Developing an Accurate Concept of God

1. Life ReconstructionDeveloping an accurate concept of God . . . one thought at a time

2. Pick a God – Belief-O-Matic What is the number and nature of the deity (God, gods, higher power)? • Only one God—a spirit, supreme, personal God Almighty, the Creator. • Multiple personal gods (or goddesses) regarded as facets of one God, and/or as separate gods. • The supreme force is the impersonal Ultimate Reality (or life force, ultimate truth, cosmic order, absolute bliss, universal soul), which resides within and/or beyond all. • The supreme existence is both the eternal, impersonal, formless Ultimate Reality, and personal God (or gods). • No God or supreme force. • Not sure. Or not important. • None of the above.

3. Genesis 3:1-7 God is good and loves me. I’ll continue to trust Him. E Core beliefs and behavior God has our best interests at heart. He’s protecting us from something terrible. D conclusions He said we could eat of any of the fruit except this one. He said we’d die if we ate of this one. C thoughts A Fruit? B Sounds good and looks good stimulus C God said we can’t touch it. He’s mean and restrictive. Thoughts God must be holding out on me. Maybe he’s not really good and loving. D Conclusions I’ll eat this and get what God has been denying me. E Core beliefs and behavior

4. Omnipotent, omnipresent, Loving = Bible concepts – but hard to understand or to get an answer from. I don’t live with much conscious awareness of God. “My agenda is most important to me and I expect God to help.” Conscious Concept of God A ‘god’ who is nice, Will overlook or tolerate my misbehavior. ‘God’s’ job is to make my life smooth and happy, protect and rescue. Subconscious hopeful Concept of God Holy, wrathful ‘God’ who is watching my every move and will punish every sin. He’s a hard taskmaster I can never please. Subconscious dreaded Concept of God A ‘god’ who isn't very involved in the world, allows unfair pain/suffering, not very interested in me. Subconscious Concept of God Your Interpretation • Parents • Childhood church experiences • Friends, acquaintances • Life’s hardships and tragedies • Beliefs about God in our Culture, books, movies, world Source:

5. Omnipotent, omnipresent, Loving = Bible concepts – but hard to understand or to get an answer from. I don’t live with much conscious awareness of God. My agenda is most important to me and I expect God to help. By my faith in Jesus Christ, God is my Heavenly Father and I am filled with the Holy Spirit. It’s not all about me, my life is all about Him and His agenda. Conscious Concept of God A ‘god’ who is nice, Will overlook or tolerate my misbehavior. ‘God’s’ job is to make my life smooth and happy, protect and rescue. Jesus died on the cross so I can be forgiven and freed from the power and consequences of sin. I’ll build a life transforming relationship with Him. Subconscious hopeful Concept of God Subconscious realistic Concept of God God is awesome. I have awe, respect for Him and an appropriate fear. God is not to be trifled with. Subconscious dreaded Concept of God Subconscious realistic Concept of God Holy, wrathful ‘God’ who is watching my every move and will punish every sin. He’s a hard taskmaster I can never please. A ‘god’ who isn't very involved in the world, allows unfair pain/suffering, not very interested in me. God is the Almighty Creator of the Universe. Loving and Holy. The world is fallen into the domain of the Evil one, injustice happens, but someday God will restore His rule and justice will be done. Subconscious Concept of God My experiences interpreted through God's Word Your Interpretation • Parents • Childhood church experiences • Friends, acquaintances • Life’s hardships and tragedies • Beliefs about God in our Culture, books, movies, world Source:

6. God is good and loves me. I’ll trust and obey Him. E Core beliefs and behavior God is faithful even when things go wrong. He will never leave me or forsake me. D conclusions God didn’t promise a problem free life. I’ll be faithful to God, count it all joy and let this produce perseverance in me. C thoughts A problem B It hurts. God, I’ll trust You It hurts. Why me? stimulus I can’t believe in a God who would let bad things happen to good people (me). C Thoughts D I can’t depend on God to protect me. Conclusions God isn’t good and loving. I’ll take care of myself. Give Him lipservice. E Core beliefs and behavior

7. God is Holy and Loving. I’ll relate to Him as He really is. E Core beliefs I’ve gotta correct my misperceptions. God is actually Holy even if I don’t like it. D conclusions This is such a difference from what I want to believe about God. I’d better study the Bible and interact with God about this to adjust my concept about Him. C Something in The Bible about God I don’t like. thoughts A B Wow, I’ve got some work to do to adjust my core beliefs about God. I won’t read that part anymore. stimulus I choose to believe in a ‘God’ Who is all love, and will protect and rescue me. He won’t bother me about stuff I like to do that may be wrong. C Thoughts I don’t have to believe what the Bible says about God. I can make up the kind of ‘God’ I want. D Conclusions God’s job is to serve me by making my life easy and pleasant while I ignore Him most of the time. E Core beliefs and behavior

8. Life ReconstructionDeveloping an accurate concept of God . . . one thought at a time

9. My Conscious Concept of God My Subconscious hopeful Concept of God My Subconscious dreaded Concept of God My Subconscious Concept of God My Interpretations • Parents • Childhood church experiences • Friends, acquaintances • Life’s hardships and tragedies • Beliefs about God in our Culture, books, movies, world Source:

10. Romans 1:18-32 I don’t want to believe in, be accountable to or be grateful to a Creator God. God’s eternal power and divine nature are revealed in Creation. Now that I’ve rejected the concept that God is Allmighty Creator, I’m super smart. God is really a wooden bird. C A B stimulus perception D I’ll use other people for my sexual pleasure and to make me feel loved and significant. Thoughts and behavior I’ll misuse my body and the bodies of people of my own gender for my sexual pleasure and to make me feel loved and significant. E Thoughts and behavior F I’ll cheat, steal and kill to get what I want. Thoughts and behavior G God doesn’t exist or doesn’t matter. Core beliefs

11. A Biblical World View • that absolute moral truth exists; right and wrong • that the source of moral truth is the Bible; • that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches; • that eternal spiritual salvation cannot be earned; • that Jesus lived a sinless life on earth; • that every person has a responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others; • that Satan is a living force, not just a symbol of evil; • and that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe who still rules that creation today.

12. Romans 1:18-32 God is as described in the Bible. I will worship and serve Him. G Since God meets my basic needs, I am content and can enjoy the world’s legit pleasures without desperation. F E I can live free of immorality and its consequences. God so meets my basic needs I don’t have to use other people for sexual pleasure. D God is my Creator. He is great and awesome. I am grateful and accountable to Him. God’s eternal power and divine nature are revealed in Creation. C A B I’ll line up my concept of God with Who He revealed Himself to be. stimulus perception D I’ll use other people for my sexual pleasure. Thoughts and behavior I’ll misuse my body and the bodies of people of my own gender for my sexual pleasure. E Thoughts and behavior F I’ll cheat, steal and kill to get what I want. Thoughts and behavior G God doesn’t exist or doesn’t matter. Core beliefs

13. Barna: Americans’ belief about God • 4% believe everyone is God. (2005) • 71% believe that God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect creator that rules the world today. (2006) • 7% believe that God is the total realization of personal, human potential. (2006) • 2% believe that there are many gods, each with different power and authority. (2006) • 8% believe that God is a state of higher consciousness that a person may reach. (2006) • 4% believe that there is no such thing as God. (2006)