Worshipping Our Own Version of God

I believe it is a truism to say that we often think we know something, when in reality, there is still much yet to learn.   If we think about the concept of God for example, different people can have a multitude of ideas about what this being is really like.  They are pretty confident that the deity they are praying to is the embodiment of whatever concept they have envisioned in their own mind.  But that is often the catch ... it is a created concept they are worshipping.  It may not be grounded in Scripture or solid Christian teaching whatsoever.  Even the notion of 'solid teaching' can sometimes differ, depending on who you talk to.  

Let us take a look at the example of Jesus resting next to Jacob's well with the Samaritan woman.  The Gospel of John lays out a picture of a tired and thirsty Messiah who arrives in Samaria with nothing to draw water from the well.  After a quick discussion about spiritual things, John 4:22 records this statement: "You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews."

You will note here that Jesus was not making a statement about racial superiority, but rather, he was trying to help this woman understand that the concept of God that she had adhered to was not one-hundred-percent accurate.  It's hard to argue with the son of God on the subject of who the Father really is.  Easier to debate God with each other I suspect (and in fact we often do).  This is why I've always found it so funny to picture the Pharisees debating Jesus about Old Testament law.  Who would know better than Christ?

The question still stands today - are many of us worshipping a fictional God that we have created ourselves?  Do we really know who we are praying to?  Do we understand who we are coming together each Sunday to worship?  This revelation can be both frightening and freeing at the same time.  I believe one example of this fictional God is very popular today.  It basically builds a case that God is some type of politically correct being who doesn't require repentance from sin.  In other words, a senile type of older man with a white beard who doesn't really care what we do with our personal lives, as long as everyone is happy and healthy. 

This is an easy God to love, because He requires no sacrifice on our part.  This fictional version of God makes no demands upon our lives, has nothing to say about the great issues of our time, and will never judge us or become angry.  This version of God doesn't care or comment on same sex marriage, abortion, or make any comment in either direction about morality or ethos.  He is more like a fun uncle who shows up at the house every once in a while with ice cream or candy.  Not anything like an omniscient, omnipotent creator.  

But there is hope.  If we seek out knowledge from the Bible concerning who God really is and what He actually did, then the picture becomes much clearer.  The tide begins to turn.  First, the true God of the Bible hates sin.  I know because He tells us so, and Jesus does also.  Multiple times throughout the Scriptures we are commanded to turn from our sin and repent (both as a nation and as an individual).  The idea of sinning without any notion of sanctification over time, is not a luxury we are afforded if you read though the actual text.  

Second, the true God of the Bible is long suffering.  Scripture shows us time and time again that before a prophet would bring a judgement upon a country or nation, hundreds of years would pass by.  In other words, if God corrected a people group, chances are they had been refusing to repent for a long, long time.  It isn't like how human beings become angry at the drop of a hat and fire back at each other.  God is much more patient and long suffering when it comes to dealing with us. 

Finally, the true God of the Bible extends the offer of salvation to anyone who calls on His name.  It's no good trying to assert that certain people are more holy than others, and therefore deserve God's love more.  I think we do a disservice to the Scriptures if we think or act in this fashion.  The offer of eternal life from Jesus stands for anyone at any time, we need only repent of our sins, accept Him as lord and savior, and put our trust in God and become baptized.  

The Bible says that He knew us before we were even born ... the least we can do is take the time to learn a little about Him as well.  Not so much what culture might tell us, but what Jesus actually said and did.  If you take the time to do that, you will be blessed beyond your wildest dreams.   

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God's Still, Small Voice

Who doesn't love a good Old Testament story from the Bible?  I remember one in particular about a prophet named Elijah. You may remember that he went to Mount Horeb (later called Mt. Sinai), to hide in a cave out of fear and desperation.  Something that I think many of us feel like doing from time to time. In this particular case, however, there was a death threat against him and the other prophets of God. He refused to commit idolatry and bow down to Jezebel's false god.  Worship of false gods and idols was very common in those days, and Elijah wasn't the only one affected.  But he was the only one left still alive at this point, so he was quite discouraged. 

1 Kings 19:11-13 says this, "Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

I think the first question we can ask from this passage is: what is our proverbial “cave?”  Where do you and I hide out? Are we too busy with too many extracurricular activities? Do we hide in a relationship, and bounce from partner to partner perhaps?  Or maybe we hide behind religion, attending every church service - but never praying or growing as a Christian.  The details are not that important. 

But do we find time to talk to God regardless? To meditate on His Word? In other words, do we take time to listen for that still, small voice of the Lord?  Personally, I want to hear His voice; I never really get tired of it.  It always seems to have that same ring of truth to it.

I believe an example was set in my Bible study group at work years ago.  A collection of us met regularly during lunch, and each week it was someone else's turn to bring a piece of Scripture and a lesson.  A very rewarding experience I would add!  As it happened, I worked with a lady that was caught in the 'wind and the earthquake and the fire' mentioned in the passage above, for most of her life. We will call her Kim. It’s not her fault of course, things happened to her in her life that were out of her control.  Things that would lead any sane person to wonder if God was really up there.  Things that shouldn't be allowed or condoned in our society ... but yet they still occur. 

At one point during one of our lessons, Kim made the decision to accept Jesus and see what all the fuss was about.  We prayed a prayer asking God to come into her heart, and she was actually saved and born again right there in that small office.  You could feel the Holy Spirit in the air.  Both heavy and comforting. 

I've lost track of Kim over the years, I hope she is doing well.  I hope that she has weathered all of her storms also, and that she continues to search and learn about God.  Through the driving force of suffering and tragedy, Kim sought out a holy God.  A God who whispered in a still, small voice ... just loud enough for only her to hear.  She counts herself lucky, actually.  So is anyone who takes time out to hear the voice of the Lord.

 

 

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