THE GOD BOX

My lifelong study of God’s word, as revealed through our Holy Bible, has convinced me that God cannot be put into anyone’s “box.” 

“God Box” people can be found in every faith group.  There are mega and mini churches taking in big bucks by telling their congregations that they have God in a box and here is what God looks like, says and does, and that is that and there is nothing further you need to know!

That is heresy at its worst and an industrial strength ecclesiastical Prozac© at its best.   For the folks who want a Sunday “fix” or a midweek “fix,” that seems to fit just fine.   You don’t need to question anything or for that matter “know” anything.  Your church, the only “true” church, has it all tied up for you and all you need to do is “show up, shut up and pay up”.  We sometimes call those SSP churches.

God is revealed to each of us in very special and unique ways.  For some, it is wisdom, for others vision, still others possess special gifts and graces.    I want to enter a church where I do not have to leave all of that at the door and be spoon-fed someone else’s revelation.   Yes, there are indeed some church's doors where you have to check your brain at the door as you enter.

Folks want to wrap their religion up into something mysterious and almost unattainable.  We create dogmas and structures that make us appear as something unique and special, when all we are being are “grace barriers.”

Jesus Christ is my way, truth and light.  I teach about Jesus Christ and I witness to others about my faith in Jesus Christ. But, at the same time, I also truly believe that this same creator God is revealed to many cultures in many different ways - all revelations as valid as mine.

What did Jesus mean when he said in John 14:6:

 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

To whom was it said?  Into what historical and cultural setting was it said, experienced and understood?   Have our best scholars interpreted it succinctly from that language, understanding and culture into our language, understanding and culture?  Out of context “proof texting” is not helpful to our understanding of this Biblical truth.
       
How do we understand this truth in light of our belief and understanding of the Holy Trinity?

There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus truly uttered these or similar words to the people of the day in which he walked among us.   His mission was to reveal God to all who would believe.  Some believed but, alas, most did not.   Their hate, ignorance and intolerance put Jesus on a cross of crucifixion at the town dump.

If the Muslims say that Mohammed is the only way, if Buddhist say that Buddha is the only way, if Jews say that God is the only way, if Christians say that Jesus is the only way - - what do you think God has to say about all of that?

How was the Creator revealed to creation in other galaxies and dimensions?   How do they understand Creator?  Was there a living revelation? Did they experience a Jesus?   Do they have an indwelling presence (Holy Spirit) that sustains them?

Some folks are convinced that what you can see with the “naked eye” is all there is to God.  God has revealed to us through such tools as the Hubble Telescope and other “eyes into the sky” that we are indeed not alone.   There are perhaps thousands of galaxies almost identical to ours.  Could it be that God, the omnipotent creator, also left footprints of “God Love” in those places?  Who knows what those creations might be like and just exactly how God chose to be revealed.   I sure hope that when God was revealed to them that they didn’t put that love on a cross, and try to kill it, like we did!

Sure there was and is a God for all of creation!  God cannot be boxed in by planet Earth.  Creation was let loose and there is no ending to it!  God is still the Alpha and Omega!

In his book “The Will of God,” Dr. Leslie D.  Weatherhead, English theologian of the 20th Century, defines the “Will of God” in these ways:

 God’s Intentional Will

 God’s Circumstantial Will

 God’s Ultimate Will

What an awesome idea - the ultimate will of God!

Weatherhead had it right.  The ultimate will of God is that all of creation be enveloped into the loving arms of God - into that welcoming, beckoning, inviting and loving warm glow.

A Jim Lane Commentary
August 30, 2006
jim@jimlane.org