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MrFribbles -> RE: Dude?!??!?!?!?!?! (6/17/2008 3:30:29 AM)
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Show me in the Bible where it is acceptable to address God as we would another human being?
I have, in Romans and Galatians. Unless you wouldn't feel it appropriate to call your earthly father "daddy," and feel that term should also refer to God alone.
Also, this is somewhat weaker given that it is a term of authority, but "Elohim" is not used for God alone. It was a word used commonly for other spiritual beings and earthly, human rulers. So whenever that word is used for God, it is a word used to address Him as one might another human being - albeit, in this case, a ruler.
Also, Jesus was (and in some parts of the world, still is) a very common name. Truth be told, if we were taking things literally, we would be calling Him Joshua Christ, but we don't, for whatever reason (not that I have any problem with the name Jesus, of course. Obviously not. I'm just pointing out that, at the time, it was not an uncommon name).
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Check out Genesis 18. Abraham is "reasoning" with God. Abraham admits to being nothing more than dust and never forgets that he is talking to the Almighty God. Were Abraham and God friends? I think they were.
That's one instance. There are literally years of Abraham's life that we have no record of. So, 1, we are so far removed from that culture and time period that I don't know if we would recognize an equivalent to our modern "dude," and 2, if we begin assuming that because an action is never recorded in an narrative means that we shouldn't do it, then we should follow the example of Christ and never eat fruits and vegetables (unless there's a passage I'm forgetting - I know He tried to eat figs one time, but that didn't go so well for the tree). Or take after the Apostle Paul and travel places only by foot or boat.
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The Psalms are full of praising, expressions of anger, love, etc. David, Solomon, Heman, Ethan, Moses and others express all of these emotions and never refer to God in a common way.
The Psalms serve a unique purpose. They are not an exclusive guide to prayer, nor are they an exclusive guide to worship. To me, the one most important rule in terms of worship, which was coming and is now come, is to worship God in spirit and in truth. If we pray to and worship God in a fake way, a way that we are "putting on" to be accepted by those around us, then I would say we are breaking that rule. And to me, if someone says "dude," or "great Lord Messiah God, creator of heaven and earth, alpha and omega, beginning and end, first and last, perfect and spotless lamb slain before the foundation of the world, etc." without having the truth of their own hearts behind it, then they are in the wrong. But if their hearts are true, if they are saying what they do and it is not expressly and obviously shown by Scripture that God would not be pleased with it, then who are we to call them wrong?
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In attempt to gain intimacy do we lose reverence if we're not careful?
Obviously there must be a balance - but it's just that, a balance. You cannot sacrifice one at the expense of the other. Children are close and intimate with their fathers (or they should be - sadly, that is more and more uncommon in this age), but they still hold them in reverence. To the young child, daddy is Superman and what he says goes, but he's also there to tuck them in at night and kiss them on the forehead. If either of these are lost, a false view of fatherhood (and through this, masculinity in general) is likely to be created in the child's mind.
In the same way, if we disregard either aspect of our relationship with God, we get a mixed up view. Either too soft or too hard. Neither is good, and neither is true.
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In all honesty, I don't see how referred to Christ in such a rude manner would promote intimacy with Him.
The fact that you say it is rude makes it clear that you should not refer to Him in that manner. However, it is not rude for everyone.
Personally, I wouldn't either - not because I think it's universally wrong, but because I just don't talk that way. The only time I say "dude," is when I'm joking around. But for some people, it's real and genuine. It's who they are. For them, "dude" is a term of closeness and affection used for their friends and others they trust.
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not to mention that I never heard that Jesus had a hippy image...that's a first!
You should check out Godspell. ; )
*edited to add that whole 2nd half there, since it replies to posts made after I started writing mine. Also, corrected minor spelling issues*
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