What is the difference between 'experiencing something' and 'encountering something'?
It seems to me that experiencing involves a greater impact on the emotions than does encountering. Furthermore, encounter is a word which in my mind brings about an image of a journey or path, along which you 'encounter' something. An experience does not necessarily have a surrounding journey - it is ateleological (without goal or purpose).
Many of us who have gone through a set a material called 'Experiencing God' have been led to understand the Christian life as that of experiencing the divine. Is it any different to say that we encounter the divine. (Just to make it clear, of all the *stuff* our church has thrown at us, the 'Experiencing God' material has had the greatest impact on me, and is the only one that really has any impact on me now).
I feel like I'm on the verge of another paradigm shift, this question being merely the tip of the iceberg.
More to come I'm sure.
Kev
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2 comments:
hmm... interesting thought.
I routinely encouter God, but usually I miss the point of our encounterment (too busy, too moody, right in the middle of my rebellion). However, when I experience God, I take heart of that encouter and savor it over and over again.
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