Critiquing Non-Biblical Portrayals of God's Character Lovingly
Critiquing non-biblical portrayals of God's character lovingly involves upholding the scriptural revelation of God while addressing misconceptions with grace and truth. A foundational aspect of biblical teaching is that God is love [8]. This love is described as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, everlasting, and merciful [3]. It is through Christ that God's loving-kindness is fully expressed [3].
One common non-biblical portrayal of God involves idolatry, which the Bible strictly forbids. Idolatry is not merely bowing down to images or worshipping other gods, but also includes worshipping the true God by an image [4]. Calvin emphasizes that it is inconsistent with God's nature to be represented by painting or any kind of likeness, asserting that no image can truly resemble God [6]. This highlights a critique of any portrayal that attempts to confine or reduce God to a physical or human-made representation. The infinite wisdom of God, displayed in creation, makes it impossible for human capacity or language to fully comprehend or describe Him [11].
Another non-biblical portrayal can arise from a misunderstanding of God's justice and mercy. Some might depict God as arbitrary or as one who "hates" certain individuals. However, Adam Clarke, in his commentary on 1 John 4:8, states that God "hates no thing that he has made" and "cannot hate, because he is love" [8]. God's love is an "infinite fountain of benevolence and beneficence to every human being," extending to both the evil and the good [8]. This perspective critiques any view that suggests God has made human beings for perdition or has made it impossible for any fallen soul to find mercy [8].
Furthermore, non-biblical portrayals can emerge from human selfishness, which is contrary to God's law and condemned by Christ's example [1]. Selfishness manifests in various ways, such as being lovers of ourselves, pleasing ourselves, seeking our own interests, or serving God for reward [1]. Such attitudes can lead to a distorted view of God, imagining Him as one who can be manipulated or appeased by external acts without genuine devotion. True worship involves offering oneself as a spiritual sacrifice to God, and God hates hypocrisy combined with mockery [13].
The Bible also warns against living in "lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God" [5]. This suggests that a lack of knowledge of God can lead to behaviors and characterizations of God that are contrary to His true nature. To know God experientially is to love as He loves [8]. Those who do good are "of God," while those who do evil have not truly "seen God" [2].
Critiquing these non-biblical portrayals lovingly means upholding the truth of God's character as revealed in Scripture. It involves recognizing that God is the one true God, distinct from all fictitious gods [12]. The integrity of God's truth is paramount, and even when humans doubt His truth, God not only pardons but aids their distrust, providing both His word and miracles [9]. It is not right to tell untrue stories, even if they seem to be for the glory of God [7]. Instead, believers are called to "adorn the doctrine of our Saviour God" through their actions and lives, demonstrating what is truly good [10].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
- III John “III John 1:11 (BBE) — My loved one, do not be copying what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God: he who does evil has not seen God.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Idolatry — Forbidden -- Ex 20:2,3; De 5:7. Consists in Bowing down to images. -- Ex 20:5; De 5:9. Worshipping images. -- Isa 44:17; Da 3:5,10,15. Sacrificing to images. -- Ps 106:38; Ac 7:41. Worshipping other gods. -- De 30:17; Ps 81:9. Swearing by other gods. -- Ex 23:13; Jos 23:7. Walking after other gods. -- De 8:19. Speaking in the name of other gods. -- De 18:20. Looking to other gods. -- Ho 3:1. Serving other gods. -- De 7:4; Jer 5:19. Fearing other gods. -- 2Ki 17:35. Sacrificing to other gods. -- Ex 22:20. Worshipping the true God by an image, & c. -- Ex 32:”
- I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 4:5 (BSB) — not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 3, section 8.30: in guarding the Jews against distrust, at the same time condemns the superstitions of the Gentiles, and declares that it is inconsistent with the nature of God to be represented by painting or by any kind of likeness. This shews clearly that Paul’s doctrine fully agrees with it; for the Prophet, after having shewn that the power of God is infinite, since he holds all things in his fist, at length concludes, “To whom then will ye liken me? for no image that is formed will have any likeness or resemblance to me.” Or, what resemblance will you a”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 15:15: testified of God--that is, concerning God. The rendering of others is, "against God" [Vulgate, ESTIUS, GROTIUS]: the Greek preposition with the genitive implies, not direct antagonism (as the accusative would mean), but indirect to the dishonor of God. English Version is probably better. if so be--as they assert. It is not right to tell untrue stories, though they are told and seem for the glory of God (Job 13:7).”
- 1 John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 John 4:8: He that loveth not - As already described, knoweth not God - has no experimental knowledge of him. God is love - An infinite fountain of benevolence and beneficence to every human being. He hates no thing that he has made. He cannot hate, because he is love. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends his rain on the just and the unjust. He has made no human being for perdition, nor ever rendered it impossible, by any necessitating decree, for any fallen soul to find mercy. He has given the fullest proof of his love to the whole human race by the in”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 13.16: of the power of God in confirmation of what he had said. The same goodness of God is now also displayed towards men, to whom he exercises such forbearance, when he might justly have been offended at them; for how shockingly do they insult God, when they doubt his truth? What do you leave to God, if you take that from him? And whatever may be our doubts, not only does he pardon us, but even aids our distrust, and not only by his word, but by adding miracles; and he exhibits them not only to believers, but also to the ungodly, which we may beh”
- Titus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Titus 2:10: Not purloining--Greek, "Not appropriating" what does not belong to one. It means "keeping back" dishonestly or deceitfully (Act 5:2-3). showing--manifesting in acts. all--all possible. good--really good; not so in mere appearance (Eph 6:5-6; Col 3:22-24). "The heathen do not judge of the Christian's doctrines from the doctrine, but from his actions and life" [CHRYSOSTOM]. Men will write, fight, and even die for their religion; but how few live for it! Translate, "That they may adorn the doctrine of our Saviour God," that is, God the Father, the or”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 4.1: Argument. Since the infinite wisdom of God is displayed in the admirable structure of heaven and earth, it is absolutely impossible to unfold The History of the Creation of the World in terms equal to its dignity. For while the measure of our capacity is too contracted to comprehend things of such magnitude, our tongue is equally incapable of giving a full and substantial account of them. As he, however, deserves praise, who, with modesty and reverence, applies himself to the consideration of the works of God, although he attain le”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 8.23: to thee, that thou hast not further injured me; but God, who is propitious to me, has withstood thee. Now, since God is not the defender of unfaithfulness, nor is wont to help the wicked, the integrity of Jacob may be ascertained from the fact that God interposed as his vindicator. It is also to be observed, that by expressly distinguishing the God of Abraham from all fictitious gods, he declares that there is no other true God: by which he, at the same time, proves himself to be a truly pious worshipper. The expression “the fear”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 8.11: when he looks upon us in Christ. 5. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect . It is not to be doubted, that Cain conducted himself as hypocrites are accustomed to do; namely, that he wished to appease God, as one discharging a debt, by external sacrifices, without the least intention of dedicating himself to God. But this is true worship, to offer ourselves as spiritual sacrifices to God. When God sees such hypocrisy, combined with gross and manifest mockery of himself; it is not surprising that he hates it, and is un”