Image by Getty Images via @daylifeChristian Doctrine – 1 – God Introduction
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My Kingdom/"Higher Power" Kingdom
Let's start this lesson by defining "Higher Power" or as many know it, God. "God" is something for which a man will sacrifice everything else.
Who/what is your god/God?
"A man's god may be his own individual success or pleasure or happiness. It may be his family or his nation or even his church. It may be an ethical idea or a political cause. In our time it may even be 'nothingness' or 'meaninglessness.'" (Christian Doctrine-Shirley C. Guthrie, Jr.)
A person's "God"' provides a purpose for his life. This purpose provides Goals to achieve and the motivation to achieve them. And as a result of man's desire to achieve these goals and purpose, he learns to understand his "God." We start to get a handle on this subject, and yet the question still may persist: Is their a God?
"If... one puts aside the existence of God and the possibility of survival as too doubtful, to have any effect on one's behavior, one has to make up one's mind what is the meaning and use of life. If death ends all, if I have neither to hope for good to come nor to fear evil, I must ask myself what I am here for, and how in these circumstances i must conduct myself" (Somerset Maugham).
This question is a book in itself. I will not try to completely answer that question at this time. But I would like to throw out just a few comments on that question. Another question that persists is: "Do I need God?"
Let's start this lesson by defining "Higher Power" or as many know it, God. "God" is something for which a man will sacrifice everything else.
Top of Form
Who/what is your god/God?
"A man's god may be his own individual success or pleasure or happiness. It may be his family or his nation or even his church. It may be an ethical idea or a political cause. In our time it may even be 'nothingness' or 'meaninglessness.'" (Christian Doctrine-Shirley C. Guthrie, Jr.)
A person's "God"' provides a purpose for his life. This purpose provides Goals to achieve and the motivation to achieve them. And as a result of man's desire to achieve these goals and purpose, he learns to understand his "God." We start to get a handle on this subject, and yet the question still may persist: Is their a God?
"If... one puts aside the existence of God and the possibility of survival as too doubtful, to have any effect on one's behavior, one has to make up one's mind what is the meaning and use of life. If death ends all, if I have neither to hope for good to come nor to fear evil, I must ask myself what I am here for, and how in these circumstances i must conduct myself" (Somerset Maugham).
This question is a book in itself. I will not try to completely answer that question at this time. But I would like to throw out just a few comments on that question. Another question that persists is: "Do I need God?"
"When man submits God to moral judgment. He kills him in his own heart. And then what is the basis of morality? God is denied in the name of justice but can the idea of justice be understood without the idea of God?" (Albert Camus).
Another question that persists is: "how do I know what to do?
"If I have excluded God the Father, there must be somebody to invent values.
"If God does not exist... man is in consequence forlorn, for he cannot find anything to depend upon either within or outside himself." (Jean-Paul Sartre).
Another question that persist is: "Why not just live my life in the world?"
"Since there are many steps by which one mounts to the home of truth, it is not easy for anyone to reach the top. For when lights are dazzling one with the brightness of thee truth, if one does not keep a firm foothold down one rolls to the bottom again. Now the first step is.... to cast aside the impious worship of gods made with hands. The second step is to perceive with the mind the fact that God is one most high, whose power and providence makes the world from thee beginning and directs it towards a future. The third step is to know His Servant and Messenger, whom He sent, an embassy to Earth. (Lactantius-Christian apologist-North Africa).
Without a "God," life has no purpose, nothing "to live for." Life has no motivation to utilize, no goals to achieve, and no success to enjoy. Without a "God," Life is not worth living. If you desire to live life to its fullest; you must select a "God." The degree of fullness and success is based on the "God" you select.
Why not science and knowledge?
"The question I am asking is: can scientists and politicians who have acquired god-like power too alter our way of life be restrained y the application of moral principles? if so, what moral principals?" (Edmond Leach-1967 Reith Lecture).
Ask any scientist who may have studied the history of humanity about one of the most common things between all groups of history. Regardless of how uncivilized the group may be; they had a "god" or "gods." To them they only had to look at the world around them and realize that somehow it had to come into existence. It certainly was something that they could not have created or could they control it. Through the years of history we have made many attempts to create or control this world. Yes, we have had a little bit of success. But the percentage of what we have been able to create or control is so small compared to the total; that it may not even be possible for our greatest mathematician to come up with it.
How do we come to know "God?"
Yes you can know God personally, as presumptuous as that may sound. god is so eager to establish a personal, loving relationship with you that He has already made all the arrangements. He is patiently and lovingly waiting for you to respond to His invitation.
How am I going to learn about my coaches?
God is known by various ways.
(Job 9:8-12)
"No one helped God spread out the heavens or trample the sea monsters back. God hung the stars in the south. We cannot understand the great things he does, and to his miracles there is no end. God passes by, but I cannot see him. He takes what he wants, and no one can stop him, no one dares ask him; 'What are you doing?'"
When have you felt small and most overwhelmed by an awesome natural wonder: (a) On top of a mountain or canyon? (b) Flying? (c) Inside a mammoth cave? (d) Sailing the ocean? (e) Gazing at the stars?
By contrast, when do you feel BIG?
Which did you feel last week - small or BIG? Why?
We are now led to know "God" by the ways he has provided us. This is what we will be studying in the course next.
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