I can’t say I’m a perfect father by any stretch of the imagination. But, I can definitely say that being a father has given me a whole new perspective on the heart of God.
I used to have the perspective that God WAS very loving....but that he was also very demanding and that He would not hesitate to strike if He felt that you were operating below His standard. It’s a pretty harsh view of God and definitely one that doesn’t include a lot of “mercy”. But it was consistent with the attitudes and fears about God that I picked up from many of the Christians I was around.
In other words, some things aren’t ‘taught’; they’re ‘caught’.
Then I became a father.
We had our youngest son just a little under two years ago. Even though I’d gone through it before nine years earlier, I was still in awe of how unprepared I was for the emotions. I remember how amazing it was to hold Easton in my arms.
In fact, if you could watch the video of his first few minutes of life, I could barely do anything but laugh. Absolutely giddy with delight that my son was finally here and I was holding him. It’s funny to go back and watch now. The laughter just kept bubbling out of me!
I’ve learned more about love in the delivery room than I ever have in church, Bible college or my own study time.
And, time hasn’t done much to dilute the feeling, either. I still sneak into the boys’ rooms at night and watch them sleep. Tuck them in when they don’t know it. In Easton’s room, I’ll stand over his crib and watch him sleep. If his covers are kicked off, I’ll pull them up. If the room is too cold, I’ll turn off his ceiling fan. I’ll rub his hair. And every night since he’s been here I always whisper “Good night buddy, I love you” even though he doesn’t hear it and wouldn’t know what it meant if he could.
Every once in a while, I’ll hear a story about some father killing his child. It’s one of the few things that can get such an immediate emotional reaction out of me. It’s literally out of my comprehension how a man could do that. I can’t fathom any father rejecting his own child.
In fact, if you’re a parent, you’re probably nodding along with me. But, I’ll ask: could you destroy your own child? Could you turn your back on your own child and refuse to ever see them again?
Of course, if you could, then it’s probably not disturbing to think that God could do the same to His creation. If that’s a little offensive, it’s worth asking yourself seriously what that means about God.
See, I believe that no matter how much I love my sons....no matter how my heart fills with joy to see them living, breathing, laughing, talking, playing and growing.....no matter how my love is unrelated to their behavior.....
....I believe God’s love for us makes me look like a wimp. I’m a lousy, lousy parent compared to God.
I didn’t really agree with much of Jerry Falwell’s theology but someone once asked him what he’d do if his son were gay. He said, “I’d tell him homosexuality is wrong. But nothing would make me reject my children. I would tell him that I loved him and he could go on back to his bedroom. You live here. You’re my son. What I have is yours.” (paraphrased)
I feel the same way. And I think God is even more gracious than me or Jerry Falwell. I believe He loves us more perfectly than I love mine. I know how much I love my children, so I’m absolutely staggered by how much God loves us.
So, being a parent has completely changed my perspective of how God deals with His creation. And it’s caused me to reject some of the long-held beliefs about how He supposedly deals with His creation.
I’m convinced that God has no higher commitment than His love for us. The Bible doesn’t say that God can be loving...or that He wants to be loving if you’ll let Him....or that He’s often loving...or that He’s usually loving....
This is the side and dimension of you that I wish everyone could clearly see and know.
One of the greatest failures of the church in past days was to portray God to the people as being the “giant cop in the sky” - watching every move - ready to write a traffic ticket for us the moment we make a mistake.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. I believe God’s feelings and actions toward us are very well described in the terms you used to describe your own feelings for your children.
Ps 103:13 “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.”
The original word for “pitieth” is translated as:
“to love, love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection, have compassion.”
Isa 62:5 “....... and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.”
How sad that we have done such a poor job in representing to the world how much God really loves us.
Wonderful story. The only thing missing is the MOST IMPORTANT.
It’s called the Cross!
Chuck,
I’m sitting here at my desk totally confused by your comment. I have no idea what it means.
Tony said the following - about God’s love:
“See, I believe that no matter how much I love my sons....no matter how my heart fills with joy to see them living, breathing, laughing, talking, playing and growing.....no matter how my love is unrelated to their behavior.....
....I believe God’s love for us makes me look like a wimp. I’m a lousy, lousy parent compared to God.”
“I believe He loves us more perfectly than I love mine. I know how much I love my children, so I’m absolutely staggered by how much God loves us.”
“I’m convinced that God has no higher commitment than His love for us. The Bible doesn’t say that God can be loving...or that He wants to be loving if you’ll let Him....or that He’s often loving...or that He’s usually loving....
...it says that God IS love.”
That’s what Tony says about his love for his children and God’s love for us.
Here’s what Jesus says:
John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
And - Jesus is talking about THE CROSS.
We’re treading dangerous ground here. The Pharisees were known for poking holes in the statements of Jesus and others - picking them apart without regard for intent or truth.
Your statement makes absolutely no sense and, as one of the two SGN Pastors of this website, I will be in constant prayer that God deals with the hearts of all who seek to ridicule or tear down those that are seeking to give honor and glory to God, as Tony has done.
We need to be very careful. Jesus once even told an astonished Peter that he knew not what spirit he was of. Let’s be careful that we know what spirit we are of - and let’s be sure it is the spirit of God - not the spirit of the Pharisee.
Again, thank you Tony for honoring God and offering words of praise to Him.
Your statement makes absolutely no sense and, as one of the two SGN Pastors of this website, I will be in constant prayer that God deals with the hearts of all who seek to ridicule or tear down those that are seeking to give honor and glory to God, as Tony has done.
We need to be very careful. Jesus once even told an astonished Peter that he knew not what spirit he was of. Let’s be careful that we know what spirit we are of - and let’s be sure it is the spirit of God - not the spirit of the Pharisee.
Whoa! Cliff, where do you see anything attempting to tear down Tony’s post:
God’sMusic said:
“Wonderful story. The only thing missing is the MOST IMPORTANT.
It’s called the Cross!”
Your statement makes absolutely no sense and, as one of the two SGN Pastors of this website, I will be in constant prayer that God deals with the hearts of all who seek to ridicule or tear down those that are seeking to give honor and glory to God, as Tony has done.
We need to be very careful. Jesus once even told an astonished Peter that he knew not what spirit he was of. Let’s be careful that we know what spirit we are of - and let’s be sure it is the spirit of God - not the spirit of the Pharisee.
Whoa! Cliff, where do you see anything attempting to tear down Tony’s post:
God’sMusic said:
“Wonderful story. The only thing missing is the MOST IMPORTANT.
It’s called the Cross!”
Absolutely NOTHING wrong there.
No harm intended.
But to say that something is MISSING from Tony’s story and to say that the thing missing was the CROSS is a disparaging comment to one who has tried to make a post for the purpose of exalting God, while admitting to his (and our) own limitations.
If I preached a sermon to the congregation I once pastored about how how my incredible love for my family pales in comparison to God’s love for us - and a church MEMBER came to me and commented that something was missing from my sermon - the most important thing (that I evidently left out) and that it was the cross - I would be deeply offended.
What possible motive can there be for making such a statement other than to disparage the original comment?
I am personally offended when anyone sincerely tries to voice their praise and appreciation for God and they are criticized for it.
And, I want to feel free to express my displeasure as freely as someone has in posting their comment about what was missing (wrong) about Tony’s post.
I just hate seeing a very positive post abouit God’s goodness being followed directly by a negative comment.
But to say that something is MISSING from Tony’s story and to say that the thing missing was the CROSS is a disparaging comment to one who has tried to make a post for the purpose of exalting God, while admitting to his (and our) own limitations.
Obviously, this is your opinion as I didn’t see it that way.
If I preached a sermon to the congregation I once pastored about how how my incredible love for my family pales in comparison to God’s love for us - and a church MEMBER came to me and commented that something was missing from my sermon - the most important thing (that I evidently left out) and that it was the cross - I would be deeply offended.
But, this wasn’t a sermon, and GM responded first of all by stating, “Wonderful story.” He then went on to say that it would have been better if what he felt was missing, the Cross, had been added.
What possible motive can there be for making such a statement other than to disparage the original comment?
I don’t see any motive, but maybe you could have simply asked him what he meant.
I am personally offended when anyone sincerely tries to voice their praise and appreciation for God and they are criticized for it.
Didn’t you just recently agree with Tony that being offended is a choice. Did you perhaps choose to be offended just now?
And, I want to feel free to express my displeasure as freely as someone has in posting their comment about what was missing (wrong) about Tony’s post.
Since your post was not edited, censored or deleted in any form, I would say that you were quite free to express your displeasure, just as I am as free to express my opinion as to your comments.
I think that it should be noted that everyone did not see GM’s comments as disparaging.
I think that it should be noted that everyone did not see GM’s comments as disparaging.
I did.
I don’t think it behooves the conversation to make this a vote. I could easily say that Cliff’s remarks were disparaging and I have no doubt that there would be those that agreed with me.
What would be nice, would be to see a Religious discussion that did not resort to these types of comments. That would be a novel discussion.
I think that I am not alone when I include myself in the number of those who have mistakenly projected the personality of thier own earthly father onto our Heavenly Father. I am in, what I guess will be a life long process of discovering what God is really like, who He really is as my father.
I know the bible tells us who He is, but to really know him, is to let the Holy Spirit teach us little by little, day by day.
The more I learn of Him, the more I realise that none of us or our earthly fathers could ever compare to Him as a father.
Wonderful story. The only thing missing is the MOST IMPORTANT.
It’s called the Cross!
Chuck,
I’m sitting here at my desk totally confused by your comment. I have no idea what it means.
Tony said the following - about God’s love:
“See, I believe that no matter how much I love my sons....no matter how my heart fills with joy to see them living, breathing, laughing, talking, playing and growing.....no matter how my love is unrelated to their behavior.....
....I believe God’s love for us makes me look like a wimp. I’m a lousy, lousy parent compared to God.”
“I believe He loves us more perfectly than I love mine. I know how much I love my children, so I’m absolutely staggered by how much God loves us.”
“I’m convinced that God has no higher commitment than His love for us. The Bible doesn’t say that God can be loving...or that He wants to be loving if you’ll let Him....or that He’s often loving...or that He’s usually loving....
...it says that God IS love.”
That’s what Tony says about his love for his children and God’s love for us.
Here’s what Jesus says:
John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
And - Jesus is talking about THE CROSS.
We’re treading dangerous ground here. The Pharisees were known for poking holes in the statements of Jesus and others - picking them apart without regard for intent or truth.
Your statement makes absolutely no sense and, as one of the two SGN Pastors of this website, I will be in constant prayer that God deals with the hearts of all who seek to ridicule or tear down those that are seeking to give honor and glory to God, as Tony has done.
We need to be very careful. Jesus once even told an astonished Peter that he knew not what spirit he was of. Let’s be careful that we know what spirit we are of - and let’s be sure it is the spirit of God - not the spirit of the Pharisee.
Again, thank you Tony for honoring God and offering words of praise to Him.
Cliff, I’m not following you on this one. I totally see where God’s Music is coming from. Tony has a wonderful story to tell, and it’s a story that every man in here who is a father has lived himself. I know I have.
Tony’s question was “How Do You See God?”. I see God much clearer as a father, but I also see the worth of the cross much clearer as a father. The cross is such an integral part of God’s love to us that if it is omitted, you miss half of the story. God’s Music wasn’t poking holes in any statements, he was making an observation. Tony thought that it would have been understood that he was including the cross, but it wasn’t. You are right, we do need to be careful about what spirit we are a part of. God’s Music certainly was in the right spirit. I didn’t see a Pharisee around for miles.
So, thanks Tony for sharing a wonderful story, and thanks Chuck for sharing your thoughts on the subject.
Tony, good post! Although I am not a father yet, hearing testimonies like this brings joy in my heart and it also gives me hope. It’s very impossible to always comprehend GOD’S love for us. It kinda reminds me of the parable of the wayward son. No matter how bad we are GOD’S arms are still open for us. HE is always around for us. Even when we think we do not deserve it. I have never seen GOD physically (I know we all have this image in our heads, though) but I cannot help but think that HE smiles when we worship HIM, no matter what form . Blessing to all!
