Is it ok to debate God in from a Christian viewpoint (Christian to Christian)

Here is a link on all the definitions on the web you could possibly find for the term “debate” http://www.google.com... as you can see they include; A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal consider: think about carefully; weigh; the formal presentation of a stated proposition and the opposition to it (usually followed by a vote) discuss the pros and cons of an issue is a formal method of interactive and representational argument. An informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views the formal expression of a member's views for or against a matter. It would seem to me that none of these online definitions truly match as a description for whatever it is you think your talking about when you say the term “debate” and for that matter incorrectly believe I too am saying when I say the term “debate”. For me personally in terms of this debate, as well as what I would tell you if you asked me what I mean when I say debate if you asked me outside of this debate as well I would define it like so… Debate: to make a defense of the facts, to use reasoning and logic with a goal of persuasion, to make a case for a viewpoint, a side in a dispute, to formally fight for and advocate something you believe to be truth by making a case to others hoping they will find it to be the truth as well. That would be my definition for debate. And I know from my experience on this site that I’m not alone in defining it like that. ------------------------------------------------- Jesus argued all the time with the Pharisee’s. Do you not remember his epic argument using the scriptures about who could David have been calling his Lord when he said in the Psalms “my Lord said to my Lord”? Do you not remember when he argued he was not demon when he said “Satan does not cast out Satan, for a house that stands against itself cannot stand”? Or when he made a debate case defending his healing on the Sabbath by referring to a hypothetical scenario if a sheep had fallen in a pit on the Sabbath? Once Jesus even insisted on making the person coming to him for a healing have faith enough to offer a debate rebuttal to Jesus before he healed her when he said “its not right to take the children’s food and give it to the dogs” then she rebutted “that’s true but even the dogs get to eat the crumbs that fall of its masters table” ------------------------------- My opponent, I have observed anytime I or anyone has offered you rebuttal whether it be hear or in the comment section and I can only assume the forums as well, you have taken it as a personal assault. That somehow I’m trying to make you look dumb by telling you how you are completely wrong and the facts that you have clearly not considered or taken into account. This is not true and you should take a good long hard look at the ‘alternative’ to debate last round which I said is still a form of debate and its difference from the thing you are freely calling a debate. The only difference between the two is in one case, the good kind of debate which you rhetorically try to label “its not debate its making a case, defending a point, its stating a fact” you are letting the process of debate stand for itself (with a different label). In the other case you are casting your human judgment on the participant in the debate, causing me to recall when Jesus said ‘judge not least ye be judged’. You are not in a position to cast judgment on my or anyone’s motives for debating you. The fact that you are pessimistic no more makes my goal in debating you to make you look dumb than had you been an optimist it would mean I’m trying to persuade you to the truth. Whoever you debate, their reasons for debating you will be indifferent to the level of respect you are prepared to treat them with by default, and its indifferent to how much of the benefit of the doubt you give a man you know nothing about other than he has decided to contend something you have said with a case that at the very least he thinks was a well reasoned one, well reasoned enough to rebut your statement. -------------------------- Given the turn this debate/discussion has taken that’s really all the rebuttal this round called for but I feel the need to point something else out first before bring this round to a close. --------------------------- My opponent did not give any particular rebuttal to my 3 points about our spiritual growth, study, and witnessing. He has chosen only to respond to the scriptures I gave link to rather than those 3 points I gave a reasoned case for, which I guess I can respect. Not all have healthy respect for all 4 points of John Wesley’s Quadrilateral, Reasoning, Experience, Tradition, and Scripture. Some just want to debate from and on Scripture alone. But it leaves my 3 points standing with no case against them. I ask my opponent to please take the time to tell me how I am wrong about the use of debate in witnessing, or personal study, or spiritual growth. And last of all why my opponent has been dumping on the act of debating lets remember that to do so he is being a grand Pharisee level hypocrite. Because after all he is in a debate right now, we are debating about if our Lord and savior Jesus, part of the triune godhead, did or did not debate in the bible and if other parts of the scripture written by those who were under the guided inspiration of the holy spirit when they wrote it (another of the triune godhead) was telling us to debate or not, to give our strong reasons. So while my opponent may supposedly be against ‘debating god’ personally, he is not so against it that he was not willing to abandon his convictions to participate in ‘debating god’ right now in this very debate. My source for that statement is the address in the address bar at the top of your screen. Just highlight it and click enter and it will load this page and you will see what I am talking about. ---------------------------- I await my opponents response.