We seem to think God can be whoever we want. One believes he’s a glorified Santa Claus. Another believes he’s a disembodied force or “higher power.” Some believe he’s Allah. Others Jehovah. Some say he’s one of many gods, while still others say he doesn’t exist at all. And we’re just fine with that. We think everyone should be able to define God as they choose.
That’s crazy!
That’s like saying, “I think Mr. Magoo is President of the United States.” You can think what you want, but you would be wrong. Barak Obama is President whether you like it or not. Whether you believe it or not. Some things just are. They are true. And the facts don’t change because of your opinion. Where did this notion of “your truth…my truth” come from anyway?
What’s true is true. It doesn’t change for each person. Each person may experience it differently, but the fact itself remains unchanged.
Take this example…I’m 5′ 5.5″ tall. That’s true. You can call me 6′, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m 5′ 5.5″. Now different people might experience my height differently. A toddler may think I’m tall, while a basketball player may think I’m short. But neither perspective changes the truth that I’m 5′ 5.5″ tall. God is like that. He is who He is, regardless of our perspective, regardless of what we want to think.
Back to the comparison with Barak Obama. “That’s different,” you say, “than talking about whether God is God. We can see Barak Obama. We can know who He is.” Are you saying that unless you can see something, it’s not real or definable? Hmmm.
How about electricity? Do you believe in wind? How about atoms and molecules? The list goes on. We know these things exist, even though we can’t see them. And a person’s opinion about them doesn’t change what they are. They can be known by observing how they work and their effect on things. They can be known by reading authoritative sources that have studied their work and effect on things. God can be known in these ways, too. And we’ll get to that another day.
Bottom line. God is! And He is who He says He is, not who we say He is or who we want Him to be. We’re so uncomfortable saying that because we don’t want to offend anyone. Do you think maybe we’ve offended God instead?
JB,
This is so true! You hit the nail on the head… The earth cannot be round or flat at the same time– it’s one or it’s the other… We look back now and think that the thought of the world being flat is so foolish because we have a knowledge that our predecessors didn’t have. We are at the same crossroads today but the topic is way more important the dimensions of the earth.
Something is either true or it’s not – nothing is grey, no middle ground. We have become such a subjective society and do not want to offend anyone. “Live & let live” is this centuries motto not to mention – “it’s all about me”. Both of those thought processes will only add fuel to hamper people from God’s true love & knowledge.
I so appreciate your candor & honesty! Your Da Bomb!
A-
Janice, You’ve explained it so simple.At times we need to ask ourself if we are living for God’s approval or the approval of man. I hope I don’t have to wait until january for the next post.
Keep sharing your passion. It’s certainly contagious.