Author Eckhart Tolle has described God as an “invisible energy field” that animates us and every other thing. For singer-songwriter Annie Lennox, God is “a word to describe the life force that has created all,” and for controversial bishop John Shelby Spong, God is the impersonal force behind life, love, and existence.
For some authors, artists, and philosophers, God is a “life-force” God. While I like the idea of divine energy surging through my veins, some questions persist: If God is an impersonal energy, from where do humans get their individual personalities? If God is an impersonal power, why do humans desire relationship? If God is an impersonal force, where does love come from? Humans display all these qualities and more, so either humans are greater than the being that created them or God is much bigger than some popularly imagine.
When God revealed Himself to Moses, He presented Himself as “I Am”—Yahweh (the Lord)—the personal One who is present to save us (Exodus 3:14). This is a God who saw the oppression of His people in slavery, heard their cries, was concerned for them, and did something for them (vv.7-8). And saints and sinners throughout history have found this God to be anything but impersonal. He feels happiness (Hebrews 13:16), grief (Genesis 6:6), anger (Exodus 32:10), and compassion (Deuteronomy 32:36). He planned our existence and has a plan for each nation (Psalm 139:14-16; Amos 9:7). He watches every sparrow (Matthew 10:29-30), counts every hair (Luke 12:7), hears every cry, and wipes away every tear (Revelation 21:4). This is the God who desires a people He can love (Exodus 6:7) and whose invitation has always been for us to seek and discover Him (Jeremiah 29:11-14).
Moses met God in the desert that day. Not a force, but a Person. Not an electrical current, but the Spirit of the living God.
More:
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!” (John 8:58).
Next:
How important is it that we understand God as being a personal God, rather than simply being an energy, power, or life-force? How significant is it that Jesus called Himself “I Am”?
fieldlily on July 30, 2010 at 8:07 am
Absolutely beautiful! How can anyone not acknowledge that God exists let alone that He is impersonal? When I am feeling lonely, unloved or even hating myself, I remind myself of all the verses you have shared above. I then feel all the love and blessing that God pours out on me and I am humbled that I could ever forget them. How can the ONE who created us and knows the very number of hairs on our heads be considered impersonal? How sad it is not to know His love, joy and peace.
Lamont on July 30, 2010 at 9:21 am
“God is much bigger than some popularly imagine.”
You hit the nail on th head. The key word is “popularly.” Many popular concepts of God are woefully secular. It’s sad, in one sense, because they are far from the truth and mislead so many people. Sadder still, there are churches that embrace this talk of a spiritual life force or invisible energy field. The call it being spiritual.
jeinme10 on July 30, 2010 at 1:40 pm
GOD IS REAL! GOD IS REAL! THE COMFORTER HAS COME…….THE HOLY SPIRIT! Thank you for this blog because discussions like this are vital in spreading the True Gospel without distortion
Brenda on July 30, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Thank you for such a beautiful devotional! God IS personal and present, and He is so much more! To me, the truth that Jesus called Himself “I AM” is of vital significance, for who I am as a precious and valuable child of God is directly related to who I am in Christ. In fact, my very significance is based on being in relationship with Jesus, because without Him I am lost and left wandering this world, a drifter without purpose and hope.
I love the Scriptures you use, Sheridan, to demonstrate that “This is the God who desires a people He can love and whose invitation has always been for us to seek and discover Him.” My wandering ended when I surrendered my pain and cried out to Jesus; He heard my call and, in His mercy, immediately answered me. Ever since, it has been Jesus’ Love that has drawn me ever-closer to Himself, leading me deeper into relationship with Him, my Abba Father, and the Holy Spirit – my triune God! As a result, a beautiful thing is happening: the more I seek the heart of God, the more He reveals Himself to me; and the more He reveals Himself to me, the more I desire to seek Him. Furthermore, as my desire for seeking Jesus increases, the desert space in my heart decreases, and I am being freed to love God,
and others as Jesus fills me with Himself, with His Perfect Love. What an awesome God! Praise be to Him forever and ever!
Tyla808 on July 30, 2010 at 3:07 pm
I understand that as humans its hard for us to fathom the depth, width, height, etc. of God. Some may try to wrap Him up and present Him “just so” to try and “understand” Him or maybe to better relate to Him however God IS a relational being and has been so since the beginning with the Godhead…”We will create…” If God was not relational, why create beings whom He wanted to have a relationship with? Why care for us? Why create us in such a detailed why that everything in our bodies function to allow us to live in one way, shape or form?
In any event, I think when people try to summarize God as an “energy/life” force or source (and He is) but when popular belief describes Him as such it is to maybe make God more “politically correct” and acceptable to all people. I don’t know, but from my personal experience that is how a couple of people who used those descriptors explained God to me as to “not offend” others.
I love God and I love that He is relational and that He has made me in His image and that I am relational too. We were not meant to go through life alone and even if we have no flesh and blood person, we ALWAYS have God because he will never leave us nor forsake us.