WITH ALL THE IDEAS ABOUT "GOD,"
HOW CAN WE KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE?
Dr. David L. Haun
Of all the things God desires in our lives, the thing He wants from us more than anything else is that we know him. In the Old Testament book of Hosea, The prophet writes: "For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6 NRSV)
Jesus echoed this same theme near the end of His ministry. One of the final recorded prayers which He offered makes this clear. In that prayer just before His trial, we hear Him say, "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
(Jn. 17.3 NRSV)
If God has this primary desire for us to have knowledge of Him, what are we supposed to know? The answer might be found in the writings of an Old Testament prophet named Jeremiah. This prophet for God stated:
"Thus says the Lord, ’Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast, boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord’." (Jeremiah 9:23-24 NRSV)
How can we understand God’s reality in a way meaningful for our lives? How can we fulfill this requirement for a knowledge of God which He has intended for our lives?
THERE ARE TWO BASIC CONCEPTS REGARDING "GOD"
ACCEPTED BY INDIVIDUALS AROUND THE WORLD
First, there are those individuals who insist there is no supernatural power behind the universe in which we live. The world is simply the result of evolution or chance. There is no force with personality behind it. Perhaps the best examples of this position today would be the philosophy of Communism, or in the "free" world, those who believe in "Secular Humanism."
This concept stresses that the world and life on it is the result of a series of fortunate or unfortunate evolutionary actions. It is based upon the concept that there is nothing beyond the physical existence which we experience around us.
The contrasting belief is held by individuals, who believe there is some kind of God, force, or power that is responsible for, and in control of the universe and more specifically, our world. This force deals with everything we are and everything we have.1 These individuals, whether they call themselves Buddhist, Moslem, Jewish, Christian, or an Animist who worships a sacred tree in a jungle, believe there is an ultimate being and power behind creation and the world.
So, humanity is generally in one of two camps: those who believe there is a God or Force beyond man, and those who believe no such ultimate power exists. A third camp would say we simply cannot know one way or the other.
Adherents to each of these positions tend to deny the validity of the other position. Although there are instances of efforts through history to merge the positions, they are incompatible. There is an intelligent force behind creation and existence, or there is not. It cannot be both ways.
THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF A PERSONAL FORCE BEHIND CREATION FALL INTO TWO DISTINCT GROUPS.
First, there are those who believe that while God does exist, and that He is the creator, He is transcendent and separate from the world. This concept sees God above and beyond the evaluations of right and wrong. He is so ultimate and powerful that He transcends our human judgments of good and evil. Those with this belief would assert that we call things on earth good or bad on the basis of our human perspective, and not from some innate "godly" judgment. In this belief, the evaluation of right and wrong depends on the situation.
To illustrate: across much of the state of Florida, there is a small insect known as the "love bug." While similar in appearance to the mosquito, the love bug was born without a stinger. At first glance they appear a harmless part of the Florida landscape. Love bugs have little function or interest beyond the fulfillment of their name. They know how to make love. Every spring, all across Florida, uncounted millions of the tiny creatures fly through the sunlight connected together in what appears to be an eternal bliss of love.
They seem to have no natural enemy. The acid content of their blood makes them distasteful to birds. Other insects seem to leave them alone. The only interruption to their constant joy of love seems to be the front end of fast moving vehicles. And so, each spring, a drive across Florida results in the windshield and grill of every car being liberally spattered with little black bugs.
Something in the make-up of their blood gives to each spattered body the consistency of glue. To turn on one’s windshield wipers results in a view as opaque as stained glass. If the car isn’t quickly washed (no easy feat with this glue-like nature), the same acid that sours the taste of birds will eat off the finish of paint. A shiny car can be ruined in one trip. As a result of this condition, we humans have declared the love bug a "pest." We encourage researchers to locate ever more successful ways to kill every love bug in existence.
However, that love bug is merely living his life doing what love bugs were born to do. Could a love bug speak, he no doubt would charge both man and auto- mobiles with mass murder. After all, his only act was making love. For this we do our best to kill him. This, in the love bug’s view, would be most immoral.
Individuals holding this transcendent concept of God, insist just as God is uninvolved in our struggle with the love bug, he is also uninvolved in life situations, whether they are deemed "good" or "bad." These persons insist the wisdom of God is so great He transcends beyond our limited human evaluations of right and wrong. Those with this belief would assert that we call things on earth good or bad on the basis of our human perspective, and not from some innate "godly" judgment. As a result of this, the evaluation of right and wrong would depend on the situation.
College courses have been taught stressing this position, which has been labeled "Situation Ethics." This teaching stresses the idea that there is no ultimate good-bad, right-wrong situation. Everything is relative. It is the circumstance which determines whether we evaluate a situation as good or bad.
The other position: if you believe in God, is that he is a God of personal goodness and righteousness, who is concerned about "right" and "wrong" events in life.. This concept stresses God’s involvement in His creation, and His concern both with how we live in our lives and how we conduct ourselves.
Each of these positions is accepted on the basis of faith. In fact, most statements one makes in the area of Theology or doctrine (or for that matter, in most other areas of life) must be accepted in faith. There is no conclusive proof. If such clear proof existed, we would not have the differences of belief we experience between individuals and cultures.
THOSE WHO BELIEVE GOD IS CONCERNED WITH CREATION AND IS CONCERNED ABOUT EVENTS IN LIFE ALSO FALL INTO TWO GROUPS.
First, there are those who say, "Yes, God does desire goodness, honesty and honor. However, God, by choice, when He established the world, set it in motion and no longer causes changes in world events. God put creation in motion, based upon moral precedents. Creation now moves forward in its own direction. By choice God does little to change world outcomes. He may not appreciate our direction in life, and one day he will bring it all to a judgmental halt. But in the meantime, He is, by choice, "powerless" to change conditions.
Religious books have been written in recent years that insist the world is in its very last days of life. The end is coming, these authors state, and there is nothing to be done about it. The last days are near. And since God has established this time table, it will not change.
On the other side of this position are those who believe God is interested in morality and justice. At the same time God has within His power the ability to change people and situations in life. He is not bound or limited, and He can, and has, changed history. Since the early days of the church, traditional Christian belief has tended to follow this last position. There is a God. He has personality and moral desires. In addition, God has the power to step in and change events.
According to Scriptures, God tried in numerous ways throughout the centuries to alter the Spiritual situations and sinful conditions in which man finds himself. (Ephesians 1:4)
As indicated in Hebrews 1:1-2, God inspired various individuals through the years in an effort to change this human separation. However, God recognized mankind would reject these changes. So, from the very beginning of creation, God determined to eventually come Himself and ideal with the needs of his children.
(I Peter 1:18-20)
The New Testament says Jesus, who is known as the "Christ," is this final action of God to fulfill His purpose for His creation. (II Tim. 1:9) The Scriptures indicate Jesus was a unique individual. He was totally man - totally human - totally like us. At the same time He is totally God. He is absolutely the Creator Father here on earth.
The preexistence of Christ, before His appearance on earth at Bethlehem, is predicted throughout the Old Testament. For example, in the book of Daniel, Christians have insisted it was Christ in His preexistent state who walked as the fourth man in the furnace (Daniel 3:25). It was this same Christ who stepped in and shut the mouths of the lions when Daniel was in their den (Daniel 6:22)
The presence of God in Christ is often observed in the Old Testament, giving His guidance and assistance to mankind. However, He has finally come in the incarnation of Christmas to deal directly with our lives today.
One reason Jesus came is that we could know and understand what God is like. The Bible shares that in love for us, God emptied Himself of his ultimate glory and power. He made Himself as we are, so we could know who He is, and He could deal with our brokenness.
Paul wrote a letter to a group of people who lived in the city of Philippi. This was a cosmopolitan city, composed of many individuals who were unsure of the relationship between God and Jesus. Undoubtedly, Paul was asked a question, "How do we know who Jesus is? How do we know His role with God?" Paul writes:
"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness, and being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death -- even death on a cross.
"Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11 NRSV)
Did you note Paul’s description of Jesus’ relationship with God and what Jesus did? One purpose of the Philippian letter was to stand in opposition to a belief which had been growing in the first century. Individuals with this belief, known as "Appollinarians," taught that Jesus was not really a man. He was a heavenly being, some kind of an angel. He merely put on an act as a human being. Paul was writing to say that Jesus was more than this. He writes that Jesus gave up all He had with God, came down on earth, and actually became a man. As a total man He could offer us an understanding of God, and give us the means of a relationship with Him.
As you consider what Jesus gave up to make this step, consider the first chapter of John. This Scripture deals with who Jesus is and His relationship to God. Some of those to whom John was writing were not Jewish. The Gentile readers would have no understanding of the term, "Jesus is the Messiah." This was a Jewish concept. So, John described Jesus and His relationship with God in words Gentiles could understand.
"In the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. (John 1:1-4 NRSV)
Jesus, the Word, was with God ... and was God. Through this Word, Jesus, everything exists, and nothing was created and exists apart from him.
"He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received Him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:10-14 -NRSV)
John’s insistence is that each individual is responsible to make a decision. How does he conceive of, and react to God? John writes that God is the creator of everything. He is a personality with desires for our lives and an active interest in goodness rather than evil. He is beyond us. But at the same time He is eminent among us and involved closely with us. His desire to have this close relationship with mankind has changed the course of history. He changed it by coming down on earth so we could know who He is and how we can follow him.
The story is told of a family living in the northern United States. As happens in many families, the wife was an active church member. She would take the children to church services. Her husband didn’t feel it necessary or important to go. It just wasn’t his thing.
One Christmas eve, his wife asked if he was going to go to the Christmas eve service? "No," he said, you go ahead with the kids. I’ll stay here and get ready for Christmas morning." So, as happens in many families, the wife took the children and went to church while dad stayed home. He just didn’t feel the need of these religious observances.
I don’t know which of the positions of God we have examined dad might have held in his mind. Probably he felt God was so transcendent that God really didn’t care what we do, or else that God wasn’t involved in the world at all.
That Christmas eve, a winter storm struck, with biting sleet and strong winds. The landscape was soon covered with ice. As he was sitting there trying to decide whether to go to the church and pick up his family, he heard noises on the window pane. Hurrying to the window, he saw it was birds making that strange noise. To escape from the ice and sleet, the birds were trying to get inside the house.
Our friend got the idea that if he would open the garage door, the birds could go into the garage and be protected from the ice. Carefully he went into the garage, opened the wide door, and waited for the birds to fly inside. Not a single bird responded.
His next thought as he looked in the yard and saw the birds hovering in the ice and snow, was that he would go out and herd or drive them into the protection of the garage. Going outside, he carefully tried to urge the birds into the building. It was the most futile of tasks. As he approached the birds to try to get them into the garage, they beat their wings and scurried away from him. They were terror-stricken!
Finally, in absolute frustration, he stood out in the howling wind and sleet and cried, "If only somehow I for a moment could become a bird and tell these animals there is safety in the garage."
At that moment he began to understand the purpose of God, Jesus, and the Christmas birth. For the first time, God began to make sense to him. The purpose of God was related to his wish there in the wind and the snow. God, who loved and created us looked down from heaven and said, "If only, my sons and daughters, I could somehow let you know there is safety in me...."
Paul writes the Philippians affirming the way God emptied Himself; poured out His majesty, power, and the might of all His creative ability. And in that emptied state, Paul shares that God took the form of man, came down on earth, and lived a life of love and servant hood.
What concept do you have of God? That’s the key place to begin. Do you believe God is in fact a reality, or do you, like so many in the world, believe we are only the result of some electrical spark that occurred eons ago in the mud?
If you believe there is a God behind all that we are and have on this earth, what kind of a God is He? Is He a God so powerful and so transcendent that He pays little attention to our lives? Or rather, is the Bible true when it promises that our Heavenly Father is a God who loves us and is concerned about our lives?
Where do you stand in your faith with God?
