November 16
Scripture focus: You’re blessed when you get your inside world – your mind and heart – put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. Matthew 5:8 The Message
Abusive god –quick to anger, slow to forgive, unapproachable, violent, cruel, impulsive, he makes bad things happen to us, takes good things away, if we enjoy life that joy will be taken away… (paraphrased from Soul Repair)
Recently, a fellow in one of our NSC Celebration Services came up and lamented to me about God. He said, “With all I’ve been through lately, what has God got against me? My favorite team just got knocked out of the World Series race. God could have changed that outcome. He could have let my team win! Why is God so mean to me?”
I don’t know this gentleman very well, but I recognize his “god” from my favorite book Soul Repair. He’s describing God as an “abusive god” – a god who is quick to anger, slow to forgive, makes bad things happen to us, takes good things away, etc.
As long as the god of his understanding is abusive, it will be very hard for him to see God in the outside world. His mind and heart are not put right on this subject. He has some experiential beliefs about God that don’t jive with the character of God as taught us in scripture.
When something really great happens to a person who thinks God is determined to steal our joy, there’s no way a follower of “abusive god” can enjoy the blessings they receive – after all, they fully expect them to be snatched away at any moment.
Do you think that there might be some wounded places in your own heart that view God in this abusive manner?
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