Clarifying Terms: "God"
Last week, I had one of the greatest privileges of my life thus far. My elder brother retired from the United States Air Force after twenty years of faithful service. He rose through the ranks at a quicker rate than many and was praised by all who worked with him, over him, and under him. At his retirement ceremony, I had the honor of taking the stage immediately after the playing of the National Anthem to deliver the invocation in the presence of those assembled. In short, I prayed in front of a room of servicemembers.
Now, as a little backstory, I served in the US Navy for about seven years, and I had attended many retirement ceremonies. I came into my brother’s ceremony knowing how they go and what to expect. One common trait in these ceremonies is that, during the prayer, the one offering the prayer (normally a military chaplain or a local pastor) usually offers a prayer that could well fit into the category of "inoffensive". Ever since we started taking our medicine of tolerance, packaged in a bottle with a label that reads “Diversity is our Strength,” many of the clergy have traded their backbones for the fleeting approval of the poly-religious stew at events like military retirement ceremonies. I knew that an innocuous prayer would be expected by most. Fortunately, that would not suit my brother’s or my agenda.
At the start of my prayer, I leaned forward and spoke the following words into the microphone:
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am about to pray, but I need to provide some clarity first. I do not pray to an unnamed force in the universe. I do not pray to ancestors or to the earth. I do not pray to any heathen deity. I pray to the one, true God of heaven and earth, who has revealed himself in his Word, the Bible, and by His son, Jesus Christ. Our appeal today is made to Him alone. Let us pray.”
My purpose was not to ruffle feathers, though I know that outcome was largely unavoidable. My purpose was to provide clarity to everyone present. It would do no one any favors to leave a term like “God” up for grabs. We have done that for too long, in my estimation.
To be sure, some terms can be left unclarified without dire consequences. If I tell you that I just purchased a new vehicle, it does not really matter whether I bought a truck, a sedan, an SUV or some crossover. Nobody’s universe will be altered based upon the make and model of my new set of wheels. Some terms, though, must be clarified for the sake of everyone involved. I would argue that “God” is at the top of the list.
Think about it. If I use the word “God” in the presence of a Muslim, and atheist, a witch, a Hindu, or any other adherent to any other belief system, I am bringing to mind multiple understandings of a higher power (if they believe in one at all). The last thing I want to do, for the sake of that witch’s or Muslim’s soul, is let them think for even an instant that our beliefs are the same, our worldviews are the same, or that our God is the same. They are not the same. One is true and real and present. The others are demonic counterfeits, at best.
My God created and sustains all things. The gods of their faith are impotent and wicked.
My God cares for his creation. Their gods subjugate creatures into bondage.
My God has brought a great redemption to rebels like me. Their gods scream at them to futilely work harder to earn heavenly favor.
I want to urge Christians to take whatever time they need to bring clarity whenever the situation calls for it. Go ahead and make the situation a little awkward. The next time your neighbor, who has not darkened a church door in decades, tells you that “God knows my heart,” pause and ask them just who God is. For the sake of love and truth, put them on the spot.
When your relative who is living in unrepentant sin claims that “Only God” can judge them, press in a little bit. “Who is God and what kind of judge is he?”
Clarity almost always helps eliminate confusion, and it certainly matters regarding who we know and understand God to be. He has revealed himself in his creation (Romans 1), in his Son (Hebrews 1) and by his Word (2 Timothy 3). For your sake, the sake of those around you, and indeed for the sake of this world, do not settle for anything less than total clarity.
Now, as a little backstory, I served in the US Navy for about seven years, and I had attended many retirement ceremonies. I came into my brother’s ceremony knowing how they go and what to expect. One common trait in these ceremonies is that, during the prayer, the one offering the prayer (normally a military chaplain or a local pastor) usually offers a prayer that could well fit into the category of "inoffensive". Ever since we started taking our medicine of tolerance, packaged in a bottle with a label that reads “Diversity is our Strength,” many of the clergy have traded their backbones for the fleeting approval of the poly-religious stew at events like military retirement ceremonies. I knew that an innocuous prayer would be expected by most. Fortunately, that would not suit my brother’s or my agenda.
At the start of my prayer, I leaned forward and spoke the following words into the microphone:
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am about to pray, but I need to provide some clarity first. I do not pray to an unnamed force in the universe. I do not pray to ancestors or to the earth. I do not pray to any heathen deity. I pray to the one, true God of heaven and earth, who has revealed himself in his Word, the Bible, and by His son, Jesus Christ. Our appeal today is made to Him alone. Let us pray.”
My purpose was not to ruffle feathers, though I know that outcome was largely unavoidable. My purpose was to provide clarity to everyone present. It would do no one any favors to leave a term like “God” up for grabs. We have done that for too long, in my estimation.
To be sure, some terms can be left unclarified without dire consequences. If I tell you that I just purchased a new vehicle, it does not really matter whether I bought a truck, a sedan, an SUV or some crossover. Nobody’s universe will be altered based upon the make and model of my new set of wheels. Some terms, though, must be clarified for the sake of everyone involved. I would argue that “God” is at the top of the list.
Think about it. If I use the word “God” in the presence of a Muslim, and atheist, a witch, a Hindu, or any other adherent to any other belief system, I am bringing to mind multiple understandings of a higher power (if they believe in one at all). The last thing I want to do, for the sake of that witch’s or Muslim’s soul, is let them think for even an instant that our beliefs are the same, our worldviews are the same, or that our God is the same. They are not the same. One is true and real and present. The others are demonic counterfeits, at best.
My God created and sustains all things. The gods of their faith are impotent and wicked.
My God cares for his creation. Their gods subjugate creatures into bondage.
My God has brought a great redemption to rebels like me. Their gods scream at them to futilely work harder to earn heavenly favor.
I want to urge Christians to take whatever time they need to bring clarity whenever the situation calls for it. Go ahead and make the situation a little awkward. The next time your neighbor, who has not darkened a church door in decades, tells you that “God knows my heart,” pause and ask them just who God is. For the sake of love and truth, put them on the spot.
When your relative who is living in unrepentant sin claims that “Only God” can judge them, press in a little bit. “Who is God and what kind of judge is he?”
Clarity almost always helps eliminate confusion, and it certainly matters regarding who we know and understand God to be. He has revealed himself in his creation (Romans 1), in his Son (Hebrews 1) and by his Word (2 Timothy 3). For your sake, the sake of those around you, and indeed for the sake of this world, do not settle for anything less than total clarity.
Posted in Theology and Culture
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