LDS Arm wrestling
While discussing the theology of omnipotence (God possessing all power), a good friend of mine, Rob Sivulka, gave me a very good mental visual aid that makes the distinction between how the LDS doctrine of omnipotence differs from a Christian's view of omnipotence. He used an illustration of two equally powerful Gods attempting to arm wrestle. You can listen to a similar presentation at http://odeo.com/audio/609423/view .
The mental illustration is two "all-powerful" Gods arm wrestling. They are using all of their power and grit to take the other one down, but neither can do it because both of them have all power. Case in point: it's nonsensical to say that more than one God can have "all power". So, If there are many Gods in the Universe, which Mormonism claims there is, which one possesses all power? Is it just our heavenly father? Is it our heavenly grand-father? Wouldn't it be arrogant for our heavenly Father to claim he has all power when there are an infinite amount of other Gods out there that might think they've got all power too? I guess one could say, "no, it's not arrogant because our heavenly Father is all powerful... for this world." Or perhaps LDS would say that no God possess all power. This is the very thing that Christians find problematic. Why should we limit God's power to just "this world"? Or why should we entertain the idea that no God possess all power? There is absolutely no scriptural support for that line of thinking. In fact, there is scriptural support for just the opposite.
Christians believe that God is all powerful because He is the only God that has ever existed or ever will exist, He isn't just one among many Gods. Psalm 90:2 says that God has been God from everlasting to everlasting, there were no Gods formed before Him or after Him (Isaiah 43:10), and furthermore, God doesn't even know of any other Gods besides Himself (Isaiah 44:6-8). Scripture says that God is "all mighty" (Gen. 17:1), and that there is nothing to difficult for the Lord to do (Jeremiah 32:17), and that God has created all things (Isaiah 40:12-25). Thus, the God that is found in the Bible has the power to "take it all" because He alone is God, and has created all things. There are no other Gods out there for him to share his power with.
I don't think this is simply a philosophical point that really has no impact in our lives. It has obvious implications if you're LDS because D&C 132 says you can become a god and have"all power." Can this really be true, if not, can you trust the rest of the D&C to be true?
The mental illustration is two "all-powerful" Gods arm wrestling. They are using all of their power and grit to take the other one down, but neither can do it because both of them have all power. Case in point: it's nonsensical to say that more than one God can have "all power". So, If there are many Gods in the Universe, which Mormonism claims there is, which one possesses all power? Is it just our heavenly father? Is it our heavenly grand-father? Wouldn't it be arrogant for our heavenly Father to claim he has all power when there are an infinite amount of other Gods out there that might think they've got all power too? I guess one could say, "no, it's not arrogant because our heavenly Father is all powerful... for this world." Or perhaps LDS would say that no God possess all power. This is the very thing that Christians find problematic. Why should we limit God's power to just "this world"? Or why should we entertain the idea that no God possess all power? There is absolutely no scriptural support for that line of thinking. In fact, there is scriptural support for just the opposite.
Christians believe that God is all powerful because He is the only God that has ever existed or ever will exist, He isn't just one among many Gods. Psalm 90:2 says that God has been God from everlasting to everlasting, there were no Gods formed before Him or after Him (Isaiah 43:10), and furthermore, God doesn't even know of any other Gods besides Himself (Isaiah 44:6-8). Scripture says that God is "all mighty" (Gen. 17:1), and that there is nothing to difficult for the Lord to do (Jeremiah 32:17), and that God has created all things (Isaiah 40:12-25). Thus, the God that is found in the Bible has the power to "take it all" because He alone is God, and has created all things. There are no other Gods out there for him to share his power with.
I don't think this is simply a philosophical point that really has no impact in our lives. It has obvious implications if you're LDS because D&C 132 says you can become a god and have"all power." Can this really be true, if not, can you trust the rest of the D&C to be true?
posted by vessey at
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
2 Comments:
...Why call ye me Lord, Lord and DO not the things which I say?...
...If any man will DO his will, then he shall know of the doctrine...
...be ye DOERS of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves...
I believe that the greatest power of GOD or man is Love. And most importantly Love in Action. John the beloved reports (John 15:13) that The Lord Jesus taught "Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." This power moves our most powerful muscle, our hearts! And I am not speaking of the pump in our chest. The principle of sharing any or all power in heaven is nothing new to christian thought and is taught to us also in John. John 3:35 reads "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hands." If you then reflect on the Lords words in the great intercessory prayer also found in John (17:22) we read "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one , even as we are one." Thus it seems that heaven indeed has a way that all those who are willing to submit to the Father can inherit through the Son his Love and Power. It also appears that this is the Only Way, through the blood of the Lamb. May God wrap you in his boundless Love and help you to discover the wonder and majesty of His Son. This has happened to me! (My name is Oliver) And I have become a new creature, following the Lord into the waters of baptism. And humble await his return by trying to help others understand his Word and Way.
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