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Archive - Spirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff
"To Praise Him?"Hi gang,
Day before yesterday I found myself giving my testimony to one of the (Christian) contractors who is re-laying the tile in our kitchen.I told him that the main problem with the "glad tidings" that most of institutionalized churchianity is preaching is its wrong perception of God's purpose in creating human beings. Churchianity generally says that His purpose for calling us into being was in order to give us a "free will" so we could choose to love Him "before its too late" and he winds up frying "forever" all who failed to make that wise and timely choice. In other words, God called us into being so we could "choose" between "heaven" or "hell"
Whereas, Paul tells us God's true purpose is to unite all of us under the headship of His Son, Jesus Christ. (Eph. 1:9)
So the church's perverted view of God's purpose fosters a horrific caricature of His character, and we end up with a God who is saying, "You had BETTER love me, for you KNOW what happens to those who don't!"
Then, with childlike innocence, Mike interjected gently, "Well, I've always felt that God created us because He was lonely and so we could praise him."
I gulped and restrained myself, and said, "Well, I won't deny that God loves to receive our praise and adoration, but let me ask you a question... Mike, what if your father had sat you down when you were about 7 years old and told you, 'Son, the reason I conceived you was because I was lonely and needed a son to praise me. That's really what I want from you, Mike. I want you to brag on me a lot and sings songs to me and about me to others all the time. I want you to tell everyone how good I am and to make me look good to others all the time. That's my PURPOSE in having you in my life, son. Isn't that wonderful? So here's the deal: At some point when you're around 12 or 13 (which is the age of accountability) I plan to sit down with you again and pass judgement on whether or not you have praised and bragged on me enough to my satisfaction. If you have not, then I regret to tell you that I'm going to lock you in a cage in the basement and keep it as hot as possible so you will ALWAYS feel pain, and I will never let you out. But don't worry son, I also will never let you die. But I will never--not ever--let you out of that cage. And the reason I won't is because I'm not just a loving father, but I am also a JUST AND HOLY dad, and my nature requires that you be punished endlessly if you don't praise me to my satisfaction."
Then I proceeded to ask Mike, (who is staring at me all round-eyed)-- "Well, Mike, if your earthly father had SERIOUSLY said those kinds of things to you, would you have loved him? Would you have been thrilled that he was in your life?"
Mike looked intently me for a moment, and without hesitation said, "No!"
And I responded, "Well, that is exactly the way the church is representing the Heavenly Father to the world and to its own adherents, is it not?"
At that point Mike softened and started probing me to tell him more about this whole gospel. He was as open as a child, praise the Lord! You see, this man has been divorced and remarried, and he KNOWS what it is like to be part of a Charismatic Calvinist church that tells him, "You may not have been 'truly' born again, because you are LIVING IN ADULTERY" etc. etc..
So I just thought I would share this by way of encouragement to those of you who embrace and proclaim this WHOLE gospel... Keep letting the good news out, gang! There are many hurting people (many of them institutionalized church members) who need HOPE in the true God whose love never fails...
Love and prayers,
CharlieSpirit of the Word - Covenant Eschatology - Introductory Note - New Stuff