What Kind of God?
The more I read Christian devotional writing the less I am interested in the God depicted there. And the more I listen to Christian music, weather it is old hymns, recently published worship music or popular Christian music on the radio the less interested I am in the God described there. I realize I am painting a lot of writing and music with the same brush and I know that is very unfair. But bear with me for a moment. I am weary of a sentimentalized or romanticized God, who is soft to the touch, pleasing to the eye and sweet on the tongue. God, so described, to much resembles an airbrushed surgically enhanced cover girl on a magazine. God, so described, to much resembles a one dimensional action hero in the movies. God, so described, to much resembles the perfect man in a harlequin romance. Each depiction is a manipulated presentation intended to cater to the audiences taste.
I am not interested in a God who is limited to my tastes and curiosities. A God worthy of worship must transcend my consumerist habits. Frankly I am unmoved by a soft presentation of God.
Recently I picked up a book I have read once, leant out at least 6 times and purchased 4 times (if you are reading this blog and have a copy of a book I have leant you, I hope you are keeping it because it is of such value to you and not because you forgot who you borrowed it from). John Stackhouse writes:
“However mysterious God’s work in the world appears to be – indeed, however contradictory and even evil God’s work in the world appears to be – theists affirm that God is only and always good. Theism does not affirm that God is always “nice” or pleasant or kindly. God’s goodness is absolute purity, as much like the purity of the blast furnace (the bible calls God a “consuming fire”)as it is like the indulgence of a sweet grandmother; God always does the right thing; God always wills what is best; God always thinks without error, incompleteness, or prejudice. Such a God may not always be likeable, nor always comfortable. But such a God may well be worthy of worship.” (Can God be Trusted?, Stackhouse p 13. Click to read in context)
This description of God is of much more value than songs and devotionals that suggest that Jesus is my lover, or that Jesus looks like a man with blond flowing hair and a nice clean bathrobe. The more I read the bible, the less I find the North American Jesus of the religious media. Maybe I am grumpy, but I don’t think so. Mostly I think that my understanding of who God is begins with the God of the bible. I guess that is why I am most entranced with, convicted by, and responsive to YWHW as described in Isaiah 6. Maybe the prophet read Stackhouse. Or maybe Stackhouse has read Isaiah. I would suggest that the rest of us read both.
1 Comments:
hey Neuf. I agree with you that most of the content that comes with a label "Christian" leaves me to think less of those who call themselves by this name, and of the one they follow... If God really created everything (including me, my son, who is far cuter than me, an eagle, a northern pike, a blade of grass - ever looked at one under a microscope?... pretty intense for something that grows anywhere and everywhere!), how is it that these followers of his/hers create so much boring, insipid, self-serving and often even offensive stuff? Thanks for holding up a different vision of a bigger, wholly other God. The consuming fire God, the Holy, Holy, Holy God is also relational and does, somehow exist in the deep places of my spirit, loving me deeply and recieving my love back, while at the same time inspiring complete awe and calling me to the work of doing justice, creating peace, making the world beautiful thru the works of my hands and calling people to be converted to Jesus's way of living with an "open hand" toward the outsider. Christian pop culture distracts from, rather than supports this vision of life, and so I've got little use for it. And neither would Jesus, I'm sure of that.
Sorry if this rant is slightly tangential from your main point. I guess that is what blogging is about. Welcome to the blog world bro. I know nothing about blogs, but I've enjoyed this beginning of yours.
bro neuf in Vancouver
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