Basic Christianity: Who is God?

Balancing the Christian Life

In this thought-provoking episode of Balancing the Christian Life, Dr. Kenny Embry engages in a conversation with Tommy Humphries, a college professor at Saint Leo University, about the existence and character of God. They delve into the complexities of belief, drawing parallels between faith and marriage, and explore the transformative power of love in the Christian journey. Join them as they navigate through questions of doubt, the limitations of human understanding, and the pursuit of a deeper relationship with God.

Key Takeaways:

• Simple but Complicated: The question of God's existence is foundational to Christianity, but it's more complex than a simple yes or no.
• God as Love: Tommy believes God is love, and you can't talk about God without talking about love.
• Human Reason & Faith: Both human reason and faith play a role in understanding God. Even atheists and theists can have similar views if terms are clarified.
• Doubt and Faith: Doubt is part of the human experience, even for Christians. A lack of doubt can be a sign of shallow thinking.
• Marriage as an Analogy: Both marriage and faith involve commitment before full understanding and deepening of the relationship over time.
• God's Character: Believing in God involves understanding His character, not just acknowledging His existence.
• Love as the Core: Love is the greatest of all virtues, and the ultimate goal is to become a perfect lover of God and neighbor.
• Good of Believing in God: Belief opens us to a deeper understanding of the world and a transformative relationship with God.

Memorable Quotes:

• "I became a Christian for very different reasons than I stay a Christian, because I think the reason I became a Christian was to escape hell. But I don't stay a Christian to escape hell." - Kenny Embry
• "God is love, and the heart of love is the ability to give yourself completely to another for their good." - Tommy Humphries
• "The real work of a theologian is to present a love which cannot be deconstructed." - Bishop Daniel Flores
• "Faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Call to Action:

• Sign up for the free Balancing the Christian Life conference.

Additional Notes:

• Dr. Kenny Embry is a conservative church of Christ member and communication professor.
• Tommy Humphries is a Catholic and a college professor.
• The conversation explored the complexities of belief in God, the nature of faith, and the importance of love in the Christian life.
• Dr. Embry emphasizes the importance of learning from people with different perspectives.

Remember to be good and do good.

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Chapters

1. Exploring Belief in God (00:00:00)

2. Faith, Knowledge, and Love (00:10:01)

3. Commitment and Doubt in Relationships (00:18:44)

4. The Nature of God and Love (00:31:56)

5. Understanding the Relationship With God (00:46:30)

6. Belief, Faith, and Understanding God (00:52:55)

7. The Power of God's Love (01:00:08)

8. Christian Life Conference Announcement (01:11:16)