Set Up To Succeed

I am recently a fan of Victoria Stilwell's "It's Me Or The Dog," on the Animal Planet channel. I have really enjoyed watching her train both dogs and owners in each episode. She solves all kinds of behavior problems while instructing viewers about the nature of various breeds and the proper way to train your pet. Victoria doesn't believe in using punishment to train animals and primarily uses food treats to reward positive behaviors. In a recent episode I heard her say that when training your dog, you don't allow it to fail. You set it up to succeed.

A sudden realization zapped through me - that's exactly what God has done with mankind. He has set us up to succeed and not to fail! God Himself never fails. Since He has determined, from the "beginning" to redeem all of mankind, He will succeed. We cannot fail! How cool is that! How awesome is God!

God is Fundamentally Love

I just finished listening to a live interview with Paul Young, author of The Shack. He is always a blessing to listen to as he answers questions about the book and about his understanding of God. While he insists that he is not a Universalist, his theology is certainly universalistic. He actually steps outside of the labels and focuses his understanding on who God is, and His essential nature. Just recently I had a "discussion" with someone via Facebook and found myself saying somewhat of the same thing. At some point, we have to stop debating scripture and go beyond to discover the true nature of God. I believe that our questions can be summed up and answered far more easily once we embrace that journey. Paul's statement was, "God is fundamentally and essentially love, and everything He does is motivated by love." I am beginning to grasp that truth more fully. As I have wrestled with others over scriptures regarding Universalism, I have struggled to paint a whole picture with incomplete and imperfect thoughts. When I focus on who God is, the picture comes into focus too. So, with Paul, I say that God is fundamentally love and everything He does is motivated by love.

The Master Lifeguard

Today I was helping a friend with our weekly Bible study by typing up and emailing the scripture and synopsis for each day's lesson to her. On day three, the study began with the scripture in Romans 5: 6-11 "When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgment. For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God - all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends with God." NLT

I've loved this scripture for a long time because it always points to God's amazing love for us all and confirms that He is the Savior of us all. As I was typing it out today, I had a sudden insight. I don't know how God speaks to you, but oftentimes for me, it comes as a sudden revelation, like a bolt of lightening; a sudden knowing, in an instant.

I saw a lifeguard on a beach. There were people on the beach doing beach-type activities, while the lifeguard was scanning the water looking for someone in trouble. All of a sudden, someone starting flailing about, calling out for help. Like a shot the lifeguard jumped from his stand and flew to the water, jumping in head first and swimming like crazy to save the drowning person. It struck me that the lifeguard never for an instant gave a thought to the worthiness of the person drowning. Eg: Is this person a thief? Does this person lie or cheat? Are they an adulterer? Have they killed or harmed someone? Is it their own fault that they are drowning? None of that went through the lifeguard's mind - just that someone needed to be saved. The saving did not depend upon the worthiness of the one being saved, but upon the worthiness and character of the one doing the saving! I knew instantly that God was showing me, yet again, a picture of His amazing love and character. He saves us because of who He is, not because of who we are. Our salvation is more than secure because it's based upon His character and worthiness! Hallelujah! What a great God we have!!

Who Is God?

The last couple of days I've been interchanging on Facebook with someone regarding Christian Universalism. The other person is a confirmed Fundamentalist. I am a Universalist. Naively, I thought that presenting some scripture and asking a few questions would cause my friend to "see the light." As our dialog has unfolded, I have begun to understand in a new way that the differences between our theology are far more complex than whether or not there is a hell to which God will send most of humanity.

The bottom line in the discussion is, Who is God? A further question is, what is the Bible, and what does it really say? The answers to these questions frame our God-view and our world-view.

If we see God as the Father of mankind who loves and corrects and provides for his children, Universalism makes perfect sense. If we see God predominantly as the Judge and Punisher of mankind, hell makes sense.

The Bible is a complex collection of writings from many authors over possibly thousands (?) of years. Understood in context, these writings provide a picture of how others interacted with God over time. Without really knowing what the Bible says and how it evolved over time, we can get lost in literalism and come up with some wacky ideas. It is important to search out truth, no matter where it takes us. God is faithful, He will direct and instruct us as we follow Him. We need to take the Bible seriously and ask serious questions. I have to admit, sometimes it is scary and unsettling to ask difficult questions. I've been shaken a number of times as my settled notions have been unsettled. We also have to be careful not to worship the Bible. Some do, even to the point of imprisoning God within its pages. I've even come to understand that scripture is found in many places. God has not stopped speaking.

When I discovered this wonderful God of Grace and Love, I found the true God. His heart is always reconciliation. He will not rest until all of His children are safely home. Who is God to you?