@dan964
Bruh, I'm pretty sure your idea of God was way different from Coconut1's ngl. She's more hardcore right?
I think what you are comparing are different rationales. one is that of a mystical (perhaps eastern orthodox) vs. an evangelical protestant Christian.
i have some common ground with her (e.g. we both affirm the Trinity), but also a lot of differences, particularly emphasis and understanding about miracles. tbh, she has said some weird stuff about holy fire that I don't necessarily agree with (although fun fact, I have actually been to that church in Jerusalem).
another e.g. i
f you pray to God for $1 million dollars - I would answer that Q with: no God will not answer that prayer, because that prayer is ultimately selfish, and also with prayer, it helps to know what God wants of us and for us (and I believe Coconut1 and I would disagree on that).
Evangelicals, which is what I would say that I am part of is fairly 'hardcore', in the sense of people being passionate about what they believe in, and desiring to share it with others. Our emphasis is very different though, less about signs, miracles, weird fire, (or even traditions), in knowing and encountering God
while I take the view (along with others) that we believe to be consistent with what the Bible says, that is we know God through the Bible which is primarily about his Son Jesus. And so our emphasis is more about the gospel, the good news of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done to save us.
e.g.
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
If you want to know and encounter God, the Father, you do so by encountering Jesus (also God) who saves us, and how do you encounter Jesus, by the Spirit (God) who inspires the words of Scripture (i.e. the whole of the Trinity is involved, in helping one to know God) and indeed helps us understand the gospel.
So there is your difference
- One emphasises the work of the Spirit primarily in the work of the miraculous or mystical experiences (which I would add is unverifiable)
- The other emphasis is in the sure and tested Spirit-breathed/inspired word of the Scriptures (Bible) and the work of the Trinity (triune God) in saving people through Jesus.
(mine is the latter)