For the next 10 weeks we will be discussing 10 LIES ABOUT GOD by Erwin W. Lutzer. Mark your calendar; Lie #4, “God Has Never Personally Suffered,” session will be canceled due to all of the Easter services scheduled on April 24th. Naturally, you can read it in LifeWork, Spring 2011, pp. 97-106; there will be no posting. I am presenting 9 of the 10 lies on MS PowerPoint; this will make the blog more abbreviated than normal. Steve, a faithful reader, will be grateful for this. Perhaps his gratitude will appear in the form of doughnuts during the course of all these lies….
We will incorporate this famous painting by Nicolas Poussin (1594 – 1665), The Adoration of the Golden Calf, as a symbolic picture representing all lies about our God. This is the only purpose of its inclusion. I think the person in white is Aaron. How quickly the people resorted to idolatry with the absence of Moses being on the Mount! Aaron caved into pressure for the people to worship something. His white robe reveals the tension between worship of Yahweh and an object made with hands, and yet sadly, it reveals Aaron capitulating to the sinfulness of man. The use of political expediency in the name of religion to tame the masses over godly principles always results in disaster (Ex 32:28, 35). The golden calf was called the calf which Aaron made (Ex 32:35). Were it not for Moses intercession there would have been a greater death toll, including Aaron (Deut 9:20). All lies about God are dangerous and deadly to those who believe in them, saved or lost.
Lie #1: “God is whatever we want Him to be.”
Imagine if you will, living in a world without the Bible. What would you know of God? Since the Bible never argues for God’s existence, then the world around us must reveal the reality that God exists or does it? Even secular evolutionists are surrendering to the idea of Intelligent Design. How they would define ID is too general and perhaps not the language we would embrace. What does creation or the world around us communicate about God, if anything?
There are two ways in which God has revealed Himself to man:
(1) Natural (or general) revelation (Rom 1:18-20)
(18) For the wrath of God is (being) revealed (going on right now and continuing) from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress (literally holding down) the truth in unrighteousness,
(19) because what may be known of God is manifest in them (better among them), for God has shown it to them (emphasis mine).
(20) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead (divine nature like intelligence, wisdom, goodness, etc), so that they are without excuse.
We learn that God as Creator made evident to all men His power and divine nature in creation. In things that are made (v20) are actually one word in the Greek – poiema; our English word “poem” comes from it. All of creation is a divine poem, a work of art! Whether we go microscopic or telescopic, the poetry of the world around us reveals to mankind in any age the power and divine nature of God. Design demands a Designer; creation demands a Creator. It takes more than a big bang to craft an epic poem.
Naturalism is a doctrine that believes the world can best be understood in scientific terms rather than a spiritual or supernatural explanation. This is nothing more than another attempt by Satan to employ an ancient practice called, suppression of the truth of God. Modern man disguises himself in a white lab coat to give evolution legitimacy under the guise of "objective science." The theory of evolution is nothing more than a pagan philosophical prejudice parading itself as “scientific fact.” We have a more sure word of prophecy concerning the world around us, and what it actually means. The evidence of God is in plain view of all so they are without excuse.
(2) Supernatural (or specific) revelation (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21)
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| Rembrandt, 1659 |
Everything creation does not reveal about God is found in God’s only other self-revelation of Himself – the Word of God. Apart from Scripture we would never know that the Creator God is a God of love or that He dispatched His Son to redeem mankind. Or that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to Father except through the Son. It tells us who God is and what He is like and what He expects from us. We learn of our sinfulness and need of salvation and how to find it. It is our road map to living a life pleasing to God. In it we find God has a will for our life, and that God has infinite ability, knowledge, wisdom, and presence to make His will for us a reality. In it we find meaning and purpose of life. It is the most trustworthy Book of all the earth.
The Scripture is our moral compass to navigate in a sinful world. How could we know that all things work together for good in the midst of chaos or tragedy apart from the Bible? How would we understand what it means to love God with our whole heart and love our neighbor as we love our self? In short it is our guide to godliness. Apart from His Word, we cannot know the will of God for our lives and what the future holds. Through the Word we learn that Jesus Christ is the greatest revelation of God; for He is the express or exact image of God’s being, the precise representation of the Father (Heb 1:3).
God has chosen to reveal Himself to man through two means: natural revelation (creation) and supernatural revelation (the Word). Whatever man claims to learn of God in creation must be in accordance to the superior inscripturated revelation, the Bible, or it is bogus.
God has chosen to reveal Himself to man through two means: natural revelation (creation) and supernatural revelation (the Word). Whatever man claims to learn of God in creation must be in accordance to the superior inscripturated revelation, the Bible, or it is bogus.
I like the story Lutzer told concerning Art Linkletter observing a boy drawing on a sheet of paper. He had asked the little boy what he was drawing, and the boy answered, "I'm drawing a picture of God." Art said, "You can’t do that because no one knows what God looks like." The boy responded, “They will when I’m finished” (Ibid., p 60).
The most disturbing statement made by Lutzer is when people today say, “I believe in God.” His personal belief is that it is “one of the most meaningless statements we can make today” (Ibid., p. 60). Given the fact that we are a nation with citizens that represent nearly all the religions of the world; this observation makes terrible sense.
- If you pray to God, to whom – or what – are you praying?
- “In God we trust,” who does God refer?
- When you sing God Bless America, whose blessing are you seeking?
The little boy in Art Linkletter’s story is tragically a spiritual reality today. People are drawing on the canvas of their hearts the image on how they see God, and not how God has revealed Himself through His Word.
Here are some ways on how God is referenced or perceived:
Psychic energy
Higher spirit
Universal spirit
In us
The man upstairs
Cosmic energy
A force
Supreme being
In everything
Supreme power
Engaged
Disengaged
Indifferent
Love
Cruel
Non-existence
Unknowable
Other
Well, this is going to turn out a little longer than I intended on posting! I guess I better kiss those doughnuts goodbye.
USA Today ran an article in their section on religion on how American views of God shape attitudes on key political issues 10/7/2010. This article mention the “surveys [not disclosed]” that 9 out of 10 Americans believe in God. Now keep in mind the meaningless statement of “I believe in God” as you read this.
According to this article, knowing people’s image of God gives insight into attitudes and behavior more than flat out asking them their beliefs. Our attitude and behavior are explained by what God looks like to us. It reveals a lot of information about us: our political, social, ethical, and moral views. This is akin to non-verbal communication or body language. We communicate far more through our body language than our tongue! The USA Today article states correctly that our image of God reveals our behavior. Lutzer says as much in his book,
“Join me as I explore how our ideas of God affect the way we think, the way we worship, and the way we live” (Ibid., p. 62)!
According to this article, knowing people’s image of God gives insight into attitudes and behavior more than flat out asking them their beliefs. Our attitude and behavior are explained by what God looks like to us. It reveals a lot of information about us: our political, social, ethical, and moral views. This is akin to non-verbal communication or body language. We communicate far more through our body language than our tongue! The USA Today article states correctly that our image of God reveals our behavior. Lutzer says as much in his book,
“Join me as I explore how our ideas of God affect the way we think, the way we worship, and the way we live” (Ibid., p. 62)!
This same article in USA Today quotes two sociologists at Baylor University in Waco, Texas to look at four major images of God in America.
The Authoritative God [28%]
The Benevolent God [22%]
The Critical God [21%]
The Distant God [24%]
No God or unknowable [5%, atheist or agnostic]
The article is rather lengthy; so I will give excerpts to understand why the statement, “I believe in God,” might be referring to a completely different god than the one we know. Whenever I hear someone say that, I know I need to discover exactly what kind of image he or she has of God.
“The Authoritative God: Engaged in history, meting out punishment to those who do not follow him. The world is divided by good and evil.
The Benevolent God: God is engaged in our world and loves and support us in caring for others. Righteous vs. the heathen is unappealing. God is a force for good who cares for all people, weeps at all conflicts and will comfort all. God is viewed as like a doctor who has my best interest at heart, even if sometimes I don’t like his diagnosis or prescriptions.
The Critical God: God keeps an eye on the world but delivers justice in the next.
The Distant God: God booted up the universe then left humanity alone.” This is the deist position - God wound the clock up and let it run on its own.
The Distant God: God booted up the universe then left humanity alone.” This is the deist position - God wound the clock up and let it run on its own.
This article also quotes two political scientists indicating that, “They found unifying threads: Americans of every stripe overwhelmingly believe that all good people go to heaven, that many faiths contain truth and that religious diversity is good for the nation.” You decide.
Back to our two Baylor sociologists,
“With our high level of religious freedom and pluralism all kinds of views of God will do very well.”
And now you know why Lutzer referred to “I believe in God” as one of the most meaningless statements we can make today! In discussing the four views of God and its influence on a number of topics, not once was God's view given in the article (no biblical references cited), not that I was expecting it! Naturally, quoting the Bible would be considered sectarian and not objective!
Idolatry in the 21st century
Lie #1 is nothing more than idol building in the 21st century, the blueprint of an image of God that is foreign to biblical revelation. It should not be surprising that idolatry can be of the hand or of the heart. Before proceeding any further, we have to understand that idolatry is some ugly business. A light reading of the Old Testament would reveal God does not take too kindly to idols. Since God's character is unchanging, He has the same attitude toward idols today. It's a good thing to keep this in mind when we start constructing a god that suits us whether by hand or by heart. The words of John serve us well,
Little children, keep yourselves from idols (1Jn 5:21).
Little children, keep yourselves from idols (1Jn 5:21).
Hand idol: a deaf, dumb, and dead thing made of wood, stone, or metal.
Psa 115:2 Why should the Gentiles say, "So where is their God?"
Psa 115:3 But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.
Psa 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands.
Psa 115:5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see;
Psa 115:6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell;
Psa 115:7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat.
Psa 115:8 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.
Heart idol: anything that competes for the will of God for our lives.
Eze 14:2 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Eze 14:3 "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity.
“So the essence of idolatry is to entertain wrong thoughts about God. When we construct an idea of God from our imaginations (that is just right for me, added), this idolatry of the heart is just as bad as idolatry of the hand” (Lutzer, LifeWorks, Spring 2011, 10 Lies About God, Lifeway, p.62).
Draw what you will on the canvas of your own heart, but any image that is not in accordance to the Word of God is an idol.
Lutzer mentions two idols of the heart: the god of health and wealth and the god of emotional needs.
The god of health and wealth
- Reflects American capitalism than biblical texts
- The god of the Western Hemisphere
- The god of capitalism
- The god of consumerism
- Many have fell snare to this god
This gospel of health and wealth could not be preached in early Rome or today in poverty stricken nations. The truth of God is applicable for all cultures in war or peace, poverty or wealth, sickness or health, life or death.
The god of emotional need
- Sin is redefined as a lack of self-esteem (this is what we talked about last week, making a god out of self-esteem)
- God affirms and makes comfortable
- God is viewed as a therapist where all of us are allegedly either in recovery or denial
- Psychology is more important than godly principles
- God is to make me happy, not sad
- Peace means the absence of conflict (peace in Scripture never conveys the absence of conflict).
- Sacrifices truth for peace.
- Expresses grace apart from truth (perceived truth). We just talked about this problem.
- Human feelings are emphasized over holiness. This is pandemic, folks.
Two Glimpses of God (without comment)
Isaiah:
Isa 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
Isa 6:2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
Isa 6:3 And one cried to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!"
Isa 6:4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
Isa 6:5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."
Job:
Job 42:5 "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.
Job 42:6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes."
God (speaks for Himself)
Ex 3:14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "
I AM WHO I AM, not I am who you imagine me to be!
1Pet 1:15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
1Pte 1:16 because it is written, "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
Postscript
Do you believe in God? Really? In who or what? Never thought you would ever have to play theological gymnastics with that question in America? This is where we are at in our nation. Ignorance of God is rampant even among evangelicals because there is very little pursuit of knowing God but a whole lot of energy and time knowing and doing other things. This reminds me of God’s words to Jeremiah,
Jer 9:23 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
Jer 9:24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD.
What do we chase after more than God? The same old same old: knowledge, power, and wealth; there's nothing new under the sun. The world glories and revels in this stuff. These things are neither good nor bad. We go south when we glory in these things over understanding and knowing the LORD. You might respond, "I am not into God like you are." Such response, and I have heard them personally, are really indicative of a half-hearted love for God. Besides, I am no measuring stick for anyone!
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out whether people are "into God" or not; out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks according to Jesus (Lk 6:45). Those who glory in Him exercise those things that God delights in, lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. It doesn't automatically mean you can't have education, power, and wealth as long as they are in the proper place according to God; He knows what's spiritually healthy for you better than anyone.
Often I wonder how much our western culture has influenced our thinking that is not in God’s best interest. We have this arrogant attitude that Christianity is defined by western culture, its roots are in the east! If we set all that aside and behold God as Isaiah did, we would realize that the closer we draw to God the greater we would see our sinfulness in the radiance of His holiness for our eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!
There is no other image of God that will strike fear in the heart of man than a true image of God Almighty according to the Holy Scriptures. Nothing could be further from the truth that God is whatever we want Him to be. God is completely other than.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out whether people are "into God" or not; out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks according to Jesus (Lk 6:45). Those who glory in Him exercise those things that God delights in, lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. It doesn't automatically mean you can't have education, power, and wealth as long as they are in the proper place according to God; He knows what's spiritually healthy for you better than anyone.
Often I wonder how much our western culture has influenced our thinking that is not in God’s best interest. We have this arrogant attitude that Christianity is defined by western culture, its roots are in the east! If we set all that aside and behold God as Isaiah did, we would realize that the closer we draw to God the greater we would see our sinfulness in the radiance of His holiness for our eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!
There is no other image of God that will strike fear in the heart of man than a true image of God Almighty according to the Holy Scriptures. Nothing could be further from the truth that God is whatever we want Him to be. God is completely other than.
We need to learn the Word, love the Word, and live the Word for we may be the only Bible people read (scary thought). As believers in the One and only true and living God, this world doesn’t need to see millions of different translations on two legs but one walking translation submitted and committed to the authority of God according to the Scriptures.
The demons believe in God’s existence and know there is but one God, but they shudder over their eventual eternal punishment (Jas 2:19). These despicable angels failed to surrender to Yahweh's authority but rebelled and were cast out of heaven. Their theology was right, but their trust was wrong. Do you believe in God? The demons do! Yep, Lutzer was correct; it is one of the most meaningless statements we will ever hear today – I believe in God. Tell me about your image! <><
