God American Style

“Then the People said, “Let us create god in our image, after our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26 USA translation)

When you listen to politicians talk nowadays, it is not uncommon to hear about having faith in God. Candidates are quick to quote the Bible and tell us that we ought to be thankful to our creator for the many blessings we have. Yep, it’s God this and God that. My question is, “What God are you talking about?” See, the funny thing is that in all this talk about God, you never hear anything mentioned about Jesus. Houston, we have a problem.

In the Bible we find that the Father has summed up all things in Christ. God said that the he has laid a Cornerstone on which everything is built- Jesus! We learn from scripture that although in the past, God spoke in many portions and in many ways, in these last days; he has given his final word in Jesus. The Bible tells us that the one who has the Son has the life, and he that does not have the Son, well, does not have the life. I John tells us that if you do not believe in Jesus as the Son of God, you have made God out to be a liar. The Bible teaches us that it is only through Christ that we can have understanding so that we can know the true God. Read the epistles of Paul and count the number of times he uses the phrase, “In Christ.” Over and over again the Bible tells that all things are in Jesus, and if you want to interact with the Father; you come through Christ. What I’m saying is this; there is no true faith in God apart from faith in Jesus. “No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”

It seems that we here in America have created a god in our own image. We have manufactured a god who does not demand that we come to him by faith, through the cross of his Son. No, the god we have created is simply some force for good out there some where who desires that we believe in him/her/it in whatever way we deem appropriate. The god we have created demands only that we love our country, have faith in ourselves, and oh yeah; BELIEVE. Sadly, many who name the name of Jesus have rejected Christ and the offense of the cross opting instead for a generic, one size fits all god that really is no god at all.

Listen Christian, especially southern, bible-belt Christians like me. This is not Grandma Myrtle’s world. Just because someone throws around words like God, faith, and believe doesn’t mean that they are in relationship with God. Even when someone does mention Jesus, you need to ask which Jesus. Is it Jesus, absolute Lord and master, the Word of God made flesh, Messiah who by the blood of his cross atoned for our sins? Any Jesus that does not fit this description is a false Jesus. There is one God and he has revealed himself in the person of Jesus Christ. Let me put it this way; Jesus is God. We can talk about faith all we want, but unless this faith in God is expressed through belief in his Son; we are deceived and merely worshiping a god we have created in our own image.