Quote:
Originally Posted by Trapped
Drake, in my post I said "I understand that God "went through a process" on earth. I am fine with that. But to say that "God was processed" hits me with a clang."
I have an issue with the term "the processed God" or the phrase that "God was processed", not the facts that God did pass through what can be described as the "process" of incarnation, human living, death, resurrection, etc.
I think ZNPaaneah said at least a part of my hangup well......."being processed" implies an external source or input or "processor". Someone may say, "well the Son was sent by the Father so there is the "external" source", but sending someone isn't the same as processing them.
To use analogies (that Drake knows I don't like using, but this is a simple one I think), just like to become a lawyer, you go through certain experiences (studying, passing the bar exam, etc), but no one has "processed" you to become a lawyer, or would ever say that. Even if you could do some linguistic gymnastics to show that grammatically it's technically okay to say someone is now a "processed lawyer", what benefit does it serve to say it that way and how does that help?
Edit to add: I think somehow it takes away from what God went through....it removes the "active" sense of everything He endured and experienced for us. Still trying to sort out the clang.
|
Ok.. thanks for the clarification. So, the term "processed" is the objection not the concept. Very well.
I'll concur that the term is unusual and therefore provokes your attention.. as it did mine when I first heard it and apparently also did you. The other term Brother Lee used to describe the same thing but did not invent is "Economical Trinity" .... maybe you prefer that term?
Yet, the most important thing for any conversation about the Trinity/Triune God is to make a distinction between the
being of God .... and.. the
activity of God the Father, Son, and Spirit in the works of creation and complete salvation. So, what
God is vs. what God does is important to distinguish and emphasize no matter what term is used. I think "processed" causes one to think about it, and then having considered the intent and meaning of the term to then rightly categorize the topic into His activity without much deliberation vs what He is. It worked for me, but it doesn't for you... in any case, we agree that God did go through a series processes to complete His redemption and complete salvation.
Still, some who do not take the time to think it through will continue to conflate the aspects of the Trinity and that will erroneously lead to inaccurate charges of modalism.. for instance. Yet, that is a topic for another day.
thanks
Drake