God, misrepresented
God gets very serious about what people say about Him. Sentences that start with, "God thinks," or "God says," or "God is," carry a lot of weight behind them; especially when spoken by those considered to be representatives of the faith. But why is God so serious about being accurately represented? Why is an authentic and pure portrayal of who He is so important?
Because God misrepresented is simply an idol.
When God is said to be "like this" and He really isn't "like that", we form an idol in our thoughts through our words and into our doctrines and either drive people away from Him or draw people into idol worship. And this isn't a rare happening. God is misrepresented far too often. In one way or another, at one time or another, we've all fallen short and offered to those around us a poor reflection of who He truly is. I know I have. I confess that I have. And in one way or another, and at one time or another, He's been misrepresented to you. I guarantee it.
We live in a society today that has running through its veins, traces of cynicism and flows of unbelief. We've been trained that sophistication elevates us above the simpleness and hypocrisy that religion has to offer. Our experience and our observations have taught us that. The crusades, child abuse scandals, indulgences, hypocrisy from the pulpit, church members living no differently than the unbelieving among them. Through history we see religious leaders placing political agendas above the call of Christ to humility and service. We read about division, hatred and murder within the hallowed halls of the sacred assembly. The error of man has been placed before our eyes through our history books, by enemies of the church, and the media.
And there are words, the harmful, poisonous words, that slither out among us proclaiming a message that Jesus never proclaimed and deviating far from the words and intents of the apostles. We are told that suffering is unnecessary, a filthy word, and that God's main concern is to make His children rich and comfortable. How the heart of Jesus must break; the heart that took on suffering for our good and to set an example to us. To simply be straight, bad doctrine hurts people's faith.
God has been misrepresented. I'm afraid it's true.
Yet in spite of this poor image that has been portrayed to many who would never dare call themselves Christians, there are those who are indeed true representatives of the kingdom and the King. There are His servants here today, living in this land. They love their God, they love one another. They are not perfect, they fail, but they are on a journey to know their God and cast down every misrepresentation of Him. They may not hold center stage or make the headlines, but they are out there.
There is One who has not misrepresented who God is. His name is Jesus. I'm not talking about the Jesus misportrayed by modern media, or by the wolves in sheep's clothing. No, I'm talking about the Jesus of scripture, the flesh and blood Son of God who lived a perfect life. Try to find something wrong in Him, and you will fail. Oh! You may find things about Him you don't like. You may disagree with His teachings and even scoff at His purpose. You may not understand His ways. But you'll never find anyone besides Him who perfectly represents God the Father, and who loves you perfectly.
I'm sorry if God has been misrepresented to you. People may have let you down. No, let me correct that, people have let you down. But God extends His hand to offer to you Himself, through Jesus. I believe He desires to show you who He really is. Are you willing to receive that invitation? Then simply ask.
God gets very serious about what people say about Him. Sentences that start with, "God thinks," or "God says," or "God is," carry a lot of weight behind them; especially when spoken by those considered to be representatives of the faith. But why is God so serious about being accurately represented? Why is an authentic and pure portrayal of who He is so important?
Because God misrepresented is simply an idol.
When God is said to be "like this" and He really isn't "like that", we form an idol in our thoughts through our words and into our doctrines and either drive people away from Him or draw people into idol worship. And this isn't a rare happening. God is misrepresented far too often. In one way or another, at one time or another, we've all fallen short and offered to those around us a poor reflection of who He truly is. I know I have. I confess that I have. And in one way or another, and at one time or another, He's been misrepresented to you. I guarantee it.
We live in a society today that has running through its veins, traces of cynicism and flows of unbelief. We've been trained that sophistication elevates us above the simpleness and hypocrisy that religion has to offer. Our experience and our observations have taught us that. The crusades, child abuse scandals, indulgences, hypocrisy from the pulpit, church members living no differently than the unbelieving among them. Through history we see religious leaders placing political agendas above the call of Christ to humility and service. We read about division, hatred and murder within the hallowed halls of the sacred assembly. The error of man has been placed before our eyes through our history books, by enemies of the church, and the media.
And there are words, the harmful, poisonous words, that slither out among us proclaiming a message that Jesus never proclaimed and deviating far from the words and intents of the apostles. We are told that suffering is unnecessary, a filthy word, and that God's main concern is to make His children rich and comfortable. How the heart of Jesus must break; the heart that took on suffering for our good and to set an example to us. To simply be straight, bad doctrine hurts people's faith.
God has been misrepresented. I'm afraid it's true.
Yet in spite of this poor image that has been portrayed to many who would never dare call themselves Christians, there are those who are indeed true representatives of the kingdom and the King. There are His servants here today, living in this land. They love their God, they love one another. They are not perfect, they fail, but they are on a journey to know their God and cast down every misrepresentation of Him. They may not hold center stage or make the headlines, but they are out there.
There is One who has not misrepresented who God is. His name is Jesus. I'm not talking about the Jesus misportrayed by modern media, or by the wolves in sheep's clothing. No, I'm talking about the Jesus of scripture, the flesh and blood Son of God who lived a perfect life. Try to find something wrong in Him, and you will fail. Oh! You may find things about Him you don't like. You may disagree with His teachings and even scoff at His purpose. You may not understand His ways. But you'll never find anyone besides Him who perfectly represents God the Father, and who loves you perfectly.
I'm sorry if God has been misrepresented to you. People may have let you down. No, let me correct that, people have let you down. But God extends His hand to offer to you Himself, through Jesus. I believe He desires to show you who He really is. Are you willing to receive that invitation? Then simply ask.
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