There is a film about the life and conversion of Martin Luther – the 16th century monk famous for starting the Protestant Reformation. In the film, Luther lives in fear of God because he believes God to be primarily an angry judge who will condemn him. When Luther’s mentor asks what he wants from God, Luther replies, “A God who loves me.”
It seems that many people have Luther’s outlook on God. They assume that God is distant and harsh. But, nothing could be farther from the truth! The Bible says that God calls to us: “Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you.” The Bible also says that God did not come to condemn the world but save it through Jesus.
Do you know someone who thinks or acts as though God is an angry tyrant? Go to them today. Show them God’s love in tangible ways. Pray for them. Then explain who God really is – a God who loves them unconditionally and wants to have a personal friendship with each of us. That is the God we serve, a relational loving God, not a dictator or tyrant. Today, reach out to those who have this imbalanced view of God. Explain to them that, just as Luther desired, the one true God is a God of love, compassion and restoration.
