latest Review: A King Amongst Us by A.D. Lewis
- 2024 Reading Goal: 30
- 2024 Goal Completion: 0%
- Juliet+1
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 706
- Joined: 14 Jul 2019, 16:21
- Favorite Book: The Elephants of Style
- Currently Reading: A New American Evolution
- Bookshelf Size: 302
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-juliet-1.html
- Latest Review: Your Smart Home Voyage by Gary Rockis
-
- Posts: 431
- Joined: 01 Aug 2020, 15:05
- Favorite Book: Wilderness Cry
- Currently Reading: Spirituality in the 21st Century
- Bookshelf Size: 80
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-readsbyarun.html
- Latest Review: Rescuing General Patton by Curtis Stephen Burdick
- Kaitlyn Canedy
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 3313
- Joined: 28 Jul 2019, 20:55
- Favorite Book: Too Old Too Soon
- Currently Reading: Totem
- Bookshelf Size: 515
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kaitlyn-canedy.html
- Latest Review: The Date Farm by Jack Winnick
- 2024 Reading Goal: 12
- 2024 Goal Completion: 25%
Humans have the idea that perfection means that we cannot mess up or commit any sins at all (without error). But I believe that God's definition of perfect is different from ours.
- AnnieOgoo
- Posts: 73
- Joined: 06 Dec 2020, 09:26
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 27
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-annieogoo.html
- Latest Review: Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat by R.F. Kristi
Nice. This is the explanation I needed. I get it now; He is perfect because He is unbiased not because He is unfeeling or something like that. Thank you for this answer.Maddie Atkinson wrote: ↑08 Dec 2020, 12:36 I think it means that He is not biased either way. A god that can be pleased is one that holds a bias to what pleases Him, the same with what can hurt Him, especially since what is seen to hurt Him is subject to one's beliefs. So if He cannot be pleased or hurt, there is no bias there and in that way, He is perfect. I don't believe an all loving god is one that can be angered or hurt, or one that punishes people, because again, that would be a defect in His perfection. I believe He has feeling, but it is just a feeling of love, one that cannot be faulted no matter what. Therefore, He is perfect.
- AnnieOgoo
- Posts: 73
- Joined: 06 Dec 2020, 09:26
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 27
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-annieogoo.html
- Latest Review: Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat by R.F. Kristi
I totally agree with you; God is feels our actions, but it doesn't stop His perfection, and God's definition of perfect must be very different from ours. Finally, I agree that God is a little too complex for even the best of minds.Katie Canedy wrote: ↑09 Dec 2020, 19:25 I do not think that He cannot be hurt by our actions, but I do believe that He is perfect. God is not affected personally by human concepts such as time, marriage, and conditional love. Perhaps trying to understand God in these areas is a little too complex for us.
Humans have the idea that perfection means that we cannot mess up or commit any sins at all (without error). But I believe that God's definition of perfect is different from ours.
Your answer has helped my confusion. Thank you.
- Sou Hi
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 2364
- Joined: 07 Sep 2019, 09:06
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 154
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sou-hi.html
- Latest Review: Project Tau by Jude Austin
Secondly, since God is all-mighty, I agree it may be true that He can't be hurt, especially by humans. However, if He can't be pleased or can't change, does that mean He remains fixed towards everything? If yes, does that mean He is unbiased and will treat everyone equally? If so, why is it that some people claim they could hear His will, and the rest cannot? Shouldn't He either show himself to everyone or to no one? What about the cases of Noah, Lazarus, Abel, or his Apostles? Why did He choose those people and not the others?
- InStoree
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 1818
- Joined: 04 Jan 2019, 14:59
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 181
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-instoree.html
- Latest Review: The Mermaid Broker by Sue Hinkin
~Tayma Tameem
- Saint Bruno
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 1799
- Joined: 28 Aug 2020, 14:47
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 192
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-saint-bruno.html
- Latest Review: The vampires missing cape by Steve Stables
-
- Posts: 302
- Joined: 05 Apr 2020, 17:42
- Currently Reading: Into the Hand of a Woman
- Bookshelf Size: 107
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nedbrian.html
- Latest Review: Different Family Structures by Mildred Stallworth
- Luluwa79
- Posts: 262
- Joined: 27 Jul 2020, 08:35
- Favorite Book: Peter and the Parachute
- Currently Reading: How To Be Successful
- Bookshelf Size: 39
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-luluwa79.html
- Latest Review: Peter and the Parachute by Nicola Ridgeway and James Manning
-
- Posts: 452
- Joined: 23 Jun 2020, 03:22
- Favorite Book: The Tales of Little Lady M
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 73
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-unique-ego.html
- Latest Review: A Dream For Peace by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
I agree with you. God is perfect doesn't mean he is unfeeling. I'm Christian so I take my cues from the Bible. The scripture paints a picture of a very feeling God. I believe God can be pleased (that's the whole point of faith in Him) and he can hurt too. So yes, God is perfect because he is God. As humans, we feel pain, pleasure, hurt, and more because we got it from Him. We are made in His image. The difference is that God is perfect because he is the standard that is so high we can never reach it.AnnieOgoo wrote: ↑08 Dec 2020, 06:42 In a bid to explain God's perfection, the author states that;
a. God cannot change
b. He cannot please or hurt.
The reason behind this later conclusion being that: "Admitting the possibility of such would be admitting to an inherent defect in God’s perfection and would completely negate the concept of perfectness. Pleasing him admits to the existence of a pleasure port that is insufficiently filled, a partial void, a defect, and certainly not perfect. Hurting him would admit to the existence of cracks in His armor where noxious agents could penetrate and cause damage eliminating His perfection."
I find the reasons behind this conclusion (that God is perfect) to be unconvincing, even faulty.
Yes, I believe God is perfect, but not because he cannot be pleased or hurt. That would make him an unfeeling God. Perhaps he is perfect because he is the highest authority and the standard for perfection, i.e God is perfect because he is God.
This whole syllogism brings to mind the question, "What is perfection?"
So I ask:
a. Is God perfect because He cannot change, or please or hurt? And;
b. What is perfection?
- AnnieOgoo
- Posts: 73
- Joined: 06 Dec 2020, 09:26
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 27
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-annieogoo.html
- Latest Review: Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat by R.F. Kristi
Thank you so for your answer. You gave me reasons to my own conclusion. The essence of faith would be lost if we couldn't please or aspire to please God. And that does not make him imperfect.Unique Ego wrote: ↑11 Dec 2020, 04:49I agree with you. God is perfect doesn't mean he is unfeeling. I'm Christian so I take my cues from the Bible. The scripture paints a picture of a very feeling God. I believe God can be pleased (that's the whole point of faith in Him) and he can hurt too. So yes, God is perfect because he is God. As humans, we feel pain, pleasure, hurt, and more because we got it from Him. We are made in His image. The difference is that God is perfect because he is the standard that is so high we can never reach it.AnnieOgoo wrote: ↑08 Dec 2020, 06:42 In a bid to explain God's perfection, the author states that;
a. God cannot change
b. He cannot please or hurt.
The reason behind this later conclusion being that: "Admitting the possibility of such would be admitting to an inherent defect in God’s perfection and would completely negate the concept of perfectness. Pleasing him admits to the existence of a pleasure port that is insufficiently filled, a partial void, a defect, and certainly not perfect. Hurting him would admit to the existence of cracks in His armor where noxious agents could penetrate and cause damage eliminating His perfection."
I find the reasons behind this conclusion (that God is perfect) to be unconvincing, even faulty.
Yes, I believe God is perfect, but not because he cannot be pleased or hurt. That would make him an unfeeling God. Perhaps he is perfect because he is the highest authority and the standard for perfection, i.e God is perfect because he is God.
This whole syllogism brings to mind the question, "What is perfection?"
So I ask:
a. Is God perfect because He cannot change, or please or hurt? And;
b. What is perfection?
- AnnieOgoo
- Posts: 73
- Joined: 06 Dec 2020, 09:26
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 27
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-annieogoo.html
- Latest Review: Serendipity Mystery: Diary of a Snoopy Cat by R.F. Kristi
You have left me with more questions than answers .Sou Hi wrote: ↑10 Dec 2020, 21:08 Hm, I think there are many issues in this aspect. First of all, which God are we talking about? As the author said, each Bible depicts God differently. And based on the books, each God will be either perfect or imperfect.
Secondly, since God is all-mighty, I agree it may be true that He can't be hurt, especially by humans. However, if He can't be pleased or can't change, does that mean He remains fixed towards everything? If yes, does that mean He is unbiased and will treat everyone equally? If so, why is it that some people claim they could hear His will, and the rest cannot? Shouldn't He either show himself to everyone or to no one? What about the cases of Noah, Lazarus, Abel, or his Apostles? Why did He choose those people and not the others?
First of all, I agree with you and the author that God is depicted differently in the Bible; the new testament God is a tad bit nicer than the old testament God (but of course the death of Christ is the most valid explanation for this 'change').
Now in response to your second paragraph, I beginning to think that God can change. Really. If not, how else do we explain the old testament God from the new testament God? Would it be that the old testament depiction of God was based on the understanding of the less informed guys back then? Or is the difference (the change) because of Christ's death? (Now I'm asking new questions .)
You also mentioned that if God is unbiased, why doesn't he reveal himself to everyone? Well I think God reveals Himself to those who believe and seek (hard enough). I also think God is unbiased because he sends rain and sun unto the good and the bad (this biblical statement, when meditated on refers to more than the rain and the sun).
Finally, I'll say it once again, I think God is perfect because He is God. And a complete understanding of God is impossible; we just have to work by faith.