Fr. Tony’s Mid-week Message
March 26, 2014
The Images We Choose
“A
bud, a flower, a little child—these are the voices that speak to [us] of God;
all that is glad, all that is beautiful, all that is trustful and loving, all
that tells of tenderness and constant care—these are Christ’s chosen emblems of
the Most High.”
--Mark Guy Pearse, Come Break Your
Fast
Jesus chose certain images to speak of God. “The Reign of God is like a seed that
sprouts and grows on its own” (Mark 4:24-26). “The Reign of God belongs to people who
are like little children” (Mark 10:14). “Look at the lilies of the field
and how God clothes them in splendor” (Luke 12:27). These are all loving, tender images of
the One who gives the blessings of rain and sunshine both to “good” people and
“bad.”
The late Fred Phelps in a demonstration.
This last week saw the death of Fred Phelps, the founder of
the Westboro Baptist Church, most known for its “God Hates Fags” protests at
military funerals throughout the country.
His God was an angry Deity, vindictive, and full of wrath and hate for
sinners, those who had not accepted Phelps’ particular brand of fundamentalist
Protestantism, and, most particularly, gays. Images he used were a consuming fire, a
devastating plague, a condemning judge, and a conquering military warrior.
The Bible has a whole lot of images about God, some good and some bad. Some, I think, were included by way of negative example, how not to think about God.
It is important how we think about God, for how we think
about God tends to color and form how we treat ourselves and others. I’m with Jesus here: our basic image of God should be a loving
parent and not a tyrannical king or harsh judge.
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