God-in-a-Box

I realize how difficult it is to study the Bible and ponder spiritual matters with a completely open mind and a clean slate. We all have been raised a certain way, in a certain environment, with unique experiences and circumstances, and all of these things color our perception of God and religion. There are times for ALL of us when we have a difficult time accepting what the scriptures teach - or perhaps we refuse to accept what the scriptures teach - for the simple reason that it poses a threat to OUR status-quo. I've been there, and so have you, whether you realize it or not. We find a system of faith that suits us, we settle in, we accept everything that strengthens our case, and we reject/ignore everything that challenges it.

If you don't believe this, I hope and fervently pray that you'll stop for just a moment, exhale, and be honest with yourself. Think about it. To some extent, we're all this way at least occasionally and the thing is, if you understand it and are cognizant of this ever-present temptation, you can find the truth. But if you shake your head in arrogance and act as if you're immune to the prejudices that afflict us all, as if you've got it all figured out, then let me tell you something...you're in trouble.

Here's the danger...

When you approach God with your mind already made up, you're going to twist everything in the scriptures to fit your paradigm. Rather than humbly subjecting yourself to the Almighty God, you expect God to conform to YOUR standards and expectations. You end up worshiping a god that is far different than the God of the Bible, and you embrace a faith that is far removed from God's inspired word.

In other words, when you put God in a box and say, "This is who I want God to be," you're not really serving God...because, contrary to mainstream thinking, that's not how God operates. He does not change to suit us. Remember, HE is the Creator, the Almighty, the "I AM." We must change to suit Him.

The Bible is filled with examples of individuals who put God in a box.

• The Hebrews, when they witnessed God's fierce power on Mount Sinai, told Moses that they didn't want to deal with God directly. God scared them! So they requested that Moses speak to them instead (Exodus 20:18-20). Not long after, they made their own god...a golden calf that suited them better. Now they could sing and dance and be happy (Exodus 32).
• Naaman the Syrian expected a "razzle and dazzle" God that would wipe away his leprosy in some grand display of power...and he was angry when Elijah told him to simply dip seven times in the dirty Jordan River (2 Kings 5:10-12).
•  An obvious example is Jonah. The prophet Jonah wasn't at all pleased when God wanted to extend mercy to the wicked inhabitants of Nineveh. In fact, "it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry" (Jonah 4:1-2). He wanted to serve a God that was not so merciful or compassionate.
• James and John, the disciples of Jesus, wanted to "command fire to come down from heaven and consume" the Samaritans who had rejected Jesus, but Jesus rebuked them, saying, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them" (Luke 9:54-56).
• Like most of the Jews of Jesus' day, the disciples had certain expectations and ideas of who the Christ would be. Their prejudices and false perceptions caused them to be so blind to Christ's true purpose that, despite Jesus' clear warnings that He would be arrested and crucified, they scattered like roaches when it came to pass. Even after His resurrection, they still didn't get it. They asked Jesus, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Ac. 1:6).
• The polytheistic residents of Athens thought that Paul's description of ONE God who demands obeisance from ALL nations was ridiculous. There were some who showed some interest and wanted to study further, but many "mocked" (read Acts 17:18-32). In other words, Paul's God was too narrow and too demanding, and He didn't fit their paradigm.
• And then, of course, there are the Gentiles of old who "exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Rom. 1:25).

We could literally look at dozens of other biblical examples, but the point is clear: we cannot put God in a box. All of these people made that very mistake. They expected God to act a certain way and to be a certain way, and when God didn't fit their paradigm, they got angry and rebelled. Thankfully, some of them did humble themselves and change.

We cannot approach God with our jaws set and our minds already made up. It is vital that we forfeit our will and embrace God as He is.

"Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork say, 'He has no hands'?" (Isaiah 45:9).

"He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, and has stretched out the heavens at His discretion. When He utters His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens: and He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, He brings the wind out of His treasuries...O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jer. 10:12-13, 23).

"For I am the Lord, I do not change..." (Malachi 3:6).

You have a choice. I have a choice. Either we can try to set aside our prejudices and be open-minded toward and accepting of God as He is, and His will as it is, or we can keep God in a box. But by keeping God in a box, we are no longer serving THE God, but a god (little "g").

You may not want to believe that God loves ALL of humanity and sent Jesus to die for ALL the world (John 3:16). You may not want to believe that God gives the most vile sinner the same hope of salvation that He has given you...that if they repent (Luke 13:3) and embrace God's will, they are just as much a saint of God as you are! That may make you feel uncomfortable. Too bad. Accept it or stop claiming to love and serve the God of the Bible.

On the other hand, you may not want to believe that God is Just, that He has wrath, that there is such a thing as sin and hell and punishment. You may choose to embrace the tenets of "universalism" - this notion that ALL will be saved no matter what. That's fine. That's your prerogative. But that's not the God of the Bible...and stop pretending that it is.

You may want to believe in a God that requires minimal devotion. A little church here, a little prayer there and God will accept you. On the contrary, Jesus says, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Mt. 16:24). We're told to do all things by the authority of Christ (Col. 3:17), and to be "crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20).

I could go on, but do you get the point? Don't approach God with the attitude, "Hey, God, this is who I want you to be; take it or leave it." Heed the words of James:

"God rejects the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded" (James 4:6-8).

Let go of your stubborn will.

Yield.