a. The god-in-everything theory:
“but a higher advanced Sadhaka who has a pure mind and who sees the divine presence everywhere and in everything, can worship any kind of object.” Swami Sivananda, The Philosophy and Significance of Idol Worship, p. 8. (Emphasis supplied).
“… it is possible to commune with the all-pervading Lord through the medium of and idol. The divinity of the all pervading God is vibrant in every atom of creation.” Ibid, p. 12 (Emphasis supplied).
b. The everything-is-god theory:
“Even so, the Lord is highly pleased when a small portion of His Virat (cosmic) body is worshipped. An idol is a part of the body of the Lord. The whole world is His Body, Virat Form.” Ibid, pp. 14-15. (Emphasis supplied).
“To the worshipper who believes the symbol, any kind of image is the body of the Lord under the form of stone , clay, brass, picture, Saligram, etc. Such worship can never be idolotry . All matter is a manifestation of God … all is a manifestation of God …” Ibid, p. 15. (Emphasis supplied).
c. The everything-in-God theory:
“He who sees Me (the universal Self) present in all beings, and all beings existing within Me, never loses sight of me …” Srimad Bhagavadgita, p. 66. (Emphasis supplied).
“Arjuna, that eternal unmanifest supreme Purusa in whom all beings reside and by whom all this is pervaded is attainable only through exclusive Devotion.” Ibid, p. 84. (Emphasis supplied).
d. The all-is-One (god) theory:
“Arjuna, he who looks on all as one, on the analogy of his own self, and looks upon the joy and sorrow of all with a similar eye—such a Yogi is deemed the highest of all.” Ibid, p. 66. (Emphasis supplied).
“There is nothing else beside Me, Arjuna.” Ibid, p. 72. (Emphasis supplied).
Some teach that an energy that pervades all or is behind all is God. The all-is-energy theory:
“I believe that the universe is one being, all its parts are different expressions of the same energy …” Paul Harrison, The Elements of Pantheism, p. 37. (Emphasis supplied).
“The universe is omnipresent because it is filled with energy spreading from every part to every other part.” Ibid, 41. (Emphasis supplied)
However, the Bible teaches that God is One, divine, Spirit Nature manifested in three persons.
a. God is One. 1 Cor. 8:4,6; Deut. 32:39.
b. God is Spirit. Jn. 4:24.
c. God is divine Nature. 2 Pet. 1:4.
d. God is manifested in three persons. 1 Jn 5:7.
i. The Father is God. Tit. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:2.
ii. Jesus is God. Heb. 1:6,8,9.
iii. The Spirit is God. 2 Cor. 3:17; 1 Cor. 2:10-13.
6. Sometimes people use the following Scriptures to assume that God is all-pervading, but this is not what it means. It means that God sees all things so that none can hide from Him, He even sees and hears what is in their hearts. Jer. 23:24-26.
7. This scripture is explained in another place as God’s eyes going all over the earth. 2 Chr. 16:9; Pr. 15;3; Zech. 4:10.
8. That God is not in everything or all-pervading is seen in that He does not dwell in human temples. Acts 7:47-49; Acts 17:24.
9. God who is Love does not dwell in the wicked. (1 Jn. 4:16; 1 Jn. 3:17).
10. It is not God, but the spirit of Satan that dwells in the wicked, thus God is not all-pervading. Eph. 2:1,2.
11. However, Rahman, the Muslim’s Allah, is a pantheistic all-pervading god.
“To Allah belong the East and the West, whithersoever ye turn, there is the presence of Allah. For Allah is all-pervading, all knowing.” Quran 2:115.
“He is the First and the Last the Evident [should be translated Outward] and the Immanent [that is, within all things]; and He has full knowledge of all things.” Quran 57:3.
12. In the Bible, pantheism is called the “mystery of lawlessness,” this is because it is a teaching that causes gross evil. 2 Thess. 2:7.
13. Whatever theory of pantheism it may be, they all cause gross lawlessness.
“Pantheistic theories are not sustained by the Word of God. The light of His truth shows that these theories are soul-destroying agencies. Darkness is their element, sensuality their sphere. They gratify the natural heart, and give license to inclination. Separation from God is the result of accepting them …” Ellen G. White, Evangelism, p. 601.
“These theories regarding God make His Word of no effect, and those who accept them are in great danger of being led finally to look upon the whole Bible as fiction … The unaided human will has no real power to resist and overcome evil. The defenses of the soul are broken down. Man had no barrier against sin. When once the restraints of God’s Word and His Spirit are rejected, we know not to what depths one may sink.” Ibid, p. 602.
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