Imagination~ What Does God Say About It?

[Biblereader]

. Ever Heard of the man Dr. James Dobson phd psychology?Runs famous ministry
Focus on the Family, sound familiar?

Yes, Dobson has been around for decades. I know about him.

James Dobson is not as clean as you think:
http://artlaction.com/release/20080825/ ... voking-god

 

[Caroline H]

WHAT JESUS SAYS, IN HIS HOLY BIBLE, THE KJV, ABOUT IMAGINATION:
(I emphasized KJV, because if you read from other versions, you aren't getting the whole Gospel, nor are you getting
the true Gospel)

Well, not to change the topic, but you probably just turned off half of your audience right there.

OH well. Do you know much about the diff btwn Alexandrian and Antiochian texts?
If you did, you would not be turned off by the KJV.

I'm not turned off by the KJV at all. It's my favourite, but to say that other translations are not the Gospel is false and is going to turn off people who prefer other good translations. If the KJV is the only Bible that is Gospel, then woe to the non-English speaking world

 

[WWJD2010]

Perhaps we could return to the topic at hand please? (which is, in case people have forgotten about God and the imagination).

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. -Genesis 6:5

And the LORD smelled a sweet savor; and the LORD said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground anymore for mans sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite anymore every living thing, as I have done. -Genesis 8:21

But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels [and] in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. -Jeremiah 7:24

 

[LostSoul]

Well....I guess I am messed up. I trust the KJV. Find it more accurate than most...but in regards to the topic.

I cannot say that I do not agree with some of the views posted here in terms of the evilness that comes from the human mind. All it takes is a thought and thoughts usually lead to action. Thought....you could say, is the very root of sin. Whereas usually one has to come to the conclusion one is going to act a certain way before doing it. Then, that may not always be the case. In short, this is a matter that has been a bit of a conflict for me. For I have always had a rather vivid imagination.

 

[jasoncran]

Yeah i know that mcain was like that, i myself voted for him. I wont lie, but that is another topic.

i do wish that we had a truly anti abortion person running for office, if one wants to one can find dirt on anyone here or anyone. We all have well sinned.

He isnt the only psychologist that i know that believes. I have meet the chief forensic psychologist for the entire state of north carolina. He reviews all the cases and is a pastor that takes the bible litterally.

I will rather adress the topic at hand than this brief tangent.

 

[WWJD2010]

Another Scripture on what the LORD says about the imagination:

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. -Luke 1:51

 

[Lance_Iguana]

Was this a copy paste job?

Would YOU like to type all the bible verses?
IF so, I have a job for you. No pay, just type for me, for free.

I don't know why you are so hostile, I was only asking.

I read through this thread and have to say that you need to sit down and actually read into what psychology is before you wontonly cast it away.

After reading your post all I can say is congradulations on finding verses that justify forcing all artistic, inventive, and musical out of society. Telling me how to think sounds to much like 1984 and ferenheit 451.

 

[jasoncran]

sadly i was also getting that impression as well. I know those verses as well. I dont think that lord meant that weren' t to dream but rather cleanse our heart so that we ponder on those things that are of the Lord.
some like to sing and do so for the lord, and also write love songs or other things that arent putting forth or lifting up sin. Is that bad. I have a hobby , bjj, i can use that reach the lost or simply to relieve stress.. Talk about being so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.

This is coming from a guy who doesnt listen to secular music or watch tv alot.

 

[WWJD2010]

...Talk about being so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good...

I remember that Johnny Cash quote. I wonder if he made it through the pearly gates?

 

[Caroline H]

sadly i was also getting that impression as well. I know those verses as well. I dont think that lord meant that weren' t to dream but rather cleanse our heart so that we ponder on those things that are of the Lord.
some like to sing and do so for the lord, and also write love songs or other things that arent putting forth or lifting up sin. Is that bad. I have a hobby , bjj, i can use that reach the lost or simply to relieve stress.. Talk about being so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.

This is coming from a guy who doesnt listen to secular music or watch tv alot.

:amen

Yes, man is evil in his heart. But that doesn't negate the good that can come from the "imaginings" of man. There have been good inventions that have benefited society greatly, and there have been people who have used their creativity to serve the LORD.

 

[jasoncran]

...Talk about being so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good...

I remember that Johnny Cash quote. I wonder if he made it through the pearly gates?

Do we just say we cant be around the sinner and form our little shelters and be like the quakers and the mennonites. The lost wont come to us ,we must go to them. That is what is meant by that saying.

 

[LostSoul]

...Talk about being so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good...

I remember that Johnny Cash quote. I wonder if he made it through the pearly gates?

I have a great deal of admiration for Johnny Cash....while he was no saint, I do believe he did the best he could in the world he lived in. Far from perfect yes, but in my heart of hearts I do believe he was a believer.

 

[WWJD2010]

...Talk about being so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good...

I remember that Johnny Cash quote. I wonder if he made it through the pearly gates?

Do we just say we cant be around the sinner and form our little shelters and be like the quakers and the mennonites. The lost wont come to us ,we must go to them. That is what is meant by that saying.

Its funny you say that because just today I was thinking about the same thing on how we as Christians must not shelter ourselves. That's a confirmation.

The imagination isn't something I can speak on correctly. All I can do is give some Scripture on what the Word says about it. Otherwise I look forward to studying about the imagination in the near future.

 

[jasoncran]

The word imiganation then is of the connation of thought to do evil, no the dream type that we do think of today, though that can be the case. Some people when are looking at a woman will lust after her and use their imiganation to see her naked.

It's all how you use it.

 

[WWJD2010]

...It's all how you use it.

That certainly make sense.

 

[Slyvena]

And so like pretty much always we reach the point where its plain that its not the tool or the entity itself that is evil or good but its use.

...Talk about being so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good...

I remember that Johnny Cash quote. I wonder if he made it through the pearly gates?

do not judge a teaching by its follower but the teaching on its own merit, if every Christian on the planet was not a true believer than would you discredit the religion because of their failure?

Perhaps we could return to the topic at hand please? (which is, in case people have forgotten about God and the imagination).

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. -Genesis 6:5

And the LORD smelled a sweet savor; and the LORD said in His heart, I will not again curse the ground anymore for mans sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite anymore every living thing, as I have done. -Genesis 8:21

But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels [and] in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. -Jeremiah 7:24

All of these when you look closer are not referring to the evilness of imagination but of the heart. As believers God has placed within us the ability to defy the nature of our heart and seek him, as such all things that draw from the heart bear this same state. So just like our heart, Imagination is both evil and good depending on the person and circumstance. Sexual Fantasies would be an example of an evil use, Day Dreaming to amuse yourself for fun would be a recreational use.

 

[WWJD2010]

do not judge a teaching by its follower but the teaching on its own merit, if every Christian on the planet was not a true believer than would you discredit the religion because of their failure?

All of these when you look closer are not referring to the evilness of imagination but of the heart. As believers God has placed within us the ability to defy the nature of our heart and seek him, as such all things that draw from the heart bear this same state. So just like our heart, Imagination is both evil and good depending on the person and circumstance. Sexual Fantasies would be an example of an evil use, Day Dreaming to amuse yourself for fun would be a recreational use.

I will not listen to someone that is out of line with the LORD, you might listen to every person who comes along, I will not, Scripture says we should be on the same accord. Its late and I don't have time to debate with you over such non-sense. The thread is topic is: Imagination~ What Does God Say About It?

Now about how you stated that the Scriptures I gave are not in reference with this thread. Well, take it up with Strong's Concordance, when I researched imagination today these were the some of the Scriptures that came from it. Furthermore, obviously the imagination is in close relation to the heart. I can be brutally honest and say that I've never studied the subject of imagination. So, whenever I need an answer about something I go to the Bible, not to my own understanding, because that is how God wants us to operate as Christians.

Oh and by the way, your signature was quoted by Les Brown.

 

[Slyvena]

I will not listen to someone that is out of line with the LORD

um, well I guess that's your prerogative than, care you explain why I'm out of line with the LORD.

you might listen to every person who comes along, I will not, Scripture says we should be on the same accord.

wait... what? Saying that we should be of one accord is not justification to ignore anyone who isn't in accord with you, its a justification to discuss the matter and come to mutual agreement, you know... like on a forum... like this one...

Now about how you stated that the Scriptures I gave are not in reference with this thread. Well, take it up with Strong's Concordance, when I researched imagination today these were the some of the Scriptures that came from it. Furthermore, obviously the imagination is in close relation to the heart. I can be brutally honest and say that I've never studied the subject of imagination. So, whenever I need an answer about something I go to the Bible, not to my own understanding, because that is how God wants us to operate as Christians.

I wasn't saying they weren't related to the thread, they were related to it. What I was saying was that imagination in and of itself was not the issue in the verses, the root of the issue which inevitably polluted the imagination was the heart which is why it was always paired with that word.

As for Strong Concordance, well yeah, like I said, I wasn't disagreeing.

You may not have studied the area of imagination, but I have done indirect studies all around the issues of the heart and the stem of evil etc etc, and given its relation I was able to draw that meaning from the verses.

Moreover I've had a time in my life when I was given in to Vein imaginings and divine revelation revealed to me that it was wrong, as such I altered my thoughts and eliminated those specific subject matters from entering my head. I remained a dreamer of sorts but not like before. I stopped receiving jolts of concisonce on the matter and considered that confirmation that I had eliminated the offending areas.

Oh and by the way, your signature was quoted by Les Brown.

Sweet thanks, gosh I'd been meaning to look it up but hadn't got around to it.

 

[Nick]

Proverbs 15:26:
The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
but those of the pure are pleasing to him.

Mark 7:20-22
20He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.

Ephesians 2:1-10
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

James 2:4
have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

These passages I have provided gives the assumption that thoughts and immaginaton are kind of the same thing, and it can be both good and evil. If there are evil thoughts and desires, then there must be good, no? There cannot be a dark without a light and a light without a dark. The darkness proves the light.

The thoughts, heart and tongue are closely related to each other - like an interpersonal relationship - what one's thoughts are are fueled by their heart and vise versa. What someone says mirrors what is in the heart.

Hope this adds something to the discussion.

 

[WWJD2010]

I will not listen to someone that is out of line with the LORD

um, well I guess that's your prerogative than, care you explain why I'm out of line with the LORD.

I said a prayer for you because you want to rival which is the gateway to confusion. If you tell me anything--as a Christian back it up with Scripture, not your own understanding.

For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. -James 3:16

Back on topic, here's another Scripture on Imagination:
And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart. -Jeremiah 18:12