A right view of God

It is so important to have a right view of God!  Why?  If we view God as an angry Father, that will be detrimental to our spiritual health - and our growth! We will cower before Him, rather than relating to Him as a loving Father. We'll see Him as someone hovering over us, ready to strike at any moment. This wrong view of God can be generated by having had a domineering or cruel human father. But we must avoid the mistake of 'projecting' onto God our view of what a father is based on our earthly experience.

On the other hand, if we view God as an eternally tolerant God who doesn't mind sin too much, that will also have a negative effect. It's to lose sight of His command to Christians to "Be holy" just as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). The mindset that "God doesn't mind too much if I sin. After all, we all make mistakes. It's okay!" is dangerous. It's to have a flippant view of sin, whereas the writer of Hebrews exhorts us to "pursue..holiness, without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). Holiness IS important to God, and He is not "okay" with our sins and bad habits. He calls us to a higher standard of life than unbelievers.

More examples could be given of erroneous views of God. It is so important that any wrong perceptions we have about God be put aside, and that we embrace Him as He really is - as portrayed in the Scriptures. As we feed on God's Word, and walk with Him daily, we truly get to know Him. And that's a delightful experience!

David Hunt