Skip to main content

Four Approaches to God

4 Approaches To God

Sanjay Nagar, 7 June 2005
Domenic Marbaniang

1. JACOB – “If” (Gen. 28: 20, 21) – The Conditional Approach
- The Conditional Approach is also a utilitarian approach
- The Conditional Approach signifies Ignorance of the True nature of God
- The Conditional Approach signifies Unbelief in God
- The Conditional Approach signifies lack of total commitment
A. Jacob was an opportunist
B. Jacob had to go the hard way to learn of his utter helplessness and his need for God
C. At last, at Peniel, Jacob is alone with God, confesses his need, his character, and obtains blessing.
- In Ch. 28 God says, “I will not forsake you till I bless you.” In Ch. 32 it is he who says, “I will not leave You till you bless me.” He has learnt that without God he was nothing and could not move further without Him.
- At Peniel, he has no more conditions. He realizes that God is his God and his all.

2. NAAMAN – “Behold I Thought” (2 Kgs. 5: 11, 12) – The Rational Approach
- The Rational Approach is also an egoistic approach (Knowledge puffs up)
- The Rational Approach does not submit to the Law of God but rebels against it. 1 Cor. 2: 14 The Psuchichos man (rational).
• Eve – “Why should I be deprived of such good fruit?”
• Korah – “Why Moses and Aaron?”
- The Rational Approach desires God to conform to the dictates of reason and to work accordingly.
A. God’s ways are not understandable by reason but by faith. (Hb. 11: 3)
B. God’s ways, however, are not contrary to reason for they are true.(Rev. 15:3). They only transcend reason. There is always a reason on which faith is based.
C. Naaman only got cleansed when he accepted the injunction with child-like simplicity and followed it in humility.

3. ASAPH – “Behold I have cleansed… in vain” (Ps. 73: 13) - The Materialistic Approach
- The Materialistic Approach gives rise to feelings of Theological vanity.(13)
- The Materialistic Approach gives rise to internal perplexity, confusion, boredom, and anxiety. (14)
- The Materialistic Approach makes one irritant towards God and fellowmen.(21)
- The Materialist remains as a beast though close to God.(22)
A. The Solution to the Materialist problem cannot be had materialistically (16)
B. The Answer to the Materialist problem is got by approaching God’s Sanctuary (The Place of God separated from ‘worldly’ ‘secular’ pursuits)
- An understanding of our separation from the world through past history of God’s dealing with us.
- An understanding of our separation from the world through present position in Christ.
- An understanding of our separation from the world through future hope of us and hopelessness of the world.

4. JOB – “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13: 15) – The Spiritual Approach.
- The Spiritual Approach is an approach of Trust
- The Spiritual Approach is an approach of Knowledge (2 Tim. 1: 12)
- The Spiritual Approach is an approach of Total Commitment (Dan. 3: 17)
- The Spiritual Approach is an approach of Love (Dt. 6:5; Ps. 31:23; Song 8:6)


Conclusion

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Placebo and the Philosophy of Mind and Matter in Drug Research

A placebo is a non-therapeutic substance administered under the camouflage of medication to deceive patients into believing that they are receiving medications; this done solely for psychological and not for physiological effects. Placebo may usually be used to compare its effects with the effects of other drugs in drug research. Let's take the case of an experiment that tries to establish whether a particular drug, say to treat weariness, is genuine or merely has the effects of a placebo. Suppose 20 candidates are chosen for this experiment. 10 are given the drug and the rest are put on a placebo while they are told that the placebo is a genuine medication. They need to make sure that the deception is well carried on for the success of the experiment. If both the groups make similar improvements after taking the treatments, the new drug seems to only function as a placebo in effect. The basic hypothesis of the placebo raises the question of mind over matter. Of course, this pushes...

This is My Father's World - Hymn (w/ Hindi Translation)

ENGLISH This is my father's world And to my listening ears All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres This is my father's world The birds their carols raise The morning light, the lily white Declare their maker's praise This is my father's world I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas His hand the wonders wrought This is my father's world Oh, let me never forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong God is the ruler yet This is my father's world Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is king, let the heavens ring God reigns, let the earth be glad This is my father's world He shines in all that's fair In the rustling grass, I hear him pass He speaks to me everywhere In the rustling grass, I hear him pass He speaks to me everywhere HINDI ये मेरा पिता का जहां और मेरे सुनते कानों में सारी कुदरत गाती झूमती है सरगम वो रचना की ये मेरा पिता का जहां पक्षियां भी गाती है सुबह का तेज, और सोसन श्‍वेत उसकी महिमा सुनाते है ये...

3 Facts About Temptation

M...L...S 1. Temptation is MOMENTARY. It won't last forever. The devil tries to make it look as the final reality. But, it is not. It is just a test, and it'll be over; but, the question is whether you'll pass it. 2. Temptation is a Test of LOVE; and LOVE is an action. Love fulfills all the commandments. The two greatest are LOVE GOD with all your being and LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR as yourself. But, love is not a feeling or emotion; it is an action. We need to LOVE Him more in the moment of temptation; it can only be possible when we focus on Him. 3. Temptation will make you STRONGER and PURER. It may stretch your muscle; but, not beyond your capacity; and then the HELPER, our TRAINER is there with us and knows what will make us stronger... Despite all this, let us never forget to pray: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one!"