We say it’s not all about us, but …

Bad theology, bad doctrine, and a plethora of warm, fuzzy platitudes have been perpetuated throughout the church to such a great degree that the average Christian thinks the cross of Christ is all about us!

It’s not.

Recently I saw a flurry of posts about how “it was love for us that nailed Jesus to the cross and held Him there” and “every moment Jesus was on the cross He was thinking of you.” Here’s another post: “Religion says God’s so holy He can’t stand you; the Bible says God loves you so much He couldn’t live without you.” Those, and other such ideas — which are common among Christians and from preachers behind pulpits — are biblically inaccurate.

The simplest of readings of the Bible makes it clear and unquestionable that God loves us, amazingly so. So much that He gave His only Son for us. There’s simply no disputing His real love for, and unfailing faithfulness to, us.

But that’s only a part of the biblical picture. Without placing that in accurate biblical context, we create a theology that has God placing us in the center of His universe, and Him revolving around us to love us and meet our every need. That’s incredibly biblically inaccurate!

So what is the truth?

In the middle of “God’s universe” … is God!

The Bible teaches us that all things were made by God, and for God, and all ultimately for His glory. God’s primary focus isn’t you, me, or some angelic being, it’s His own glory!

“For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen,” Romans 11:36.

Obviously, God had to love us greatly for Christ to suffer on the cross to be the propitiation for our sin. But the cross is a great demonstration of the glory of God! Yet, over and over again we’re told that Jesus being the sacrifice for the sins of the world demonstrates how God’s attention is all about us.

God’s attention is all about God’s glory! And the glory of God is so great that He draws close to us and, through His love, extends the means for us to be adopted as His children.

Why is it that human beings so often think they can make demands of God, have service-based expectations of God, and actually be disappointed with God? Because they have a flawed theology that puts them in the middle of God’s universe, with God as the ultimate servant.

We say we know better, but is God the very center of your “universe”? Does your life revolve around Him? Is the purpose for your existence primarily for the glory of God? If the answer is no, then you don’t get it yet.

But you can.

Will you?

Scotty