"Can't put God in a Box"

[JustinR]

My friend there are more than two aspects to this.

So reading my post from the term used from a Christian perspective and the term used in an unchristian perspective posted by you and dynastydave... how are there more than two aspects of the phrase used? It's in two main circles... Regenerate and Unregenerate. Can you elaborate next time? Thanks bro.

[G.R.A.C.E. Preecha]

I wonder why people say this? Any of my fams here know?
Is the intent biblical?

thanks!

Well, I'll probably be repeating a few things already said. Most of the time I hear that phrase, people are using it to justify whatever they feel like preaching/believing regarding God to the extent of even denying that scripture teaches it (even when it clearly does). As an example, if I say 'the normative way of God communicating with his people is scripture', someone who believes that God speaks to them in their cereal may reply 'well, you can't put God in a box. He can communicate and does with me every day!'

That's all well and fine if you want to believe it based on your experience. I remind folk, at that point, that God the Holy Spirit is also responsible for writing scripture - so if scripture says it, God says it. If scripture commands it, God commands it.

All that said, I go back to scripture with them. Who does God communicate with in scripture and why ? Does God give stock tips ? Most people aren't willing to sit and go through the various 'speakings' of God in scripture to see that as a whole, God doesn't just randomly speak to EVERY Israelite, but only to some - for the purpose of furthering along His plans for the redemption of His people. I usually ask "Who are YOU that the Creator of the Universe would personally come and speak to you ? And why do you boast about it ? Moses didn't. Isaiah cowered in fear. As did Gideon. Even Paul in Acts 9."

Many of my erudite reformed friends will simply answer back "God put Himself in a box. He cannot lie, cannot sin and cannot deny Himself. So He's excluded Himself from certain things. He's put Himself in a box."

At this point, I get either or

[SemperEruditio]

So reading my post from the term used from a Christian perspective and the term used in an unchristian perspective posted by you and dynastydave... how are there more than two aspects of the phrase used? It's in two main circles... Regenerate and Unregenerate. Can you elaborate next time? Thanks bro.

Can a regenerate Christian use the term incorrectly? Can an unregenerate use the term correctly?

[JustinR]

Can a regenerate Christian use the term incorrectly? Can an unregenerate use the term correctly?

Both can do both I guess since the phrase is suggestive in nature. Honestly it's no big deal... I can see where preecha is coming from when a Christian uses it in that way because I have seen it... I can see where you and dynastydave are coming from because I have seen people use it that way. I covered the way I've heard it from Christians as well so Christian or non-Christian can use it wrong or right because we can't say what is right unless it agrees with our worldview anyway. I'd go further to say unless it agrees with biblical standards.

[RachelGist]

Many of my erudite reformed friends will simply answer back "God put Himself in a box. He cannot lie, cannot sin and cannot deny Himself. So He's excluded Himself from certain things. He's put Himself in a box."

Ha! I can rejoice in this!!

Bangin theology.

[Czarina]

Those "enlightened ones" realize this and allow for "God to be God" and are able to say such things as Gandhi is in heaven because he was a Christian and didn't know it because "You can't put God in a box!"

Well Ghandi was alive once and may have even been righteous enough to make it to heaven, but when he learned of the gospel, it brought the law and death unto him. As far as others who've never heard it, we don't know for sure whether they get into heaven or not. That's up to the Father.