Different Gods

Ever since I was about fourteen years old, I have been frustrated as I look around American culture at the watered down versions of religion, faith, and God that are so prevalent. Being from the Midwest, I am very familiar with a particular denominational sect in which many churches have diluted the truth of God to become a "welcome all, we are all good, let's have fun together and reassure each other" building. I do not mean that churches should not welcome all, nor that they should cease to assure their members, but there is a difference between doing so out of love and doing so out of denial of who God is. And this is where the problem lies. We have taken the fundamental idea of God, in his truth, and fashioned him to fit our whims and desires. We have set him on a pedestal, but every now and then we take him down and "tweak" out the parts we don't like, slowly reshaping the God who gave us life in the first place. We change him, then replace him on high, saying that it was him all along. We see ourselves as the potter, he as the clay. How can we get this so wrong? This is nothing new, it is what fell Adam and Eve. The desire to be the one in charge, to be God.

This is something that must be addressed, but for the moment, I want to point out the differences between this reshapen God and the God of the Bible. We need to recognize the differences. The change in American religious belief has not come suddenly or with scandal and controversy, it has been accepted little by little and therefore is far more dangerous. In order to point out the differences, I will show you two scenarios. These came to my mind one night as I laid in my bed, unable to sleep, contemplating just what it is I couldn't put my finger on about the differences. Do not all who claim to be Christian believe in the same God?


Scenario One

You know him, you love him. He is your God. This particular day, you are coming before him with sin in your heart. You are not naive enough to believe that we are perfect, and know that "by grace you are saved through faith." You confess your sins to God, and have accepted Christ "as your personal savior." You know that God is bigger and far beyond all of this world, and that he has a plan for you. So today, you are burdened with one particular sin, and desire to be washed free of it, convicted by the Holy Spirit.

You are in a room. It is a comfortable, white, soft, dreamy room. You are waiting to see God. Soft, relaxing music plays through the speakers, relaxing you and calming you, almost drowning out the nagging guilt you hold. Your name is called and you rise up to meet a man in long, white, flowing robes who hugs you and leads you through the door. You recognize this man as Jesus, your savior. He smiles at you, his friend, and is so happy to be with you.

And there he is. Loving, smiling, like a grandfather, waiting with open arms. So often you find comfort in these arms. He smiles lovingly at you.

"Welcome, my child."

You are filled with emotion, and so desire to be rid of your guilt. "God, I am so thankful to you."

"It is nothing, it is nothing my child. I love you, and for that, I would give you anything." He sits calmly by you, emanating love and acceptance. Yet still, it is nagging on you.

"God, I need to confess to you my sins. I have been living my life as--"

He interrupts you. "I've told you, I forgive you. I do not need to hear. You are human, you make mistakes. That is why I have given you my son. I love you just as you are, you are perfect to me because of my son."

You sit for a moment, waiting for relief to wash over you. But it doesn't. "But I need to tell you--"

"My child, I do not remember it. You are one of mine. Be at peace now." He smiles at you once again, and stands. He walks you back to the door, and pats your back reassuringly. "You are doing fine." You are ushered out the door, and see someone else enter. Before the door shuts, you hear God say to the next person, "Welcome, my child....." and the conversation that ensues sounds familiar to your own.

God, the ultimate power in the universe, who is love, has just given you the peace and assurance you ask for. Yet you do not feel better. You want him to know who you are, to look at you as a unique individual, not a member of an entity of family. You feel looked over, ushered through, as though God is fulfilling some sort of contractual obligation to you, and is merely waiting till the time is over, so he can clock out. Yes he is love, and forgives you, but somehow you feel....ordinary.

Scenario Two

You are in a room again, waiting to speak to him. Your Father, your Creator. You again, have come with sin in your heart, feeling horribly guilty. You have followed God, recognized his authority in your life, but you have also slipped up.

A door opens, and Jesus steps out to meet you, and stands between you and God. God is both formidable and loving as he stands. You approach with great awe and reverence. At his side is his son, Jesus, who is at the same time both separate yet entwined with his Father.

God greets you by your name. Immediately, your guilt comes pouring out. God listens intently as you describe each and every way you have disobeyed him. You look into his eyes, which flash of both disappointment and righteous anger at the sin that you have committed. You continue speaking until you are finished. You know that this angers God, and rightfully so. You also see the pain it causes him that you have chosen to disobey him and deny him. Yet still, amazingly, God places his hand upon your head. "I know you struggle with such things. I know your every thought. I know your heart. You are mine." He pulls you off of your feet and looks you in the eye. "Because of my son, you are forgiven." Instantly, you feel whole, and rejoice and praise the Father and the Son. You soak up the grace and gratefulness pours from you heart. You feel loved, and you feel at home. He speaks again, to warn. "You know my Word. Follow it, obey me, and you will live in such joy that you are feeling now. Do not allow this sin to become part of who you are." Both Father and Son are beaming at you, and you continue to speak. You know they both know you infinitely better than you know yourself, and you feel no time constraints as you converse freely, forgiven. Through the strength and peace that God has given you, through Jesus, you feel unique. You feel extraordinary.

As you can guess, this is the God of the Bible. This is the Lord Jesus whom you claim to follow. They do not tolerate sin. While people are born sinful, they can overcome it. This does not mean accept the sin, and then justify yourself and the way you are living your life by changing the very God who gave you that life. God does not change. You know, deep down, what is true.

I personally, would not give any respect or authority to a god who is like that of the first scenario. I would feel alone. Yes, God is love, but he is so many other things than that. He is a jealous God, with righeous wrath. He is not one to be "softened around the edges." I warn you, if you are not living as you know you should--do not go to a God who will simply accept and justify you. Go to the true God, the God who will truly forgive you and accept you as you are, but then give you the strength to become more like his Son.

This country is in trouble. Supposedly a vast majority of Americans claim to be Christian, and even more claim to believe in God. Know what you are claiming. What God do you follow? What God should you follow? There is one right answer, and only one.