God's Got a Wild Side!

Snakes scare me.
Spiders scare me.
Britany Spears really scares me.

In fact, there are a lot of things that scare me. Maybe the thing that scares me the most are Christ-followers that think that they have God all figured out. You know who I'm talking about. Those folks that believe that if they perform in a certain way, then God has to respond in a certain way. A specific prayer will generate a specific response. Giving a precise amount of money will result in increased blessings and prosperity. You know the routine.
My response to that is, if God's reaction hinges on our performance, who's really in control? Certainly not God, because he is simply responding to our actions and demands. So often as individuals, groups, and yes, even churches, we decide what we feel is the right direction and then we expect God to bless it.
Well guess what? God is the one in control and he takes orders from no one. I love the scene from C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia" where the children are talking to Mr. Beaver and they ask if Aslan the lion is "quite safe" and he responds with;
"Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn’t safe. But he's good."
God is not a safe God, but he is a good God. And I believe that God has a wild side, and to think that we can tame him with our own actions is ludicrous. I couldn't follow a God like that. I much prefer the God who might meet my expectations and prayers, but who also may go wildly beyond anything I might expect, or go off in a whole different direction altogether. That's the God I follow. He's a wild one alright!
I know that side of God scares a lot of people, but that's alright. It keeps us on our toes and reminds us who is really in control. I can't stop you if you want to follow a God who simply meets expectations based on our needs, but I would encourage you to read the scriptures and see if that is the God that is presented there. Also I would recommend a book called "Your God Is Too Safe" by Mark Buchanan. It is excellent.
I will leave you with another excerpt from C.S. Lewis.

Jill is very thirsty and hears the sound of a stream within the forest. She is terrified to find Aslan, a huge lion beside the water. Aslan says;
"If you are thirsty, you may drink"
Jill does not approach the stream because of her fear.
"Are you not thirsty?" says Aslan
"Yes, I'm dying of thirst"
"Then drink."
"Will you promise not to do anything to me if I come?"
"I make no promise," said the lion.
Jill stepped a little closer.
"Do you eat little girls?" she said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms." Said the lion.
"I don't dare come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst, " said the lion.
"Oh dear! I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the lion.

God is all powerful and he too has triumphed over men, kings, and nations.
He is not safe…and He's got a wild side….but he's the only stream in town.

God bless