Four Concepts Of God

What do you think when thoughts of God enter your mind?  What image do your conjure up? 

There are four views of God from our perspective, based on whether He's engaged, judgmental, or any combination thereof.  First:  people see God as authoritative (both engaged or personal and judgmental) and as somewhat of a father figure, authority figure, or caretaker who exercises it as both personal and judgmental. Some speculate this is how we came to believe in God as a throwback to our need for a father figure.

The second way to see God is as a Life Coach or benevolent figure or Benefactor (trouble arises when people want the benefits apart from the Benefactor or in limiting God to this role). He is Almighty God and immanent in our lives as an Advocate, Counselor, Guide, Role Model, and Leader.  He is both engaged or personal but non-judgmental. This idea of God is too human and in our image. Many see this God as their friend and they as His sidekicks or insiders. 

Third: to see God as a Critic in Chief or Inspector General who is both judgmental and disengaged or impersonal; these people fear the displeasure of God and appear to be God-fearing individuals; they even may believe in karma or impersonal fate.  Who'd be attracted to a God like this? 

The fourth way to see God and many do is that He is merely a force, influence, inspiration, or power behind creation: "the force be with you." Note that we use things or forces but we know persons; these people haven't conceived of God as a loving personage.  He is seen as the cosmic force behind all lifeforms. This god is both disengaged or impersonal and distant.  How do you think people believe in "Mother Nature?"  This god may be nature itself and unknowable. You'd be surprised as to how many people believe George Lucas' version of the Force even with a dark side. 

The concept you have of God determines your destiny: you must be right about the Person of Jesus and who He is!  People who see God as the critic are more likely to be judgmental themselves. People who see God as authoritative are more likely to be control freaks and to be boss people around and to even micromanage. If you believe God cares about our predicament and is engaged and personal, then you are more likely to be charitable and to work for the betterment of mankind in relief work or good causes. 

Note that how we see God is the most important thing about us and reflects our character and personality and how we apply what we know and how wise we are; for the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge:    The real concept of God is that He is personal and involved or engaged with us personally and that He is near to us but that He is far from the wicked and stands as the Judge of all the earth, but we are delivered from the wrath to come.   All four concepts have some truth to them, but we must put them into perspective and in the right relationship. We are accountable to our God and must live according to His will to please Him.  God is both transcendent or distant and above and beyond but He is also immanent and nearby and not far from any one of us. 

So what are we to conclude? Beware lest you put God into your box and limit Him and His infinite nature that cannot be grasped by finite intellects.  Don't let your idea of God be too small!   The problem comes when we limit God to our specs and see Him in only one dimension.  In a sense, He is all of the four concepts but in perspective to His holiness; God is whatever we need Him to be for us:  I AM THAT I AM or I AM WHO I AM or I AM THAT I AM.  Actually, it's simply:   I AM ... ad infinitum with no predicate:  He fills in the necessary completion: God's name is fearful (cf Judges 13:18)!  

God meets our needs wherever we are and fulfills the by the provision; Jehovah-Jireh, or, the LORD is our Provider.  We must not look to a Man Upstairs, Cosmic Killjoy, Benefactor, Pure Mathematical Mind, Fearful Celestial Policeman, Ultimate Spark of Life, Wizard of Oz, Superman, Mean Judge, Kind Father Time, Sentimental Grandfather, Jolly Old Santa Clause, Great Spirit in the Sky, or Magician to bring wonders. We must remain in awe of God and this means true fear of God that we never lose the initial wonder and reverence for God.

Note that only in the Christian faith is God a personal one we can know, love, and have faith in.  Other faiths like Islam denies we can know God because He is too Supreme and definitely doesn't love us.  This is one of the most profound truths of the faith:  Jesus loves us and delivered His life up on our behalf.  The whole point of Christianity is that Christ is God and all we need to know of Him is revealed in His person wth begins with a leap of faith to begin a living relationship with the living God.   Soli Deo Gloria!