The Word from the Mouth of God
Submitted by theshovel
Printer-friendly version
Send to friend
PDF versionIn the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ... Then God said ... and it was so. Genesis 1
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host. Psalm 33:6
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. John 1:1-3
That which comes from the mouth of God -- which is the substance and which is the shadow?
Once upon a time, I would have thought it absurd to question something so obvious. Believe me, I understand the comfort and security of fixed words recorded upon fixed pages contained within a solidly fixed book. Yet that fixed-ness keeps shifting under my feet. For the firmness -- which still appears firm to my senses -- continues to demand something more real. Something so real, that is, that the former reality pales in comparison. Perhaps as if it was only a shadow of the truly real.
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
Isaiah 55:11
When I was a child I naturally took this at face value, even though it presented much difficulty and confusion in my reasoning processes. Fortunately, I received some proper religious training so that I came to understand that God was invisible, which meant that He didn't really have a mouth -- not like people do, anyhow. Somehow though, the concept of the word that came out of that mouth was unaffected by the invisibility of God. I mean, I was forced to accept an invisible mouth -- otherwise we should be able to see it -- but the idea of invisible words was downright ridiculous because I was able to read those words every time I opened my Bible!
What if our religious perceptions are what they are because they cannot escape the logic upon which they exist? Yeah, let me explain, I know that sounds heavily philosophic. You see, theologians have described concepts such as God's mouth as being anthropomorphic, which means that God is being defined in human terms. Now, I have to admit, it sure made sense to me when I first heard it, and you know, it still does.
But what if we've been forcing a backward compatibility in the attempt to understand God? What I'm asking is this: What if God's mouth, God's word, God's hands, God's eyes, God's ears, etc are the real deal while ours are merely dim reflections? In other words, what if man had been made in the image of God ... and not the other way around? Doh!! Yeah, it might change everything, especially considering what happened to that which came out of the mouth of God!
To be continued ...
Comments
Re: The Word from the Mouth of God
Posted: November 25, 2002 by Sherri
Great job Sherlock Shovel!!
Holmes asked many questions in his day as he solved many mysteries!! You are very much like him! Brilliant minds think alike they say! : ) I have a question for you. What if the real brains and stimulus behind the Sherlock Shovel was the She-lock she-shovel? huhmmmm? ; )
Just wondering.
I think this is my new favorite and most stimulating of the Shadows series. Not to belittle any others in any way, of course!! Really!!
I just especially love the question ... a favorite of mine that you have graced my life and stimulated my thoughts and focus with many times ... "... what if man had been made in the image of God ... and not the other way around?" !!
I LOVE that!! : )
Hey, great picture, by the way!! I bet you were on the floor playing with your granddaughter, weren't you?! ; ) I know this because I am the brilliant one behind the Sherlock Shovel!! hee hee
Posted: November 25, 2002 by Vinnie
Jim,
Do you mind sending me a little DNA sample? I'd like to clone you 29 times, so that I could receive a shoveletter everyday of the month! (send me some money for food so that I could feed the 29 Jim's though)
I love this "shadows of biblical proportions" series. I was hooked after the first one. Looking forward to more!
Vinnie
Posted: November 25, 2002 by Rich
Hi Shylock,
In other words, what if man had been made in the image of God ... and not the other way around?
Not tracking here bro. Last time i checked man (us) was made in the image of God.
Rich
Posted: November 25, 2002 by the shovel
Hello Rich!
There is no doubt we have learned it -- and taught it -- as a Biblical premise, but our religious thought-processes have been built upon the "other way around".
Posted: November 25, 2002 by Betty
Jim, are you now wondering if God has a mouth? Ahhhh. Cannot spirit have mouth? Ohhhh. I sense that His feathers cover me. Are they not real? woowoow. Keep opening this kettle of fish.
Love you brother,
Posted: November 25, 2002 by Neil
This is gonna be good and I'm glad you're back on topic (though the "side trip" was nice...we often fool ourselves into thinking we must be religious at all times if we are going to be religious at all). An amazing thing: Three days ago I was pondering on those very scriptures you quoted and in the same order thinking of writing something on them! Like minds -- those that have the mind of Christ -- do think alike, no?
Love that new photo, Jim. (Incidentally, Jay Leno called and said he wants his chin back...he, he, he. I know you get a lot of that. :) :) :) It's a sign of strong character, doncha know? I'll try to get a shot of me to ya one of these days...then you can say something about my earpans.)
Your jug-eared Bro in Christ,
Posted: November 25, 2002 by Rick P
JIM!!!!!!!
I can't believe it! You are the first person who has ever stated a postulate I have been promoting ever since my wild, untamed Bible college days.
And getting ridiculed and shouted down over.
You mentioned "anthropomorphisms" in the word of God - the concept of trying to explain God in terms that humans can understand.
Like you, I believe that God is the reality and we are the shadow. They aren't anthropomorphisms. They are THEOPOMORPHISMS! - attributes of God that are ascribed to men.
Think about this. If God could choose to appear in any form (and he can) and he chose to appear to man (and he has on many occasions) what form would he most likely choose to appear in. This is where a reading of the first few verses of the book of Hebrews comes in handy. He has appeared in various ways and different forms until at the climax of time he appeared as:
A HUMAN BEING!
What a wonder. God, who could take on any form he chose, humbled himself and took on the likeness of sinful flesh.
Why?
Well, among the other reasons are the fact that God made man in his image.
Bible college explain-away: Since God is not a physical being and has no physical form, the likeness MUST be a "spiritual" likeness.
BUT! What if Adam WAS created in the image of God? What if God did have two arms, two legs, two eyes, etc? Well then Adam would have to look the same way.
When God was walking in the garden in the cool of the day in Genesis 2 and 3, what did he look like? I'm thinking - A HUMAN BEING!
But then I'm pretty stupid and naive. Most of this is likely just lunacy.
But keep up the good work.
Posted: November 25, 2002 by Adam
Ya, He is this "reality" isnt He,i used to sit and quitely ponder different things that kinda used some of these considerations,and i would be asking how we look in contrast to God---i would see things like the fact that God is the true form of US,and He is very much like us in some obvious ways--we are His after all---ya i know many teach how we are "nothing" like God--but in a creation point of view--we are offspring--we have His signiture--and especially now in Christ!
Add new comment