Friday, 08 August 2008
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Inventing Jesus
I've found myself somewhere between apathy and depression lately, but I just can't seem to go to Jesus about it. I began to wonder yesterday why exactly people are drawn to Jesus...and then why they're also driven away. So I did go to God, via my journal, and at one point, I came to this:"I suddenly see you're more like me than I realized. I always complain to you that men only see in me what they'd like me to be. They have an image, an ideal, a fantasy...but that's never actually me. When men realize I'm not what they envisioned, or that I won't do or be what they want, they're off to find it in someone else."
This phenomena has played out with almost every relationship I've been in. I liken myself to the Ugly Duckling because kids always called me ugly growing up, and occasionally, so did adults. I'm sure it had a lot to do with my giant purple lens-frames and the neon-colored dental bands on my braces. When I turned fifteen, however, and lost the braces and aquired contacts, guys began hitting on me constantly. I was thrilled; having perceived myself as being ugly and having grown used to being brushed aside, I suddenly was not only noticed, but desired.
Some men see a beautiful woman and begin formulating assumptions about what sort of person she might be. From there, most of those men begin fantasizing. What happens is that they've made the flesh-and-blood woman into their desire before they've even spoken to her. When they do, they realize she has a brain, ambitions, failings...and as most of those don't match up with their fantasy, they lose interest. When I wrote in my journal last night, I realized I might be doing the same thing to Jesus that men do to me.
It's so easy to read the Bible and talk to him when things are going horrible, or after he brings me a new car or a perfect job...but it isn't so easy to do so during the in-between. Makes me see that I might be doing to God what men often do to me.
I've known for a while that I need to desire a friendship with God, and nothing else right now. It's a friendship that will draw me to him during these peaceful yet boring lulls in my life, and hopefully will get me aquainted with who Jesus really is...not what he can do.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." Revelation 3:20, NLT
Do you ever feel like people only see in you what they would like to see? Do you ever do that with God?
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Comments (19)
"he brings me a new car or a perfect job"---Maybe stop looking at men and Jesus as a sugar daddy's and everything will go okay. IMO
Well said! So true. We all do to varyng degrees and at various times in our lives. Wonderful that you have discovered and come to terms with this reality. Keep up the faithful walk, the rewards will be more than worth it, as promised in His word.
I think I do that a lot. It is a scary thing to get so close to God, to become so vulnerable that He sees you for who you REALLY are. Here on earth, we can technically pretend to be whoever we want to be, but God will always see through the fronts, the attempts, the failures. And isn't it funny that God sees us for who we are, and also who we could be? He sees our potential. He sees us for the sinners we are, but He also sees us as creations of God, beautiful and whole.
A beautiful post!
I cannot explain how glad I am that someone has said this.
Everyone, please take a look at christian books on the shelves right now. They're all talking about all of the lovely things just would surely do for us.
Of course He loves us. Without a doubt. But it seems we're like a bunch of barking children, looking to get our boo-boos kissed, our heads patted and chocolate in our stomach. Everyone, for the most part, even the entire christian literature industry has hinged around this one thing, a selfish, parasitic relationship to God which is not interested in who He is but rather what He might do for us.
This has led many to be severely disappointed. Why? Because God isn't a science, He's not a program, he's not a system, He's a person. He has thoughts. He likes some things and dislikes others.
God does not present Himself as a fail-proof way to happiness. In fact, scripture states that some things which He does may not make us so happy at the moment. But He is who He is...and until we can learn to accept this fact, we never truly known Him, we've never truly experienced His grace.
I, for one, am tired of all of this hyped-up, "up-for-grabs" theology that is being sold to us on the bookshelves of christian bookstores and christian amazons.
I don't know how to say it other than the way you've already said it. People have an unhealthy obsession with their own idea of what God should be like. The shack up with this idea daily. If they do not learn the truth, they will be sorely let-down because they've built their hopes so high on something that isn't even real(not God, just their false presumption of how they they think He should be.)
Interesting. I agree. It's so easy to forget people if they aren't giving you what you want or making you excited. I was like that too growing up I had braces, not always the straightest hair and no fashion sense..then I made a total change junior and senior year of high school and then every guy came out of nowhere. I didn't even date the majority of them because I realized it was all superficial and that they wouldn't pay me any mind if it had been in the past...it's like you don't care about the inner me just what's on the outside attracts you so that means you are not worth my time...you have to think in terms of the future too..what happens when you are old and gray...these are the guys that will probably leave you for a younger woman...outward beauty fades and some people don't realize that. You have to find the guy that sees the inner beauty and is drawn and attracted to that more than anything.
Good analysis of how guys think. Sadly, that's sometimes how I think too, and I've been trying to stray away from such a thought process. Even better is your comparison of how we like to treat God. And it's always wise to trust that no matter what happens, even if the world shatters under you, God's plans ultimately work out for the better.
@SandraDeeDees@xanga - Amen.....
Try to think of a relatonship with Jesus in a similar way to when you met that special someone for the first time. You spent time with them (prayer). You learned about each other (Bible). You shared deeper things and trust developed (trust resulting in being used by Him). Suddenly you are hearing His voice, not yours (listening).
That's called walking in God's path for you, not your path for you...
nice post. It seems like almost a trivial thing though, in light of other... well. humph. It's hard to figure this out sometimes. Jesus? Where do we go from here?
I see so much of that in myself too. I almost always do that with God. And somewhat regretfully, that's not an issue with me from other people. I kinda feel ignored, I'm at the first stage of that still. Kinda.
My Post
@SandraDeeDees@xanga - Preach It Sista!
@SandraDeeDees@xanga - @Made2sing4Jesus@xanga - @Biblerapture@xanga - I've never seen God or men as "sugar daddies." I resent when people do look at our Lord as the "Fairy Godfather" or the "genie in the bottle," or as you so perfectly worded, "sugar daddy." Go read the comment Andy left (5th commenter); I agree with him, and I'm relieved that you guys seem to also.
The whole point of my post is that in the same way I'm wrongly perceived by my appearance, Jesus is likewise wrongly perceived in society. He does great things for us every day so it can be easy to buy into the prosperity teachings so prevalent. Unfortunately, when people begin to realize that his continued blessings and favor are somewhat contingent upon changes within ourselves (tithing, learning to walk in love, obeying his commands, etc.), they don't want anything more to do with it.
@andy - You said it fantastically. I'm sick of all the books that teach Christians about how to make the faith...and apparently our almighty, soveriegn God...work for them! John Bevere's book, The Fear of the Lord, did a ton to help me see that he's in charge, not me.
@Rchick2006@xanga - "I didn't even date the majority of them because I realized it was all superficial and that they wouldn't pay me any mind if it had been in the past..."
I wish I had realized that so quickly. Instead, I kept making these guys try to see me...which won't ever happen.
He brings me peace and comfort when I'm lost and down.
He will never give me what I want, but give what He planned.
I depend on him really, though I don't know what His plan is.
My husband has made the same observations people see what they want to see instead of accepting the person that they are which is not so perfect just like they themselves are. The reality is we human beings are not any thing like a fantasy and we all have sin in our lives we need to accept that we are all sinners and not perfect so how can we expect other's to be perfect? Have a great weekend.
I agree with the post, and the few comments I skimmed over. I would like to recommend a book to you. "Can You Hear Me?" by Brad Jersak. absolutely mind blowing...one sure way to improve ANY relationship is to take your communication up a notch or 2, and this book will help you with it...
Great post, Goldenrod! Lots of meaty thoughts in there.
Thank you. I really appreciated your post.
Thanks for sharing this. It's a wonderful post, Miss_Goldenrod, the revelation is beautiful. I remember Jesus said:
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.--Matthew 15:8, KJV