I’ve been reading a new book over the weekend called Yawning at Tigers by Drew Dyck. I was so impressed by his book on Generation Ex-Christian that I wanted to read something else by him. This is a brand new book. it is subtitled “You can’t tame God so stop trying.” I started it yesterday evening (Saturday) and if it wasn’t for the need to study my sermon I may have not put it down.
I remember reading C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” and there being a scene where the beavers are questioned by the children. The children ask, “Is he safe?” Mr. Beaver answers, “Oh no he isn’t safe. But he is good.” What struck me was the thought that Aslan (who represents Jesus) is not safe but dangerous.
Along comes Drew’s book where very early on he writes this:
After we get through explaining Him, He comes of as misunderstood or hapless. I’d prefer to say, “Yes, God is dangerous. He’s not a house cat; he’s a lion. You’re free to deny his existence or pretend that he’s harmless. Go ahead and pet him if you’d like; just don’t expect to get your arm back.”
He then tells the sad,strange story of Ellie Quo, a 32 year old Australian man who decided to put his fighting skills to the ultimate test. In the spring of 1989, after being told by his kung fu instructor that he had reached a level where he could kill wild animals with his bare hands, the impressionable student decided it was time to take on the most lethal predator. He sneaked into the Melbourne Zoo at night and scaled the lion enclosure. But rather than doing battle with one lion, he faced several. The fight ended with predictable result, and the zookeepers found Quo (or what was left of him) the next morning.
That is a bizarre story for sure and you gotta wonder how anyone could be that duped into thinking he could take on lions. And yet, his foolishness pales in comparison to mere mortals who think they can “dumb down” God and put Him on their level.
Oh for sure, God isn’t safe. He is dangerous. But He is good. Let’s stop trying to “dumb down” God to our level for the sake of pandering to the masses and let’s recognize God for who He is.
What do you believe about God?
I agree with what you wrote, but I have a thought to add. Sometimes humans who are faced with a concept beyond their capability to comprehend, can only find peace in their mind if they can hold onto something, even a shred. I think that our understanding of God is something like this. The only way that we can somehow cling to the idea of God is to bring him down to our own level so that we can hold onto some sort of shred of understanding. Does this make any sense?
That is a good thought Daniel. In some ways, i do think we have to do that because God is huge. it makes total sense. The problem I think it when we get to calling him Daddy and acting as though he is on our level. Agree or disagree?
I agree and disagree. I agree we need to understand who he is compared to us. We need to understand that we are his creation and he is the maker of the universe. However, I have no trouble with people striking a familiar tone with God. If that is how they wish to frame their relationship and it helps them come to know him, then I would never tell them they are doing anything wrong.
I think I sounded hyper critical of those who seek a more familiar approach to God. I didn’t mean to sound that way. I am opposed to taking God down to such a level that we lose sight of His grandeur, majesty and power. then I think we have done a great disservice to Him as well as to ourselves.
He will do what He will do.
He will save whom He wills to save.
Your thoughts here ring true to what you have said all along.
Of the 2000+ Gods that have been invented I don’t see evidence for any of them. I am sure most people agree with me except for maybe one or two of them.
I do think a lot of gods have been invented from the mind of men. Even Exodus tells us that. But, as you know, I will say there is only One. 🙂
I believe He is so much more than we can imagine, but we keep making Him a slightly better version of ourselves.
Sad but true. You hit the nail dead on.
We may dumb Him down, which sounds like a willful action. We may underestimate Him, which seems an unconscious action. We may just be totally off base about Him and His existence altogether. But, in the end Truth will be revealed and, just as we can’t fool Him with our outward actions to hide what is in our hearts, we will learn the Truth of the immensity of Him in all His glory and presence and being.
Even those who thought they kept an open mind and were ready for how grand in all areas He is will likely find themselves amazed at how their concept of God has fallen short.
Trying to wrap my brain around the power in this comment MS. WOW! That first paragraph is strong! I suspect I will be one amazed. 🙂 Thanks and good to hear from you.
Seems to me that if we do life on God’s terms, we can actually kill wild animals, so to speak. David and Beneniah both did it, but I believe they were acting in obedience to God’s will and not their own. In other words, don’t be sneaking into lion cages at the zoo… let God decide your circumstances. Relating this to God being like a lion, we need to realize that we can’t bring Him down to our level. However, He does come there of His own free will. He then brings us more toward His level as we allow ourselves to be perfected by Him as we let him determine our steps.
Presumption is not a good thing when it comes to wild animals. As for God: He has come to our level on His own as you know and is in the process of conforming us to the image of His Son. Great comment Kari.
I ditto Larry comment. It easy to find people who are slightly better then me but impossible to find a perfect person who can raise others and Himself from the dead. I love the song, How Big Is God, one line says, He’s big enough to rule the universe but small enough to live within my heart. It is only by faith we can believe what our eyes have not seen fully yet. Good thoughts to start a Monday brother.
I like your thoughts as well Betty. Thanks for adding to this topic. Glad I could start your week out well. Big enough but small enough.
Wow. Great post! I’ve studied the word fear in scripture quite a bit. When His word says, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” it means “reverence”, but what the modern church seems to not want to hear is the rest of the definition. Which means, yeah… fear…
How could a reasonable thinking person grasp that the Being that spoke all that we see into existence and sustains it, and not be flat rattled by that ultimate power and sovereignty? Boggles the mind.
Thanks for making me think… again.
you raise a good point floyd. Fear is not afraid of but reverence. But I am afraid we have lost the proper reverence for Him. My mind has been boggled many times as a result of trying to figure some of these “unfigurable” things out.