Foundations of Faith
WHAT IS GOD LIKE?
In this issue we begin a new series of articles on the nature and attributes of God. This will be followed in later issues by a discussion of the Trinity and some of the specific characteristics of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
I was having lunch in a restaurant with two other persons one day. One of these persons, noticing a number of African-Americans in the restaurant, asked, “Where did the black people come from? The Bible says that God made man in His image, and God isn’t black.” I replied, “You are absolutely right. God isn’t black. But God isn’t white either. `God is a Spirit’ according to John 4:24.”
Despite attempts by feminists to delete gender-specific references to God in the Bible (revising, for example, to “Our Mother and Father who art in heaven…”), the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts are clear in their designation of God as “He” and “Him” rather than “She” and “Her,” and as “Father” rather than “Mother.” God as a spirit being cannot physically be either male or female, but when “the Word [that is, the Son of God] was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14), He came physically as a man, not a woman.
God clearly manifests male characteristics, such as “The Lord is a man [or male] of war” (Exod. l5:3). But He also reveals characteristics that are traditionally identified more with females than males, such as the qualities of meekness (Matt. 11:28), gentleness (Matt. 11:30; literally, “My yoke is gentle”), and compassion (Lam. 3:22; Mark 1:41; John 11:35). (See Assignment 20)
God created both men and women in His image (Gen. 1:27), and He is well able to identify with the problems of–and provide wonderful assistance to–both men and women equally.
Yes, God is a Person; He is a rational being with personality, intellect, emotion, and will. (Note that the word “person” does not necessarily imply having a human body.)
God thinks, chooses. “He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4).
God has a purpose and will. “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself” (Eph. 1:5,9,11).
God loves, shows mercy. “God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us…” (Eph. 2:4).
God has creative power. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:16).
God speaks. “God … has in these last days spoken unto us by His Son” (Heb. 1:1,2).
God hears. “God heard their groaning” (Exod. 2:24). “They that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it” (Mal. 3:16).
Impersonal Force. We read recently that a majority of people interviewed for an opinion survey expressed the belief that God is an impersonal force. If such people were really thinking, they might well wonder how this earth could be filled with personal beings while the ultimate Force behind all things is impersonal. Nevertheless, this is a very convenient way to view God if one is determined to “do his own thing.” An impersonal force is not liable to frown on our bad behavior. Far from being an impersonal force, the God of the Bible is personally interested in each one of us:”I have engraved you on the palms of My hands” (Isa. 49:16). “The very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matt. 10:30).
Absent Creator. Our next door neighbor is a “deist.” He believes that God created the earth and set everything in motion according to natural laws, and then left it to run by itself without His intervention. The deist does not believe in miracles. I have an interesting book in my library entitled, The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, compiled by the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, who was a deist. This book consists totally of texts from the four Gospels organized in chronological order, but systematically excluding all references to miracles. It is sad to read the final verse in the Jefferson Bible:”There laid they Jesus … and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed” (John 19:42; Matt. 27:60).
Failure. Some people’s image of God is that of One whom they once trusted, but who let them down. It may have been a tragedy in the family, a disappointment, an unrealized ambition, or an unanswered prayer; and now the person is unwilling to put his/her confidence in God any longer. (See Assignment 21)
Next month we shall discuss some of the divine attributes of God.
Running the Race
HE WOULD RATHER PLAY CHESS
Scene: A high school in Boston, Massachusetts.
Teacher: John, I just learned that your father is a university president.
John: Yes he is.
Teacher: I have read and heard a lot of good things about your father. Not only is he a brilliant scholar, but he is level-headed and full of wisdom and good ideas.
John: Yeah, I guess so.
Teacher: And not only that, I hear that your father has a beautiful personality; he is humble, friendly, and particularly kind and helpful to children and young people. You surely are fortunate to have such a wonderful father. I guess you must love to spend as much time with him as you can.
John: Well, actually, my thing is chess. My father doesn’t play chess. So I spend all of my spare time with the Chess Club here at school. I don’t see my father very much.
How tragic! John had daily access to one of the most intelligent, wise, and loving persons in the entire country, and he didn’t take advantage of the privilege that was his.
We who are Christians have even greater access to the most knowledgeable, most wise, most gracious, most loving, most powerful Person in the universe. This Person knows everything there is to know about you and me. He cares for us personally. He speaks to us through His Word, the Bible, and He listens to us when we pray to Him. How much do you take advantage of such a privilege?
Assignment 20: Find and write out a verse near the end of Luke 13 that describes a female characteristic of the Lord Jesus.
Assignment 21: What verse or verses would you give to a person who feels that God has failed him or her? (Hint: try Romans 8, 2 Corinthians 4, and Hebrews 12 for some ideas.)