God is not the "Big Guy in the sky"

Familiarity is everywhere today. Most people ignore the formalities that once governed our interactions. The generation previous to mine felt a real need to keep those 'rules.' My Dad wouldn't have stepped into church without a dark suit and a tie, ever! I preached yesterday in a polo shirt and blue jeans. Dad felt that to talk openly about his personal struggles was not proper in his position as a pastor and thus, he appeared to many as 'larger than life.' I live openly and my congregation probably knows too much about my humanity. But, that familiarity can complicate my ability to minister especially when it hinders my ability to provide the fatherly correction that every good shepherd must give. Then, too, there are those people who cannot hear God's message through me because my all too ordinary humanity looms too large in their minds.

My concern is that informality of our age, which I think is a good thing, could spill over into our relationship with God. In that context, it is not a good thing, for He is not "the Big Guy in the sky." He is God, Almighty.  

Conversational prayer is now the norm for most of the Christians I know. Just a generation ago, it was almost unheard of to talk to God in everyday language! Is God impressed by Shakespearean English or by prayers that are filled with Biblical quotes? Of course not! But, flippant prayers that are the equivalent of a text message, can never replace thoughtful, reverent engagement with the Lord of All. We need to ponder His majesty deeply and learn to offer adoration, confession, and petitions that something more than greeting card sentiments.  

It is theologically correct that we realize that God does not live in cathedrals or roadside chapels! We, the people of the Spirit, are His temples. The buildings are just a gathering place for the people of God. Yet, holy places that call us from the commerce of everyday life to think higher thoughts are very important.      

Yet, there is a place for holy reverence!

The book of 1 Samuel tells the story of the sons of Eli who had grown up around holy things, and who were, as a result, too familiar with the sacred. When they entered the holy ministry, they took the best of the people's sacrifices for themselves. They abused those who hungered for God's comfort. They even used the sacred trust of their office to enrich themselves at God's expense! "This sin of the young men was very great in the Lord's sight, for they were treating the Lord's offering with contempt." (1 Samuel 2:17, NIV)   

  

With familiarity comes the risk of forgetting the high calling of serving the Living God. There is not much awe in our worship of the Living Lord. Are we too often guilty of rushing into His presence, whether privately or in our church gatherings, to sing songs with half a heart, to hear sermons with half a mind, to pray only sleepy prayers as we drift off to sleep? To attend to worship of the Creator of the Universe while thinking about the lesser things of our lives certainly must offend Him.

We must not let our informal approach to life in 21^st century American cause us to make the "Great I AM" into the Divine Buddy, the Dispenser of the Doodads we love so much!

• When was the last time you sat in the Presence of the Lord with a crushing sense of His awesomeness?
• When was the last time that instead of turning up the volume of the music, you felt only like contemplating His Person in silence? 

This is no argument for turning God into a remote, unapproachable Person. Jesus Christ loves us. He walks with us. The Holy Spirit comforts us. Yet, we need a real awe which Proverbs reminds us is the fountainhead of wisdom! (1.7) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge," the Bible says.

The same Jesus who held children in his arms, who extended forgiveness to an adulterous woman, and who fed hungry crowds, is also revealed as being "in a robe and gold breastplate, hair a blizzard of white, Eyes pouring fire-blaze, both feet furnace-fired bronze, His voice a cataract, right hand holding the Seven Stars, His mouth a sharp-biting sword, his face a perigee sun." (Revelation 1:13-16, The Message) When John saw this vision of Him, he reports "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead." (Revelation 1:17, NLT) Jesus touched John and told him not to be overcome with terror! But there was real awe!

Ponder these words -
"Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
He is to be revered above all the gods.
The gods of other nations are merely idols,
but the Lord made the heavens!
Honor and majesty surround him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. ...
Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.
Let all the earth tremble before him." (Psalm 96:4-6, 9 NLT)

____________

You are beautiful beyond description,
Too marvelous for words,
Too wonderful for comprehension,
Like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom,
Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description,
Majesty enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand in awe of You.
I stand, I stand in awe of You.
Holy God, to whom all praise is due,
I stand in awe of You. 

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