I read on the website of a popular dog training
franchise this: Obedience training is designed
to develop the communication between you and your
pet. Based on positive reinforcement and a leash
command system, your pet now understands what is
expected of him. Not only is the dog trained in
these sessions, so are you. You will be taught how
to work your dog.
I can't help but see a parallel here
with the way some professed believers view their
relationship with God. For these God is not seen as
the Almighty but rather as some slightly deified,
unseen lapdog. The God of their imagination is on a
"leash command system" and "understands what is
expected of him." Yes, you too, can have such a
manageable God. He'll be there when you want Him but
will no longer be an uninvited embarrassment when
you don't want Him around. Just get Him trained
properly and command Him to, "Sit! Stay! Roll over!
Go to your room!"
Think I'm being too harsh in the
analogy? Maybe only barely. This mindset toward God
is seen in at least three ways today:
·
Some Bible commands and prohibitions seem out of
date and intolerant? Call a conference or convention
and change whatever you want. The stigma of sin can
be removed with the stroke of a pen or a majority
vote.
·
Has God disappointed you in some way? Has He
apparently forgotten what is "expected of Him"?
Maybe He didn't answer a prayer the way you wanted.
You don't have to put up with that. Cut Him loose
until He learns how to "behave Himself."
·
Today its common for folks to speak of God "asking
us" to do this or that. After all, that's part of
polite discourse and we certainly want God to be
perceived as polite and not overbearing, don't we?
But the truth is, God doesn't ask. He commands. The
Bible says keeping Jesus' commandments is proof of a
relationship with Him (1 John 2:3-6), not some
religious "experience" or "vision" or "feeling". He
give us those commandments in the Bible.
It's time that we stopped trying to "work God" to
suit ourselves. The proper positions are Him on His
throne and us at His feet. Hear His words and bow
before Him, "For as the heavens are higher than
the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And
My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)
for "our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews
12:29).
Jesus did not come to negotiate peace. He came to
state the terms (Mark 16:16). Accept and obey them
and salvation is yours. Reject them and you'll be
lost.
"Teach me, O
Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall observe
it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may
observe Your law And keep it with all my heart. Make
me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I
delight in it."
(Psalm 119:33-35)
God bless you.
Brad Fry
