Philip Brabmblet over at Growing in Grace Ministries wrote a very interesting article. One that cuts to the heart of our domesticating, minimizing sin, and undermining God’s right over His creation mentality. Some times I am ready to scream when I hear the feminization of our God.
Here is the first excerpt:
Several times lately I have heard people object to believing in the God of the Bible on the grounds that he commanded the Israelites to commit genocide. They said that a deity who commands ethnic cleansing obviously cannot be a good God. He cannot be a God worth believing in or worshiping. In fact, the idea of such a God is abhorrent and should be scorned. I heard a Jewish commentator try to defend God by saying that God never commanded the genocide; rather, it was Moses who told the Israelites to do it, because he believed it was what God wanted.
Here is the excerpt that makes me stand up and applaud:
The truth is, either all the Scriptures are an accurate self-revelation from God, or we can never be certain we know the true God at all. Will we accept God as he reveals himself to be, or will we only allow him to fit the mold we create? Do we trust God when he says he is loving and just and allows—even approves—the killing of millions of people? Do we submit to God as God, and recognize his right to do as he pleases with his creation? Or do we get offended at God, reject him, or reinterpret him if he violates our personal understanding of fairness or justice? Will we let God be God, or do we insist that he submit to us?Rather than trying to defend or excuse God when he shocks and offends people, we should be unembarrassed to assert the authority of God over all. Does it offend you that God wanted the Canaanites destroyed? Well, if you don’t love this God, he’ll destroy you, too. He’s not the tame, domesticated, sophisticated God that modern people want to believe in. He is a God whose holiness and sense of justice has moved him to kill millions throughout history. He is a frightening God to those who do not belong to him, and we should not try to remove the fear of God from them by trying to make him acceptable to sinners. They need to see that the issue is not whether or not they can accept God. The issue is whether or not God will accept them. They need to stop judging God and start submitting to him.
thanks ur info…
Absolutely! The problem with man is that God’s revealed truth doesn’t always suit his (man’s) purpose. The danger in today’s culture is the fact that many employ a vocabulary of truth, to suit their own purpose and means. The worst kind of deception is that which employs the vocabulary of the faith! But God will not lend Himself to those things that seek to exploit Him, and to employ Him in their own purpose and ends.
“Man will confirm truth only in the since that he can regard it as tolerable and useful. Man takes the truth and affects it in such a way as to serve his purposes rather than the purpose that God intended. In a way in which it seems to be brought under his control and promises to become his willing and powerful servant, consoler and helper… Jesus the errand boy!” – Art Katz
In other words, man accepts truth as long as he can control it, as long as it serves his purpose, and doesn’t make requirement of him. In order to accomplish this feat, he must of necessity create another “image of god”. One that suits this purpose. One that’s less offensive and more predictive!
Theologian Karl Barth sums it up best;
“A masterly way of escape when man succeeds or thinks he succeeds in handling the truth by facing it as he must, yet at the same time avoiding it. Namely by changing or transposing it into a translation of his own! Into an improved edition in which it looks most deceptively like itself. And yet by a hardly noticeable alteration of accent is no longer itself, but has become the truth which is mastered by him instead of the truth which masters him.”
Anything that fails to acknowledge or even alters the fact of God’s sovereignty over His creation has altered the Truth to support their own image or purposes.
If I don’t want to be changed by Truth, then I have to alter the Truth!
-Selah!
I Ain’t Nobody!
Nice Quotes DJ!!!!! I think this is on the most pressing issues in Evangelicalism bro. Its like the God of the bible is too mean and ugly, lets make Him pretty and sing pretty love songs to Him that actually distorts His charachter.
I had a guy tell me not too long ago that the sharing of the Gospel is when we tell people Jesus needs us. I almost jumped out of the window!
Actually, on the statement you almost jumped out the window on regarding Jesus needing us, there’s another one more popular called “Jesus believes in you”.
If anyone has ever heard of NOOMA (with Rob Bell and the Emergent Church), he made a video on the issue which may interest you (no, I’m not endorsing Bell but I’m curious as to what others thoughts were):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgwQ8tjuUlA (and for others wanting to see part 2 of the video, look on the left hand link and it should take you there)
For anyone who watched both of the videos on the issue, you’ll probably have some issues. Faith in Jesus is good, Bell says, but what about Jesus’ faith in us? He chose us, so obviously he has faith that we can live the kind of lives that he wants us to live……..but is it really a good idea to recast faith as Jesus’ faith in us to be good? \
For a good rebuttal on the issue:
Shockingly…I disagree,
The author of the article actually shot himself in the foot when he wrote: “…I heard a Jewish commentator try to defend God by saying that God never commanded the genocide; rather, it was Moses who told the Israelites to do it, because he believed it was what God wanted.”
Someone needs to remind him (Phillip) that it was the Jews that wrote the Old Testament. Therefore the Jewish commentator was not tring to defend… he was correctly intepreting the book of their people.
Later, he says: “…The truth is, either all the Scriptures are an accurate self-revelation from God, or we can never be certain we know the true God at all.”
Well, if this is correct (all the scriptures), then why were there so many scriptures edited from the bible? How were the MEN at the counsil able to determine which Books were indeed Gods word and which were not? For those of you really agree with those exerpts from the article, you all must remember that the author wrote: “Will we accept God as he reveals himself to be, or will we only allow him to fit the mold we create?”
People, there were indeed a lot of Biblical writings that were tossed out and burned… Why? Even when the dead sea scrolls were found, alot of them were never allowed to be revealed to the public…Why? Remember, this author asks: “…do we get offended at God, reject him, or reinterpret him if he violates our personal understanding of fairness or justice? Well, the answer is quite obvious.
The author then writes: “… He’s not the tame, domesticated, sophisticated God that modern people want to believe in.” So I guess the domesticated and sophisticated ten commandments were not the works of God (I know were the really came from). Also if God is really non-domesticated and unsophisticated… I’m sure this would make God a toddleror an animal… wow!
Another remarkable statement was when the author wrote: “…He is a frightening God to those who do not belong to him, and we should not try to remove the fear of God from them by trying to make him acceptable to sinners.” This is spoken like a true religious person… using that good ole’ fear element… Classical.
People, the problem is… we keep trying put these elaborate images on God. I wonder how you all would react if God was revealed as a Black woman (Goddess), with micro-braids and and a baby in her lap. Most of you wouldn’t be able to accept this. Yet, this is the image that the Pope has always prayed to every morning. So I must ask all of you… The last time you saw God, What did he/she look like? (Hint: Lionel, this is why I don’t try to describe this god (with a little ‘g’) that I serve.)
“People, the problem is… we keep trying put these elaborate images on God. I wonder how you all would react if God was revealed as a Black woman (Goddess), with micro-braids and and a baby in her lap. Most of you wouldn’t be able to accept this. Yet, this is the image that the Pope has always prayed to every morning. So I must ask all of you… The last time you saw God, What did he/she look like?”
I’m not a Theologist so I’m sorry, but I’m a little confused about your points. What elaborate images are you speaking of? There is nothing elaborate about acknowledging a sovereign God’s ability to govern, or His allowing of governance to man over His creation. I’m not required to accept any man created image of God. The Pope… that’s another issue all together, but God… He looks like… I AM.
I Ain’t Nobody!
Hey DJ-
Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have used the word elaborate (on this blog), but everybody keeps refering to God in the “he/him/his” context. I go to alot of churches and see this picture of a white male /w long blonde or brown hair, dressed in a gown and refered to as Jesus. I’ve also seen a half-naked black Jesus as well. My point is if God appeared as something other than a male, alot of people would reject what they see.
I’ll admit, I have not seen God with my own eyes. I have no idea what God will look like.
You are right, no one is required to accept any man created image of God. But Dude, you gotta lay off the Pope. That’s my cousin on my Father’s side.
What!
You are right, no one is required to accept any man created image of God. But Dude, you gotta lay off the Pope. That’s my cousin on my Father’s side.
What!
LOL!!!!!
Ahhh… my bad Chuck! Oh… what’s yo fathers name again??
I Ain’t Nobody!