November 16, 2001
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How Wide Is Your God?
I wonder sometimes how big our God really is. Or at least how big we understand him to be. I know we talk a good game about how God is everywhere, but do we act like we believe it? Do we believe that our God is big enough to hear the fervent prayer of a man, woman, or child who has never heard the "gospel" or do we believe that He is far removed from where most people live?
I ask this question because I have noted a certain arrogance in my own theology. I have had the idea that no experience of God outside the confines of the orthodox stream of Christianity was authentic. Gradually over the past 7 or 8 years, I've been reevaluating my position. Now I'm thinking of how my relationships with people are affected by my former assumptions. How sincerely can I "listen" to someone "outside" my narrowly defined circle of the theologically correct if I assume from the beginning that they have nothing of value to say to me? How can I establish a loving relationship with any person I think "wrong" in all his/her thinking and experience of God?
As I read through the New Testament, I don't see the missionaries of the early church behaving as though they believed that all experience of God outside their church was "wrong". Paul meets people where they are and shares information that adds to their understanding of God rather than approaching them as contemporary evangelicals tend to view those "outside" as the "lost, immoral, deluded, . . . "
This to me says something not only about Paul's interpersonal communication style, but also about his basic understanding of the Nature and scope of God. He assumes that God is already at work in the life of every person he meets. He ACTS as though God is truly everywhere.
I can talk all day long about what I believe. But the way I act reveals what I REALLY believe. I don't think that I've met very many people in the contemporary church who have modeled for me the belief that our God is a wide - open - loving - Creator reaching out to all humanity. My experience even inside the church has been that those who fail to conform to the theological or behavioral expectations of others are more likely to be shot at than welcomed into fellowship.
The Christian view of man tends to fall in one of two camps 1) All men are sinners and deserving of condemnation or 2) All men are loved of God and highly valued. Both positions can be defended theologically. But, I think I'd rather be sitting next to someone who sees me through the lens of the second position than the first. I'd rather be the person viewing others through the lenses of grace and mercy. There is plenty enough guilt, remorse, condemnation, and judgment in the world without me adding to it.
Comments (8)
I believe that both positions are correct. We are sinners. We are also loved.
I rexamined my own practice of faith about a year ago and came to a slightly similar conclusion. I thought that if someone judged or misjudged my child, how would I feel? Protective.
If one of us or all of us judged or misjudged God's child(ren), how does He feel? I decided to slack up on my bitterness with those whom I believed to be "evil." I don't keep my opinion/faith to myself since I believe we are to be beacons who share the word but I tend to keep the arrogance/bitterness in tow. God is powerful but He's also a gentleman. We walk fine lines.
You shared some great thoughts here. Thanks!
I know now where Wormy got his deep thinking from.
You brought up some interesting points. Unfortunantly I am the last person that needs to talk about religion. I grew up believeing in God but never really praticing a faith.
Peachy
Oh my - a little bit "deep" today aren't we??
You sound like me about a year ago.. I was doing the same thing, wondering and thinking.. I had a wonderful Native American friend who told me the native belief ~ they look at god as the Great Spirit ~ he is like the wind, the air we breathe.. He is everywhere, and in everything, yet he is not seen. Like the wind, he is felt, but not seen..
You may enjoy my entry for today in my blog.. Its a wonderful, powerful message..
Blessings, ~Helena
I can tell you spent 10 hours in the car.
God has visited you with great wisdom. Sometimes we possess alot of "knowledge" of God, but not the wisdom to use it. Christ never turned anyone off but gave His attention to those who where in need. Paul's did alot of "preaching" about sin to those who were part of the church but reached out in love to those who were not. He was all things to all people that he might relate to the lost and not act arrogant or superior before them. (King Mob gave me an understanding of how the church comes off this way to the lost and completely turns them off). Paul was content to extol the virtues of God and lead people to God and allow God to minister to them. Actions do speak louder than words in alot of cases. We have to live what we speak if we are to come off as genuine. Ever notice that Paul speaks very little about evangelism? If we will trust God, live the life He calls us to lead, and go where He leads, we don't even need to purpose to evangelise because He will provide the situations and He will give us the words to speak, our life will be evangelism, prayer, praise, spiritual warfare, teaching, etc. all rolled into one big purpose called worship. Great blog.
God Bless - Dale
Luke 17:21, Baby...
the kingdom of God is within YOU
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