One Divided by Zero

November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024: Editing needs to be completed. November 19, 2024: added notes at end

1 ÷ 0

Identifying an Experience of God

Abstract

Many believers have testified to an experience of God. The nature of the experience can change over time. There are many reasons for this. One is that the working of the Holy Spirit matures the Christian preparing them for various ministries. The believer being prepared for ministry is a sign of trust; God trusts the believer, but we must also trust Him.

NEXUS In this context, a convergence of elements we believed to be independent of each other

Preface

This website was created to provide ideas to Christians experiencing problems in the faith who are seeking help. The ideas provided here can be very uncomfortable to act on. Because of the difficulty some will encounter acting on ideas here, a category composed of testimony was added. The writings in this category are testimony to God interacting in believers’ lives, statements of possibility. As a matter of philosophy, every principle that could benefit others is also shared. This paper attempts to present an idea that some might say goes deeper into the knowledge of God and should be posted elsewhere. We share this out-of-scope idea because God may choose to work through it, enacting spiritual growth in someone. You may have something to add to this topic.

Introduction

The mystery of God is beyond our complete comprehension. Still, His desire is for our knowledge of Him to increase. We can comfortably know some things about God. But to understand Him so well that we can predict what He will do next is like trying to understand one divided by zero. As with disallowed math operations, God Almighty is outside our comprehension and communication capability. From a human perspective, God is infinite. This paper attempts to explore the experience of an infinite God. To the author, the experience of God instills a sense of humility and reverence.

(Isa 55:8-9 NRSV) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Many people are familiar with the two quoted verses. But what do they mean? Throughout the church’s history, some people have used human reasoning to understand them. When we do, we may end up believing some very odd ideas, ideas we would not accept in any other area of life. This plays out when the incorrect interpretation method is used to understand a Bible verse. So then, human reasoning is used to create an odd interpretation. Then, the human rationale is used in misapplying the verses above to show how the peculiar understanding is true.

So, what is one way we can understand the meaning of the two verses? Many Christians have testified to an experience of God. Occasionally, this is a series of circumstances leading to a perfect outcome beyond what we could have imagined. The key to understanding the improbable or impossible ideal outcome is that God’s ways are higher than ours. When that happens, we sing praises to God.

Context

The principle concept of this paper may be timeless, where as how it is stated may not. All technology in this article is temporal; it will change. Statements dependent upon science will likely change one day. People exist in a context and, as such, generally understand God, life, and ourselves from a perspective, also known as a worldview. Differences in theological teaching between mainstream ways of talking about the faith are examples of different contexts or worldviews. Societal differences also come into play.

Our experience of God takes many forms over time. As a statement of belief, we assert that God brings every person into sufficient knowledge of Him to decide to submit to His Lordship or not at least once in their life. Many would testify to an experience of God before salvation as a feeling of guilt inspired by the Holy Spirit. Later, a sense of peace, joy, or perhaps love for an adversarial person. The sincerely dedicated practice of worshiping God through many forms, such as reading the Bible, praying, the arts, and more, can lead to new understandings of God. We will expand on some of these in the following sections.

Analogy

Mathematics makes possible most of our modern conveniences. With math safe bridges can be made, computers, easy to follow recipes, and so much more. That is, if we all agree not to do one thing. We must not divide by zero.

A podcast episode titled Zeroworld[2] discusses dividing by zero. They describe bizarre results if we allow one or any number to be divided by zero[3]. A parallel with the Holy Trinity came to mind. Look at the references to members of the Trinity below, the use of plurals versus singular.

(Gen 3:22 NASB) Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—

Contrast verse 22 (above) with verse 4 (below).

(Deu 6:4 NASB) “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!

In verse 16 (below) Jesus references three individuals. HIMSELF, the Father, and the Helper.

(Joh 14:16 NASB) “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

Can we reconcile verses 16 (above) and 11 (below)? Specifically, Jesus will ask the Father who is in Him, Jesus.

(Joh 14:11 NASB) “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

The following two verses present another challenging concept. Perhaps the word “figurative” plays a role? But perhaps not in a way that resolves conflicting statements.

(Joh 16:25 NASB) “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father.

(Joh 10:30 KJV) I and my Father are one.

It would seem that all human perspectives fall short of accurately and thoroughly understanding God. However, that does not prevent us from experiencing God. Let us turn our attention to the ways we experience God.

Hearing God

Christians trying to completely understand the experience of God can be likened to mathematicians researching ways to solve 1 ÷ 0.

Trying to solve a disallowed math statement is trying to do the impossible. Trying to understand precisely how an experience of God works is like attempting the impossible. For mathematicians working on one divided by zero, it can lead to new universes of understanding. For Christians, it can lead to a new experience of God, perhaps a new way to walk with God.

(1Sa 3:6 ESV) And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”

Can we hear God today as Samuel did? You may think you have the answer. But if you do, be cautious about using Samuel’s experience as a standard or dismissing it as God does not work that way today.' You may have heard a Christian confidently state, That has never happened to me,’ as if to set a standard of Christian experience for others. But perhaps we should keep an open mind, ready to embrace new understandings.

Let’s change the question. Are you conscious of an experience of God? If your immediate response is no, it might be because of a decision you made a long ago. Uncovering what that decision might be can be helpful, although it’s beyond the scope of this paper. If you can testify to having an experience of God, what was that experience? How do you know?

Emotions Can be an Experience of God

For some of us, before we were saved, we knew the correct answer to the question about the existence of God, but that’s all. Some of us became Christians through an emotional tugging that involved one or more realizations. There is a God, and I feel guilty for sinning against Him. Every part of that served a divine purpose; it was an experience of God. For others, somewhat different aspects may be prominent. Imagine a person who experienced abandonment from a parent or partner, producing a deep emotional scar. Their salvation decision may have occurred when they realized God never surprises people by breaking fellowship with people. Forgiveness, a complete pardoning as if they had never sinned, happens at the time of salvation and is made possible by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(Joh 16:8 NKJV) And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin…

Before salvation, many say there is a God because that is what they have been told. But then the Holy Spirit moves and we know by experience God exists. Many report feeling guilty and then (choose to) submit their will to God as they understand. After salvation, perhaps a sense of peace.

Aside: for now, we accept that everybody may be saved.

(Joh 3:16 GNB) For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.

But not everyone will be.

(Mat 7:13-14 GNB) “Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. 14 But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.

Let us be careful about being dogmatic about the precise experience of a person before salvation. Not everyone experiences emotions the same way.

Later, perhaps the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) become evident in your life as an experience that others can observe. When you realize you can now love an enemy you previously hated, and if it defies human reason, you know it is a work of the Holy Spirit.

Manifestations: The Gifts of the Spirit

Some Christians are active in one or more of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. When a gift of the Spirit is active in your life, such as understanding scripture, you can know it is from God. The product (writing music, preaching, working on decorations at a church) will be compatible with scripture and the nature of God. For understanding scripture, God, as the Holy Spirit with you, has shaped your understanding. The understanding exists in your physical body, the brain.

We will use the gift of tongues by the Holy Spirit for illustration because no part of this document gives testimony to it as an experience. The intent is to provide freedom for discussion with less concern for offending a Christian.

Christians who actively use the gift of tongues by the Holy Spirit know it is from God. It bears His mark, His pattern or nature, and complies with scripture (we discuss interpretation methods of scripture in other papers). You know partly by the witness of the Spirit in your heart and partly by the resulting spiritual fruit. Look through scripture for manifestations of the Holy Spirit. You will find dramatic accounts, but you should also find accounts more like an everyday experience molded by God. With careful examination, you will also discover subtle manifestations. A relationship with God through the Spirit was engineered for eternity. A lifelong series of ‘spiritual’ dramas should not be considered normal Christianity.

A Personal experience

I recall a conversation I had with a priest a few decades ago. I traveled 110 miles to a small town where a priest would teach groups contemplative prayer. Afterward, I talked to him, and we disagreed on the nature of an experience of God. He realized I was testifying to personal experience at some point, and our conversation moved on. I continue to stand by my testimony of that time. However, had I tried to put myself in a receptive state toward God as he described it, I may have tangibly realized many years ago that I had more to learn. My testimony now, as it was then, was sincere and represented an experience of God, but there is more. What matters is that we both respected and glorified God. I only attended a few monthly Saturday sessions one year, but I will always remember the experience and its value.

(Rom 15:6 NASB) so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sometimes a sign that a person is having an experience of God is Joy. Other times, peace, dreams, signs and wonders, fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Attempting the Impossible

From the podcast Zeroworld, we learn about research into dividing a number by zero. According to the podcast, mathematicians attempting to find a solution to what is impossible will sometimes discover whole new universes of understanding. When we listen to Christian testimonies of God working, implied or stated is the concept of a Christian experiencing God. Another type of testimony glorifying God is as a witness to another’s changed life, rescued from the streets, perhaps forgiveness for their sins, and so on. If you believe we have free will, our responsibility is to do what God wants us to do. Examples are the common practices of believers, such as attending functions held in the name of Jesus, attending Bible teaching, and others.

Contradiction?

The paragraph below the verse appears to contradict some paragraphs above. This will be resolved. Writing this article has been challenging. We have not been able to find a way to state the conclusion clearly and simply. Our approach has been to list experiences of God and apply some reasoning, hoping to show what is not God. We now use the list of inspirations and manifestations that are not God as a mask (computer term) or filter, hoping to leave us in a new way with our Savior. Spiritual growth depends upon God.

(1Co 13:8 NKJV) Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For those of you who are active in the gift of tongues and understand it as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, we assert that it is not God. Have you experienced a love for others beyond comprehension yet aligning with God’s nature? That is not God. Some of us have felt a sense of guilt before salvation. That feeling of guilt is not God, but He may have inspired it. After salvation, perhaps you experienced the emotion of peace. No emotion is God, but God may have inspired it. The Fruits and Gifts of the Holy Spirit are inspirations or manifestations that align with the nature of God and, as such, would not exist without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit - - but they are not God. God makes them possible. God is the cause or enabler. Our role, is to be in an attitude of obedience to Him; this is crucial. When we seek Him with the intent for our hearts to align with God, God steps in and molds us and (through us) brings about inspiration and manifestations.

We firmly stand on the statements of those who testify to having an experience of God. How our bodies and minds interpret it into our reality is not God manifested - - although we can say they are inspired by God or manifested by Him. There is no such thing as God being `literally’ love. HE loves and enables us to love, but the emotion of love is not a materialization of God.

Summarizing the above, God is near and present with you now. You may know that He is near as an experience of Him and not a statement of belief. The experience may be a sense of peace or joy, where you recognize it as an inspiration of the Holy Spirit. But those are not God. You may be in a place of solitary prayer where a gift of the Spirit is manifested. But that manifestation is not God; it can be thought of Holy Spirit capability being manifested through you. Aside: around you, not through you, but you had a role in that you obeyed God.

Summary

Be open to God, resist temptation, and keep doing what God uses for our spiritual health.

(Php 1:6 NASB) For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Understand that God is using you now. When you ask, be prepared to receive.

(1Co 3:7 NASB) So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

Accept the change He is ready to impart to you.

As the author, I strongly believe in the existence and value of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Fruits of the Spirit in today’s world. Many would testify to their significance in the kingdom of God. Countless testimonies of God’s presence and experiences with Him have been shared throughout the ages, validating our beliefs.

The following conclusion has been many years in the making and it probably could be written more clearly. It is a significant step toward simplification. Perhaps some children, babies, and adults are living it now. Had I tried to practice the priest’s advice, I might have been able to write the paragraph below many years ago.

Conclusion

You know that people can experience God. Before we were Christians, many of us thought of guilt as an experience of God, and indeed it was, but not because God is an emotion of guilt or shame. God is nearby; the Christian can become aware of His presence. He is here. So then, what are we to do? First, we pray and consider submitting to God daily. If all is OK, then proceed. Second, in a private prayer location, humbled before God, ask God if He will lead you to a deeper experience of Him. Perhaps an experience this paper attempts to describe.

Perhaps as a sense of rest in Him.
Perhaps as a new sense of rest in Him.
A sense of intimacy during private prayer time.

This article may describe a type of nexus[4] where prayer, the experience of God’s presence, and two-way communication come together—perhaps making something possible.

The instant you direct attention to God, He is there; He knows the need, and He is eager to respond.

Notes [1] “I Know Whom I Have Believed” song written by Major Daniel Webster Whittle. [2] Zeroworld, December 2023, Radiolab, WNYC Studios [3] 1/1=1, 1/10=o.1, 1/5000=0.0002, each of these operations produces a number, 1, .1, and so on. if we continue this series we may at first believe we end at 1/0=infinity. According to the podcast, the problem is that infinity is not a number, it is a direction. [4] Regarding the word `nexus’, many of us were introducted to this word by Star Trek. However, the word is in English dictionaries and indicates a related or overlapping group. Etymology, 1660’s Latin (same spelling as our English word).

Additional Information

Radiolab is a pod cast series which is fun and always informational. They sometimes shift into the philosophy of a topic and during the episode referenced here, ended with mention of potential religious ramifications. The episode referenced here was a secular discussion outside of the topic of this paper.

Immediacy

One person reported a new immediacy extending outside of the prayer closet. The following is an example without names and some identifying details removed. Three men met at a church altar to pray one lunch period per week. One of the men plainly stated that he was active in the Gifts of the Spirit. For various reasons, it was clear that two men doubted present-day manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Various revelations or inspirations occurred during the two years. Still, in every case, others present were unsure if it was really of God, a lucky guess, or a natural event. At the end of the first year, two men continued. After two years, the group ended. The last two men stand in a parking lot later in the day, one of them unaware that this would be the final session. Not much is said between the two. The unaware man said, I have no idea why God has given me permission to say this, but…., someone now associated with our organization will be going far away in the name of Christ. I do not know who that will be, but it keeps coming back to me that it will happen. The second man replies, you do not know what this is about, do you? The first man replied, I never know. All I do is direct my attention to God briefly; when I sense His presence, there is always something unique about it. Then, I convert that to words that form a sentence. I never know more than I am given. The other man, intensely focused on the first man, said, I have told no one this except an entity far away who knows to keep it secret; I am the man who is leaving.

Article Timing

This article was delayed a few weeks because the author found some of the content disagreeable, unpleasant, contrary to what had always seemed correct. Perhaps someone will come later and approach the fundamental point differently.