My Little God

We human beings have a common and prevalent set of equal and opposite temptations that we encounter. One side is to elevate Man and the other is to diminish God. So we regularly think more highly of ourselves than we ought (Rom 12:3) while bringing God down to our level (Psa 50:21) even while believing we're honoring Him (Luke 18:11-12). We try to keep a biblical view of our nature and a biblical view of who God is and we still trip and fall all over these two points. We struggle with the notion that we're as bad as the Scriptures tell us we are and are constantly working to correct the idea that God is much more like us than His Word says He is.

You can see this most clearly when we question God in times of trouble. This generally hinges on both the elevation of Man and the demotion of God. On the human side, clearly we are worth much, much more than God is giving us credit for or He would be working much harder to make us more comfortable. And we're wise enough to know what's best. On the God side, we are passing judgment on His choice of actions (or inaction) and questioning His wisdom, His power, and His love for not doing what we think is best.

Another place we see this is in church. Seriously. We go there to agree with others that we are sinners saved by grace and to worship the Most High God ... and we look to be entertained, fed (spiritually if not physically), and catered to. If it's not up to our standards, we're bored. Bored? Bored in the presence of God? It's not entertaining enough? It's not exciting enough? And that sermon. I mean, come on. Does he have to preach so long? Because hearing the Word of God for more than 15 minutes can get ... well ... boring, can't it? Remember, even Paul preached a young man to death once (Acts 20:7-9). Let's face it. Being in the presence of God surrounded by angels and God's people glorifying God and listening to His Word preached only goes so far. Because, you see, our time and attention is much more valuable than that and, frankly, God is only so exciting and then He's just boring.

We all object to such a depiction. We all likely know inside it's at least somewhat true. We don't generally have an issue with viewing ourselves as too evil; we're confident we're better than that. We aren't concerned with a view of God that is too big; our problem is that God is too small. And we are listening to the lie from the father of lies offered at the beginning of the race that elevates humans ("When you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God" (Gen 3:5)) and diminishes God ("You will not surely die, for God knows that ..." (Gen 3:4-5)). And we -- you and I -- need to recognize this and repent. Often. Repeatedly. As necessary. Because any god we worship that is not God is an idol, and a god of diminished capacity and character that is merely based on the God of the Bible is still not God.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)