God doesn’t have an IQ, since “Intelligence Quotient” is a relative term, not an absolute one. It compares one person’s intellect to others. Typically, IQ is measured by dividing one’s mental age by their chronological age. Since God is timeless, having always existed, the IQ formula would find us dividing His intellectual age by zero, which results in infinite IQ. So, the premise of the question doesn’t hold up, as it assumes intellectual comparison with humans, which is impossible with God.
Furthermore, the Lord dwells in a timeless realm where all information is both created by Him and immediately accessible to Him. We simply cannot use human criteria to evaluate infinite consciousness. We can only stand in awe and reverence. We can partake of revelation when He cracks through the time/space barrier (of His creation) to share a flash of wisdom with His children. We can also simply receive His infinite, fatherly love.
However, your question is thoughtful, nonetheless. God is absolute; He has no peer. He is infinite. In this way, we might be led to say He casts a vision and then implements it. Before creating this universe, the Lord spoke various components into existence in an exact sequence. At other times He deliberates a strategy before implementing it. One example where He takes His own counsel might include: “Let us make man in our image…” (Gen 1:26). Also, we read: ‘ In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will…(Eph 1:11).
One aspect of the Lord that I find particularly fascinating is His willingness to converse with His followers. A profound example of this is found in the passage after the Israelites were released from Egyptian captivity. Their faith was shaky, so they built a golden calf while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the ten commandments. The Lord was so grieved by their rebellion that He declared His willingness to destroy them all. The profound conversation between Moses and the Lord is recorded here:
But Moses begged the Lord his God, “Lord, don’t let your anger destroy your people. You brought them out of Egypt with your great power and strength. But if you destroy your people, the Egyptians will say, ‘God planned to do bad things to his people. That is why he led them out of Egypt. He wanted to kill them in the mountains. He wanted to wipe them off the earth.’ So don’t be angry with your people. Please change your mind! Don’t destroy them. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. These men served you, and you used your name to make a promise to them. You said, ‘I will make your people as many as the stars in the sky. I will give your people all this land as I promised. This land will be theirs forever.’
So the Lord felt sorry for the people. He did not do what he said he might do—he did not destroy them.” (Exodus 32:11-14 ERV)
Let’s avoid creating an anthropomorphic deity. We risk pridefulness and loss of a remarkable relationship with our incredibly loving, benevolent Creator.
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I did, although I would prefer to exchange the phrase “religious person” for “spiritual believer.” Religion is man’s attempt to prove himself to God. It separates and objectifies others. It controls adherents by requiring ritualized performance. Religion is a ‘Tower of Babel’ attempt to justify ourselves to God. But what
While not claiming to speak for all non-believers (although I used to be one), I believe that many such people are actually searching for deep truths. They are continuously and severely disappointed by “religious” people who repetitively quote banal phrases while claiming to have profound beliefs. In other words, there
There is a massive and unfortunate premise in your question which implies that God is in “control” and is therefore responsible for suffering. If you follow Judeo-Christian theology, you’ll notice that after Creation, in Genesis 1:26, man was given delegated, governmental authority over this planet. Eventually, by defying one simple
The Lord’s fundamental identity is to be a Father. He wants us to draw close to Him as spiritual sons. He also encourages our relationship with our natural fathers, when possible. He pours grace into our relationship with a spiritual father, as well.
Here is a conversation-starter for you and
Authentic believers in the Lord Jesus would never assume your morals are beneath theirs. Intolerant religious people certainly might, but they are more interested in you following their narrow-minded theological rulebook than in having you receive the unconditional love of God.
About 60 times, the Bible uses the term “inherit” and about 190 times it mentions “inheritance”. That’s pretty significant. The topic immediately reminds us of what an older, loving family member leaves to the children in a will. When God uses those words, He wants us to take them seriously.
