Comments on: God Weeps

By: God Weeps « Compassion in Politics

God Weeps « Compassion in Politics — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:27:56 +0000

[...] (h/t to Mike Cope) [...]

By: Victor Knowles

Victor Knowles — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:48:09 +0000

“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I surrender you, Israel?…I have had a change of heart; My compassion is stirred!” (Hosea 11:8 CSB). God has a heart and that heart can be changed. “His heart is touched with my grief” (Hymn, “Does Jesus Care?”).

By: qb

qb — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:01:32 +0000

I hope you’re right, Kathy, but that’s only 0.5 of the equation. The other part pertains to the Red Sox bats and the Rockies’ pitching, and if a rested ace plus a vaunted ‘pen are going to yield double digits, it’s not going to matter whether we can get to Schilling or not.

Yeah, there’s still hope, but the Sox bats are on a serious roll. Maybe Jimemez can step up and throw the wet blanket on them.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:29:37 +0000

qb - one game does not a WS make.

Those in the know said two things about tonight’s game:

1-Beckett has been unbeatable, so Rockies can look for a split in these two games in Fenway.

2-Had they beaten Beckett [but really slim chance of it happening] it would be a huge psychological boost that could put the Rockies into a 4 game sweep. [of course, didn't happen]

I leaned toward the first possibility. Beckett is almost impossible to beat. I wouldn’t have been surprised at a no-no tonight, but certainly glad there wasn’t one. Whew!

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:50:54 +0000

I wonder if we, as Moderns, don’t consider rational thought as the “norm” and emotion as the “add-on” that influences our rational thought. Maybe God, unhindered by sin, exists in a perfect unity in which emotion and ration no longer have any separate meaning–they are, together, the mind of God. If anything is, then, an “add-on” to potentially influence God, it might be our prayers (as emotionally disturbed and as rationally falacious as they are). In this sense, the idea of God being of “mixed emotions” would be impossible. God’s emotion would be perfectly appropriate at any given moment… as is his will and his reason.

I think our fallen state enables us to live dualistic lives in many ways that are unhealthy: flesh / spirit, transactional / transformative, emotional / rational, selfish / graceful, etc…

The Nature of God is perfect unity of being– including, of course, what we would call emotion.

By: qb

qb — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:29:54 +0000

13-1. *sigh* qb

By: qb

qb — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:12:36 +0000

BTW, it’s Sox 3, Rox 0 after 1.5 innings. Bad omen for this Rockies fan. Maybe it’s too early to give up the ship, but qb’s on record now: Sox in 4. The miracle run is over.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:45:12 +0000

We certainly know God’s emotions when faced by the rebellious Children of Israel - so many times He showed His anger, not only did it burn against them but also against their enemies. I’d be reluctant to ascribe only the emotion of anger to our God without also accepting that the other side of His nature, love - the most powerful of all emotions, is expressed in His tears, His weeping. Not only will our tears be wiped away in the other side of eternity but His also.

God weeps for His children out of His love for them and we mirror His love when we weep for our children. It is from love that weeping is birthed, at least imho.

By: qb

qb — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:05:40 +0000

What fascinates me is the implicit notion (that is, mildly implied by some posts on this thread up to now) that ascribing emotional content to anyone, including God, somehow weakens him. Is not emotion an aspect of the soul, which mediates the physical/spiritual interface? I’m no phenomenologist or philosopher or whatever, and maybe I’m speaking way beyond my competence, but emotion and will seem to be two sides of that membrane between spirit and flesh. Maybe that’s just circular-semantic reasoning, tho.

As for qb, qb has a hard time imagining a God who is NOT possessed of emotional faculties.

By: JD

JD — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:44:11 +0000

I have long been facinated by the reaction of Jesus upon meeting Mary after Lazarus died. Jesus knew he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead and still he reacted emotionally to the grief and painful emotions that Lazarus’ friends and family were feeling. Since Jesus showed us characteristics of who God is while he was on earth, then God must feel our emotion - pain, grief, joy, elation, etc. and react to it also. Praise God for emphathizing with our human emotions!

By: preacherman

preacherman — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:09:28 +0000

Yes. Amen. COme quickly, Lord Jesus.”

By: Paul Mathis

Paul Mathis — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:54:36 +0000

I would be interested to see the date of the quote. I also think a more appropriate title may be, “God has been weeping.” I don’t think we can look at world events today and say, “The end is nearer than ever.” All those sad, tragic things have been going on for a long time. When the NT was written, Nouwen’s quote would have been just as profound and relevant then as it is now.

I think God has been weeping since Adam and Eve gave in to the serpent. I also think He has been rejoicing when He sees His children offer a cup of water to those in need. Is this world sick? Absolutely. Is it sicker today than in years past? I don’t think so. Should we be ready for Christ’s return? Absolutely, but not because we are at war in Iraq. We should be ready because He said He is coming.

“Amen. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.”

By: preacherman

preacherman — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:42:04 +0000

Let me say Mike excellent post brother.

I sometimes wonder if we are closer to end than we have first believed. Is the end near?

I wonder if God look down instead hold backs his judgements and wrath, and in patience waits for one more to repent. One more to come to know him before he lets the trumpets sound.

Are we closer than we first believed? California burning, Wars in Arabia, Nukes in North Koria, Russia, China sending lead painted toys to our children, violence on the rise, greed, disobedient childen, terror has filled the world, roaring and tossing of the seas, and on and on. We need to be read. It is going to be close, so we as Christians need to be read and share the message with our family and friends.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:14:00 +0000

The prophets of the Old Testament bring quite a bit to this discussion. Specifically, God’s decision to punish both Israel and Judah for their actions included “emotional” language from both prophet and God. We often talk about Jeremiah as the “weeping prophet.” But, God also weeps for people. I believe when we choose power, violence, oppression, and idolatry over servanthood, peace, hospitality, and loyalty, God grieves over our condition. If we, who are made in the divine image, have emotions by nature, doesn’t that mean God does too?

By: Josh Linton

Josh Linton — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:37:38 +0000

Wow. Good stuff.

I read The Giver. Good application of it.

I suppose I’ve always associated our emotions with part of our creation in the image of God. As we seek transformation into his image our emotions will begin to align with his and the fallen emotions purged.

In other words, our emotions won’t be controlled by the flesh, but by his Spirit. How can the Spirit of God produce certain emotional characteristics (Galatians 5) without providing a source for such emotions? Just rambling here.

Good thought provoking stuff. Thanks.