God's Attributes: About Immutability

I've decided to start posting my own thoughts while I have a bit of time between semesters. For those of you who know me, I must admit, I've been keeping another blog that's been separate from this one. I did have pretty good reasons (I think?), but I don't really want to get into all the "why's". The main reason is that I didn't want it to be any source of confusion and internally (in case you haven't noticed yet) I tend to be rather "on my guard" when it comes to discussing personal thoughts.

But now I'm over that (mostly, I think), and I'll transfer some of my old stuff onto here so you can see what I've written about. :)

Anyway, here's one thing that I've been thinking about. Among "secondary issues" in Christianity, there's debate over whether God is completely immutable or not. Immutable basically means "non-changing in any way." There are many in the church who believe that God absolutely can't change in any way. But I believe God does change in some ways and in other ways, God does not change. Here's a brief outline regarding my position on the matter:

Aspects of God that do not change:

1. God is eternal. God always exists. - God was never created, God will never die, God will never cease to exist. Why? God is self-sustaining and needs nothing else to live (in other words, God is not "contingent"... God is necessary)
2. God is completely good. God's character defines goodness and doesn't change. What was good will always be good because God's moral character does not change.
3. God is omniscient. He knows all truths. God knows all that can be known.
4. God is omnipresent. God is fully and immediately present to all that exists (even present to Hell... if Hell indeed exists. Yes, we can discuss if you want to know more.). However, there are different "intensities" of God's existence. Here's an example: I can talk fully into a microphone, but the listener cannot hear as well if the amplitude (volume) is turned low. The listener can hear very clearly if the amplitude is turned high.
5. God is omnipotent. God can do anything that is logically possible. So the question "Can God create a rock so big that even He can't lift it" is logically impossible. The problem is with the question - not with God's abilities. It's basically a nonsense question. Just because a person can pit opposites against each other doesn't make it a good question. Also, if God puts restrictions on Himself for certain reasons, He's fully allowed to do so - that's where we trust his omniscience. He ultimately knows what's best in order to accomplish His purposes.

How God changes: (when God does something, there is a change... but not in character)

1. There was a time before God created and after God created. When God created, this required God to do something - specifically to issue the command. Who God is didn't change. What God did, did cause a change. Hopefully this makes sense.
2. When God became incarnate (became a human), there was a change. There was "before the incarnation" and "after the incarnation" - again, this is a change. Still, God's character didn't change.
3. Whenever a miracle, decree, command, etc. was issued, there was a change: from "God does not do the miracle" to "God does the miracle", from "pre-command" to "post-command". God does not eternally perform the miracle - it happens in one moment in time. Now there's the internal debate regarding the nature of time. I subscribe to the "presentist" view... I believe that when a change occurs, "time" occurs. Time doesn't cause change... change causes time. Have I confused you yet?
4. Sometimes God is happy, sometimes sad, sometimes proud, sometimes angry. This is due to God's creation. Creation makes God happy, sad, proud, and angry.

So, I was just looking at the Hebrews 13:8 verse: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Yes... in character... in who He is ultimately. But Jesus did not always exist in bodily form. There was a moment in time where he became incarnate.

Malachi 3:6: "For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed." Same thing... we can trust in God because God's character does not change. God is always good, therefore God can't go back on His promises.