Stepford God

 There's a classic movie from the 1970's called The Stepford Wives. It's the story of a community of husbands who come up with a way to control their wives, making them into their idea of what a woman should be. They turn them into beautiful robots. This leads me to a question for each of us; have we, you and I,  been trying to "create" our own Stepford God?

Before answering, we might want to consider some things. We call Him an awesome God, but we also use that word to describe anything from potato chips to the latest Hollywood blockbuster. We sing and talk about the wonders He does and the miracles He works....until the time comes when we really need one. Then, instead of believing for one, we begin to look for solutions that we can touch, see, and understand. We talk about a Kingdom not of this world, but we rarely seem to be in touch with it. We agree that He is a God of mystery, but we aren't very comfortable with that. We actually prefer a God we fully understand and have some, much control over. We want a God who comes with an easy to comprehend "How To" manual. Know this; there is no such God.

In His Word, Almighty is often used to describe Him, but that's not really the original language. Lord of hosts is the original translation, in the Hebrew, The God of angel armies. The God of armies who fights for His people. He is a God who comes and stands with you, fights for you, literally crushing every obstacle, mountain, and enemy that stands before you. A God who, as spoken in Hosea, breaks through gates of bronze and cuts through iron bars. As Hosea 12:5 says, He is the Lord, the God of hosts. The Lord is His name.

Os Guinness said, Many Christians seem to be atheists unaware. We who profess to be believers scoff at those who say there is no God, but we have to be asked; in our day to day living, facing difficulties and impossibilities, coming up against mountains, giants, and enemies of our souls in our marriages, families, lives, and ministries, do we bear witness that we have true faith in an Almighty God? In the Lord of Hosts?

The One who is unbeatable, undefeatable, greater than all? Or do we seek solutions, answers, remedies in our own strength? And if we do invite Him in, is He god with a small g, a god we can control? One who will act like we believe He should? Are we really just atheists unaware? 

He's the Lord. The Lord of Hosts is His name. Is that what He really is to you and me today? Is He really the God who can break down any bronze gate, cut through any iron bar? A God who will be all His name says He is, and in fact, be infinitely more? What's in a name? With our God, EVERYTHING!

Blessings,
Pastor O