As humans, we are experts at labeling, categorizing, and
boxing everything--including God. In effect, we limit God. How do we do this?
Box #1 -- Moralism
According to this box, God is the definition of good
behavior. He came to turn us into good people. All we have to do is learn right
from wrong, good from bad and do what is right and good and religious.
Everything is black and white. Every decision is made by asking "What is
the Right decision?"
Box #2 -- Heaven's Ticket
Here we have the teaching that God is our ticket to heaven.
We believe in Christ in order to merit the place of "eternal bliss"
and avoid the eternal fire. What you do on this planet isn't that big of a
deal, just hold onto that ticket. You'll need it when you die.
Box #3 -- Candy Man
Similar to box #2, this one tells us that God is our
supplier. He is who we go to when we need or want something--our personal Santa
Claus. Whether it be a pony, a new car, or whatever, all you have to do is
believe and ask. God is here to fulfill your every desire.
Box #4 -- "God"
Something about the term "God" just seems so
impersonal. He's up there in the sky...somewhere. He is the embodiment of
holiness, the perfect being. Only our definition of perfection is an
emotionless robot. This box says that God is a force or a law. No feeling, no
personality, no free will--He is constrained by the laws of perfection (who
wrote these laws?).
Box #5 -- The "Spirit"
Have you been filled with the spirit? Have you felt the
emotional ecstasy of knowing God? Forget doctrine and obedience and all that
dull stuff. Just get caught up in the spirit, cause that's what it is all
about.
Box #6 -- Emotionalism
Close cousin of the “Spirit” box, this one often runs
deceptively under the title “relationship” (as if relationships were all about
emotional highs and how you feel). Basically, if you feel close to God then you
are. If you don’t, you’re doing it wrong.
Box #7 -- Christology
Who is your Messiah? Christ. Who is your righteousness?
Christ. What is the Bible all about? Christ. What about the Father? Christ is
God. What about obedience? Christ fulfilled the law. What about family? Christ
is my family. How are you going to pay your bills next week? Christ.
Box #8 -- Torahology
How do we learn right from wrong? Torah. How do we know what
is pleasing to God? Torah. What is the Bible all about? Torah. What about God?
He is in Torah. What about grace? Grace is no excuse for Torahlessness. Who is
your Messiah? The Living Torah.
Box #9 -- Knowledge
The goal is to know God, right? So, the more we know about
God and theology and doctrine, the more we know God, right? Maybe?
Box #10 -- Beauty
When I look around at the wonder and beauty of creation, all
I can do is stand in awe. It is all so overwhelming—to the point becoming the very
definition of the Creator. Even worship becomes an object to itself.
_____
All of these boxes give a glimpse at certain aspects of God.
Each one has an element of truth to it. Just enough to be deceptive. But they
are all boxes, limiting God. And all of them miss one of the most essential
characteristics of God--His desire for a relationship with us. We throw that
word around in church so often, do we really know what a relationship with God
means?
Four simple words can tell you more about God than all of
those boxes combined: Father, King, Husband, Creator. These words describe our
relationship with God. And they are concrete--we can relate to them. We know
what a father-son relationship is. We know what marriage is. We know the respect
and honor due a King. We know how intimately a craftsman knows his creation.
Am I suggesting that God stops here? No. The fullness of God
is beyond our comprehension. What I am suggesting is that we start here. Learn
to approach God as Father and as King. Fall in love with Him. Our God is
caring, imaginative, and passionate. Don't believe me? Read Job 38-41, Ezekiel
16:1-14, Hosea 2:14-23, Deuteronomy 4:24. He is beyond comprehension, but He
comes to us in ways we can relate to. We are made in His image--we reflect who
He is.
There are so many good things that God has for us and has to teach us. But we must never forget that He is the Living God who loves us--my Father and my King.
