In this time of drastic change, I’ve been thinking about God. Specifically, within Christian theology there are what are called the “classical attributes of God.” These are things like God’s omnipotence, omniscience, benevolence, omnipresence, immutability, eternality, etc. These attributes are often thought of as abstract ideas that have no impact on our lives as Christ followers. However, when properly understood within the context of the Story of Scripture, the Story of the God Who reveals Himself in His Son and creates a people by His Spirit, these attributes remind us of profound truths that bring comfort, encouragement, and reassurance as we make our way in this Story in the midst of a broken world. The classical attributes of God are anchors that find their place within the Story of Scripture, come out of the Story, and can only be properly understood as part of that Story. After all, the God who inhabits eternity and is unchangeable (immutable) has made us part of His Story by the blood of His Son in history.
I thought it would be helpful if I (Conor) gave brief summaries of and reflections on these classical attributes in this trying time of coronavirus. I need them as much as you may need them, because God seems like the only solid constant in all of this. It’s easy to let anxiety and your (and my) imagination go wild with the “what if…” game. These anchors can be profound comforts and sources of stability in this time (or anytime really). So I offer them to you over the coming weeks with the prayer that you’ll find comfort in knowing that the God who transcends time, who is unchangeable, is the God Who calls you to Himself through the Person of His Son. He calls us all together to be His people, especially during this time. If you’re like me, you need a reminder of this constantly, because my own mind and imagination likes to go off on its own way. Thankfully, God is never far from any one of us, desiring to draw near.
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Psalm 90:1-2
Immanuel Anglican Church 