Our Image of God
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-4)
“I changed when my image of God changed” is a quote from an email I received this morning. It started me thinking some random thoughts. Many of us Christians are in dire need of a change in our image of God created by the institutions we have attended over the past 1700 years or so. For many their image of God is one of a vengeful, wrathful, mad God who is going to get even with all sinners who do not measure up to His standards of righteousness.
The email also said “we may not realize that we become like the God we adore”.
Look around and observe Christians and their attitude toward those whom they feel do not measure up to their doctrine and perceived standards of righteousness. Do they ignore them, criticize them behind their backs, get mad at them, condemn them, or avoid talking with them about their differences - even biblical differences?
I think the email was right and we become like our image of God. If we view God as a vengeful, wrathful, mad, fearful God who is just in punishing infidels to an endless torment in hell, well we become fearful, vengeful, wrathful and mad at anyone who disagrees with us. And the result of course is driving most people away from God.
However, if our image of God is the biblical image then we might just find ourselves loving one another and joyfully discussing our differences. The result may be to "know God" better and actually draw sinners to Him rather than chase them away from Him…
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love… There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love...Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me…And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love…” (1 John 4:8, 18; 1 Corinthians 13:5-13)
“I changed when my image of God changed” is a quote from an email I received this morning. It started me thinking some random thoughts. Many of us Christians are in dire need of a change in our image of God created by the institutions we have attended over the past 1700 years or so. For many their image of God is one of a vengeful, wrathful, mad God who is going to get even with all sinners who do not measure up to His standards of righteousness.
The email also said “we may not realize that we become like the God we adore”.
Look around and observe Christians and their attitude toward those whom they feel do not measure up to their doctrine and perceived standards of righteousness. Do they ignore them, criticize them behind their backs, get mad at them, condemn them, or avoid talking with them about their differences - even biblical differences?
I think the email was right and we become like our image of God. If we view God as a vengeful, wrathful, mad, fearful God who is just in punishing infidels to an endless torment in hell, well we become fearful, vengeful, wrathful and mad at anyone who disagrees with us. And the result of course is driving most people away from God.
However, if our image of God is the biblical image then we might just find ourselves loving one another and joyfully discussing our differences. The result may be to "know God" better and actually draw sinners to Him rather than chase them away from Him…
“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love… There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love...Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me…And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love…” (1 John 4:8, 18; 1 Corinthians 13:5-13)