God in the dock.

C.S. Lewis wrote a book titled, “God in the Dock”.  A quote from that book:

“The ancient man approached God (or even the gods) as the accused person approaches his judge. For the modern man, the roles are quite reversed. He is the judge: God is in the dock. He is quite a kindly judge; if God should have a reasonable defense for being the god who permits war, poverty, and disease, he is ready to listen to it. The trial may even end in God’s acquittal. But the important thing is that man is on the bench and God is in the dock.”

― C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics

Today it is true.  Many Christians have put God in the dock and have become the judge of God Himself.  When the Christian cannot resolve: poverty, disease, death, war, famine, sexual unions or any other “controversial” topic in the Bible, God gets put on trial.  If a person’s view on these matters does not fit what they think it should be they inadvertently or on purpose become the judge and enter into the realm where only God belongs.

There is a disturbing trend today in the church to re-interpret the Word of God.  This re-interpretation is present because people cannot resolve how a “God of Love” could allow war, poverty, famine, etc. to exist.  The question then becomes “How can a Loving God allow: (fill in the blank)”.  Or how can a God of Love be against a certain behavior: (again, fill in the blank)”. 

So since they cannot resolve these issues they simply begin to re-interpret and basically re-write Scripture so that it fits into their world view.  Then God is parked in the dock and they have become the judge of God.   After all, God won’t mind.  He is a God of love.  He will say, it’s ok, I still love you.  It’s all about love right???

I think believers (if they are believers in the first place) need to remember some facts:

1. There is a God in Heaven separate from His Creation and you or I are not Him.

2. There is a conflict between good and evil and it’s WAY bigger than you and me. 

3. There is more to God’s character than just love, there is also: Sovereignty, Eternal Life, Justice, Absolute Righteousness, Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Omniscience, Immutability, and Veracity. 

4. If a believer does not like or agree with these other aspect’s of God’s character it does not change the face that they exist.

5. If person #1 believes what the Word of God states and then is accused by person #2 of being a bigot or old fashioned or unloving; consider that God, not person #1, is the One being accused of being a bigot or old fashioned or unloving.

6. God’s attributes are always perfect and fair and always have been. 

7. If at any time His attributes are not perfect and fair He would not be God.

8. His attributes of Justice and Righteousness work in conjunction with one another.  What the Righteousness of God demands His Justice executes. 

9. All of His attributes are based on His Divine will which is revealed in His Divine written Word.

10. Therefore those who go against His Divine Word have violated His Righteousness.  They will fall under His judgment, His justice will execute it.

11. Likewise, those who go with His Divine Word are in line with His Righteousness.  They will come under His blessing, His justice will execute it.

So if people do not like or agree with what God states in His Word about sexual unions or war or poverty or disease etc. they are in danger of condemnation from His justice.  Romans 1.18-32 makes this abundantly clear.

We would all do well to let God be God and trust His plan.    

The Fish

In the months and years after the ascension of Jesus Christ Christians became targets of persecution.  To be a follower of “the way” as it was called was to invite possible arrest, torture, and death.  Therefore believers at that time developed a system of identification to determine if those they met were for them or against them.  This system was the picture of a fish with five Greek letters in the middle.  The letters represented words which said: Jesus Christ God’s Son Savior.  

Legend states that as people met in streets or other places a person would draw one line of the fish in the sand.  If the person they met drew the other line then each knew that the other was a believer.  Today this symbol is everywhere; bumper stickers, magnets, necklaces, bracelets, business cards websites etc..

The simple phrase, “Jesus Christ God’s Son Savior” sums up the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.  He is the Son of God who became a man who died for the sins of the human race and provided salvation to any who put faith in His finished work.  Simple, concise, to the point; faith alone in Christ alone. 

And that is the message today.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is that simple.  But people try to make it complicated.  Thank God that Jesus Christ has done all that is necessary for salvation.  The only response that a person can make is faith alone in Christ alone.  Faith plus nothing.  Anything added to that simple message dishonors and discredits the Word of God, the Work of the Son, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Don’t take that on yourself.  Just believe and relax.