I have lived every moment of every day of my life relating to the world on the level of my five physical senses: taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight. But God usually doesn't relate to the world via those avenues. I know we use those terms (except maybe the smelling one) for God but when we do we mean something different than when we use them in reference to virtually anything else in life. Don't believe me? Open your mouth right now and try to take a bite of God. Or reach out your hands until you touch Him. Or download His podcast. Or call Him on His cell. See what I mean?
We simply don't use our natural senses (usually) to relate to God. Maybe that's what Paul meant when he said (in 2 Corinthians 2:14) "the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." Think of that, the natural person is not able to understand the things of the Spirit. It is impossible.
There are allot of metaphors in Scripture for what it means to follow Christ, but perhaps the one that best sums up biblical doctrine is "born again" or "born of the Spirit". One of the many implications of that is the ability to relate to a spiritual God in a spiritual way. To develop (not just tune, but actually develop) spiritual senses which by "nature" we don't have.
How do we do that then? Glad you asked, but in trying to keep my blogs short I can only tell you that I have some ideas which I'll expound upon next week.
I really have to wait until next week?! Hmm...alright. Looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteExellent theme for a blog. I'm looking forward to following it. I pray that you and those who follow this blog are hungry for God because God promises that if we seek Him with all of our heart, we will find Him. My hope is that we will remove from our hearts all that hinders us, and that as we find Him in a fuller way, we will unashamedly share Him with a needy world. As you consider those who are far from God, please feel free to check out my blob and website.
ReplyDeleteJERRID!! Hi! How have you been??
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post...you finally put into words something I've tried to explain (to myself and others) so many times. :o) Now there are words! YAY!
Looking forward to seeing more!
Dawn
I guess I have to disagree. Supernatural is the correct description of God. In other words over the top natural! We are the ones who are unnatural. God defines all reality. We are the ones who took the unnatural route of rebellion against God. In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). I know, just semantics, I get what you're trying to say.
ReplyDelete