Quote:
Originally Posted by UntoHim
Oh THAT Ananias. Ok, you still have not shown how God needs man. He could have used a donkey (just in case you forgot God used a donkey one time). Your talking apples and oranges (again). You have not (nor can you) show how God actually needs man to accomplish anything significant. God has his person(s), he has his work. Man has nothing to do with either. We (mankind) only exist to worship, serve, and give God glory. By his grace and his mercy you and I live in an age and place where we have the awesome privilege to do all these things without much burden or hindrance (for now).
So the term I would use is PRIVILEGE. Ananias had the privilege to be used by God to assist Paul (Saul) in his initiation as a man to be used greatly by God.
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You clearly misread my post. I am not trying to "prove" the word need is correct. What I am trying to do is understand why you feel it is incorrect and more importantly what the correct word is.
You used the word "used". God used Ananias. That is obvious. God used Mary. Obvious. Christ uses His body. Again obvious.
But, I am using a computer to post this to the internet. I am using the internet to communicate via this forum. Do I "need" to use a computer? I need something, perhaps not this particular computer, but I need something.
The word "need" is defined as "require something because it is essential".
I believe that Mary was essential for Jesus to be born of a virgin, and that was essential to fulfill the prophecy. Hence, I feel the word "need" is appropriate based on its definition.
I believe Ananias was essential since Paul was persecuting the church. It was easy for God to speak to Him from heaven and knock Him off his horse. But Paul would have remained blind until he saw God speaking through one of those little brothers that Paul was hauling off to prison.
I believe that my fingers are essential. Sure, Stephen Hawking communicates without using his fingers but that does not annul the fact that I "need" my fingers to communicate, and that God needs His fingers to communicate.
So then let us consider a different word "required". Did God require Mary to give birth to Jesus? Did He require Ananias to speak to Paul? This word refers to something that is necessary or "needed".
For example:
Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For to whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
In this parable Jesus as Lord has given talents to his servants and he therefore requires something in return. He expects them to do something that is necessary or needed.