Make your own God!

You hear it a lot from....well, anywhere really when God is concerned.

A warning, an admonishment, a scolding sometimes: that we "might" make our own God, or that we will "make" God into what we want him to be.

I always wondered: might they (the ones who sound the warning) be making God into who they want HIM to be?

Some folks seem to be all about a hellfire and brimstone God. The God of the Old Testament. A God we are to fear.

Fear does not breed love, however. You cannot truly love what you fear. Never. Love has no fear.

Some folks like a God of "if it feels good, do it."

This has the danger of selfishness. All about "ME" and searching for outside sources for our happiness.

That goes the same with the "Health and Prosperity" God that is sometimes preached.

Which, in my view, turns God into nothing short of a vending machine.

No doubt, whatever our view of God is - He is infinitely better than that.

There is no way I could "dream up" a better God than He is...Better doesn't exist for God. God Is. "I Am," He said.

But, could we really go way off base about who we think God is?

Would we really do such a poor job at it? (not that it would really matter, obviously)

Oh, maybe some people could - but that would be more of a reflection of who they are than who God is.

Maybe that's the crux of the issue. Perhaps a persons view of God reflects more about who they are, who they think "they" are, how they view themselves...because some people have a very sad view of God.

Has anyone ever told us to think about it? To "create" our own God?

Why not?

If we do it, might there be a danger that we "create" the wrong God?

Sure, I guess so, but I would think, hope, that if we are true and loving, God would at least give a hint if we are on the right track or not.

Cults would be the drastic example of what "could" go wrong...but remember, cults are about the so-called-leader of the cult, not about God. They are about power, not love. (I'm not using cult here in the scientific sociological sense - but the "wacko" sense)

But might we not get a better understanding of God if were to take a moment to think about how we would "create" a God?

Might not God reveal something to us...if anything, it could be a way to "discover" a new perspective of God.

Besides, it's just for fun, don't take it too seriously.

Take a moment to make your own god. How would he be? What would he expect? What would he require, if anything?

If the Bible didn't exist and God came to you and said, "How do you want me to be?"

What would you say? What would you tell him?