When we say or sing 'there is no-one like our God' do we mean what the Israelites meant? At times I think God (YHWH) is just seen as a 'prefered' option in amongst a line up or selection of other possible gods to follow.... gods like money, sex, power, status, consumerism, materialism, relationships, jobs etc. Often when we say 'there is no-one like Him' what we actually mean is....out of all the other options, I believe that he is the best bet. When the Israelites proclaimed Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One' (Deut 6:4)they were declaring that that the Creator God is the one true God, the one true God of all the world. Picture it this way...It was like a line was drawn and God was drawn above the line. and every other god or created thing is, therefore, drawn below the line. This is what it meant to say there is no-one like our God. No one compares to Him. He is above the line! How have we come to blur this line today? How have we come to lower God below the line or raise other gods above the line? How have we ever come to think that God is just a 'preferable' option amongst a plethora of other gods in our 21st Century? May we be staunch monotheists (like the Jews) claiming that God is above the line and all other gods are not level or on par with Him. He is the world's true God and all things come under his rule and authority. A Question then for us.... How should his impact the way we live today?
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Shema
When we say or sing 'there is no-one like our God' do we mean what the Israelites meant? At times I think God (YHWH) is just seen as a 'prefered' option in amongst a line up or selection of other possible gods to follow.... gods like money, sex, power, status, consumerism, materialism, relationships, jobs etc. Often when we say 'there is no-one like Him' what we actually mean is....out of all the other options, I believe that he is the best bet. When the Israelites proclaimed Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One' (Deut 6:4)they were declaring that that the Creator God is the one true God, the one true God of all the world. Picture it this way...It was like a line was drawn and God was drawn above the line. and every other god or created thing is, therefore, drawn below the line. This is what it meant to say there is no-one like our God. No one compares to Him. He is above the line! How have we come to blur this line today? How have we come to lower God below the line or raise other gods above the line? How have we ever come to think that God is just a 'preferable' option amongst a plethora of other gods in our 21st Century? May we be staunch monotheists (like the Jews) claiming that God is above the line and all other gods are not level or on par with Him. He is the world's true God and all things come under his rule and authority. A Question then for us.... How should his impact the way we live today?
Thursday, March 5, 2009
IKEA Churches
How authentically family are our church gatherings?
Do we enjoy coming together with our brothers and sisters in Christ? It seems that the early church had a real, authentic family flavour about it. Family & friends meeting together in houses, conversing over food & drink and celebrating Jesus together.
How authentically family are your church gatherings?
Do we enjoy coming together with our brothers and sisters in Christ? It seems that the early church had a real, authentic family flavour about it. Family & friends meeting together in houses, conversing over food & drink and celebrating Jesus together.
How authentically family are your church gatherings?
Perhaps our Sunday gatherings appear to look 'authentically family' but maybe they are actually like a lounge or dining room set up at an IKEA or Freedom Furniture Showroom??? It looks like a lounge room where family can enjoy gathered & great times, but everyone knows it's not 'the real thing' and they never really settle or get comfortable because they are afraid of a shop assistant telling them to remove their feet from the coffee table.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
