Your God Is Too Small : A Guide for Believers and Skeptics Alike

Rating:
Summary: A Not Too Small Argument
Review: People have knowledge of God through conscience. However, a feeling of guilt and failure may be quite false. People can be trained to feel that certain things are not done. Some people are abnormally afraid of God.

A child might think that God is an old gentleman living in heaven. Children may outgrow the meek and mild Saviour and find their heroes elsewhere. The meek and mild idea operates below the conscious level of many Christians. Thoughts and actions may be inhibited.

Phillips identifies absolute perfection as a false god. He claims the one hundred percent standard is a real menace. It is a prescription for guilt and misery. Followers of religion have found God to be their refuge and strength. It is not right to view God as party leader of a particular view. No denomination has a monopoly of God's grace. The 'outsider' sees clearly the advantages of a unified Christian front.

Another too small idea views God as a sort of managing director. We should not model God on what we know of man. To some the image of God is a blur of disappointment. Such people do not know the terms under which we inhabit the planet. It is necessary to see the immensely broad sweep of the Creator's activity. The vasness seems to depersonalize God.

Beauty and goodness and the search for truth exert an effect on man. True love and self-sacrifice have always been the most moving human attributes. Christ taught that love should go out to other people and out to God. The truth taught by Jesus is the right way to live. The purpose of life is loving God and doing his will. Christ deemed pride, self-righteousness and the exploitation of others sinful. The follower of the new way is called to spread the good news.