Theological Points 1: God is Known by his Deeds

Wednesday November 30, In the year of our Lord 2011
My House, Caronport Saskatchewan
Digesting modular class, 5:48 PM
Weather = lightly snowing but still nice enough to wear sandals


God's identity = God's action and God's actions = God's identity. Put another way; the Christian God is known through his interaction with creation.

I have spent the last three days in a heavy theology mod about the doctrine of God and creation. I am writing about it to better understand what I am learning as well as cement it in my mind. I may touch on several key concepts so buckle up; we're going for a theological ride!

Christianity has always understood God by the actions that God does. There is no knowledge of God apart from God's revealing of himself. Part of the problem of our theological thinking is that we immediately move to philosophical abstractions. God is spirit, God is loving, God is omnipotent, God is gracious, God is all powerful, etc. While these things may be true in a basic sense they are impersonal and cold terms which are inadequate for describing the living God of Christianity. Just look at Psalm 103:

 1 Praise the LORD, my soul; 

   all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 

2 Praise the LORD, my soul, 

   and forget not all his benefits— 

3 who forgives all your sins 

   and heals all your diseases, 

4 who redeems your life from the pit 

   and crowns you with love and compassion, 

5 who satisfies your desires with good things 

   so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

God is not just philosophical abstractions, he is personally involved in creation, more than that, personally involved in the lives of humans. God is known by his deeds and his deeds define who he is. He also does not expect us to worship him until he reveals himself in his actions. Read the rest of the psalm and look specifically for God's actions.

6 The LORD works righteousness 

   and justice for all the oppressed.

 7 He made known his ways to Moses, 

   his deeds to the people of Israel: 

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, 

   slow to anger, abounding in love. 

9 He will not always accuse, 

   nor will he harbor his anger forever; 

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve 

   or repay us according to our iniquities. 

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 

   so great is his love for those who fear him; 

12 as far as the east is from the west, 

   so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 13 As a father has compassion on his children, 

   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 

14 for he knows how we are formed, 

   he remembers that we are dust. 

15 The life of mortals is like grass, 

   they flourish like a flower of the field; 

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, 

   and its place remembers it no more. 

17 But from everlasting to everlasting 

   the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, 

   and his righteousness with their children’s children— 

18 with those who keep his covenant 

   and remember to obey his precepts.

 19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, 

   and his kingdom rules over all.

 20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, 

   you mighty ones who do his bidding, 

   who obey his word. 

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, 

   you his servants who do his will. 

22 Praise the LORD, all his works 

   everywhere in his dominion.

   Praise the LORD, my soul.

The appropriate reaction to God's action is our worship of him. He does not just appear and say "behold I am God; the essence of true being. Worship me." He proves himself to be a good and loving God by acting in our lives and being known by his actions. God's reputation is recorded in the Bible, the God who creates, sustains, breathes life into humans, leads, disciplines, calls, protects, redeems, and loves. God's present actions are in accordance with his past actions and his future actions will also be in accordance with who he is, how he has acted, this is called God's Faithfulness!

It is never enough to just say "God is loving." How has God loved and how is he loving now? God gave his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to mediate the relationship of Love and the gift of everlasting life while we were still sinners Christ died for us. God continues to love by enlivening us with the Holy Spirit and allowing us to commune with the Father through the Son. This is the ultimate act of love and it is of cosmic proportions. It is a demonstration of his love. To say that "God is loving" without also speaking of the act of God's love is to not do justice to the Biblical account of God.

God is not a Platonic ideal, a philosophical 'being' to which we ascribe the highest of virtues, he is known by practical, physical, actual actions that take place in history.