What's Your God Look Like

One of the most convicting statements I have ever heard is this, "People believe about your God what they see in your life." Ouch! Have you ever stopped to consider the ramifications of that statement. Many people claim to have a belief in God. But, if this statement is true, then I see all sorts of God's around me.

The gods I see people believing in, if I were to look at their actions, are the gods of greedy consumption, the gods of unfair expectations, the gods of rash anger, the gods of hurtful words, the gods of jealousy and rumors, the gods of selfish ambitions, the gods of sexual objectification...and really the list goes on.

See, the bible says we were created in the image and likeness of God. Now, theologically that is a loaded statement. But whatever that means, it means that in our very lives we are to reflect God in this world. Sin becomes a problem not so much of bad action but of distorted image. In our sin, we present a god that is not really the God of Creation, Redemption, Love, and Salvation. We present a selfish, intolerant, impatient, self-righteous God. Oops.

What would it look like for the church to show the world the God it believes in. It might mean that we go out and hang out with the lowly and the downcast like Jesus did. It might mean that we seek justice for the oppressed like God does for the Israelites in Exodus. It might mean that we live patiently in a world full of sin, refusing to point the finger of condemnation and instead present the open arms of love.

So let me ask you...how would the people close to you describe the God you believe in?