Ok, I will admit from the start that I am going a little heavy today. But, as I talk about the transcendence of God versus the immanence of God, please don't be put off by theological jargon but wrestle with its implications for you life. These characteristics of God are vitally important toward understanding and enjoying both our God and our lives.
Yesterday in my Jr. High Confirmation class we discussed the essence of God being described as God's holiness. Holiness means "to seperate, to divide." It refers to God's essence as being so utterly different from us. In other words, God is seperate, distinct from and different from us. This seems in contrast but in no way nullifies God's immanence which means God is with us. Both realities are true of God, yet do we celebrate the immanence of God to the exclusion of God's transcendence? In other words, do we celebrate that God is with us, close, near and identifying with us to the exclusion of celebrating God being different, seperate and different from us?
The question for my confirmation class is the question I have for all of us today, "Why should we celebrate God's transcendence?" "Why should we be thankful that God is so utterly different and seperate from us?" Also, what happens if we celebrate only God's immanence at the exclusion of God's transcendence? Finally, "how would actively celebrating God's transcendence imact our every day lives?"
The answers to these questions can have a significant impact on our lives, if we put in the effort to wrestle with these questions. I would enjoy hearing your feedback.
Beams Away!
Yesterday in my Jr. High Confirmation class we discussed the essence of God being described as God's holiness. Holiness means "to seperate, to divide." It refers to God's essence as being so utterly different from us. In other words, God is seperate, distinct from and different from us. This seems in contrast but in no way nullifies God's immanence which means God is with us. Both realities are true of God, yet do we celebrate the immanence of God to the exclusion of God's transcendence? In other words, do we celebrate that God is with us, close, near and identifying with us to the exclusion of celebrating God being different, seperate and different from us?
The question for my confirmation class is the question I have for all of us today, "Why should we celebrate God's transcendence?" "Why should we be thankful that God is so utterly different and seperate from us?" Also, what happens if we celebrate only God's immanence at the exclusion of God's transcendence? Finally, "how would actively celebrating God's transcendence imact our every day lives?"
The answers to these questions can have a significant impact on our lives, if we put in the effort to wrestle with these questions. I would enjoy hearing your feedback.
Beams Away!
Unfortunately, even without using the word "transcendent" many think of God as "distant" and out of touch with their daily lives. What a privilege to have a God who is both holy and different from us, yet near and caring for us in every situation we face.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for His transcendence because it is His absolute holiness and unwavering character that backs up His immanence. I am thinking of His promises,of which He never breaks. Promises like, I will never leave you or forsake you. A promise of His immanence.
ReplyDeleteI am truly thankful for God's transcendence also. Because God is Holy and far transcends us He is worthy our worship. If he were like us, He wouldn't be worthy of worship. If we acknowledged His transcendence on a daily basis we would see His power and more working in our lives. I am thankful for His immanence also, because we can trust Him to be with us through all kinds of circumstances. As quoted above, "He will never leave us or forsake us" What a comfort that is!
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