Domesticating God

Listening to NPR today on the way in to work, I heard someone say "Liberal Christianity is trying to domesticate God." And of course, I immediately wondered what it would be like if God were on a sitcom...

Domesticating God - Episode 1
Opening credit music-Interior living room-Front door opens
G - Hi, honey! I'm home! (insert studio applause)

H.S. - You created everything, you're always home! (canned laughter) Where have you been, you're late again.

G- Still trying to figure out how one minute Pluto is a planet, and the next it's not! Humans, can't live with them, can't flood them out. (canned laughter)

H.S - Do you know what your son has done now?

G - Oh, he does something, and now he's MY son? What happened?

H.S. - He ONLY upset his cousin. Little Johnny was trying to practice baptism, and Jesus kept running across the pool! (canned laughter)

G - (big buildup) Je-SUUUSSS!!!

J - Yeah, dad?

G - Up to your room, now! No supper! (beat) What are we having tonight, any way?

H.S. - Loaves and fishes.

G - Again? It's like that stuff just multiplies! (canned laughter)

J- I don't care about supper. I'll just turn my pet rock into bread! (slams door)

G - Je-SUUUSSS!
End Credit Music

Trying to give God human faults is nothing new. The Greeks took their stories to such lengths, that it was more like Days of our Lives, if one of the Brady's could throw a lightning bolt. Now, it is very true that when Jesus came to earth He was fully human, but unlike Days, he didn't give in to those human temptations, He, like His Father above, was Holy.

I've spoken  much recently about God's love, but this is not a love that comes from weakness. It is available because of the Strength of God's Holiness. He loves, not because of anything we can do, but because of His grace. His Holiness can not abide sin, and the only thing that can erase that sin is His own pure, Holy being. Sinfulness cannot cleanse sinfulness. Only something completely Holy can do that.

That's the power behind John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only, begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." In His Holiness, he became Man, that Man might dwell with Him in His Holiness.

"Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord, God Almighty.
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see.
Only thou art Holy. There is none beside thee.
Perfect in power, in love and purity."

Amen.