August 17, 2017 – Devotions
Your G-d is Too Small – A Distracted G-d

I do not think I need to spend a lot of time on whether we believe that G-d is humongous, enormous, or gi-normous. I hope we can all agree on the fact that G-d is beyond our ability to describe or even comprehend — G-d’s presence in the universe is all-encompassing. It is always fun to try to imagine how big G-d is, but I hope we can agree that this task is futile at best. But it is always good to try – because as often as we give G-d anthropomorphic features, it diminishes G-d and G-d’s presence.

Of course many people think that G-d simply resides in the church. For those who are not familiar with religion, it would make sense that they would conceive G-d as residing inside the building, just like G-d resided in the Tent of Meeting (the Holy of Holies) during the Exodus (not that any scriptural reference would make sense to the un-churched). And, since most people can only focus on the trees in front of them rather than the forest that makes up the vastness of time and space, then they could only imagine an unfocused or impersonal G-d – a G-d who is found only in one place. And if we go one step further, we might consider the people who see G-d as only residing in the church as the same people who see G-d as too distracted to care about those who do not go to church or too distracted with other business around the universe. But we limit our spiritual thinking if we believe that G-d only cares about those in the church — and besides, G-d is too busy focusing on the future of all things. My friends, G-d does not suffer from Attention Deficit Hyper-activity Disorder – nor is G-d limited. But if this is your understanding of G-d, then “Your G-d Is Too Small”.

The bigger we think G-d is, the more it is possible to think of G-d as impersonal and an unfocused abstraction. But if we change our thinking about G-d, and consider that G-d is more “verb” than “noun”, more presence than thing, then it is possible to consider our divinity as capable of being up close and personal simultaneously with being in all things. In the face of the idea that G-d is “too busy or too big for us”, people can believe that they can never get to “Know” G-d. And since G-d is unknowable to them, they seek to trust science or progress more than trust G-d. This would mean then, if we follow this to its logical conclusion, that at some future time, a time we will never know, these people would see their end as annihilation rather than eternal life.

As President Trump might say, our G-d “Is Huge”, full of “fire and fury”, as well as up close and personal. As such our G-d is not distracted – our awesome G-d is everywhere and in everything. (Themes come from the book “Your God Is Too Small” by J. B. Phillips)

Pastor Dave

August 16, 2017 – Devotions
Your G-d is Too Small – A Joyless Task Master

I remember a high school classmate who was a good athlete and just a bit of a troublemaker. His family did not belong to a church I was familiar with, like the Lutherans, the Methodists or the “Holy Rollers” (as many called them). In fact I do not even know what church he attended. What I did know was that he was not allowed to partake in Halloween activities, dances or school parties – and I did know that he was not allowed because of his faith. As a kid, it just seemed to me that his church must not have had much joy or happiness among its members or worship services. His G-d must have been a “Joyless Task Master”.

There are those in this world who view G-d as just such a god, one that surrounds people with less life, with less joy, and with less presence in the world. Their god does not allow for spontaneity, for creativity, or for rich experiences in life. In other words, this god they think they know is just a “sad sack”. But of course these people often come to this understanding of G-d by being brought up in such a church, being manipulated by isolating scripture to fit their negative views of life, mimicking the suffocating religious beliefs and practices of those around them. And of course they keep members in their fold because these people feel “special” and “unique” in suffering for G-d. If this is your idea of G-d, then “Your G-d Is Too Small”.

There are plenty of examples of people in the bible who expressed their love and faith in G-d through joy – even dance. Miriam danced when the people crossed through the Red Sea: “Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing.” (Exodus 15:20) and David danced in front of the Ark of the Covenant: So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.” (2 Samuel 6:12-15)

I am convinced that G-d wants followers to be filled with joy, with spontaneity, and with love. And if those things come out of the follower in song, dance, or even just sitting in a pew and singing, than G-d would rather have joy-filled people than joyless task masters. (Themes come from the book “Your God Is Too Small” by J. B. Phillips)

Pastor Dave