13. My image of God affects how I understand Scripture.
(Before looking at the questions below, take a few minutes to think about this statement. Invite Jesus to speak to you about what He would like you to notice.)
If God were to sit down and write you a personal letter, how would you imagine God, how would He feel about you, and what might He write?
If we use some descriptions for God, like close/distant, personal/impersonal, kind/angry, and forgiving/judging, how does your reading of Scripture compare to your image of God?
What passages in Scripture do you most use to create an image of God?What passages about God in Scripture most trouble you?
The Bible can be read from many perspectives and for many purposes. If we believe that the Bible is God’s message to humanity, then we may find that how we imagine God will play a big part in how we read His message.
Our image of the sender affects how we receive the message. This is true in our human relationships also; an envelope from our boss creates a different feeling than a letter from a spouse or loved one. A letter from the government is received differently than a letter from a friend. An envelope that says “Invoice” on it creates a different feeling than one that contains a check. When we receive any of these, we hold an image of who the sender is, and that image plays a role in how we receive the message.
The same is true when we read the Bible. If we imagine God as King, as ruler of the world in which we live, then we may see Scripture as the “rule book” for living in the world. If we see God as the supreme judge, we may be particularly sensitive to the consequences of disobedience or failures to do what is right. If we imagine God as the wise teacher, perhaps in the person of Jesus, we will read the Bible with a desire to know more about how to live well in this world. If we aren’t sure that God exists or is real, we may examine the Bible to see if it is accurate, logical, verifiable, or true.
If we feel that God has failed us or has not been there when we needed Him, we may find places in Scripture that give us reason to be angry at God. If we imagine God as distant and detached, we may read the Bible as though it isn’t relevant or helpful. If we think of God like a slot machine or Santa Claus, we may read the Bible for the clues to “hitting the jackpot” or making sure we get our Christmas presents. All of these, and many more, are ways that our image of God shapes how we receive His message.
There is another way of reading the Bible that receives it as a love letter, or perhaps a Valentine’s Day card from God. There are certainly parts of the Bible that don’t seem to fit this description but Scripture, overall, portrays a God who created humankind in order to share life with them. The stories of the Bible can be seen as God’s relentless pursuit to engage us in a loving relationship.
From this viewpoint, God has given us His words in Scripture to tell us of His love for us. To understand the Bible is this way, we need to have an image of God that supports this perspective. Jesus refers to His Father in the endearing word, “Abba” or “Daddy.” The Psalmist speaks of God’s intimate love as better than life itself (Psalm 63:3). Jesus invites us to abide in His love. He says, just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. (John 15:9, NASB) Jesus invites His followers to consider Him as their friend. (John 15:15) Isaiah 66:13 reads, As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you (NIV)
If these verses can help us imagine a God who deeply loves us, who desires a loving, intimate, and personal relationship with us, who cares about us and cares for us, who knows us, each of us in a very particular way, who knows even the number of hairs on each of our heads, then the Bible can take on a very different meaning for us. With this image of God, we can read the less personal, less loving-seeming passages with a confidence that, even though we may not understand, we know that ultimately, God loves us and is somehow trying to help us understand that.