How do believers speak for god?

[RestlessSoul]

I notice religious regardless and those who aren't have a concept they hear or have a sense of someone, something, or X that somehow gave them a profound sign or message. Deceased loved ones, ancestors, angels, or just practice.

How would a person know where and which source that source came from, from that alone?

What's unique about gods voice (for sake of discussion) that a person would recognize as one god over another?

Sometimes one just knows. And sometimes, one gets it wrong, which is why it pays to consult with others.

It's a lifetime's practice, I think, building a relationship with God. Enough for more than one lifetime, according to Eastern faiths. But I believe a loving creator, which I call God, is always with us, waiting to guide us when we truly ask for guidance. But we need the willingness, honesty and open mindedness to be able to listen, we need the humility to put aside ego, and we need the discipline to silence the chattering of our own minds.

I do not believe, personally, that it is necessary to recognise one God over another, for although God has many names, and is visualised and described in many ways, depending on faith, geography, culture and tradition, there is only one Divine Source, infinite and indivisible.

 

[Muffled]

I believe I don't speak for God but rather that God speaks through me. Anyone not doing that is presuming what God has to say.

 

[Muffled]

Do you believe saints of different religions is also messengers of God?

I believe I have found that God can speak through anyone He wishes and a donkey as well.

 

[Muffled]

I consider myself God's personal puppet, but the point of my existence might be to serve as a lesson to others as what not to do, all good.

I believe puppet is not exactly what God does in me. I believe He uses my brain for His own purposes. That would mean He could use someone else's brain and things come out a little different because brains differ.

 

[syo]

how do you speak for god?

Why not? The gods are deist anyway. We can say whatever we want, and the deist Gods will do nothing.

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

True Christians have always believed that God is in some sense the author of scripture. This is what makes it authoritative, God's own authority. Of course you can choose to believe otherwise.
That's why faith is required. Faith according to scripture is evidence of the unseen.
Hebrews 11:
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Jesus spoke of faith as small as a mustard seed moving mountains.

thanks for that thoughtful response, Wildswanderer

i see it precisely as you, and could not possibly have stated it better

 

[Bree]

Genuine question to believers (to whom this appropriate): how do you speak for god?

For example, and I'll quote not to be rude to whom I quoted. I rather be blunt than go around the bush.

@Wildswanderer....God doesn't need to explain anything. He had the real truth written down, a physical tomb, a physical raising from the dead

@Trailblazer.... Just because God knew what brains have the capacity to do that does not mean God intended for them to do anything. God does not determine what humans do, humans do.

@Fool When God says he is alpha and omega, does that imply everything created

@Jim He says that people can enter it by following Him. He gives people advice about how to live the best life they can.

and others.

How do believers know what god thinks and does? Even one person says god is compassion and doesn't do harm and the other says he does harm but that means he is just.

Especially if someone was outside god-belief systems, how would they ascertain that it is actually god believers speak of or just concepts they agree with and put in "god's mouth?"

Using scripture is only a confirmation bias but doesn't address the question.

Insights?

The holy scriptures, the bible, is Gods thoughts in writing. Also the accounts of peoples lives in the bible, and how God dealt with certain individuals shows us how God thinks and feels.
The laws he created for Israel show us how he views matters of everyday life and shows us how he wants us to behave.

If I said 'God hates liars' its because he tells us that himself in the bible.

Proverbs 6:16 There are six things that Jehovah hates;
Yes, seven things that he* detests:
17 Haughty eyes,+ a lying tongue,+ and hands that shed innocent blood,+
18 A heart plotting wicked schemes,+ and feet that run quickly to evil,
19 A false witness who lies with every breath,+
And anyone sowing contentions among brothers.+


I can confidently tell you that God hates it when people lie about matters. Even 'little white lies' are something that he hates.


The bible is the answer to everything.

 

[Fallen Prophet]

Genuine question to believers (to whom this appropriate): how do you speak for god?

For example, and I'll quote not to be rude to whom I quoted. I rather be blunt than go around the bush.

@Wildswanderer....God doesn't need to explain anything. He had the real truth written down, a physical tomb, a physical raising from the dead

@Trailblazer.... Just because God knew what brains have the capacity to do that does not mean God intended for them to do anything. God does not determine what humans do, humans do.

@Fool When God says he is alpha and omega, does that imply everything created

@Jim He says that people can enter it by following Him. He gives people advice about how to live the best life they can.

and others.

How do believers know what god thinks and does? Even one person says god is compassion and doesn't do harm and the other says he does harm but that means he is just.

Especially if someone was outside god-belief systems, how would they ascertain that it is actually god believers speak of or just concepts they agree with and put in "god's mouth?"

Using scripture is only a confirmation bias but doesn't address the question.

Insights?

I believe that it is only through the witness of the Holy Spirit that God's Word can be manifest.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I believe that it is only through the witness of the Holy Spirit that God's Word can be manifest.

Like god through christ?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Sometimes one just knows. And sometimes, one gets it wrong, which is why it pays to consult with others.

It's a lifetime's practice, I think, building a relationship with God. Enough for more than one lifetime, according to Eastern faiths. But I believe a loving creator, which I call God, is always with us, waiting to guide us when we truly ask for guidance. But we need the willingness, honesty and open mindedness to be able to listen, we need the humility to put aside ego, and we need the discipline to silence the chattering of our own minds.

I do not believe, personally, that it is necessary to recognise one God over another, for although God has many names, and is visualised and described in many ways, depending on faith, geography, culture and tradition, there is only one Divine Source, infinite and indivisible.

How would I (a person) tell the difference because not all theist (western and eastern) share the same concept of god and definition. Yet they do tend to express that feeling of human connection.

If it were from a god/s I would be distinct in expression. How would I know without consulting a authority or authoritative writing?

 

[RestlessSoul]

How would I (a person) tell the difference because not all theist (western and eastern) share the same concept of god and definition. Yet they do tend to express that feeling of human connection.

If it were from a god/s I would be distinct in expression. How would I know without consulting a authority or authoritative writing?

Well I would recommend consulting authorities and authoritative writing, certainly.

When it comes to writing, I would suggest reading as widely as possible; the libraries of the world are stacked with the accumulated wisdom of centuries, so why pick only one book? Though some do, and spend a lifetime researching and interpreting it.

When it comes to choosing living people, a group or institution from whom to seek guidance, I would suggest looking at how they conduct themselves, what they do and what they seem to offer.

There are, unfortunately, some who would deliberately mislead you. No easy answers here really. How do we decide who to trust and who not to trust? One should beware the priestly class, particularly those who tell us rather than show us, how to live and to behave. So perhaps look at what people do rather than what they say;

By their fruits ye shall know them.

- Matthew 7:16-20

I do believe we are all free to choose our own conception of God, and to develop our own relationship with that power. The spheres have their music, and no one person has the right to tell another how they ought to listen (to paraphrase a man called Bill Wilson).

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Genuine question to believers (to whom this appropriate): how do you speak for god?

For example, and I'll quote not to be rude to whom I quoted. I rather be blunt than go around the bush.

@Wildswanderer....God doesn't need to explain anything. He had the real truth written down, a physical tomb, a physical raising from the dead

@Trailblazer.... Just because God knew what brains have the capacity to do that does not mean God intended for them to do anything. God does not determine what humans do, humans do.

@Fool When God says he is alpha and omega, does that imply everything created

@Jim He says that people can enter it by following Him. He gives people advice about how to live the best life they can.

and others.

How do believers know what god thinks and does? Even one person says god is compassion and doesn't do harm and the other says he does harm but that means he is just.

Especially if someone was outside god-belief systems, how would they ascertain that it is actually god believers speak of or just concepts they agree with and put in "god's mouth?"

Using scripture is only a confirmation bias but doesn't address the question.

Insights?

With me it’s like how spider sense is portrayed in the movies. God tells me to tell you not to trust people who claim to hear God, lol. My God told me that He didn’t say half of what is in the Bible. He said anything He wills would be evident in reality. Thus, if a God is telling someone that the Bible is true or the only source, they may be listening to a God but not any Who appreciate reality.

 

[Fallen Prophet]

Like god through christ?

If I'm understanding your question correctly - yes?

 

[TrueBeliever37]

I do not claim to know what God thinks or does. All that I believe that God does is send Messengers in every age.
Nobody knows what God is thinking, not even the Messengers.

That's ridiculous to send a messenger that doesn't even know what you think. Wouldn't that be kinda hard to convey your message don't ya think.

How can we understand his message if the messenger himself doesn't understand his own message?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Well I would recommend consulting authorities and authoritative writing, certainly.

When it comes to writing, I would suggest reading as widely as possible; the libraries of the world are stacked with the accumulated wisdom of centuries, so why pick only one book? Though some do, and spend a lifetime researching and interpreting it.

When it comes to choosing living people, a group or institution from whom to seek guidance, I would suggest looking at how they conduct themselves, what they do and what they seem to offer.

There are, unfortunately, some who would deliberately mislead you. No easy answers here really. How do we decide who to trust and who not to trust? One should beware the priestly class, particularly those who tell us rather than show us, how to live and to behave. So perhaps look at what people do rather than what they say;

By their fruits ye shall know them.

- Matthew 7:16-20

I do believe we are all free to choose our own conception of God, and to develop our own relationship with that power. The spheres have their music, and no one person has the right to tell another how they ought to listen (to paraphrase a man called Bill Wilson).

I would personally believe spirituality, god-experience, so have you would be from a personal "voice" since we can't take authorities (perceived or real) with us.

If I wanted to know about X medicine I'd go to a medical professional, if I want to know about myself, I would reflect on who I am and my place in life and environment.

 

[Trailblazer]

That's ridiculous to send a messenger that doesn't even know what you think. Wouldn't that be kinda hard to convey your message don't ya think.

How can we understand his message if the messenger himself doesn't understand his own message?

I did not mean that the Messenger did not know what God was thinking when He received the message from God, I meant that the Messenger does not know how God thinks because the mind of God is unknowable.

The Messenger can understand the message because He has a divine nature so He can tune in on God's wavelength while God is revealing a message to Him. We can understand the message from the Messenger because the Messenger also has a human nature so He can convey the message in a way that humans can understand.

God has conferred upon the Messengers of God a spiritual nature that other humans do not possess:

“Unto this subtle, this mysterious and ethereal Being He hath assigned a twofold nature; the physical, pertaining to the world of matter, and the spiritual, which is born of the substance of God Himself. He hath, moreover, conferred upon Him a double station. The first station, which is related to His innermost reality, representeth Him as One Whose voice is the voice of God Himself. To this testifieth the tradition: “Manifold and mysterious is My relationship with God. I am He, Himself, and He is I, Myself, except that I am that I am, and He is that He is.” …. The second station is the human station, exemplified by the following verses: “I am but a man like you.” “Say, praise be to my Lord! Am I more than a man, an apostle?” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 66-67

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

Simple: I don't.

 

[Windwalker]

True Christians have always believed that God is in some sense the author of scripture. This is what makes it authoritative, God's own authority. Of course you can choose to believe otherwise.

True Christians do choose to believe otherwise. It is not necessary to believe the words were dictated by God, that it can contain no errors, and so forth. Reasonable Christians who understand the nature of the bible as a product of time and culture, do not need to deny the very human nature of the texts in order to find support and inspiration of faith through them.

That's why faith is required. Faith according to scripture is evidence of the unseen.
Hebrews 11:
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Jesus spoke of faith as small as a mustard seed moving mountains.

I applaud that faith. But that does not mean faith has to go against the evidence in order for a familiar belief about God be maintained no matter what. That's intellectual suicide. I couldn't pull that trigger myself as a Christian, in a faith defined as that. Rather now I understand faith as pliable and easy, not rigid and hard.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Sometimes one just knows. And sometimes, one gets it wrong, which is why it pays to consult with others.

It's a lifetime's practice, I think, building a relationship with God. Enough for more than one lifetime, according to Eastern faiths. But I believe a loving creator, which I call God, is always with us, waiting to guide us when we truly ask for guidance. But we need the willingness, honesty and open mindedness to be able to listen, we need the humility to put aside ego, and we need the discipline to silence the chattering of our own minds.

I do not believe, personally, that it is necessary to recognise one God over another, for although God has many names, and is visualised and described in many ways, depending on faith, geography, culture and tradition, there is only one Divine Source, infinite and indivisible.

One just "knows" doesn't explain anything. It's similar to teaching a class and a student asks "what is love?" and after explaining everything "about" love, you stop and say one just "knows" and let the student figure it on his on.

Everything is based on what a particular believer "knows..." and if that knowledge cannot be defined, the rest of the explanation falls apart.

 

[RestlessSoul]

One just "knows" doesn't explain anything. It's similar to teaching a class and a student asks "what is love?" and after explaining everything "about" love, you stop and say one just "knows" and let the student figure it on his on.

Everything is based on what a particular believer "knows..." and if that knowledge cannot be defined, the rest of the explanation falls apart.

Some things you have to experience for yourself. I can describe something to you, but I can’t make you experience it. So I’m not sure what your point is here.

Have you ever been in love? You just know, if you have. Although I will concede that sometimes we think we’ve been in love when we’ve only been infatuated or obsessed. This is because thinking has it’s limitations.