I will never forget the Sunday morning a Pastor got down on his knee and in a tear filled plea said, “Church, God is not who you want Him to be, God is who He is.”
I’ve realized that a lot of Christians, including myself, have the tendency to believe God is a fragmented version of their best self.
Often times we think we are good and wise people, so we voice indignation at the wrong doing and crime of others. This is good. It’s evidence of protecting virtues, but rarely do we work to understand and acquire virtue itself. Donald Demarco said, “Trying to become virtuous merely by excluding vice is as unrealistic as trying to cultivate roses solely by eliminating weeds.” So many of us know who God is not, but few of us take the time to understand who God is and to develop an understanding of His character. Demarco goes on to explain that we have to work towards understanding, acquiring, and developing virtue in order to be the person God created us to be, a reflection of Himself.
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Throughout history people have used virtues to justify horrific and even simply wrong acts. An example of this is Hitler, the nationalist who believed that exterminating “inferior races” was doing right by his country. Compared to Hitler we are all angels so we must be doing pretty well, huh? No. In less volume and also tragic cases, the lack of understanding and acquiring virtue can ruin relationships with family and friends. It can ruin marriages and a child’s worldview.
On a positive note, virtue is what binds us together. It’s having faith that God lives in people and trusting each other to do right by one another. Its loyalty to God first and people second. Its charity, courage, compassion, wisdom, modesty, patience. It’s understanding love in relation to God’s perfect character and applying it accordingly.
If we don’t take the time to learn His character and understand what it is to be virtuous we will live a life reducing God in our minds and hearts. We will define Him and our values through our own limited understanding. We will be living a lie, and a life short of the abundance He promised.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10
God desires for us to know Him, His character, His mission, and to reflect His image in the world. This is the design He imagined when He created us in His image. Its the design Jesus came to restore, and the design He’s coming back to perfect. Its flawless and beautiful just like the Creator.
Our lives will always be a reflection of who we believe God is.
Who is God to you?