tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30457405.post2975269014202046931..comments2023-10-10T03:53:10.588-05:00Comments on The Doc File: Is God On Our Side?Luke Dockeryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535787107819333194noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30457405.post-668682044521272932012-08-31T08:56:51.313-05:002012-08-31T08:56:51.313-05:00Steven,
Thanks for the comment, and by all means,...Steven,<br /><br />Thanks for the comment, and by all means, help yourself!Luke Dockeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13535787107819333194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30457405.post-21100373576218738442012-08-30T12:21:56.320-05:002012-08-30T12:21:56.320-05:00I might just have to steal this for a devo thought...I might just have to steal this for a devo thought someday, somewhere.Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15705206165973008573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30457405.post-30267233798363942172012-08-24T11:56:36.179-05:002012-08-24T11:56:36.179-05:00Colby,
Since you affirm and accept my cautionary ...Colby,<br /><br />Since you affirm and accept my cautionary note (which is really the point of the post), we might largely be arguing semantics. I certainly think that God is rooting for us—I think you can see that in the Job story, in Romans 8, and especially in the Incarnation (as well as other places). <br /><br />I just prefer to term it that way—“God is rooting for us”, “God is pulling for us”, “God is helping us”—rather than saying “God is on our side” or “God is in our corner” or something like that.Luke Dockeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13535787107819333194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30457405.post-88065984219556569692012-08-23T19:53:44.202-05:002012-08-23T19:53:44.202-05:00I think the whole Jesus bit is also a good indicat...I think the whole Jesus bit is also a good indication that God is on our side. Ya but anyway, your point is well-taken. <br /><br />You're probably absolutely right about the point of those stories. Forgetting that we can be for or against God can be the root of all sorts of nastiness.<br /><br />Just don't take the other view away from me! I think it's superColbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01775962295760363355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30457405.post-81993780515975304472012-08-23T09:41:08.492-05:002012-08-23T09:41:08.492-05:00Will,
If the Commander of the Army of the LORD (...Will, <br /><br />If the Commander of the Army of the LORD (or possibly the Angel of the LORD) is not for us or against us, it seems reasonable (or at least possible) that God is the same way, but that wasn't really what I was trying to imply from the passage.<br /><br />More than that, I think it's an important passage because it clearly suggests that God has a side which is distinct from that of the Israelites or their enemies. I think “God’s side” is the focus of the passage. And my post. And the whole universe, really.<br /><br />The focus is on God. All glory to Him.Luke Dockeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13535787107819333194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30457405.post-80334046806822893712012-08-23T09:34:54.664-05:002012-08-23T09:34:54.664-05:00Colby,
Ah, you are such a fence-sitter. :)
I hav...Colby,<br /><br />Ah, you are such a fence-sitter. :)<br /><br />I haven’t thought this through fully, but I’m just not sure that we even <b>have</b> a side.<br /><br />Romans 8 says that God is for us; in different places Jesus and the Holy Spirit are described as being our advocates (or similar language); in the Book of Job, God takes up for Job against Satan. Ideas like that are, I believe, the genesis for this God-on-our-side notion, but really, all of them are about us being on God's side and thus having a right relationship with him.<br /><br />I just find it to be a distortion of focus—it’s anthropocentric instead of theocentric. The Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection all affirm the incredibly high value of humanity, but ultimately, they are all about reconciling us to God and getting us back on His side.Luke Dockeryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13535787107819333194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30457405.post-24706286764313834732012-08-22T16:39:33.931-05:002012-08-22T16:39:33.931-05:00I think Joshua 5:13-15 is showing us that the ange...I think Joshua 5:13-15 is showing us that the angel of the Lord is not for us or against us. However, God has sent the angel, who is certainty on God's side, to do something and the angel is obeying.Willnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30457405.post-46430282898586964042012-08-22T16:16:16.365-05:002012-08-22T16:16:16.365-05:00Can we have both perspectives? God is on our side,...Can we have both perspectives? God is on our side, period, and we are for or against?Colbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01775962295760363355noreply@blogger.com