Impeaching God

Yesterday, for the third time in history, an American president was impeached.  This blog is not a forum for political rhetoric or espousing partisan views.  I will not discuss the impeachment of President Trump, but the event did get me thinking about how Americans view God.

America elects its officials and has a process for removing them from office when the need arises.  I wholeheartedly support both of these ideas in regard to our earthly government.  I want a voice in who holds public office and I agree it is good to have a way to end their service if circumstances warrant.

As a Christian, I am also a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven (Philippians 3:20).  That kingdom does not have elected officials.  It has, as the name implies, a King.  God is that King.  He is not elected and does not campaign for our vote.  He is completely sovereign with all authority in Heaven and on earth.

Too many American Christians cannot seem to grasp this concept.  They are used to politicians pandering to their whims while seeking their vote.  They act as if God needs their consent to rule.

The Bible clearly declares who and what God is.  It unambiguously states the laws He has decreed for those in His kingdom.  The Bible makes known what God expects from His people and what rights and responsibilities He has given them.  None of this is open to debate.

Yet so often, I have heard self-proclaimed Christians balking at how the Bible describes God or the standards He sets forth.  “My God is not like that” or “My God is a God of love and would never condemn a person for _____.”  This always begs the question then, “Who, or what is their God?  If it is not the God described so accurately in the Bible, then who or what are they committing their life to?

In a sense, way too many American Christians reserve the “right to impeach” God if He does not live up to the standards erected arbitrarily by their own sensibilities or the current inclination of society.  If the God of the Bible will not bend to their views, then they will replace him with a god that meets their desires.

Human leaders can be taken out of power by various means.  The King of the universe cannot.  People can choose to come to Him on His terms or they can choose to live in disobedience.  Choosing a god that meets one’s approval may allow a person to gratify themselves temporarily, but in the end that god will fail to provide the eternal peace and security humans were created to crave and need.

I will be the first to admit that I do not have a handle on God.  I do not have Him figured out because He is far beyond me and my capability to comprehend.  However, God has graciously revealed Himself in His Word (the Bible) and gives us the Holy Spirit who enlightens our minds and illuminates the scriptures so that we can have some understanding of God.

What I am committed to doing is accepting God at His word.  I may not be able to fully comprehend Him but if He tells me something I will accept it as is.  Some things about God I wish were different.  If I were to create a god I would change some things.  Of course, I cannot create the true living God.  He created me.  Therefore, to the best of my ability, I read God’s Word and believe it is a true representation of who He is.  If something goes against what the Bible says about God, no matter how much I would prefer it to be true, I know it is false.

I am convinced there is one true God and He is exactly as He is described in the Bible.  To know Him better and to understand what He expects of me I will study His Word and take it at face value.  Anything else is folly.

Almighty and heavenly Father, You are who You are.  Grant me as much understanding as I need to be the man You have called me to be and live the life You have called me to live.  Guard my heart and my mind so that I will never create a false image of You in my imagination and be deluded into thinking that parody is real.