Does GOD want us to be his friend or have a relationship with him?

by bruh2012 13 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  bruh2012

  WT seems to teach both and or make them interchangable------We need to be Jehovahs friend. We need to have a relationship with him as children like a father.

  Even though there is no bible verses for having a relationship with GOD, Jesus teaches us (was there anyone before Jesus) to approach him as Father not as some friend.

  What bible verses "infer" that we have a relationship with GOD especially if thats what worshiping him means???

  Isn't friendship a two way street?? Being GODS friend is not taught in the bible. Have you seen it?

  Only hand picked friend GOD had was Abraham. Do you know of others?

  Was Moses even considered GODS friend?

  The Organization can make it very diffuclt to understand the true nature of what the bible actually teaches about having a relationship with GOD vs. trying to be his friend.

  Any thoughts?
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  yadda yadda 2

  Surrre he does...here's the proof....

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsPAtLQV2ik
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  The Searcher

  According to Scripture, Who Are Jesus' "Brothers"?

  (Matthew 12:50) whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."

  (Matthew 13:38) The field is the world; as for the fine seed, these are the sons of the kingdom;

  (Matthew 25:40) To the extent that YOU did it to one of the least of these my brothers, YOU did it to me.

  (Mark 3:35) Whoever does the will of God, this one is my brother and sister and mother."

  (Luke 6:35) To the contrary, continue to love YOUR enemies and to do good and to lend, not hoping for anything back; and YOUR reward will be great, and YOU will be sons of the Most High,

  (Luke 8:21) "My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

  (John 1:12,13) However, as many as did receive him, to them he gave authority to become God’s children.........

  (John 15:14) Y OU are my friends if YOU do what I am commanding YOU.

  (Rom. 8:14) For all who are led by God’s spirit, these are God’s sons.

  (1 John 5:1) Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God.......... (Revised Standard Version)

  I think that I'll trust what the Bible "really teaches", rather than trust a bunch of self-appointed charlatans who claim to have a closer relationship with God than anyone else on earth. Put them in a boxing ring with the Pope and let them fight it out!!
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  Band on the Run

  I want some formality in my relationship wth God. The born-agains who keep asking me about my personal relationship with Christ annoy me no end. It is none of their business. If I have one, it is personal and not to be discussed with the random stranger at the laundromat. Some Baptist zealot was the last one to do so at the local laundromat of all places. I politely said that I was Anglican and he was Baptist. There were cultural differences. It cut him off.

  One thing is certain. The GB is not mentioned. Paul's genuine letters shows no evidence of a GB. They aren't restoring first century Christianities. The primacy of the Bishop of Rome always struck me as politically convenient. Recent popes are bright and sophisticated. What credentials do the GB have? How are they selected? What is their decision making process? It struck me odd even as a teen that these Bethel big shots seem to just appear out of magic. For a religion that could not stop attacking Roman Catholicism, it strikes me that Witnesses are not introspective. Who are these men who control your lives? Does Jesus want this arrangement?

  It seems to me that Paul's letters or Acts of the Apostles could list the members. Local congregations did not even continue with Paul's gospel. He always had to write follow up letters claiming legitimacy. Long before they found the treasure trove of Gnostic gospels, scholars knew a group such as the Gnostics existed from Paul's argument.
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  cantleave

  So according to Searcher god wants conditional friends. What a c*nt!
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  galaxie

  If you are befriending god you are befriending yourself? As its all in your mind . Wake up and stop dreaming
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  punkofnice

  WT seems to teach both and or make them interchangable------

  Well they would wouldn't they?!?! They like to cause cognitive dissonance.....makes a person easier to control.

  I respect peoples beliefs when they are not madness like fundies. However, I don't believe in 'god' personally, so neither friend or relationship with that (as cantleave says), c*nt mean anything to me. So the WBT$ confusion doesn't apply.
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  EdenOne

  Abraham was God's friend because God chose to consider him his friend. It's the only such case mentioned in the Bible. It wasn't Abraham's choice, it was God's.

  It's unknown to me as a Christian if God wants to be my personal friend or if I should pursuit a friendship with God. Certainly Jesus didn't teach us to be friends with God; nevertheless he said he considers his disciples as his friends, although in a conditional sense (=if we comply with his commandments). It is what it is; Jesus and God are on an entirely different league, and they own the game. We're not supposed to be 'buddies' type of friends. Why should we whine about it?

  As pointed by Searcher, we are God's children, and brethren with Jesus. That's what we should look forward to. There's an immense measure of respect and love involved in a relationship with a father, much more with the heavenly Father. We're not buddies with God. We can be His children, based on the faith we put in Jesus, and when our heavenly reward is awarded, then we can expect perhaps a greater closeness with God, which will come along with greater knwledge of God on our part. Interestingly, the apostle Paul said that it's God's will that 'everyone should be saved AND come to an exact knowledge of the truth' (1 Timothy 2:4) The full knowledge of the truth comes after salvation, not before salvation. To fully understand God and Christ isn't a pre-requisite for salvation as sometimes the JW's make people believe so to persuade them to accept a Bible study with them. Yes, some knowledge about God and Christ is necessary in order to build up faith (John 17:3), but not full knowledge. That will only be attained - hopefully - when each one of God's children inherits the Kingdom.

  But until then, the relationship we can establish with God is that of a "child of God".

  Eden
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  galaxie

  Eden 1 yes very good! But don't worry the morning will come and you will arise from your slumber.
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  Dis-Member

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