This morning I watched a television interview with a popular author of horror/fantasy books. She has lately returned to the Catholic faith of her upbringing, and has written a work of fiction about the childhood and adolescence of Jesus Christ. Sharing the interview spotlight with her openly gay son, she stated in regard to homosexuality that Jesus didn’t go around ranting about sex when he was on earth, but talked about loving each other. She is absolutely right. But Jesus did “rant” about sin as defined in the law of the Old Testament and as delineated by Himself. In previous interviews with the author, she espoused other of her ideas that reduce Scripture to shades of grey. And so it goes in this world.

God gives each of us freedom to believe and worship as we please, and what abuses we perpetrate upon that freedom!

A.W. Tozer wrote, “Wrong ideas about God…are themselves idolatrous. The idolater simply imagines things about God and acts as if they were true.” The awful truth of it is, we all have wrong ideas about God. We find a way to fit Him into our own understanding. Tozer again, “Left to ourselves we tend immediately to reduce God to manageable terms. We want to get Him where we can use Him, or at least know where He is when we need Him. We want a God we can in some measure control.” We settle for a lesser God. But The God of the Universe can be known.

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Romans 1:19-21 (KJV)

…in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them… Romans 2:15 (NASB)

It behooves us to seek the truth if we desire to know God at all, and not some figment of our vain imaginations. Apart from a biblical worldview, the true God cannot be known. We must not diminish God to proportions we can squeeze into our own “box” simply to accommodate our discomfort with tough realities we find in the Bible, just as we have diminished our society.

Charles Spurgeon, a British preacher in the 19th century, said of our gross misrepresentations of God’s intent, “I have seen the Spirit of God shamefully dishonored by people --I hope they were insane -- who have said that they have had this and that revealed to them.”

There will be a day when what/who we decide to believe and worship (and we do each make that decision in life) will be brought to light. For it is written, "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."

posted by Joye @ 1:04 PM

5 Comments:

At 3/19/2006 3:07 PM, Schweers' Mom said…

I saw that interview this morning, too. I have not read any of her books. Have you read this new one of hers about the boyhood of Jesus?
At 3/19/2006 4:11 PM, Vicky and Dale said…

Thanks for the comment on my blog about a Bible reading schedule... that's a FANTASTIC idea! It would for sure help me to not feel "bad" about missing checkmarks. But I wonder how I'd do without the accountability??? Still, I appreciate having the information. Sorry to post on your blog...I don't have your email addy = )
At 3/19/2006 8:17 PM, Joye said…

schweers' mom- I read one, Lasher, I think it was, years ago. The story really fell apart toward the end. I don't intend to read the new one. I do know she has the character Jesus, at 11, zap a bully dead and bring him back to life. If that's an indication, no thanks.
At 3/19/2006 9:35 PM, The Rose Garden said…

God made us in his image.
Humans want a god in their image.
One they can use and manipulate.
One they don't have to answer to.
One that makes them feel good.
At 3/19/2006 9:36 PM, The Rose Garden said…

ps. Great blog, good insight.