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Written by Peter Youngren on April 2, 2012Tweet
This article was published in the St.Catharines Standard.
While pondering the question in the headline, a story from a few years ago came to mind. The Niagara Freethinkers Association had invited me to debate Dan Barker from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, on the topic, “Is there a God?” During the question and answer segment a woman, rather upset, turned to me, “Why do you keep saying that God will send me to hell?” I reminded the lady that in our three-hour debate, I had not made a single reference to hell. I assured her that such matters belonged to God alone. She responded, “I’ve lived in this region for most of my life, and the born-again Christians I meet tell me that I am going to hell, and I assumed that’s what you were thinking”.
Has someone ever told you, “God told me to tell you”, or “I am speaking for God”? I googled the phrase, “God told me” and the top options were “to kill”, “to skin you alive”, “to marry you”, “to invade Iraq”, to run for president” and “to retire”.
Why do some people have a seeming need to preface statements with “God told me”? I suggest the root may be a deeply held insecurity compensated by implying a direct connection to God. Sometimes ‘God told me’ is a euphemism for ‘I want to’, or ‘I want you to’.
What about when Christian ministers make statements on behalf of God?
Former U.S. presidential candidate and television preacher Pat Robertson is known for making claims that natural disasters are warnings from God. Last month he suggested that if only more people had been praying God would have stopped the killer-tornadoes from sweeping across the Midwest. This is more guilt on Christians who already feel guilty for not praying enough. Coupled with Robertson’s earlier assertions that 9/11 and hurricane Katrina could be blamed on the godlessness in America, the message seems clear; Robertson believes that he is speaking for God.
Hopefully many Christians do not agree with Robertson’s assertions, but the sad effect is that the public at large may assume that evangelical Christians are drawn to the idea of a severe vengeance-orientated God. A couple of years ago Robertson stated that the Haiti earthquake was connected to the people of Haiti making a pact with the devil. Undoubtedly there are fringe groups that think they have a pact with the devil, but if you believe in the message of Easter, you have discovered that life and goodness has triumphed over death and evil. Jesus saw to it that the devil has no power to make a pact for any nation.
Prominent Calvinist theologian John Piper ‘spoke for God”, when he weighed in on last month’s tornadoes. He wrote, “Why would God reach down His hand and drag His fierce fingers across rural America, killing at least 38 people with 90 tornadoes in 12 states?”
He continued, “If God has a quarrel with America, wouldn’t Washington, DC or Las Vegas or Minneapolis or Hollywood be a more likely place to show His displeasure? If a tornado twists at 175 miles an hour… God gave the command.”
If God sent tornadoes, what about the account in the Bible when Jesus rebuked the storm. Did God send that one too? If so, Jesus overruled His Father. Surely, God is not schizophrenic, full of love one day and sending tornadoes the next.
Does God have “fierce fingers”? Does God “command” tornadoes to kill people? Does God think that Hollywood and Las Vegas are more ‘sinful’ than the ‘Bible-belt’? John Piper thinks so. I disagree. So who speaks for God? Pat Robertson? The pope? John Piper? You? Me?
The answer is none of the above. Jesus disqualified all of us when He said that no one could show us who God is except Jesus himself [John 1:18]. Whenever his disciples or onlookers invited Jesus to kill, destroy or judge people because of some sin, he refused, saying that he had not come to condemn people.
Jesus’ claim that he speaks for God is extra-ordinary. Did he suffer from illusion of grandeur, or is he really who he says he is. The cross? The resurrection? What’s it all about? Easter is a good time to check out Jesus for your self and when you do you may hear a word from God to you.
Jonathan
~ Sydney, Australia
excellent clear writing as always Ps Peter.
good on you
Barbara
~ Brampton, Ontario, Canada
I fully agree with your wise commentary on, this annoying habit of some, who assume that they ‘speak for God.’ The crazy things such people say, give God a bad reputation in people’s minds and thinking, and lead people ‘away’ from, not ‘towards’ believing in and trusting God. These impulsive ‘God told me’, ‘God blamers’, are nothing buta bunch of miserable, negative, frustrated, unhappy misguided believers, who ‘don’t know the Word!’ They think they are ‘speaking’ for God, when what they ‘really’ doing , is ‘speaking about themselves,’ as to how spiritual they think they are, and want to be seen and heard, as so spiritually ‘knowledgable’ and so ‘spiritual!’ I believe Pat Robertson and John Piper, are confused about the true nature of God! And they are also ‘confused’ about the real meaning of God’s Word. They go to the Word and try to ‘make it say’ and ‘make it mean’, what ‘they’ want it to. Did God ever teach any of us to do such an arrogant, ignorant presumptuous thing? Any believer who thinks that He ‘did’, would have a hard time finding anywhere in the Bible God teaches such an ignorant arrogant approach to the Word of God! Because such nonsensical ‘religious rubbish’ is simply not in there. Proverbs says : “as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” and, “Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts.” it also says, “The fool uttereth everything that is in his mouth, but the wise man keepeth it in.” Christians who blame God for tragedies have not spent enough time ‘renewing their minds.” If they had been doing this, as regards Romans 12:1-2, and other verses…. they would not be thinking like ‘clueless unbelievers’ , blaming God for things they can’t understand ! These are false teachers, guilt mongers and merchants of fear. Don’t listen to them. Listen to the tender voice of the one who loves you, GOD, the most wonderful person in the entire universe. And everybody says AMEN!
Jimmy
~ Singapore
I have come to see that spirituality is subjective, simple, childlike and free from dogma and discrimination. People’s idea of God is a mirror projection of themselves - the idea of a vengeful god is a mirror projection of the ego, whereas the idea of an all-loving God is a mirror projection of our highest self.
To me, Easter is about discovering that all humanity is the offspring (or sons and daughters) of God. We are the Christ manifested in manifold aspects of His grace and glory. It reminds me of Paul’s words in Acts 17 - “for In Him we live and move and have our beings, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘for we are also His offspring’.”
Paul
~ Homa-Bay, Kenya, Africa
Hebrews 1;1-2, God ,who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets ,
Has in these last days spoken to us by His son, whom He has appointed heir of all things , through whom also He made the worlds.
Always this prophets claim to have heard from God but that is not true , why does this god of theirs always scare people with danger to worship him, but Has said in His word that His Goodness leads to repentance and also He has reconcile the world back to himself not counting their sins.
why was not Cain murdered by our God. Jesus didn’t come to condemn but to save John 3:17.
God speaks through His Son Not prophets.
Hagere
~ Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Dear Mr. Youngren,
Most people whom I have come in contact within the last 3 years (former Christians/people who are part of the emergent church
movement) are simply fed up with Jesus propaganda. I don’t think Jesus wanted to be put on a pedestal so he can be idolized. I don’t think
that was his intention of coming to earth.
In my experience, religion in general (especially the Abrahamic religions) encourages self-loathing, and some even use Bible passages to back it up. Hence, due to religious self-loathing deeply ingrained in so many religious folks psyche, they can’t help but project their self-hatred onto others via their god. Their god is basically used to justify hatred.
I personally think the real hell we should be rescuing people from is lack of clean drinking water, starvation, homelessness, disease, etc while holding a more balanced approach to the idea of Jesus. Maybe the real problem is the oppression of the establishment, including religious oppression and hateful prejudice against certain races or against a particular gender. And at this point, I’m not worried about people going to “hell” if they didn’t believe in Jesus – rather, I’m worried about people unnecessarily dying from starvation/disease, etc (most of them at a ridiculously young age).
Peace!
Trainee evangelist - Andrew
~ Chester, England, United Kingdom
Is it possible to join you peter on any missions, with the goal of reaching 6 million people God has laid on my heart globally?
Philip
~ Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
God so Love the world . God is Love Amen.
Sofia
~ Tokyo, Japan
I often believe that I have been such a ditonpaipsment. But, know that when God sees me he sees Jesus. But, here is what I often think about. If God sees Jesus who died for all of our sins, what does Jesus see when he looks down on earth. I try so very hard to be a good person and when I try really hard, I fail. But, when I run to Jesus to say I am sorry, he holds out his arms takes me into a tight hug and tells me it is okay. Go try again but, let me help you. Each day is better than the day before.
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Comments:
Rosalind
~ Saint Michael, Barbados
I really believes that there are a lot of false prophets out there, but in the same way God speaks to me, he can speak through me. What is your purpose on earth as a Minister of God? A servant of God? This topic needs some research.