Making your own god
Making your own god
God’s prophet Isaiah described the way idols were made in the Old Testament (Isaiah 44). Some gods came from a blacksmith’s forge. Others from a carpenter’s workshop. The carpenter used some of his wood for the god, and the rest he used to bake his bread and to warm himself. The description is a reminder of the foolishness of making idols. Next to the Lord, who made the heavens and promised to sweep away sins, the idols are less than nothing—or worse than nothing because they offer no real hope in this dark world.
Of course, much has changed since people worshiped representations of gods made of metal or wood. Some primitive people still do worship such gods, but most don’t. We have become more sophisticated about our concepts of the supreme power beyond us. Yet I think some are still making their own god.
Humans are wonderful, beautiful, intelligent creatures. The world is filled not only with the wonder of God’s creation, but also with the wonder of human effort. Museums are filled with beautiful art and ingenious creations. Music fills the air with sweet or sad expressions of human aspirations, love, or failure. Poetry, drama, and prose present expressions of the human spirit. It’s all so interesting even if you don’t like some of it.
But sometimes the human spirit steps beyond what it can know. Some imagine God according to their human experience and knowledge. It’s true that we cannot penetrate the greatness of God with human intellect any more than we can split an atom with a crowbar. He’s so much bigger than we can imagine.
Almost everyone agrees. For many that means that each religion can give us only a small part of this huge god, like a mosaic pattern of many colors. Expressions of such insights take their place in the array of human efforts along with other expressions of art, music, or literature. Humans seek to grasp a god by choosing which of the ideas about god works for them. At the same time they conclude that someone else’s choosing is all right too. Each one makes his or her own god.
As a confessional Lutheran, I have a different view of God. Yes, he is greater, more powerful, and deeper than I can imagine. But God hasn’t set me adrift on the sea of speculation and opinion without telling me what I need to know. He has given me and the rest of humanity the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. I know of God from Scripture alone. The empty tomb announced by the Scriptures rescues me from creating my own god. I already have one that loves me and the world so much he gave us all eternal life through his Son.
Of course, much has changed since people worshiped representations of gods made of metal or wood. Some primitive people still do worship such gods, but most don’t. We have become more sophisticated about our concepts of the supreme power beyond us. Yet I think some are still making their own god.
Humans are wonderful, beautiful, intelligent creatures. The world is filled not only with the wonder of God’s creation, but also with the wonder of human effort. Museums are filled with beautiful art and ingenious creations. Music fills the air with sweet or sad expressions of human aspirations, love, or failure. Poetry, drama, and prose present expressions of the human spirit. It’s all so interesting even if you don’t like some of it.
But sometimes the human spirit steps beyond what it can know. Some imagine God according to their human experience and knowledge. It’s true that we cannot penetrate the greatness of God with human intellect any more than we can split an atom with a crowbar. He’s so much bigger than we can imagine.
Almost everyone agrees. For many that means that each religion can give us only a small part of this huge god, like a mosaic pattern of many colors. Expressions of such insights take their place in the array of human efforts along with other expressions of art, music, or literature. Humans seek to grasp a god by choosing which of the ideas about god works for them. At the same time they conclude that someone else’s choosing is all right too. Each one makes his or her own god.
As a confessional Lutheran, I have a different view of God. Yes, he is greater, more powerful, and deeper than I can imagine. But God hasn’t set me adrift on the sea of speculation and opinion without telling me what I need to know. He has given me and the rest of humanity the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. I know of God from Scripture alone. The empty tomb announced by the Scriptures rescues me from creating my own god. I already have one that loves me and the world so much he gave us all eternal life through his Son.
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