[McKenna]

4. What does the term “child of one God” mean for you? What are the implications?

For me, it is simple fact that we are all God's children, nobody any more than anyone else. The implications, I think, are many and great. The most important for me is that I cannot see God punishing - especially torturing - any of His children for eternity. Being God's children implies that we have Her everlasting, unconditional love, and for me that means that we will all eventually be welcomed into Heaven (or whatever you want to call it) with the help of Her grace. (I say eventually because I don't necessarily believe we have one life after which we are "saved" unconditionally...I really don't know what happens after death, of course, I simply believe that we will all eventually be reunited with God.)

What are your thoughts? Who are God's children? What does that phrase mean/imply?

[soma]

The Word is the seed in which all vibrations are contained because it is the source of everything in creation and is spoken in the silence of God's pure consciousness. It is God the Father revealing himself as the ‘pure I' feeling. From this Word or vibration all things are born and without ‘pure I' feeling nothing can exist without this feeling of existence. Each one of us is also a Word within the One Word. We are children of God. There is one collective ‘pure I' feeling and there are individual ‘pure I' feelings in each one of us. The collective ‘pure I' feeling is the personal concept of God that we usually call the Father. The ‘individual I' feelings are our own intimate relationship with that Father.

[JosephM]

McKenna, on May 22 2007, 09:35 PM, said:

4. What does the term “child of one God” mean for you? What are the implications?

For me, it is simple fact that we are all God's children, nobody any more than anyone else. The implications, I think, are many and great. The most important for me is that I cannot see God punishing - especially torturing - any of His children for eternity. Being God's children implies that we have Her everlasting, unconditional love, and for me that means that we will all eventually be welcomed into Heaven (or whatever you want to call it) with the help of Her grace. (I say eventually because I don't necessarily believe we have one life after which we are "saved" unconditionally...I really don't know what happens after death, of course, I simply believe that we will all eventually be reunited with God.)

What are your thoughts? Who are God's children? What does that phrase mean/imply?

Hi McKenna,

Yes, obviously nothing exists without God. God is the very invisible source which is in and through all things without exception. There are no other children but God's except as a figure of speech such as 'you are of your father the devil' because you obey that which is represented by the word 'devil'. Of course, there is no creator devil by which anything truly exists.

In my view, your second paragraph is verified in this mystery spoken of in Ephes. 1:9-10
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: [10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one ALL things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Irregardless that it appears in the NT it is true anyway.

Love and Peace,
JM

[McKenna]

JosephM, on May 23 2007, 01:19 PM, said:

Yes, obviously nothing exists without God. God is the very invisible source which is in and through all things without exception. There are no other children but God's except as a figure of speech such as 'you are of your father the devil' because you obey that which is represented by the word 'devil'. Of course, there is no creator devil by which anything truly exists.

I agree completely.

All that is is God's Creation. We are God's Creation. (But not in a creationist sense... ) We use the term "Children" because it is easier to think of ourselves as God's Children than God's Creation (just as we think of ourselves as our parents' children rather than our parents' creation - even though both are valid - although that's also because the latter is rather awkward to think of ).

JosephM, on May 23 2007, 01:19 PM, said:

In my view, your second paragraph is verified in this mystery spoken of in Ephes. 1:9-10
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: [10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one ALL things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Irregardless that it appears in the NT it is true anyway.

I'd never read that before. I like that passage. Thanks!

What do you mean by your last statement?

[McKenna]

soma, on May 22 2007, 10:52 PM, said:

The Word is the seed in which all vibrations are contained because it is the source of everything in creation and is spoken in the silence of God's pure consciousness. It is God the Father revealing himself as the ‘pure I' feeling. From this Word or vibration all things are born and without ‘pure I' feeling nothing can exist without this feeling of existence. Each one of us is also a Word within the One Word. We are children of God. There is one collective ‘pure I' feeling and there are individual ‘pure I' feelings in each one of us. The collective ‘pure I' feeling is the personal concept of God that we usually call the Father. The ‘individual I' feelings are our own intimate relationship with that Father.

You use different terminology than I would, but I see what you're saying

[JosephM]

McKenna, on May 23 2007, 08:55 PM, said:

I agree completely.

All that is is God's Creation. We are God's Creation. (But not in a creationist sense... ) We use the term "Children" because it is easier to think of ourselves as God's Children than God's Creation (just as we think of ourselves as our parents' children rather than our parents' creation - even though both are valid - although that's also because the latter is rather awkward to think of ).

Hello McKenna,
Yes, It is my view also that the 'creation' word is valid, probably even moreso but as you say it is more awkward communicating to the majority of Christians.

Quote

I'd never read that before. I like that passage. Thanks!

What do you mean by your last statement?

JM said:

Irregardless that it appears in the NT it is true anyway.

Your welcome.
Just a comment that basically says that even though I used a NT writing that happens to be true (in my view all NT writings are not true) I do not represent it as authority . Perhaps, it is because I give no authority to the NT even though I have used it for the benefit of others who accept it as authoritative when I deem it correct. I have been called a "cafeteria Christian/Preacher" lol. Hope that clarifies it somewhat.

Love and Peace,
JM

[McKenna]

JosephM, on May 23 2007, 09:42 PM, said:

Just a comment that basically says that even though I used a NT writing that happens to be true (in my view all NT writings are not true) I do not represent it as authority . Perhaps, it is because I give no authority to the NT even though I have used it for the benefit of others who accept it as authoritative when I deem it correct. I have been called a "cafeteria Christian/Preacher" lol. Hope that clarifies it somewhat.

Ah, sorry! I'm still confused. You believe that all NT writings are not true? As in, everything in the NT is false? If that's what you meant...why do you believe that? But you also said you used a NT writing that "happens to be true"...a true statement in an entirely false document? I must be misunderstanding you somehow

[JosephM]

McKenna, on May 24 2007, 08:34 PM, said:

Ah, sorry! I'm still confused. You believe that all NT writings are not true? As in, everything in the NT is false? If that's what you meant...why do you believe that? But you also said you used a NT writing that "happens to be true"...a true statement in an entirely false document? I must be misunderstanding you somehow

McKenna,
No. Of course not. I neither believe it is all true or all false. My view is it cannot be accepted or given any blanket authority just based on it being accepted by the majority of Christian churches. It is my view it contains truths and it also contains opinions that are not inspired by God. ie: True= Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Not True or from God= 1 Tim. 2:12
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
Also a host of other teachings and opinions in contradiction to Gal 3:28 such as 1 Cor 11:13, 11:15, etc.

True= James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Not true= Genesis 22:1
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

Perhaps, what I am saying in effect.... One need not accept anything written until it is revealed directly by a direct connection with God. One has to be open but not naive enough to unconditionally accept any document or letter as gospel without hearing from God for oneself.

Hope this cleared up your question.

Love and Peace,
JM

PS Saying "All NT writings are not true" is not exclusive in the context used. The use of ... all that is used informally in a negative sentence means "to the degree expected." Such as "All of the movie was not funny" does not preclude that some of it was funny.

This post has been edited by JosephM: 25 May 2007 - 08:36 AM

[McKenna]

JosephM, on May 25 2007, 09:20 AM, said:

McKenna,
No. Of course not. I neither believe it is all true or all false. My view is it cannot be accepted or given any blanket authority just based on it being accepted by the majority of Christian churches. It is my view it contains truths and it also contains opinions that are not inspired by God. ie: True= Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Not True or from God= 1 Tim. 2:12
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
Also a host of other teachings and opinions in contradiction to Gal 3:28 such as 1 Cor 11:13, 11:15, etc.

True= James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Not true= Genesis 22:1
And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

Perhaps, what I am saying in effect.... One need not accept anything written until it is revealed directly by a direct connection with God. One has to be open but not naive enough to unconditionally accept any document or letter as gospel without hearing from God for oneself.

Hope this cleared up your question.

Love and Peace,
JM

PS Saying "All NT writings are not true" is not exclusive in the context used. The use of ... all that is used informally in a negative sentence means "to the degree expected." Such as "All of the movie was not funny" does not preclude that some of it was funny.

Ahh, I understand what you were trying to say now. You meant "Not all NT writings are true," not "All NT writings are false." Gotcha!

In that case, I very much agree with you

[Russ]

JosephM, on May 25 2007, 09:20 AM, said:

One need not accept anything written until it is revealed directly by a direct connection with God. One has to be open but not naive enough to unconditionally accept any document or letter as gospel without hearing from God for oneself.

This is an important thread of thought. My particular Faith is based upon the proposition that God can be directly experienced and there is no need for human mediation. The Bible is viewed, and correctly so to me, as a human construction based upon divine inspiration. The same inspiration that led the authors to write the passages in the OT and NT can be experienced by any one of us by connecting with the Indwelling God, or as we Quakers say, 'the Light Within' or in the older phrase, 'That of God within all men'. We are all Children of God.

[JosephM]

Russ, on Sep 13 2007, 07:19 AM, said:

This is an important thread of thought. My particular Faith is based upon the proposition that God can be directly experienced and there is no need for human mediation. The Bible is viewed, and correctly so to me, as a human construction based upon divine inspiration. The same inspiration that led the authors to write the passages in the OT and NT can be experienced by any one of us by connecting with the Indwelling God, or as we Quakers say, 'the Light Within' or in the older phrase, 'That of God within all men'. We are all Children of God.

Amen...