I think one of the
biggest misconceptions for the atheist, agnostic, and believer alike is
the idea that God demands worship from all people regardless of
proclivity or passion. Somehow the wrong idea that we should serve and
be obedient to God out of pure obligation and fear has penetrated
Christian culture. But all this creates is joyless, miserable,
grumbling, fruitless, lawfully obligatory God slaves that would just as
soon repulse a potential believer rather than help draw them to the
immensely joyful salvation of Christ.
This idea of conjured affection is a bit skewed and misshapen, I think. For no one desires false expressions of love from a spouse that secretly, or openly for that matter, hates them. If the expression does not match the passion it is vain and of no value, if not utterly abhorrent. Real affection is derived from real intimacy birthed from genuine unconditional love.
So why do we suppose God wants us to DO things for Him, that if Hell were no longer part of the equation, we would just as soon drop our pursuit of holiness and let our faith fade and become a distant memory?
Let us consider the reality of the situation. Contrary to popular belief, Heaven does not belong to those who fear Hell, but instead to those who love God. No one goes to Outback Steakhouse because they fear hunger. They go to Outback because they love the food. Anyone who marries because they’re afraid of being alone is simply trading one suffering for another due to the fact that marriage doesn’t solve intimacy problems it intensifies them.
Likewise, a profession of faith, baptism, church attendance, tithing, and ministry (though all good things) are rendered nothing but garbage if not bathed in a love for God. Doing things simply out of contractual obligation for God with no love for Him is just plain offensive and hypocritical. By doing this you’ve bypassed the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. If we can’t get this one right we shall utterly fail the rest.
God doesn’t want worship, praise, or good works that do not naturally flow from the heart of a person that has beheld the magnificent glory of God and has tasted from the living fountain of life in Christ Jesus and seen that it is good. All else is cheap imitation that God could care less for. In fact He says...
Isaiah 29:13-15
Then the Lord said,
“Because this people draw near with their words
And honor Me with their lip service,
But they remove their hearts far from Me,
And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,
Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous;
And the wisdom of their wise men will perish,
And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.”
Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD,
And whose deeds are done in a dark place,
And they say, “Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?”
Amos 2:21-24
I hate, I despise your feasts,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
I will not look upon them.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
By this you can see that God desires the affectionate manifestations of good works, praise, and adoration from the overflow and abundance of the heart. The only other option is hypocrisy; people trying to adhere to a moral code of conduct without a reason, except for self-righteousness and personal gain.
I think the main point here is to just be real. If you don’t really love God, don’t pretend to. If you really want to love Him then really begin to seek Him for real this time. God’s love is real and He really wants you to get to know Him, and this is really good news.
This idea of conjured affection is a bit skewed and misshapen, I think. For no one desires false expressions of love from a spouse that secretly, or openly for that matter, hates them. If the expression does not match the passion it is vain and of no value, if not utterly abhorrent. Real affection is derived from real intimacy birthed from genuine unconditional love.
So why do we suppose God wants us to DO things for Him, that if Hell were no longer part of the equation, we would just as soon drop our pursuit of holiness and let our faith fade and become a distant memory?
Let us consider the reality of the situation. Contrary to popular belief, Heaven does not belong to those who fear Hell, but instead to those who love God. No one goes to Outback Steakhouse because they fear hunger. They go to Outback because they love the food. Anyone who marries because they’re afraid of being alone is simply trading one suffering for another due to the fact that marriage doesn’t solve intimacy problems it intensifies them.
Likewise, a profession of faith, baptism, church attendance, tithing, and ministry (though all good things) are rendered nothing but garbage if not bathed in a love for God. Doing things simply out of contractual obligation for God with no love for Him is just plain offensive and hypocritical. By doing this you’ve bypassed the greatest commandment to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. If we can’t get this one right we shall utterly fail the rest.
God doesn’t want worship, praise, or good works that do not naturally flow from the heart of a person that has beheld the magnificent glory of God and has tasted from the living fountain of life in Christ Jesus and seen that it is good. All else is cheap imitation that God could care less for. In fact He says...
Isaiah 29:13-15
Then the Lord said,
“Because this people draw near with their words
And honor Me with their lip service,
But they remove their hearts far from Me,
And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,
Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous;
And the wisdom of their wise men will perish,
And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.”
Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from the LORD,
And whose deeds are done in a dark place,
And they say, “Who sees us?” or “Who knows us?”
Amos 2:21-24
I hate, I despise your feasts,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
I will not look upon them.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
By this you can see that God desires the affectionate manifestations of good works, praise, and adoration from the overflow and abundance of the heart. The only other option is hypocrisy; people trying to adhere to a moral code of conduct without a reason, except for self-righteousness and personal gain.
I think the main point here is to just be real. If you don’t really love God, don’t pretend to. If you really want to love Him then really begin to seek Him for real this time. God’s love is real and He really wants you to get to know Him, and this is really good news.
