There’s a clever saying that says; ‘God made man in his image. Man then returned the favour’. What this means is that humans like to think God is just like ‘me’; i.e. He has similar morals and beliefs to me, will let into heaven the people I think should be there, and only requires of me exactly what I’m willing and able to give him.
Yet when God said ‘You shall have no other gods before me’ (Ex 20:2), he was referring to himself as he is, not how we would like him to be. Whenever we tell God what we think he should be like, rather than listen to what he tells us about himself, we’ve made God into our own image.
The problem with a ‘god in our own image’ is there is no room for a real relationship. A real relationship is one that allows the other person to challenge or push us on things. If God is simply there to be and do exactly what we tell him to be and do, then our relationship with him is a power relationship; similar to how an abusive spouse exerts control (power) over their victim. If we want a real relationship with a real God, we have to let him challenge our behaviour.
Furthermore, it is impossible to have fellowship with other believers if we worship a ‘god in our own image’. Our ‘god’ will always be different to everyone else’s. One cannot share the beauty and necessity of Christian fellowship if no one else actually recognises their god. So let us follow the one true God, and listen to what God has revealed of himself, such as Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Brendan McLaughlin
