Thursday 7 May 2009

Composite

The whole of the territory is fantastic. All that is happening around us in the name of Jesus is thrilling and compelling. Often people have a hard time seeing the evidence of God in people's lives. We see it everyday in TSA.

Some people look to God like Santa Claus. I think I understand why, but it's not who God is. Some think that God is simply waiting to say yes to everything we want and to somehow protect us from harm or ill because we love Him and He loves us. Generally, a parent understands the difference, but the child doesn't. The child cries when he doesn't get his way or things turn out different than what he wants. The parent responds with love and understanding. So does God.

1 John 2:2 (MSG)
2 When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world's.

5 comments:

Jack said...

Are your comments in this post re "God like Santa Claus" some sort of response to some of the comments in your (God is amazing" post? If so, I am disappointed at your subtle mockery of the genuine questions I have posed.

David said...

The Santa Claus analogy could cover the type of prayer people offer to God. Prayer like "please help Aunty Mary get bettter", or "we pray for the impoverished citizens of...", etc.

These are really prayers of the form "Please God, magic the world better. Amen"

The parent analogy is good, too. For example, you see your child about to be consumed by a deadly fire, what do you do? Of course, you offer the child the "free gift" of salvation, but only on the condition that he reads and understands an ancient text written thousands of years ago. If the child rejects the "free gift", why, of course, he deserves to be burnt. That's his choice. No matter what his choice, you still love him - that's just good parenting.

Jim Knaggs said...

Gentlemen,

Your arguments seem less than helpful when you choose to present yourselves in sarcasm.

What would you do with this?
John 15:5 (MSG)
5 "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing.

David said...

Dead branches that decompose or are burnt provide nutrients to the living.

Many must suffer eternally in Hell so the few can laugh at them in Heaven.

Thanks for wanting to be my friend, Jesus, but I read about your violent Dad in the Old Testament and I hear you'll be just as mean when you return'

Jim Knaggs said...

David,

Read the whole. You're smarter than this.