Re: Answersingenesis: Feeling God's pleasure

From: David F Siemens (dfsiemensjr@juno.com)
Date: Thu Apr 12 2001 - 00:25:21 EDT

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    Does Colossians 3:17 fit? "Whatever you are doing, whether you speak or
    act, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
    the Father through him." (NIV) See also v. 23.
    Dave

    On Wed, 11 Apr 2001 22:24:22 -0400 "psiigii" <psiigii@home.com> writes:
    Given that most here would agree that God is the creator of all things
    and that He created them for a purpose (Rev. 4:11, etc.) leads one to
    conclude that when His creatures operate in accordance with that purpose
    ("functioning as designed") both the creatures and God "feel pleasure".
    The creature experiences pleasures because God designed the creature to
    experience these pleasures --physically, psychologically and
    spiritually-- when acting in accordance with His design. Experiencing
    pleasure when acting in accord with God's purpose necessarily extends to
    EVERY aspect of life in which we can see His intent.

    Some would shy away from nonspiritual endeavors -- including sexual -- as
    being base or worse, but if I assent to His being the creator of all, He
    is necessarily the creator and ordainer of all these intended creaturely
    actions -- including work and sex. That we can experience pleasure from
    achievement or sexual pleasure or any other healthy ("intended") pleasure
    apart from God either inadvertently or by intent is to be expected if we
    grasp that (1) man is capable of choice to act in accord with or in
    violation of His purpose and that (2) other extremely powerful moral
    agents (satan and the fallen angels) are present and want man to learn
    that he can experience pleasure apart from God's design. It is thus not
    unsurprising to learn that the "sexual satisfaction" level among
    committed Christian couples is considerably higher than among their
    non-Christian peers. The spiritual dimension --acknowledging God in the
    ways He intended-- imparts the "overflowing" to joy and pleasure.

    Howard

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: James W Stark
    To: asa
    Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 8:51 PM
    Subject: Re: Answersingenesis: Feeling God's pleasure

    on 4/8/01 8:56 PM, psiigii at psiigii@home.com wrote:

    It encourages me to hear this resonates with others here. The one thing
    that I get the most from here is reading the thoughts of those who take
    the Word of God seriously. What is discussed here is very important:
    scientific integrity does matter. Open discourse is an essential part of
    this process. The whats, whens and hows of creation is not the key
    issue, however, and that we remember this--especially approaching
    Easter--is good. We have been sent into the world to glorify Him in
    doing what He's called us to do (endeavors in science and science
    education for many here) SECOND-- we are to bear witness to Him FIRST.
    It encourages me greatly to see this in so many of you here.

                                                                             
                                                                 Howard

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Jonathan Clarke <mailto:jdac@alphalink.com.au>
    Cc: asa@calvin.edu
    Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2001 6:23 PM
    Subject: Re: Answersingenesis

    Hi Howard

    Something you wrote struck a strong chord with me.
     

    In the movie "Chariots of Fire", Eric Little told his sister, "When I
    run, I feel His pleasure." Likewise, I feel that when we use the
    capabilities He has given us as scientists to do the things He's called
    us to do (including anthropology, paleontology, physics, geology,
    biology, etc.) and we do those things seeking the truth for His glory, we
    feel His pleasure and can experience the awe of grasping-- though just in
    thimbles-full -- the excellence of His knowledge and wisdom. I, as most
    who subscribe here, believe God gave me a mind to use for His glory. In
    saying this I thus admit that having used that mind, I see a totally
    inadequate epistemological basis for YEC. I

    This has always been my favourite part of "Chariots of Fire". Perhaps
    participation in the historical sciences is as controversial for
    evangelical Christians in our day as participation in sport was in the
    1920's.

    Faith involves (or should involve) a transfer of focus from the "I" to
    "Thou". Much of what passes as science-faith discussion seems to focus
    on the "I" and the "It". However personally some of the times I have
    felt closest to God is when I have been not the rocks, contemplating the
    history of of a mountain range of a region. I have very much experienced
    a consciousness of "Thinking God's thoughts after Him" (is that Bacon's
    phrase?). Contemplation of creation should lead to awe and then to
    worship of the creator. This was the experience of the psalmists based
    on their limited knowledge, we, who know so much more, should be able
    respond similarly.

    Respectfully Jon

    ------------------------------------------------------------------

                       The embolded portions of the above concern me in how
    humans truly experience the presence of God.

                       How can we separate our personal experience of
    pleasure from that of God's pleasure?
             If we feel God's pleasure when we run, are we projecting our
    pleasure upon God?

           When we experience sexual pleasure, can we feel God's pleasure in
    that act? I thought sexuality was
           separated from spirituality. Are the tantric experiences of
    Eastern followers feeling the pleasure of
           God in their acts? All mortal life experiences sex and death, but
    immortals do not experience death.
           Since God is immortal, God is beyond sex. Is God also beyond our
    experience of sexual pleasure?
           Thus, separating sexuality from spirituality. Or can we project
    any of our feelings upon God?

           For me to experience the presence of God, I must focus on or be
    aware of God's presence during an act, be it prayer
           or a meditative searching for truth or a moment of awe. Is a
    choice to focus on God a necessary condition for God to feel
           our pleasure or sense of gratitude?

           Jim stark



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