Dear Children of God,
Words matter! How many times a day do you hear the word “God” thrown around? Whether it’s those around us or even ourselves, this word gets used a lot. For most it’s lost its meaning. And that’s unfortunate. Because “God” should never be tossed around lightly. After all, how would you like it if your name were used as a routine exclamation … “Oh my Jim, that cake was amazing!”
For many this word also symbolizes the divine person they believe in. But even in that context, the name “God” gets used lightly. We swear to “God,” pray to “God,” and believe in “God.” And that all sounds good, but, what do we really mean when we use the word “God?” This isn’t a trivial question, because the answer has eternal impacts.
Shortly after the infamous “9/11” attacks there was a series of articles on “God” intent on getting Christians, Jews, and Muslims, people who seemed to be in eternal conflict, to come together. The thesis seemed to be since you all have common set of scriptures (the Torah (Judaism), the Tawrat (Islam), and the Pentateuch (Christianity)) and also believe in God you’re not that far off – so get along. The problem – the paper didn’t understand the answer to “Who do you say God is?”
In Jesus’ day, one didn’t use the word “God” lightly. John Chapter 8 shows a discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees. He reminds them Abraham, the patriarch in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, would’ve been so excited to see Jesus, the fulfillment to God’s covenant promises to him! The Pharisees sarcastically wondered if Jesus knew this by talking to Abraham. Jesus doesn’t argue. He simply says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58) Then the Pharisees pick up stones to stone Jesus.
The crowd asks, “Who do you say God is?” Jesus answers, “I am.” The Pharisees remembered what God called Himself when Moses met Him in the burning bush. He called Himself “I am” (Exodus 3:13-15) – “Yahweh” in Hebrew. In this way, Jesus said, “I am God,” which to the ears of the Pharisees was blasphemy … a sin punishable by death. Jesus lets people know He is God, along with the Father, and the Holy Spirit.
So, when someone says, “I believe in God.” It’s good to ask, “What do you mean by God?” If they answer, “The Triune God … Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” they might understand who God really is. But, if they deny that Jesus … or the Holy Spirit … or the Father is God, they aren’t talking about the one true God found in Holy Scriptures. Or, if they deny the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate persons of God indicating instead God was first the Father, then appeared as the Son, and then returned as the Spirit … they aren’t talking about the one true God either.
The one true God is three persons and one God … the Holy Trinity … professed in the Creeds. It’s a mystery, but it’s true. All other God’s are simply idols, created by man due to a failure to ask the right question and/or understand the answer. Words matter!
In the Name of the Triune God,
Pastor Jim