Is God a person?

[MsLibby]

I'm really struggling with this one.

Recently, I bought the book the Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer. I've heard many of my trusted teachers quote Tozer and I was curious about this book that's been so cherished and beloved by generations.

Well, here's my problem. Tozer says God is a person. I haven't been able to get past that. I don't agree, and this has become somewhat of a spiritual quagmire for me...I can't get past it. I don't believe God is a person! Yet ~ I'm fully aware that Tozer knows a lot more about Scripture than I and who am I to question him? But I search the Scriptures and have, if anything, reinforced my belief that God is a Spirit, not a person. (John 4:24)

Can anyone help me put this in perspective? I need Scripture to convince me. Here's the direct quote from Tozer, which most of it I agree with...the different characteristics of God he speaks of. I agree with everything except the first words. This is really bugging me because if I don't have a good solid foundation of who God is, then something's wrong. I love God with all of my heart, soul, and mind...I spend my life worshipping Him, yet now I wonder if I've somehow not known Who He really is. Does that make any sense? This is a dilemma for me.

"God is a person, and in the deep of His mighty nature He thinks, wills, enjoys, loves desires and suffer as any other person may. In making Himself known to us He stays by the familiar pattern of personality. He communicates with us through the avenues of our minds, our wills and our emotions. A.W. Tozer (page 13)

I know God is omnipotent, omnipresent, immutable, glorious, a consuming fire, perfect, holy, just, true, jealous, long-suffering, merciful, just to name a few of the glorious attributes of our Father...but He's not a person! What am I missing here?

[Paul]

I think Tozer's point is that God is not distant but is a personal Being and relates to us on a personal level.

[BHiles]

Previous to the rapture when we leave this life we no longer have a body. Our bodies our in the grave and if we are a believer our soul and spirit our taken to heaven where we wait for our new bodies to join us at the rapture. However we are no less a person.

Personhood and a fleshly body are not synonymous. When God created man He created him in His likeness or "person". A believer is, as He is made up of a body, soul and spirit.


The English philosopher John Locke defined a person as "a thinking intelligent Being, that has reason and reflection, and can consider it self as it self, the same thinking thing in different times and places; which it does only by that consciousness, which is inseparable from thinking, and as it seems to me essential to it" (Essay on Humane Understanding, Book 2, Chapter 27, Section 9).



yet now I wonder if I've somehow not known Who He really is. Does that make any sense? This is a dilemma for me.


This should not be a dilemma. If you were able to understand God I doubt He would be God. I plan that throughout eternity we will constantly be learning Who He is and never know everything about him completely. He is just that incomprehensible. Even then.

We have a very tiny glimpse of Who He is revealed to us in scripture and even then those who actually met with God in a very limited sense could not stand in His presence for fear and mortality.

The Israelites when they came out of Egypt were given the opportunity to hear God speak directly to them and were so frightened by Him that they asked that Moses only be allowed to hear Him and bring it back to the people. I truly believe that we oft bound into the Holy of Holies like children jumping on mom and dads bed asking for a new bike, failing to realize just Who we are speaking to, the power that He holds, His greatness and glory. And when we don't get the bike throwing a tantrum and getting mad at Him. With complete lack of understanding of what precipice we actually were on that the shed blood lying over there on the mercy seat aswaged His anger and saved us from.

If we knew we would tremble.

[MsLibby]

I think Tozer's point is that God is not distant but is a personal Being and relates to us on a personal level.


Paul, I had considered that, but Tozer is a master of words...he well knows how to say what he means. But, yes, I can see what you're saying.

[MsLibby]

Bhiles:

"a thinking intelligent Being, that has reason and reflection, and can consider it self as it self, the same thinking thing in different times and places; which it does only by that consciousness, which is inseparable from thinking, and as it seems to me essential to it"

Now we're getting somewhere! Thank you ~ this definition makes perfect sense to me. Perhaps this is what Tozer meant by saying God is a person. Why didn't he just say so! :dizzy

This should not be a dilemma.
Well, it was. I fully comprehend that we cannot understand who God is, but when a great man of God comes out and states Him to be something I don't believe...it is a dilemma. At least until I understand it, that is. I test the things I'm taught, and if they don't line up with Scripture, then out they go. But, I'm thinking that in this case, Tozar might have been lacking in giving a better description of what he actually meant.

If we knew we would tremble.
Well said, friend, well said. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me on this...you've helped me come to an understanding of just what Tozar might have meant.

[Sonja]

Hey Libby! :hug

Sometimes I pray to my Abba, sometimes I pray to my Creator, sometimes both.

I've been pondering God as a Person. But notice in Tozer's words, its "person" with a small "p". I don't think he meant it literally. I can't see God as a person, capitalized or not.

Acts 17:24"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

25nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;

He is our God who needs nothing! How could He? Everything is His to begin with, and He is dishonored and offended IMO when we approach Him as if He needs what we have to bring Him.

What's neat about this though, Tozer wanted you to think about God ... and guess what, you did! And me too! We pondered Him and questioned Who He is! He has told us as much as He wants us to know. He is the Alpha Omega, the Most High, the I Am. Who is He to each of us? To me, He's isn't a "person", never will be. But what other word will I substitute? That depends on how I approach Him

A person, as defined in Webster's? Naaaah, but someone Who wants to knowyour questions and trials and heartaches. Our tears are kept in a bottle and our laughter too. :kiss