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A colleague and I were recently bemoaning the state of Christianity in our nation. We were not so much concerned that conservative Christians might have less political clout now than they did in the salad days of Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority. Neither were we complaining about the failure of all our efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade. While it may be legitimate to consider these among other factors when taking the church’s temperature, our grumblings were prompted by a different condition. How big is God for the average Christian today? My colleague and I are both aware of the results of religious polls and surveys. The vast majority of Americans acknowledge belief in a god. Most Americans would label themselves as Christians, and Sunday mornings tend to be a bit quieter on the roads with so many people attending church. But who is God to the average Christian? The average self-proclaimed Christian today is a shadow of what he should be, or rather, his God is a shadow of what He should be. I don’t base my answer to that question on large scientifically-conducted surveys, but rather on my experience of Christians. Too many Christians have a very small—and therefore very wrong—concept of who God is. Some view God as a sort of toymaker who wound up the universe long ago, flipped the switch to “on,” then promptly left for a vacation of some millennia in duration. Others view God as an infinitely soft-hearted being Who just can’t help but love us, and Who hangs around like a puppy hoping we will want to play with Him. Others see God as a whimsical warlock who enjoys creating trials and tribulations for them. I suspect the average Christian wants a God who is powerful enough to help in any situation, and always willing to do so on cue. This view places us as human beings at the center of things, and relegates God to the role of servant—however much appreciated. From our perspective, it might seem very handy to have such a helpful friend. And that is the point. We are still too much in the flesh to want the God who actually exists. We want a God who is large enough to assist us when we cry out for aid, but a God who is small enough not to bother us when we think we don’t need Him. Enter the God Who Is. The God Who Is created all things, seen and unseen, from absolutely nothing. Among these created things is man. God knows each man front to back, head to toe, and inside out, both physically and spiritually—and those whom He loves are loved despite what He knows. This same God caused an entire book to be written and widely disseminated describing His absolute sovereignty over everything and everyone. In that book, He described in vivid detail, with numerous historical examples, the relationship He desires—nay, demands—to have with His adopted children. This relationship is to occupy our every waking moment, and is not to be set aside even for an instant. Our thoughts are to be of Him and His ways. Our speech should invariably acknowledge and honor Him. Our every action should demonstrate our faith in Him. Our lives should create in others a desire to learn of Him. This is a tiny glimpse of the God Who Is. Impressed? Let me challenge you, if you find too much of yourself in my description of an “average” Christian, to search the Scriptures until your God is as big as He should be. Get comfortable. This will take the rest of your life. Our lives do not consist of having our needs met by a servant-god. They consist of discovering the God Who Is and becoming more and more like Him. Sincerely, Mark L. Beuligmann, M.S. Ed. Administrative Director Christian Liberty Academy School System |
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