So, let’s return to Gideon, briefly.
Gideon builds an altar to the Lord with the inscription, The Lord is Peace. Let’s think about this. Does the evidence support this so far? So far? So far, no. So far, God has directed, commanded and led man into war over and over. The Old Testament has been a bloody story up to now. So, does Gideon’s inscription mean God is for peace, or God is the way to peace, or knowing God is knowing peace? And, both before and after Gideon’s altar, he is surrounded by and instrumental in a brutal, warring environment. What would lead Gideon to make such a paradoxical pronouncement?
Later, Jesus (I know, I’m not supposed to jump) will call himself the Prince of Peace, yet more wars have been fought and people killed in the direct or indirect “name” of Jesus.
With all the direct words attributed to God to this point, we have not seen phrases of peace, harmony, balance with nature or the universe. A god of peace we have not seen.
So, here’s something to mull over (best done with mulled wine…): What if God is whatever you think He is? If you see Him as a vengeful, judgmental decider, play life safe. If you see Him as a wise parent who loves unconditionally, then work to learn His lessons now. If, as my husband does, you see God as a large, dynamic, black woman, love her with all the gusto ya got.
This customized view of reality can even be extended to the afterlife – whatever you expect it to be will be. A one-way ticket to the judgment of Heaven or Hell? A journey where each may make his way to bliss, learning from or paying for actions on Earth? A place where we will meet departed loved ones? A new earthly paradise much like that depicted in the novel/movie, What Dreams May Come?
Perhaps the profile of God as seen in the new Testament serves those people for their culture and time. Their God is rigid and strategic and brutal because they are.
Do we reflect God or does God reflect us?
Confession #66: It seems to me that war, killing, destruction is Man at his worst, not a god at his best.
Confession #67: I choose a God of Love and Peace who will blow me away with new dimensions to those concepts.
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Sunday, March 8, 2009
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2 comments:
Not to be pessimistic, but isn't this idea (customized god/reality/afterlife) a lot like looking at box of unknown contents and deciding there is a cheesecake within? I mean, you can hope and maintain absolute faith that there is a cheesecake in there, but until you open the box you won't know. What are you going to do, just sit on the box forever? Maybe it is a pizza, or a new dvd player, or a bunch of packing peanuts. Just open the damn box already, I'm getting hungry.
Ooh, point excellently made! I love a good analogy, so let's take it further. What if, inside the box lies a lump of clay for you to make of it what you will, hmm?
If it's all the same to you, I'll take a longgg time to open that box.
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