Bible Class Week 3

So it seems in Genesis 1, that God created everything. Not many Gods... ONE GOD. That's the big point here. Written in a time where people were worshipping everything but the kitchen sink as a God, the idea that only one God existed was radical and disturbing- especially if you've been worshipping Gods and Goddesses for a lifetime.

The other thing you need to know about this section is that the idea of God vacillates between two schools of thought. Transcendence refers to the separateness of God in God's creation and immanence which refers to Gods nearness. Genesis one is an example of God's transcendence as God makes the world around him just by speaking it out loud. On the flip side, in Genesis 2 (which we will get to soon) God forms man out of clay and the act of taking part physically in man's creation becomes an example of God's immanence.

Out of this idea of the immanence of God comes a form of religions called Pantheism a term which means literally "all" is God. You'll find this belief explored in great detail in Christian Science and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy.

From the idea of transcendence we have a belief created called deism. Deism pictures God as a clockmaker who designed the universe and simply stands back lets it run on it's own.

I have come to believe that God is all. So I fit in the Pantheism category. I believe that the spirit which lives in everyone is from God and cannot be anything but good. I also believe that the matter in which we exist can be corrupted when we cease to listen to the spirit.

There was a time in my life when I didn't even know that the spirit existed and so how could I possibly listen, hear, or learn? I was communicating my entire life in the mire of my matter and what did I attract? Not people of spirit but other people, other people living in their own matter as well. Where did that lead me? It lead me to drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, anger.

When the spirit found me it took time. I did not heal all in one moment. Yes my belief came in one moment and this was accompanied by a great physical reaction a flooding with love. That's how I knew it was non negotiable. But for the first year or two that feeling would come and go flood in me and disappear and I would be back stuck in my matter. I felt like God's personal ping pong ball. I got frustrated I got angry. It was not till I applied myself through study of the bible asked questions of my priest Jennifer Linman, took chances, opened my mouth, committed to a church, attended services and courses that my connection to God god stronger and more consistent.

I guess having a relationship to God is just like having one with anyone else. I ignored God for many years and so we were both new to one another when he finally found me. Our love took time to grow and is still growing. And like all love it takes a concerted effort from both parties.

How would you describe your relationship with God?