You asked: “What do they mean when they say “God’s Greatest Dream” ?
“Does that suggest anything about God that is less than Sovereign?
“Does the Bible speak anywhere of God dreaming?
“Is this a different kind of dreaming than humans do, whether having visual activity during sleep or desiring something as yet unrealized....
“God spoke, and we all are informed about what happens as a result. Ex Nihilo, He creates and He also wills sovereignly.
“Where does “dreaming” come into this?
Good questions. You might want to post those on Charlie’s blog. But I’ll give my opinions here.
“God’s Greatest Dream”, as I heard it in this sermon, is akin to “goal”, “plan”, or “desire”. This does not reflect on His Sovereignity, other than to say, this will come to pass.
The word “dream” has more meanings humanly than just the sleep or desire dreams we have. When applied to God, it can only be a metaphor, as all human terms are only metaphors for what God is really like.
“If not, why is this included?”
With any metaphor, the goal is to communicate something to the audience. We relate to God by what we know—our own dreams and desires. Charlie picked this picturesque term to emphasize (I think!) God’s desire to live in community with us and to connect on an emotional level.
Well, Forgiven, you are very kind and have gone to some trouble to answer.
“...God’s desire to live in community with us and to connect on an emotional level.”
This phrase and the use of “community with us” just doesn’t accurately represent reality concerning God’s desire to reveal His Glory and Righteousness to humans that need Salvation. His motive is Love, and He is Love, but using language that is not Biblical, may obscure the correct meaning for some, and for me, it does.
Why be so picky?
Because we have an enemy who desires to continue to blind the eyes of all mankind.
Also, it is best to use Biblical language. It alone is “incorruptible seed” which, when heard by a human acted upon by the Holy Spirit, brings forth Faith.
For such an all important, desperately needed power, why use language that will not save...?
“God is a community in His very Nature.
2. God wanted His community to have a wonderful place to live. “
The bizarre nature of these statements, because the Bible doesn’t say this, is striking.
That’s my beef with this stuff.
I don’t know Charlie.
Thanks.