Tags
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
God is omni, as in omnipotent, omnipresent, all powerful and everywhere. Laughing here, but I know this because I set out about ten years ago to test exactly that, somewhat inadvertently, unintentionally.
I didn’t understand it at the time, but I wanted to know, is God online?
Ha! Some people are probably running to delete some tweets right now….
But I mean, can the Holy Spirit move on line? Is there some kind of mysterious physical exchange of energy that can only happen in person? Now I probably already knew the answer to these questions intellectually, but I guess I needed to know them emotionally and spiritually.
That would be a resounding yes! Yes, God is on the internet and the Holy Spirit can move here. Nope, distance makes no difference. His light, His sparkle, His energy can be felt and experienced all across the intertoobz. We don’t even have to touch to feel Him!
I’m absolutely serious. If I were more organized I would present you with hundreds of testimonies and things I’ve born witness too. It’s the truth. Maybe another time.
This is probably controversial with some older folks, ha, like my hubby. (I love to call him an “older folk.”) He’s actually a Luddite, an anti-techie. I empathize with those who don’t understand and I would go so far as to say, it is much nicer to be with people in a literal sense and lay hands on them, hug them, be with them. However, that is no obstacle for God!
Zip. Zilch, Zero. Doesn’t handicap Him at all. He is all over the internet.
So Tony Spell, Louisiana Pastor recently arrested for holding church said, “I cannot baptize people in a livestream. I can not lay hands on people in a livestream. I cannot pray for people in a livestream, and this is our biblical command – to lay hands on the sick and when they recover baptize them by immersion in water, which we do every day,”
Photo by Italo Melo on Pexels.com
I totally dispute that! You actually can. Yeah, its crazy, out of our comfort zone, and unfamiliar territory for many of us, but yes you can! Jesus even healed people from far away. Go check it out, it’s in the Bible. People have even been healed through their TV sets. I have been praying for people on line for years and it has been just amazing. I once took communion with a bunch of people on line. I’ve had some real adventures with the Spirit of the Lord, all while online.
So, I just ask people to have an open mind. And for goodness sake, dump your cookies and clear your browser history, God is here and He can see everything!
Just kidding. Well….. actually I’m not kidding at all.
Jesus last command was for us to love one another. That doesn’t require any touch at all, but it has become a lost commodity over time. Maybe we’ll learn new ways to do that through this invention and this pandemic.
LikeLiked by 5 people
I think touch is so important, so vital to our health and well being, if I were in charge I’d have everyone outside in hazmat suits hugging one another! I’m laughing at the image, but there’s some real truth there. Babies that aren’t held can fail to thrive and people who are ill tend to heal better if someone holds their hand. We are a mysterious people. God’s touch is even more mysterious. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
You’re so right. I think that’s why this is all so difficult for us. It will be one giant hug when we come out of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: The Holy Spirit is Online! – Find me in Florida—
The Holy Spirit is not restricted to human touch and can certainly move through the bible on the internet or preached at church. The Holy Spirit can move without our physical touch but I would acknowledge the limitations of technology such as the inability to water baptize and serve communion.
Right now is a great time to focus on ministering to one another as best we can with the means we have, but technology is certainly limited. The Holy Spirit is not!
LikeLike
Hi Sullivanspin.
Totally agree that Holy Spirit is not restricted. I’m noticing people r talking about the “inability” to baptize. While the modern church has tried to portray itself as the place where this is supposed to happen – Jesus was baptized in The Jordan by his cousin John. If during this historic timing of events someone is at home and has “come to christ” – surrendering themselves to The Spirit…a “body of water” will suffice. A bathtub, pool, beach, hot tub, etc – Jesus Holy Spirit (water) is what came out from Jesus side when he was pierced at Calvary. The Spirit will receive us and dwell in us – where we are- if we just ask. It’s not about a building. We are on the brink of coming full circle – worshipping right where we are. And with technology and those personal Baptism moments can be shared.
LikeLiked by 4 people
This gets into what you believe baptism is and what God does in baptism. If baptism is just an act that we do for God to show Him our love, then sure, that symbol can be done through the internet. If God is actually giving faith through baptism or actually working through the water and word then technology can’t fill in. It’s a matter of doctrine.
LikeLike
Hey Sullivanspin
The key word you mention is “doctrine”
Jesus told us he came not to abolish the word but to fulfill it (as in the laws God gave to Moses).
The reason Jesus came was to provide a way for the Holy Spirit to be released upon the earth. That’s why he said he had to leave and ascend to The Father so that The Ruach HaQodesh could send The Other Comforter. The Faith Elohim has given us is achieved through the circumcision of our hearts. That begins with submission to the Spirit (represented by the outward “washing”. That washing is an outward symbolic affirmation of the 30-60-100 (Mt 3:11-17).
Once we are “baptized,” or submit in our hearts to The Holy Spirit that’s when the work begins of our being purged of that which is displeasing to The Father. Once we have the Spirit Indwelling in us our desire to be of the world begins to wane and that’s when our hunger for Jesus becomes very real.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sounds like you believe baptism is mostly symbolic. I would say that baptism is effective, aka God works through it. I would also say that baptism is necessary, but not absolutely necessary. Meaning that the repentant thief crucified next to Jesus wasn’t baptized, but had saving faith.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess I would ask, in terms of baptism and communion, have we materialized those things to the point of not even seeing the spiritual aspects anymore? Do we now perceive them as physical acts only? Not trying to create more controversy or anything, but the Catholic church once banned baptism by beer, declared it null and void . There was a water shortage, so people used what they had. It’s just a somewhat amusing example of how literal and material we can get. Is it the purity of the water that makes the baptism? Does everyone have to touch the same bread to share in the body of Christ? I say no, I’m a big fan of the spiritual power behind those things. We can eat bread and it can have nothing to do with Jesus, but when we gather for communion, it has to be all about Jesus. The physical bread becomes secondary to that truth.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Great question, IB…
I mentioned the alternatives to the “traditional Baptism” many are familiar with bc as a people we have in part bc almost conditioned within society to try and adhere to that which has been delineated as doctrine/dogma/tradition. Back in the OT times, to my understanding- the plethora of church buildings didn’t exist like they do now. Moses lead the Isrealites to go worship The Lord in the wilderness – they had to go journey to seek God’s face. That took work, faith and obedience. Although Jesus told us in NT to repent and be baptized – he also cautioned us to pray that our flight be not in the winter or the Sabbath. If we are knocking on the doors of Tribulation, then this becomes less about full on immersion Baptism. Now it becomes a purely Spiritual matter of the soul. And yes – this comes down to purity- not of the physical element but if Purity of heart and mind. God wants his flock, his Church of Philadelphia to be surrendered of the material things..bc even though he taught to do these things in remembrance of him – there was to be a time coming when the only thing that mattered would be that which is of The Spiritual realm – the bread you eat or “wine” you drink is more about which side you choose to be on for the duration of eternity. Jesus last conversation with the thief on the cross is evidence of this.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Really good points! Much of how we do church today is more about tradition, denomination, and culture than anything Biblical. I dearly love pastors, I think we really need them, but in a literal sense, we really don’t see pastors in the Bible, tucked behind a podium, giving sermons. These are rituals, traditions we have created culturally, and while they have great value, I think that sometimes we treat them like idols, like the only thing that matters.
LikeLiked by 2 people
My belief is that it’s the Word of God combined with the physical element (whether water or bread) that takes the plain physical item and adds a spiritual reality to the act.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Got a verse? And then does it apply???
I am a Bible type. I need to see it there.
That said, lemme have an open mind… here… hmmm…
Okay.
Where are synagogues in the Bible? OT??? No. NT? Yes. So where did they come from. God did not authorize them in some command somewhere. They just mysteriously show up after the children of God are dispersed. So… maybe there is some sort of theological precedent here… a foot hold for this idea.
In fact, the we have the Pharisees to thank for a LOT more than we generally realized, since us modern types just bag on them constantly. But among their contributions are the idea that God’s presence is experienced outside the temple. In fact, this at root is what all their push of righteous holy living was all about. They wanted EVERYONE (Jews of course) to live priestly-like since they would be effectively in the Holy of holies everywhere all the time. This really kicked into high gear when the temple was at last destroyed by Titus.
Not exactly a verse, per se, but some sort of theological precedent nonetheless.
On the other side of the coin, the church tradition holds that the elders lay hands on the sick alright. It shows no concern that the elders may well contract the disease too. Christians, not all to be sure, but many notable ones, have felt called to move to leper colonies to serve, and this has meant becoming a leper to do it. God is worth that, and we must not lose that in this discussion.
Also, I am mindful that I have little babies who NEED my touch. I cannot, despite modern tech and apathy for our young, simply set them in front of a computer and leave it to raise them. They NEED my touch even if it kills them. And God made us that way.
On the whole, though, even if I come down on the side of NO, he is not on the web, I am inclined to say NOT USUALLY. It is not his norm. I am up against another wall here too. Is anything impossible for God? I have to say NO to that too, and that at least leaves open the possiblility, even if not his desire, that he can be on the internet moving, touching, and healing. After all, as you alluded above (biblically I MIGHT ADD though without citation) he healed the centurions servant from a distance AT LEAST. And so his ALWAYS being physically present is not a prerequisite, at least not for his healing.
Challenging post. Hope I am open minded enough to participate positively.
God bless…
LikeLiked by 3 people
You ask some great questions. I might enjoy searching the bible for more examples and perhaps I’ll write up some of those online testimonies. Laughing here, but if I were God, I wouldn’t want to be online, but as we know, He meets us right in our mess and there’s nothing messier!😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I got another one. A spicy one.
Is God present for sexting? How about pornographic pictures of your wife on the phone? Is that godly?
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! Good ones. I’d say God is present everywhere. Is He on the streets with someone who is using? You betcha! God doesn’t shy away from us, it’s our sin that causes US to hide from Him, to avert our eyes, to pretend He isn’t there. That doesn’t make anything Godly or Holy, it just means He is present.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I can see how my question might be a bit confused/confusing, but your reply is not what I was after – categorically speaking.
God makes the man and the woman male and female to bear his image (Gen 1). I don’t want to type graphic stuff in this comment, but that puzzle piece fit he makes is integral to the image bearing purpose there. I’m not asking about sin … as in just any sin if God is present for us, I am asking if he is present as in honored by/image borne in sexting… even if with a wedding ring.
After all, my church has just gone to virtual assembly and is not assembling physically anymore for the time being. Your post has me thinking you are positing that God is there honored by that.
LikeLike
Ha! I think we’re talking to one another in riddles, Agent X. So I would say, can you have an on line sexual affair with someone, in a way that doesn’t involve any touching at all? I would say, yes, absolutely! So if we can pull that off online, then we can also do good, invite the Holy Spirit in, pray for one another. If we can connect with one another sexually and emotionally online, then surely we can also connect spiritually in a way that is pleasing to God, in a way that invites God in?
As to husbands and wives sexting or sharing revealing photos, is that sin? Or is that something God would honor? Ha! I don’t really know? I guess there are too many variables there and we would need specifics. Like, is this a group chat? Or, are we treating one another with respect, as if we were actually creatures made in the image of God? Or are we treating one another as commodities, as pornographic images?
I don’t feel qualified to judge any other married person’s sex stuff, but for me, pictures would be out of the question. 🙂
LikeLike
I have not stopped giving thought to your post here. However, I think I am experiencing, in addition to complexity of thoughts which is hard to manage, and juggling other conversations (my own blog and other venues too), I seem to be having trouble communicating clearly with you, and so now I am giving a lot of thought to that as well.
Let me say this as bluntly as I can (whether necessary or not): I am not being humorous, not taking you lightly, and I have no intentions of talking in “riddles”. I aim to be as respectful of your post as I can, I am open to being persuaded by your case, but I am weighing that out as raising issues that come of for me as I consider it.
To be honest, I never gave much thought to this KIND of thing before, and I probably wouldn’t now either except that nearly every church I know is now foregoing assembly and taking worship on line. Thus I find your post timely, to say the least. I have much here to consider, and I am doing that. In fact, I have OTHER concerns popping up as I have put this on the back burner for a day or two now.
However, being a married man, I KNOW first hand how difficult it CAN BE to communicate face to face with someone I know and love personally. I think this internet connection I have with you presents even more complications for that. (Not arguing the case at the moment, but I can’t help but notice that I might use this as part of that.) Point, AT THIS MOMENT being, I can bow out on this discussion if it’s not working. However, if you want to chew on it more with me, I am game.
Thanx
X
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I think you’re kind of cool, Agent X. Love your heart for the Lord, too! Communication is hard under the best of circumstances. I laugh a lot, I have a bit of a gallows humor and I can be quite irreverent sometimes. I don’t laugh at people, I laugh at the vanity of it all, the foolishness of our world.
You ‘re in Texas, too, right? I’m way up North. Our conversation styles are a bit different. Also, we haven’t really been properly introduced! I’m married too, have four kids, two grandkids. I work a lot as a caregiver, but also I often work as a server in restaurants. Currently doing take out in the cold and dark, all masked and gloved, and ha, it’s a bloody nightmare.
I’m totally serious about this matter, the Holy Spirit is all over the internet, He can move and breathe right across our technology, He can be felt. I’m not suggesting there isn’t huge value in being able to touch one another or to gather as the church, I’m just saying God meets us where we are and He moves where we are moving. Our virtual reality is no obstacle to God, heck He walks into people’s “virtual realities” everyday. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanx for the introduction. I would introduce myself, but I am one of those creeps who doesn’t use his real name.
I try to keep my self revelations true, but vague.
Thanx for calling me cool.
I hate to come off as humorless, now. Not my intent. Just trying to stress that I take you seriously AND hopefully keep that notion from clouding the coms.
God bless…
PS. I live in Texas, but I am not Texan.
I am a westerner. Texas is “back east” for me. I am from all over the west. I talk with a Texas accent now, though. And, funny your comment brings this up for me, but years ago (I came here for college) I picked up the accent and started saying “Yes Ma’am, no Ma’am” etc in my politenesses.
Anyway, I wanted to go into Law. Turns out I did not, but in undergraduate school, I interned with lawyers as a flunkie and as an investigator. I took one job up in Seattle, WA. I worked for the King Co. Public Def. office. I rode the bus everywhere to do my investigations. And apparently I stood out with my accent and with my “Ma’ams and Sirs”…
Anyway, I was young and newly married in those days, and I didn’t think anything of it for a few weeks, but that young, attractive receptionist in the office was getting pretty twitterpated with me, and I was slow to see it or understand. It wasn’t because I look like Bon Jovi (that was just a fantasy), but because I kept saying “yes Ma’am” to her. She was getting all unzipped about it.
Fortunately for both of us, we were able to settle the matter when I pointed out my ring and respectfully refused her. Also, it was a temp job/internship anyway. So… But I learned a lot from that little experience and came back to Texas and recommended a job to all my young friends up NORTH where the girls aren’t used to that.
Ha!
Thanx again…
X
LikeLiked by 1 person
God is present on the internet and uses it for his glory. Satan is also present and uses it to promote sin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When we lived in another state, I was on the prayer team at our church. Part of what we did was touch base with each member by phone once a month and ask if they needed prayer. One lady on my list had a physical problem that had been getting so bad she was going to have to have surgery the next day if something didn’t change. (I won’t go into the details.) I prayed with her over the phone. When I saw her in church the next Sunday she ran over and hugged me, said that the moment she hung up, what she needed happened, and the surgery was cancelled. I hadn’t been anywhere near her – but God was right there as we prayed. ❤
So yes, bottom line – I agree with you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen, we can pray on the telephone! That’s a great testimony. I’ve written before about being so wiped out, I was just laying down, making snow angels on the kitchen floor. When I got up and turned on the TV there was a woman speaking about having been in such a crisis, she laid on the floor making snow angels! Yep, I felt like she was looking right at me through the TV, and then she prayed for women who make snow angels on the kitchen floor. That was too perfect, too timely, and I don’t believe in coincidences, so totally an act of the Holy Spirit. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Na, it was coincidence. Besides, everyone talks about making snow angels on the kitchen floor all the time. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Madison Elizabeth Baylis.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. I have experienced Spirit and technology interact. Just yesterday, watching a recording of the Vatican Easter Mass, I could feel strong vibrations. There is no obstacle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glory to God. He is online on my site too🔥
LikeLiked by 1 person
God is everywhere. All the time. Well reminded. It can sometimes go unnoticed as we go through the day.
LikeLike