I remember going to
church as an 11 or 12 year old. Dragged might have been a better word. Our
Sunday morning visit to the 10.30 service and then quickly back home for Sunday
lunch, usually with plenty of shouting and screaming, probably from me.
My weekly visits to
church service were disconnected from anything else that went on in my life. In
fact, at the end of the service, to the extent that I prayed at all, I would
say “See you the same time, next week, God”. It seems rather humorous or
ridiculous in retrospect.
But the absurdity of
the statement was not at all obvious to me at the time. Actually, I do not know
how it could have been obvious. Church was a compulsory event, like Latin and
History. They had to be fitted into the diary, and dealt with before I could do
the things that I wanted to do, such as watch television or play cricket. It
was an obligation, which was dropped at the first opportunity.
And I do not suppose
for one moment, that I was unique in this respect. What God made of all this, I
have no idea. It could be patronising amusement, indifference or anger at the
whole charade. I have no idea whether I ever learned something. I do not
remember anything at all from this, although some chants from the “Sung
Eucharist” still go through my head, when recalled from deep memory.
The whole thing had
about as much to do with God, at least for me, as a game of cricket. God was
remote and of no practical relevance. It had no relevance to either of us, I
guess.
We could have had a fairly
comfortable co-existence, God and I. Going to church on a Sunday these days is
no longer “de rigor” from a social point of view, so I am not so sure what the
benefit to me would have been. But God would have had another public supporter.
Of course, the whole
thing is quite absurd. God has no interest in such a relationship. Neither
would another person. “See you next week”, indeed. On the other hand, perhaps
it is not so absurd, or at least many people might not feel that it is absurd. Perhaps
that is how they live, in so far as God ever has a place in their lives.
It is one of my themes
in these blogs that people, to the extent that they think of God at all, think
of him as a kind of Father Christmas. He should do nice things generally and in
particular do nice things for us. To the extent that he does not do this, then
the response is “I could not believe in a God, who …..”
The Bible describes
another side to God. He wants us for Himself, full-time, not part-time. The concept
is not so strange, although people may find it difficult to conceive this in
the context of God. The concept of jealousy in an established relationship,
whether in marriage or in a partnership, is well understood and experienced by
most adults. Marriage, in particular, is centred on faithfulness, rights and
exclusiveness, at least as far as many aspects of the relationship as
concerned. No one else, other than the one person in question has these rights.
When this relationship
breaks down or one side is let down by the other side, the feelings of jealousy
on the other side are easily aroused.
We don’t think of God
as being jealous. I am not sure why not, but I can imagine that the word has
overtones with which many people are uncomfortable. I described separately in an
earlier blog, the thought that God requires us to obey him. Click here for Link.
The act of obedience
can be seen in Father / Child relationship; or Employer / Employee
relationship. The relationship here may be “I say; you do” and need not involve
anything emotional.
But Jealousy is
altogether different. God wants us for himself. This is not ownership of a thing,
in the sense of “This is my car”, but in the sense of “This is my wife /
husband”, together with the emotional pain when this is not returned. God feels
the pain.
He wants our hearts. He
wants it all. He insists on it. The Old Testament records God’s statement to
the people of Israel and is the 2nd of the 10 Commandments. Exodus20. 4-5. (Click for link). "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or
any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water
under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your
God, am a jealous God."
It doesn’t get much
clearer than that.
