How do you know if your god is false? Short answer: If they are only there when you want them to be, and consistently perform as you expect them to, you’re probably worshipping a god of your own invention. In what conceivable universe would an infinite God be limited by the expectations of a finite, self-absorbed creature called [insert your name here]?
One particular cult puts central emphasis on the phrase, “’Come let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18), pulling it out of context and insisting that it means if anything is beyond our understanding it can’t be true. I heartily beg to differ. One of the surest signs of a false religion is the degree to which it has its god pigeonholed.
Don’t get me wrong, I trust God completely, even when he stubbornly refuses to dance to the tunes I call. Actually, the guy whose judgments I don’t trust is finite, self-absorbed little me. I’ll take my Creator’s dangerous and unexpected–but ultimately loving–decisions over mine in any universe you care to choose. Because, as C. S. Lewis famously said,
“He is not safe, but he is good.”
So much of what even Christians believe is careless and unfounded, because they reduce God to only being good, but he is also Just and holy. We forget that he requires us to also be just, and holy.
Thank you for this great insight. Good bless you.
I love the Chronicles of Narnia.
Thanks, Pete, and God bless you too.
God IS good, but we limit our definition of “good” to what’s pleasant and easy for us. A man was recently telling his life story and said he had spent four years in prison. When my daughter said, “Oh, I’m sorry …” He interrupted and said, “- Best thing that ever happened to me.” He had found God in prison and spent the long hours there getting close to Him.
Thank you, bless you.
You too, Pete.
Perfect example of a very important point, Annie.
It’s almost literally the opposite — if it exceeds our standard of understanding it MUST be true. Good post !
I agree, Rainer, and thanks.
Amen. I tend to trust people who have actually wrestled with God, like the Lt Dan character in Forrest Gump who challenges God during a hurricane. Or Jacob who wrestles all night to get His blessing. A God who always agrees with us, never takes us out of our comfort zone, is not the God I know. As time goes by, you do start to fall more into line with God’s will and His voice becomes known to you, so there is a lot more agreement going on, but still He is full of surprises. That’s why we call it “awe and wonder.”
The misery in the world would increase dramatically if God were to fulfill every whim of our little peanut brains. Praise the Lord for His wisdom! Thanks for a compelling post, Mitch.
My privilege, Nancy.
Makes total sense.
One of my favorite quotes from the whole Narnia series, spoken about Aslan, the Christ figure in the story and therefore about God.
How do I comment on this one? He certainly wasn’t safe for himself (choosing to confront sin on ever hand as a human), and he was good for all of us. That’s the best I can do.
Very good.
A really good post Mitch. God isn’t safe but He is good- love that by C S Lewis.
A powerful post!
Your post reminds me of something a pastor friend of mine used to call “discernment by nausea.” He said, “If there are two paths ahead of me and one of them makes me a little queasy in my stomach, it’s likely THAT is the one God wants me to take.” I agree. Probably not how he chose his wife, but a good standard for other areas.
Probably so, Russell (along with the wife-choosing exception, of course).
That’s what I always think when people say, “I’m not religious, but I am spiritual.” That’s usually said by people who don’t belong to any religious community, which is convenient if you don’t want to be challenged. Believing that God always agrees with us and our selfish motives doesn’t do anyone any good, I think.
I agree, Ann.
Preeeaaach! Good word
I have always loved that C.S. Lewis quote. Preach it, Brother!
Mitch, He is dangerously holy, lovingly fierce, and kindly firm. Thanks man, Gary
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
Likewise, Gary.
Do you suffer from low self esteem? If you understand the atheist logical fallacy you are more intelligent than most. If you understand the atheist logical fallacy you are infinitely important. My truth is atheism is a logical fallacy that assumes God is the religious idea of the creator of the creation to conclude wrongly no creator exists because a particular idea of God doesn’t exist. Atheism is a logical fallacy that assumes God is “sky daddy” to conclude wrongly no creator exists because a particular idea of God doesn’t exist. God exists and the intelligent creator of the universe is not what atheists call “sky daddy”. Did you understand the atheist logical fallacy? Atheists misreason “sky daddy doesn’t exist therefore god doesn’t exist” or “religion is man made therefore god doesn’t exist”, am I right or wrong?. Arguments against religion are not arguments against God. Have you ever heard an atheist say “reading the Bible made me an atheist”?, and that’s a logical fallacy or error of reasoning!. Why don’t you read Spinoza?, atheists only talk about Spinoza to lie about Spinoza, Spinoza is forbidden reading. Atheists lie to protect religion and you have to escape out of the circle, inside the circle you are not protected. To understand God exists you have to understand the kalam cosmological argument: what has a beginning of existence has a cause. Logically it is impossible the existence of an infinite number of causes, therefore an eternal first uncaused cause that created what has a beginning of existence exists. God exists because logically it is impossible the existence of the creation or finitude without the creator or infinitude. I am not asking you to believe me, but to think rationally. I challenge you to understand why the most emblematic remark of atheism is “who created god?” that means “who created what is not created?”. I can not do anything else for you, you have to find the truth for yourself. To end the war the discovery that atheism is a logical fallacy has to be news. Ask yourself why atheists censor knowledge. Emergency!, every life counts, every moment counts. To overcome a censorship the information that is prohibited has to be shared to be known. Thank you.