I recently posted a question asking answerers to describe to me what it feels like when God speaks to them. This is one of the answers I got...
"I'm a part time minister. When I develop a sermon, some material I've learned from studying the Bible and some from studying with other Christians. But sometimes a thought just comes to me...a thought that I know I'm not smart enought to come up with on my own. It's happened time and time again. Last time, I was in the pulpit in the middle of my sermon when something came to me that clarified my point better than what I had already prepared. I believe that's from God."
Not trying to be rude or offensive here, but it really bothers me that a religion could cause you to believe that you are not smart enough to think excellent thoughts all by yourself.
Thoughts? Comments?
2007-07-16 08:33:23 · 28 answers · asked by Linz ♥ VT 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I didn't pose this question so everyone could make fun of the minister. I think he is doing what he believes in which is great. But it just bothers me that if we are to believe in God we are to therefore think that all good thoughts come from him. I tend to want to take credit for my own accomplishments. Call me crazy :)
2007-07-16 08:45:07 · update #1
Statements like that really degrade human endeavor, don't they?
2007-07-16 08:39:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Ok, so ...can U show me where in the Scripture it says what U are stating "it really bothers me that a religion could cause U to believe that U are not smart enough to think excellent thoughts", cause I Only see where it says; “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5 I'll give U that Religion is Evil & a "Tool of Satan", But Scripture says "Our knowledge is Foolishness to God" which helps Us Understand how Little We Truly Know compared to God. When a pastor or Lay Person "Prepares" a "Lecture" it is Quite common to "Pray" for "Enlightenment" on the Topic, in line with James 1:5 As God is the "Author" of ALL Knowledge, wouldn't it be the Epitome of Arrogance to think We Know Everything or Assume that "Religion" in & of Itself was the "End All" in the "Knowledge Department"??? What was offered to Answer the Question is quite a commonplace occurrence, not just in the Ministry either! Now, dealing with Religion, there are those "Religions" that Often are termed Correctly as "Cults" that WOULD HAVE U BE IGNORANT and Totally Dependent upon them!!! The Catholic church, JW's and others Practise this Regularly!!! John
2007-07-16 09:02:09 · answer #2 · answered by moosemose 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's really not what this minister said. He said he sometimes has thoughts that he knows are too excellent to be his. That doesn't mean his own thoughts are not also excellent...merely that these particular thoughts are MORE excellent than he thinks are possible for himself. Second, I don't see religion making him think any particular way on this. If I read Stephen Hawking, for example, I imagine my reaction would be "wow, this guy is really really smart. Way smarter than me. I'd never come up with this stuff. I wouldn't even know where to start." This doesn't mean I think I'm dumb. I just don't think I'm the smartest person in the entire universe. And Stephen Hawking certainly didn't make me come to this conclusion. In reading his stuff, it seems pretty obvious that he is smarter than me. Now, is Hawking's material suddenly just popped into my head, I'd probably credit a supernatural force too, because last I checked, Hawking was not telepathic!
I don't see this minister as being self-depreciating. He merely doesn't suffer from hubris. People also generally accept that their deities are superior to themselves. That's what makes them deities. We wouldn't appeal to them for help or guidance if we thought they were idiots! This minister is just recognising that.
2007-07-16 08:50:34 · answer #3 · answered by Nightwind 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I see your point, but I see his as well... I'm a fairly smart guy, graduated college with my bachelors in business. I might not be a genius but Im not a moron either. But sometimes, like the pastor said, Ill suddenly have thoughts or "revelations" about things of the Spiritual nature that are very different from how I know myself to think. Not that I cannot have a brilliant thought, but when something comes to me that is maybe contrary to what I normally think, and makes sense, or opens up a whole new way to look at it, then yeah... I believe its from God as well. No, religion doesn't teach us that we're stupid and incapable of great ideas, but we do believe God is smarter.
2007-07-16 08:45:43 · answer #4 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
To be honest, I don't have a problem with that any more or less than I have a problem with any aspect of religion. The whole M.O. of religion is attributing supernatural causes to natural events. So it doesn't surprise me that whenever this poor deluded minister gets what he thinks is a good idea, he feels he has to give the credit to some fictional higher power.
2007-07-16 10:20:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think you took what he was trying to say the wrong way. He was not saying that he was not smart enough, but simply what he had prepared to speak on God gave him even more when he was actually delivering the sermon. Sometimes we may think we have things all figured out and then God comes in and enlightens us even more. God knows what his people need and he can use anyone.
2007-07-16 08:44:42 · answer #6 · answered by mspooh 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well these things are hard for unbelievers to grasp. You don't really understand until it happens to you, and until you allow it to happen. First you have to admit that you are a sinner and that you are nothing without God to let go of that arrogance that makes you believe that you are the one with all the answers. Once that has been done and you start seeking God, you will get the answers .. and you become less about being right and having to be smarter and put everyone down... because with seeking God, his son finds you ... and from there on out.... it's a new life. You are more heart and less head.... because the mind is not all good .... thoughts are not all good that is for sure.... but God conciousness and seeking out his ways.... well that is all good!
Okay Crazy.... LOL
2007-07-16 08:41:49 · answer #7 · answered by sassinya 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
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2016-09-30 03:21:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Son Preached some very Powerful Sermons "After" the Power of God Came Over Him! You certainly do no want to become an "Opinionated" Preacher giving all your opinions>>>>God wants You to Study, To show Thyself Approved unto Him, rightly dividing the Truth. You will Please God If You Let Him Use YOUR MOUTH TO SAY WHAT HE WANTS SAID! Let Him Lead Any way He CHOOSES...... He will Bless Your Soul and Your Congregations! All Heaven May Come Down........".Praise You, Jesus." (smile) + + +
2007-07-16 08:50:53 · answer #9 · answered by minnetta c 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My thoughts and comments on your elegant and politely worded question.
I realize that I gave an answer to it in you previous question.
Some additional thoughts that may seem esoteric at first, but they are not.
Consider them from a purely scientific point of view.
The material world in which we live is utterly dependent on an invisible world.
Think of all the invisible forces that surround us without which nothing would exist, gravity, waves, energy, etc..
There is no doubt that an invisible world co-exists with ours and our physical world could not function without it.
The point that I can see in the "part time minister's" exposition is that he says that "inspiration" may also come from this invisible world.
Somehow our mind has the capacity to receive guidance, inspiration or clarification on subjects. from the invisible world that we are beginning to explore.
.
2007-07-16 11:14:32 · answer #10 · answered by apicole 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
hello and i read that and NO good thing including thoughts [good thoughts] is produced within a naturally evil human its just not possible, we can not generate it of ourselves ONLY someone outside of self can produce that and we know when the thoughts are God's and not ours or satan's by this idea written in Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them. I when i speak or teach depend whole upon the leading of The Holy Spirit He is the one that inspired God's Holy Bible in the fist place and is more then willing to guide anyone "that seeks Him" to do so. Find out more free bible lessons www.amazingfacts.org God bless.
2007-07-16 08:42:12 · answer #11 · answered by wgr88 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋