I just read an online article in USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-10-07-1Agod07_CV_N.htm) about a new book by a couple of sociologists from Baylor University who have discerned through research four major views of God among the American people: Authoritative, Benevolent, Critical, and Distant. Furthermore, one's views of God go a long way in determining a person's attitudes towards economics, morality, war, politics, and more. No surprise here. Because our deepest beliefs are shaped by what we deeply believe in, it may be one reason why it is difficult to have genuine dialogue around important issues. We are much more likely to fundamentally believe our position is right because it seems to mesh with the kind of God we believe in. Some food for thought there.
The other thing to think about is, Is God really just the summation of what we believe about Him? From the article, we might surmise that people are picking their type of God as a preference, like they might pick items off a menu, instead of really seeking to understand who He is. The Bible tells us that God went to great lengths to reveal Himself to people, by sending His Son, Jesus, to live among us. John's Gospel tells us that Jesus proclaimed, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father (God)." (John 14:7)
The point is God is knowable. It's just that many people don't take the time to get to know Him, so they make assumptions about Him. The problem with this approach is that our assumptions may be totally out of touch with who God really is and how He works in the world (=reality).
What do you think?
Great commentary Jim. Too often we "re-invent" God to suit our purposes (the lady who no longer believes in "hell" because her son is not a Christian; the President who says Muslims believe in a benevolent not a voilent god)...
ReplyDeleteIt is not easy to come to know the Savior, although becoming His posession is quite easy, the Spirit willing. But as you say, to know the heart of God for us as individuals takes time seeking his face and will, it takes intent, purpose, and time to quiet our minds, hearts, and bodies, and hunker down with our Lord. No easy task, but the rewards are unimaginable.