Do you believe it is ok to pretend to speak as God in first person? I am reminded of billboards that were here in Indiana a few years ago that were signed "God"
While most of the content was actually good, I believe it is wrong to use God's name in that way. To quote from scripture is great but to attribute our own conclusions on the word of God, our own opinions as being from the very mouth of God is very dangerous.
I was quite offended by the "Whippoorwill song" not only for the doctrine (that is bad enough) but for the fact that it was claiming to be spoken by God when those words are never found in the Bible.
Now before you take this to another C/A thread, please do not.
It would be equally wrong for me to write a song like this:
What is wrong with that? Besides the fact that it is poor theology, it claims to be spolen from the mouth of God.
I believe it is very dangerous to do that.
Is it proper to speak in the place of God?
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Dale-c, Aug 21, 2007.
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I think if we put it in a way that was not first person from God we could write a decent song, at least theologically like such:
If you find fault with this it is with my own interpretation. It is spoken as my own interpretation. -
I live in Indiana as well.
I do not like signs that say stuff like
" 'Come to Church on Sunday'
--God " -
While I disagree with many of the billboards seen on highways and byways all across our country, I cannot say that man cannot speak for God these days.
Pastors, Evangelists, and Missionaries are commanded to 'Preach the Word. 'Be instant in season, out of season...'
What Word was Paul speaking of when he penned down those verses found in 2 Timothy? Why... the inspired Word of Almighty God.
God still speaks to man today as He did beginning with Noah (the first one told to speak for Him) and continuing through the Word of God.
If God did not want man speaking for Him today, there would be no need for Pastors, Evangelists, and Missionaries at all. -
SFIC, do you make a difference between the revealed word of GOd and men making up new doctrines?
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Dale,
If the preacher is preaching from the Word of God, he will not be making up 'new doctrines'. If his preaching from the pulpit does not line up with the Word of God, then he has not received what he is preaching from God.
Plain and simple.
The hearer of the message has a responsibility too. The hearer, instead of just believing what the preacher says just because 'he is a preacher and must know what he is talking about', has a responsibility to study the Word, search the Scriptures to see if these things be so.
One who will not study the Word is not going to know when the preacher is telling a falsehood. -
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I think I agree. My point is that in the course of writing songs etc, do we have the right to say "God said this" even when God never actually said that?
The song I quoted above was my basis for it.
Do you think that type of speaking for God is proper? -
Well now, I admit songwriter's do sometimes take theological liberties in the writing of lyrics. In this particular discussion, if the theme of the lyrics is in line with scripture even though the exact wording isn't contained in scripture, I can find no problem with it.
I think the theology of the lyrics is more important than from who's point of it is sung from, including God's. -
IF you read the words of Christ in the BIble and take poetic liberty to paraphrase that for a song, I think that is ok.
But to come up with something that God never said at all and speak as if it were God speaking, I do have a problem with that.
Of course I also have a problem with the doctrine of this as well. -
Anyway, they're obviously jokes, and I don't think anyone actually thinks someone is trying to put words in God's mouth. I'd really rather see some other joke in their place, but I don't really get bent out of shape when I see them. -
This is somewhat related to the O/P:
When we first moved here to the State of WA over 12 years ago we went to several churches seeking a good Baptist Church.
I remember in one Church in Sunday School the teacher was in the book of 1 John and opened the lesson with this verse:
1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
He asked this question "Does this mean that we should all take our Bibles and go home"?
How would you answer this question.
HankD -
I guess I'll have to answer my own question.
Actually its a case of context, John in the previous verse says
26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
In the context he is speaking of these men who were denying the Father and the Son (presumably non-Trintarians), false teachers.
the contextual meaning is therefore those kind of men. Unregenerate.
Obviously from other Scripture God has given to the Church those who have "spiritual" gifts.
Ephesians 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
HankD