The Power to Change God?
Do we have the power to change the nature of God?
I mean, what I believe about God has very little to do with God, right?
God is… regardless of what I think or believe.
I don't think my response has anything to do with God’s nature.
God is love whether I respond to it or not.
I cannot change God.
Don’t get me wrong, I definitely believe that we need to open our hearts to God. I certainly think that relinquishing control of one’s life and surrendering our lives to God is the first step to life and being content in all circumstances.
However, I think there is a tremendous amount of talk in religious circles about us receiving God versus God receiving us. Many folks seemed trapped in their acceptance of God or how they have received God and not so much on how God receives us. We keep thinking we have something to do with the nature of God.
Again, God is love. I don't have anything to do with God's nature.
Emmanuel-- God with us.
God comes to humanity.
Humanity doesn't go to God.
I experienced the grace and love of God long before I ever could respond or acknowledge God’s grace and love.
Many folks spend a lot of time talking about how sinful they are.
Often it feels more like false humility and our lowly ego thinking we have something to do with God's love and acceptance.
God accepted humanity and loved humanity regardless of how humanity responded.
God still does.
I respond to God's love for that reason,
God is love.
I don't love my wife in order to "get" her to love me.
love because she loves me.
I don't think God has a human ego.
I don't think God "requires" me to do anything to initiate and confirm His love.
God IS love.
I fell in love with a God who loves me and receives me.
I don't respond to God out of fear or coercion,I respond to God out of his love.
I think God loves and accepts us beyond our comprehension. If we only knew that we had nothing to do with it, we may begin to live like it.
11 Comments:
Now this made much more sense!
We love, because God loves us first!
Thanks for the response
PS: Yes, I have both BibleWork and Logos...
Preach on, preach'a man!
It's my own disease of perception, but the first time I read your post, I thought it said "Do we have the power to change the MIND of God?" And my answer would have been, "Gee, I sure hope so..." But I'm ever so glad that there is nothing I can do to change the NATURE of God.
I heard a man in the rooms of recovery describe my original concept of God - "something like a mix between Santa Claus, Genghis Khan and Bob Barker - a nice enough fellow who hated my guts, but was willing to make a deal." (I know it sounds crazy, but that's where I was 15 years ago...)
I would particularly despair when I'd hear passages like Proverbs 6:16-19: There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that hurry to run to evil, a lying witness who testifies falsely, and one who sows discord in a family. I'd despair because I knew I'd done almost all those things - and I knew the Lord hated me. Truth be known, I didn't think God hated me any more than I hated me - but I'd hear passages like this, and know I was on the "despised" list.
That's why I believe the folks who had the "I found it" bumper-stickers from 20 years ago were off-base. I don't believe I "found" anything - if anything, to quote a famous hymn, I once was lost, but now am found. Found by whom? By the one who was always looking for me - the one who sought me - the one who loves me still.
I still love the image of the Prodigal Son's father, running toward the lost son, arms open wide. I love the idea of God welcoming, and accepting, and loving me - even when the smell of the pigs is still on my clothing, in my hair, and under my fingernails.
I am at my worst when I remake God in my own image. When I do anything to conform God to my understanding, I have to remember that I've got a very busted, very human template I'm using.
It reminds me of an old line from JB Phillip's book Your God's Too Small, and of a quote from folks in recovery: If your understanding of God is small enough to fit in your head, that God will never be big enough to carry you through the rough times ahead.
I can say with reasonable certainty that the One who said, "My name is I AM" is not anything like me - except that we both are capable of love (for which I am eternally grateful!).
And I do talk about how sinful I am - not because it's a badge-of-honor, but it helps (when I ask someone to fix me) to know where I am broken. When I pray, "Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life," it helps to know what I want taken away!
Powerful, powerful stuff, brother. [Cue music: You Light Up My Life]
Like Steve F. -- my first reaction was regarding our ability to change God's mind.
To whit, I would HAVE to say, "YES." Christ's prayer in the garden was NOT for PR purposes! "Gee, I hope this gets published, cuz it'd be a powerful prayer to have on record - but of course, God has his mind made up already..."
But as I read on, I understand that the question on the table is, "Can we change the ESSENCE of God?"
Absolutely NOT. The most powerful statement God declared of his own essence is, "I AM."
We exist to please God, He does not exist to please us.
Thanks folks!
STeve, you always bring depth to what I write. :) Thanks!
Hoots, you really think we exist to please God? I appreciate what I think you intended, but I think there is more.
Everything I read in scripture talks of a GOd who comes to those folks who cannot please him. If we could please God we wouldn't need grace, the cross, or Jesus.
Perhaps we exist to have relationship with God, not to please the Judge in the sky. I do think we should honor God's love and authority, but one way we do that is to love like Jesus-- our enemies, even those we want to kill. STanding up for the poor and oppressed... I am not sure if that would please God, but it sure would be a step into loving God.
The NATURE of GOd is love. We have nothing to do with God's nature.
Thanks!
dang it all but that was deep.
ya blew me away again..
thanks as always for your challenging wisdom.
Man, Rick....I don't even know what more to add after reading what Steve said - you both "light up my life".
I still struggle to overcome so many things I learned when "God found me" The first church I attended told me it was a sin to listen to rock music (if you've seen my other blog you know how I feel about rock 'n' roll) so I stopped listening to it. They shamed me for getting pregnant "out of wedlock" and because I was so used to being shamed all my life I accepted it. It took years of being alienated by "the Church" for me to really come to understand that God is love. I cringe to think there are still people going to that chuch and I want to rush in there an yell "Don't listen to them...Jesus loves you know matter what they try to tell you!"
Question: you say you love your wife because she loves you. My boyfriend always says that to me and I get offended because I want him to love me for who I am and accept me with all my weaknesses. What are your thoughts on that?
I never get tired of hearing about God's love and acceptance. To think that He loves me just as I am, is so freeing! And in that freedom, I find myself drawn deeper into His love. There is nothing to get in the way! There is no fear, no doubt, no guilt, and no shame. I am completely free to participate in His kingdom, and enjoy His presence in my life. It is a wondrous thing to find myself suddenly connected so completely with my Creator. It's too bad that so much of His handycraft (us) cling to religion instead of being a part of who He is.
If we only knew that we had nothing to do with it, we may begin to live like it.
Well hall-e-frigging-lujah! Resting in grace is both a peaceful and a humble place. "No I didn't earn it, yesterday or today, and I won't earn it tomorrow, so I'm just going to enjoy it and give it to other people."
"Thou art worthy O Lord,to receive glory and honor and power;for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
Well, I was going to comment, but Zeke already said it all.
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