Too often we are guilty of idolatry. We may not worship other gods--but sometimes we do, like the gods of money, sex, reputation, etc. More often we worship a god different than the one in the Bible yet it's one we call by His Name. I wonder if this wasn't the last straw for YHWH when Aaron said, "Let's have a festival to YHWH" after completion of the golden calf.
How do we worship a different god, even in our churches, our daily devotions, our bible studies? We chop off the characteristics and traits of God that we don't like or understand. Like Tolstoy and Jefferson, we sometimes excise parts of the Bible by not studying them, understanding them or even reading them. We like this part of God and not this part.
We want the God of nature, or the God of people crowds.
We want the God of grace and mercy, or the God of judgment.
We want the God of patience or the God of lightning fast justice.
We want the God of checklists ('just tell me what to do') or the God of laissez faire who loves me no matter what.
We want the God of right and wrong or the God of situational wisdom.
We want the God of forgiveness upon confession or we want the God of forgiveness to the extent we forgive ('forgive us our sins as we forgive others who sin against us' and the parable of the unjust steward, anyone?)
We want the God of safety or the God of adventure.
We want the God of red letters or the God of the whole of scripture. (Why aren't God the Father's words in the NT in red, dear publishers?)
We want the God of this book or this passage, or we want the God of that book and passage.
Like the car commercial that bemoans the choice of 'or' and applauds the choice of 'and', we should be worshiping the God of 'And'--i.e. the God of right and wrong, and the God of situational wisdom. All of the traits mentioned above (and more) can be found in scripture. There are so many facets to God, He is like a diamond of whom we might take a lifetime to appreciate. We should want to be closer to YHWH, who is jealous for His Name and His holy reputation. He is angry if we characterize Him incorrectly. He is angry if we call a god we've fashioned in our image by His Name. (Imagine the earthly anger of a spouse if you call them by the wrong name or use a pet name for him/her with another person.)
Our challenge is to avoid making God in our image, with a character that we like. Our challenge is to be made in His image, to be transformed. To be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect--hmmm, I think the Messiah exhorted this very thing.
