When German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche declared that God was dead more than one hundred years ago, most regarded Nietzsche as an atheist. However that statement reflects a more subtle understanding of divinity. In Nietzsche’s view, recent developments in modern science and the increasing secularization of European society had effectively ‘killed’ the Christian God. To that I’d add that we’re in the process of killing the religious God and it’s about time!
My God is dead- the God I was taught, the God I used to believe in.
>The God of anger in the Old Testament
>The God that sent people to hell for eternity
>The God who only saved Christians
>The God who hated Esau and homosexuals
>The God of conditional love, etc.
Have you ever known that God? Are you still trying to make that God pleased with you? Don’t!
The pre-modern period was characterized by faith in the dogma that was formulated by priests, kings, emperors, and Popes. The modern period was characterized by reasoning except for when it came to believing the Bible was literally true- then reasoning wasn’t used. And now we come to the post modern period wherein spiritual life is about COMMUNITY and relationships.
Remember the trinity (a relational community)?
The world is no longer as it was twenty years ago (pre-email, digital living, etc.) which takes us to November 9, 1987 when most say the post modern world began. The world has moved on while most of the church has dug in. Our kids are wired differently today. Scientifically, their DNA is being transformed by light- even without neither knowing. We’re coming into an era of magnified consciousness- by the grace of the Creator-Source.
Abraham Lincoln had not a clue as to how prophetic he was when we said, “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present.”
Past Christianity has no more been on solid ground than we physically are seeing that the surface of the earth set on molten core, fault lines, and liquified rocks. Past Christianity that supported slavery, Hitler, hyper-patriarchy, and bibliolatry is moving off stage. Truth is found in relationships, not in the dictums and dogma of the clergy that desperately tries to control their flocks.
Love is the answer! And love doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s “all hands on deck”, not let the priest have the deck, if you get my drift.
God is dead- the God that culture and religion created. But Spirit, Consciousness, Source, Creator, Being, and I AM , which always have been, IS ALIVE.
Are you? 
Truth is found in the word of God, which if received has the power to set the captives free, according to Jesus (John 8:32). Granted, there are people that have abused the word of God, even as there are corrupt police, teacher, and government officials. Handling the word of life accurately brings understanding (light) to darkened minds (II Timothy 2:15, Psalm 119:130). Paul, Peter, John and James gave us a good amount of doctrine which if we’re wise enough to incorporate it into our lives has power to help us become who God created us to be. A humble person will look to the word of God for instruction. (Isaiah 66:2) Paul said scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, correction, reproof, and training in righteousness that we may be adequate and equipped for God to use us as He desires (2 Tim. 3:16,17)
Yes that God is dead and so are we. Dieing daily that is. Maturing in the spirit. Free from condemnation. Existing in the present. Allowing God to be expressed through us in acts of love and kindness to complete strangers, not just those of our own household. Enjoying the life that God and I together are creating. One of those freedoms is no longer having the desire to force others to strictly adhere to our doctrine in order to be accepted by us. But rather choosing to walk before men in such a way that they may see the light in our lives and be drawn to God by it. Living light, living epistles. Jesus said “If I am lifted up I will draw all men unto me”
Exactly Paulette, and as soon as we understand that “lifting up Jesus” is simply LOVING PEOPLE, and not quoting some doctrine, trying to force some law, or commandment on others, the faster we’ll see Consciousness (mind of Christ) arise!
As has been said, we come into the world full of love and dependent upon others for life! The GOOD NEWS!
Then we’re taught we’ve sinned before we take a breath of air (original sin), that we need to fear God (HELL NEWS), and be suspicious of others (can you say prejudiced)?
I agree that Jesus loved all who did not agree with Him, like the Pharisees. We should do likewise. However, remaining silent and living God’s word is not scriptural. Moses, Joshua, and all the prophets SPOKE the words of God to the people, knowing His words are full of life. Jesus encapsulated the heart of God when He said, “these things I have spoken to you, that you may be kept from stumbling.” (John 16:1) I am grateful that He cared enough to tell people there is a price to be paid for unbelief, which ultimately brings about disobedience. This is the meaning of the word “apeitheo” in the New Testament (SC #544). It is used in John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey (believe) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” God doesn’t force the truth on anyone, but does love us enough to let us know exactly what’s at stake so we can make wise choices.
As if the Infinite Creator of All could be capable of wrath. Man has created enough wrath in this world to last us until the next!
Much like the writers or scripture, we have all assigned human attributes and emotions to what we perceive as God. We assign those attributes to this external “God” because we fail to look within to see the cause of our own torment. The doctrine of a vengeful and jealous God who wrestles with the sinner’s heart has accomplished nothing but the perpetuation of further division, separation, and animosity within the world today.
When we dare to see ourselves as the cause of the circumstances in our lives, we begin making the proverbial exodus from that barren wilderness of stale logic and understanding into a Promised Land of Light and Love.
God’s holy love for His creation of mankind is clear in Exodus 20:5 when God told Moses He was a jealous God. He created us for Himself and His desire for intimacy with His people allows no rivals. Paul told the Ephesians (5:5,6), “For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person…has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Paul’s credentials are uniquely impressive. He was chosen by Jesus after His ascention. Jesus knew Paul would be writing most of the New Testament when He selected the former persecutor to be His messenger to the Gentiles.
Linda- According to the Bible, Jesus gave us only two imperatives (commandments),”Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and GREATEST commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” MATT 22:37-39 Then he added: “All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.” MATT 22:40
You said: “Moses, JOSHUA, and all the prophets SPOKE the words of God to the people.” Let me quote Joshua and you tell me if these are the words of God. The same God Jesus spoke of as the loving Father:
“Joshua left no survivors. He destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel commanded.” Joshua 10:40. Or is this simply a misinterpretation by Joshua of what he thought God wanted him to do.
Obviously, if a Christian must believe the Bible is the infallible words of God, then we have a problem. There are simply too many contradictions in “scripture”. If you are unwilling to question the infallibility of the Bible, that there might be errors then there is no argument to which you will listen . If you believe every statement and story recorded in “scripture” is equally true, there is a problem. With tongue in cheek I say, maybe Marcion was right. Maybe the God of the OT and the God of Jesus is two different gods. But, I can’t help but believe that even you have struggled to reconcile the often contradictory biblical images of God.
I believe we have to “weigh scripture”. We have to look at the overall picture which the Bible presents. I believe that we find the scales tipped irrevocably in favor of LOVE. Love is the core message of the Bible. Paul said,”The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself”. If we examine every chapter and verse of “scripture” and miss the primacy of love, we are not loving God with all our mind. The primacy of love means I can’t accept Joshua’s claim that God commanded the genocide of his neighbors in Caanan. God doesn’t murder his children. God doesn’t command me to love my neighbor then murder him. That is out of character, as are many of the scriptural contradictions.
In Luke 17, Jesus affirmed the validity of the Father’s judgment upon people in the days of Noah, as well as of Sodom and Gomorrah. In both accounts, God gave people ample time to repent. God doesn’t bring about big judgments without first warning the people. Not to warn would be inconsistent with God’s character. Ezekiel 3 and 33 speak about God’s warnings. In Joshua 2 and 6, Rahab, in an unbelieving society, understood the urgency of the times and she knew enough to choose life. The choice is there for every time, every person, every nation.
Regardless of what you say or the number of verses you quote, you have created for yourself a God of wrath. No thanks!!!
Once you classify and label something it retains its label until you rename it. A chair will always be a chair both in name and function until we reclassify it. Likewise our perception of the Divine will remain until we rename it. A God of Love can’t also be a God of Wrath. It is our perception, though limited by mortal flesh, that creates the God we worship. To know God is to experience Him/She/It not through water downed words but through a personal connection that reaches down to every atom in your body and radiates back out. If you perceive God as only loving those lucky enough to here and acknowledge Jesus (as you know him) then your love will be just as limited. What perception of God have you experienced? What do you radiate?