do all of us re-make God in our image?

[Christ_empowered]

Or at least...(re)imagine Him along our own ways of thinking, based on our own...stuff (experiences, beliefs, ideology, hopes, fears, etc.) ?

I was reading CS Lewis for a class recently, and Lewis wrote something like God is "tough as nails." True enough. But...throughout Lewis' work, I see an emphasis on the manliness of Christ. Christ clearly was a man, and manly enough to lead men, so, I get that, but...other people seem to emphasize the softer, more forgiving aspects of Christ's character. Then I skimmed over some background info on Lewis, and it dawned on me: an old school British man probably would emphasize the masculinity of Christ because of His background. Which got me to thinking...

well, what do *I* emphasize when I think of Christ? God The Father? God The Holy Spirit? I learned a lot about Christ through Pentecostals...first men, then women. I've had 2 male Christian counselors...one a hardcore Calvinist and the other a more traditional Baptist (both conservative). I'm torn between a stern, fire and brimstone God and the God of the Christian women who really took an interest in me...the God who "knows right where you're at," etc. That's not even factoring in the odd Presbyterian upbringing and my own reaction to the Bible Belt Christianity that I don't like...I mean, the parts of it I don't like, the parts that seem to reinforce the status quo without reflecting one bit. That kinda thing.

OK. I've rambled. Point is...do we all sort of (mentally) shape/reshape Christ into someone we like and can love? My Jesus loves outcasts, sick, the weak..."the widow, the orphan, the stranger at the gate..." that kinda thing. I've seen people around here who clearly believe in a different Jesus.

What do y'all think?

 

[JohnDB]

You are not far from the truth for most people.

Psychologists tried an experiment with children.
A school with no fenced yard and a school with a fenced yard.

The children hung very close to the school house without a fence...but the children hung out by the fence in the school with a fenced in yard.

People like borders...they wish to stay "on the line" of acceptable behavior. So today there are preachers who will tell you whatever you wish to hear. If you want fire, brimstone and legalistic exoneration they have preaching and churches for you. If you want no morality they have preaching and churches for you. If you want to marry five women they have a church for you.

But then if you want nothing but the absolute truth about Jesus wellllllll good luck.

We see and hear what we want and not what we need to hear or see. Just like what has always been.

So...
What do you do with this information?

 

[Christ_empowered]

Good post.
I"m hoping to see God as He is...I mean, to whatever extent possible.

 

[smaller]

Or at least...(re)imagine Him along our own ways of thinking, based on our own...stuff (experiences, beliefs, ideology, hopes, fears, etc.) ?

I was reading CS Lewis for a class recently, and Lewis wrote something like God is "tough as nails." True enough. But...throughout Lewis' work, I see an emphasis on the manliness of Christ. Christ clearly was a man, and manly enough to lead men, so, I get that, but...other people seem to emphasize the softer, more forgiving aspects of Christ's character. Then I skimmed over some background info on Lewis, and it dawned on me: an old school British man probably would emphasize the masculinity of Christ because of His background. Which got me to thinking...

well, what do *I* emphasize when I think of Christ? God The Father? God The Holy Spirit? I learned a lot about Christ through Pentecostals...first men, then women. I've had 2 male Christian counselors...one a hardcore Calvinist and the other a more traditional Baptist (both conservative). I'm torn between a stern, fire and brimstone God and the God of the Christian women who really took an interest in me...the God who "knows right where you're at," etc. That's not even factoring in the odd Presbyterian upbringing and my own reaction to the Bible Belt Christianity that I don't like...I mean, the parts of it I don't like, the parts that seem to reinforce the status quo without reflecting one bit. That kinda thing.

OK. I've rambled. Point is...do we all sort of (mentally) shape/reshape Christ into someone we like and can love? My Jesus loves outcasts, sick, the weak..."the widow, the orphan, the stranger at the gate..." that kinda thing. I've seen people around here who clearly believe in a different Jesus.

What do y'all think?

I think, more than anything, our own heart is reflected in "how" we see scriptures.

I found it helpful to set my own internal idols aside as they were blocking my views.

It's also reasonable to assume that as we engage, Christ Himself does reveal Himself to us, more and more, as we go along, following Him.

 

[smaller]

Good post.
I"m hoping to see God as He is...I mean, to whatever extent possible.

I will never stop looking for the Perfection of Christ. And am expecting also, an INTERNAL revealing.

It is there...IN...that we watch.

 

[dianegcook]

Or at least...(re)imagine Him along our own ways of thinking, based on our own...stuff (experiences, beliefs, ideology, hopes, fears, etc.) ?

I was reading CS Lewis for a class recently, and Lewis wrote something like God is "tough as nails." True enough. But...throughout Lewis' work, I see an emphasis on the manliness of Christ. Christ clearly was a man, and manly enough to lead men, so, I get that, but...other people seem to emphasize the softer, more forgiving aspects of Christ's character. Then I skimmed over some background info on Lewis, and it dawned on me: an old school British man probably would emphasize the masculinity of Christ because of His background. Which got me to thinking...

well, what do *I* emphasize when I think of Christ? God The Father? God The Holy Spirit? I learned a lot about Christ through Pentecostals...first men, then women. I've had 2 male Christian counselors...one a hardcore Calvinist and the other a more traditional Baptist (both conservative). I'm torn between a stern, fire and brimstone God and the God of the Christian women who really took an interest in me...the God who "knows right where you're at," etc. That's not even factoring in the odd Presbyterian upbringing and my own reaction to the Bible Belt Christianity that I don't like...I mean, the parts of it I don't like, the parts that seem to reinforce the status quo without reflecting one bit. That kinda thing.

OK. I've rambled. Point is...do we all sort of (mentally) shape/reshape Christ into someone we like and can love? My Jesus loves outcasts, sick, the weak..."the widow, the orphan, the stranger at the gate..." that kinda thing. I've seen people around here who clearly believe in a different Jesus.

What do y'all think?

He can be Whom He wants to be.
He is a jealous God.
He is God of vengeance.
God is love.
God is a consuming fire.
I think of Him as my Father and Creator and Saviour....