Don Stewart :: Is Everything That Exists Part of God? (Pantheism)

There is a view of God's nature known as pantheism. The term is derived from two Greek words pan and theos. Pan means "all or everything" and theos means "God." Pantheism, therefore, means god is everything.

There Is No Distinction In Pantheism

Pantheism teaches that everything that exists is part of one single reality and that reality is called god. God is all and all is god. There is no distinction between the creature and the creator in pantheism. God is equal to anything and everything. Trees and rocks, birds and land animals, the wind and the rain, - everything that exists, including human beings, is declared to be parts of God. God expresses himself through these substances and forces.

They Reject The Idea Of A Personal God

The concept of a personal God who created the universe as a separate substance is foreign to pantheism. Pantheism depersonalizes any idea of God.

The God Of The Bible Is Distinct

However, the Scripture states otherwise. The first verse of the Bible refutes the idea of pantheism.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).

The apostle Paul wrote.

For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead (Romans 1:20).

The Universe Was Something New

The universe has not existed eternally but God has. When God created the universe He brought into being something different from Himself.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible (Hebrews 11:3).

Pantheism blurs this distinction.

God Made Everything

Scripture teaches that God made everything.

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands (Acts 17:24).

God Is The Sustainer Of All Things

The living God is also the Sustainer of the universe.

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16,17)

The universe is not God; rather it depends upon God for existence.

The Origination Of Pantheism - The Rejection Of God's Truth

Scripture gives us a clue as to the origination of pantheism. Speaking of the eternal God, Paul wrote.

For even though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures (Romans 1:21-23).

When people began to reject the idea that the God of the Bible existed, they substituted the creation for the Creator. Realizing that humanity needed something big and powerful to worship, humans turned their affections to the creation, rather than the Creator.

Pantheism Creates Confusion

Pantheism confuses God with His creation. The art is not the artist, the poem is not the poet, the music is not the musician, and the creation is not God.

God Is Distinct From Nature

While God has revealed Himself through nature, He is separate and above it. Nature is not divine. Scripture says that the present heavens and earth will pass away, but that God will exist forever.

By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people (2 Peter 3:7).

Pantheism Has An Impersonal God

In Pantheism, God is impersonal. Since everything that exists is designated God there is no difference between the creation and the Creator.

Good And Evil Is Blurred In Pantheism

Pantheism destroys the moral perfection of the God of the Bible. Since everything is God there is no distinction between good and evil. This negates what the Bible says about the goodness of God and the evil of sin.

God Exists Apart From The Universe

The pantheist position is: without the universe, there is no God. The Christian position is: if the universe were taken away, God still exists.

Summary

Pantheism states that God is equal to anything and everything. All things that exist are part of one reality - God. There is no distinction between God and his creation.

This is not the biblical idea of God. The god of pantheism is impersonal while the God of Scripture is the personal creator. According to Scripture, God created the universe. It had no existence before he created it. Therefore the universe is not part of his nature. He existed before there was a universe. Pantheism confuses the creature with the Creator. It makes everything god and misses the God of everything.