tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551674.post6917983810733879458..comments2024-01-13T01:15:22.832-05:00Comments on CROSS-eyed: The Immutability of Our Godpastor justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07638482688179445244noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551674.post-70634016298185594752008-05-07T07:27:00.000-04:002008-05-07T07:27:00.000-04:00Jonah,Thanks for your comment.I completely disagre...Jonah,<BR/>Thanks for your comment.<BR/>I completely disagree with Open Theism and am grieved that you have embraced it.<BR/><BR/>However, I don't disagree with your comments. Saying that God does not change does not mean that God is static or boring. God responds to His creatures and has genuine emotions.<BR/><BR/>If you have time, read the article on the immutability of God on Sam Storms' website. www.samstorms.com. He does a goood job of explaining this attribute of God.pastor justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07638482688179445244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17551674.post-37186521076069930572008-05-06T21:47:00.000-04:002008-05-06T21:47:00.000-04:00As an open theist, I'd like to respond to this if ...As an open theist, I'd like to respond to this if I may.<BR/><BR/>----"God has neither evolved, grown, nor improved."<BR/><BR/>I agree, God has never gone from one state to a better state.<BR/><BR/>----"God does not deteriorate."<BR/><BR/>True.<BR/><BR/>----"God does not develop."<BR/><BR/>True, this is another growth word which can't apply to God.<BR/><BR/>----"God does not mature."<BR/><BR/>Yes, another growth word.<BR/><BR/>----"God does not ripen."<BR/><BR/>Growth...true.<BR/><BR/>----"God needs no upgrades or tune-ups."<BR/><BR/>Again, true.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Notice that each of these statements are all types of growth or reduction. By using these statements as arguments against the open theist notion of God changing, Justin is assuming that all change is a type of growth or reduction. I assert that this is not necessarily so. A river is, by its nature, changing continuously and yet staying the same in its strength and essence -- or, its "riverness." A great general will change his tactics depending on the situation, but this does not change his greatness.<BR/><BR/>By this I mean to say that God can change to meet changing situations but NEVER changes in his power or essence. His character and goodness is always the same. Now maybe you can agree that saying that something has changed doesn't "necessarily" mean that it has grown or reduced. But maybe the real dispute is over whether the situations ever change for God.<BR/><BR/>Does God's situation ever change? Maybe that's the difficult question for us. I assert that it does. One example is prayer. Just lifting a prayer to God changes His situation. For Him to listen is a change. For Him to have something to listen to is a change. For Him to react to the prayer is a change.<BR/><BR/>But most explicit is the change that occurred when the Son became flesh, took on sin, was separated from the Father, died and was raised. The truth that is so central to our Christian faith is the most dramatic demonstration of change possible.<BR/><BR/>The 5 point list of God's immutability that you list, I agree with all of them. Nothing in any of the points that you have posted disagree with open theism. I don't disagree that God does not change in those 5 things. But to take those 5 ways in which God does not change and jump straight to God never changes is a demonstratable mistake.<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>Jonah4:4Jonah4:4https://www.blogger.com/profile/10169381055917433649noreply@blogger.com