I recently received a forward containing a clip of Oprah Winfrey questioning a Biblical attribute of God. She accepted the fact that God is a loving God, but did not believe God to be a jealous God. She said that it did not feel right in her spirit to think of God in that way. When discussing what God is like, many treat his attributes like food in a cafeteria. They receive the likable attributes and leave those they dislike.
The Bible teaches that God’s attributes are not determined by ones feelings. Sigmund Freud, the father of contemporary psychoanalysis, suggested otherwise. He taught that the God of the Bible is an invention of the human mind in response to three common fears—nature, relationships and death. In response to this conclusion, author John MacArthur asserted, “This is contrary to what Scripture says about man’s nature. Humanity has consistently sought to escape accountability to God’s standards (cf. Gen. 3:8). Men and women would prefer that the biblical God not exist.”
If God began with man's thoughts concerning Him then it makes sense that one could believe whatever he or she wanted about God's attributes. However, one truth the Bible teaches from the very beginning is that everything has been created by God. The first sentence in the Bible says, “In the beginning God created…” (Genesis 1:1). This verse indicates that God is eternal, self-existent and is not dependant upon anyone or anything. All of creation, however, is dependent upon the eternal God who created all that is. Therefore, it does not make since that we determine what God, who has always existed, is like. The Bible affirms that because He has always existed and is unchanging, he is to be understood in a certain way. According to MacArthur, “We must turn to God’s Word to understand what it affirms about God’s nature.”
There are some attributes of God that are difficult to ascribe to Him and are unpopular in a fallen world. As believers, however, we must understand that the problem is with us and not with God’s Word. This should cause us to see how far our thinking is out of line with the mind of God and should force us to allow ourselves to be shaped by Scripture rather than attempting the opposite.
The Bible teaches that God’s attributes are not determined by ones feelings. Sigmund Freud, the father of contemporary psychoanalysis, suggested otherwise. He taught that the God of the Bible is an invention of the human mind in response to three common fears—nature, relationships and death. In response to this conclusion, author John MacArthur asserted, “This is contrary to what Scripture says about man’s nature. Humanity has consistently sought to escape accountability to God’s standards (cf. Gen. 3:8). Men and women would prefer that the biblical God not exist.”
If God began with man's thoughts concerning Him then it makes sense that one could believe whatever he or she wanted about God's attributes. However, one truth the Bible teaches from the very beginning is that everything has been created by God. The first sentence in the Bible says, “In the beginning God created…” (Genesis 1:1). This verse indicates that God is eternal, self-existent and is not dependant upon anyone or anything. All of creation, however, is dependent upon the eternal God who created all that is. Therefore, it does not make since that we determine what God, who has always existed, is like. The Bible affirms that because He has always existed and is unchanging, he is to be understood in a certain way. According to MacArthur, “We must turn to God’s Word to understand what it affirms about God’s nature.”
There are some attributes of God that are difficult to ascribe to Him and are unpopular in a fallen world. As believers, however, we must understand that the problem is with us and not with God’s Word. This should cause us to see how far our thinking is out of line with the mind of God and should force us to allow ourselves to be shaped by Scripture rather than attempting the opposite.
MacArthur, John. Nothing but the Truth. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, pp. 49-51.
