Thursday, January 29, 2009

The God of Maudlin Sentimentality?

"The God of the twentieth century is a helpless, effeminate being who commands the respect of no really thoughtful man. The God of the popular mind is the creation of a maudlin sentimentality. The God of many a present-day pulpit is an object of pity rather than of awe-inspiring reverence.

To say that God the Father has purposed the salvation of all mankind, that God the Son died with the express intention of saving the whole human race, and that God the Holy Spirit is now seeking to win the world to Christ; when, as a matter of common observation, it is apparent that the great majority of our fellow-men are dying in sin, and passing into a hopeless eternity: is to say that God the Father is disappointed, that God the Son is dissatisfied, and that God the Holy Spirit is defeated.

We have stated the issue baldly, but there is no escaping the conclusion. To argue that God is "trying His best" to save all mankind, but that the majority of men will not let Him save them, is to insist that the will of the Creator is impotent, and that the will of the creature is omnipotent."

AW Pink

Arthur Pink has described the god of much the Evangelical world I see around me. This is the god of "seeker sensitive" churches, the god of the Word of Faith foolishness darkening the air waves and the emerging god of much of the postmodern young people. The Bible declares an Almighty God. Sovereign in the world, sovereign in our daily lives and sovereign in Salvation.

1 comment:

Alan W. Richardson said...

Well said, Dave (and Pink.) This is the sentimental god of my youth. I had a conversation along these lines with a Christian a few weeks back. We were talking about Obama, and I said that, "We can pray that God saves Him." She answered, "God has done that." "What? You mean he's already saved?" She elaborated, "God's done His part, now it's up to Obama to believe. He's a smart guy, he's more likely to do that." I responded, "Jesus died for those whom the Father has chosen, whom the Father draws to Himself. I mentioned John 6:44, that "No man can come to Christ unless the Father draws him," and asked her what she thought that meant. We didn't get much further.

This helpless god - He's done all He can and now holds His breath as we make the eternal decision - is familiar to me. I worshipped such a weak god for many years, as I reigned omnipotently in my own universe.