– Our image of god
Everyone may have different images when they see God. For example, He can be seen as an Idol, Icon, Symbol, King, and can be a subject or an object, you name it. As a result, how far or close our relationship with God depends on our mindset. Regardless of whether we feel we have close relationship with God or not. We may inadvertently create a “ceiling” if we have the wrong image and mindset. In the Bible God’s mindset is family, therefore we need to change the way we think.
Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
Romans 12:2 CEV
When we look in the Bible narrative, God started with family through Adam and Eve, and end with family. Even when we were redeemed by Him, God’s mindset is still family.
I’m the Beginning, I’m the Conclusion. From Water-of-Life Well I give freely to the thirsty. Conquerors inherit all this. I’ll be God to them, they’ll be sons and daughters to me
Revelation 21:7 MSG
You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as His own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives
Galatians 4:5 MSG
– Family is in god’s mind
God always has family in His mind, He acts as parent, and we are His children. Our relationship with Him should always be what He had in His mind. The way a parent teaches their children is different from the way a teacher teaches in classroom setting. Family has intimacy, 24/7 availability. God teaches His children like parents teach their children.
But you must not be called ‘Teacher,’ because you have only one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters together
Matthew 23:8-10 NCV
you have only one teacher, and all of you are brothers. And don’t call any human being ‘father’—for you have one Father and he is in Heaven. And you must not let people call you ‘leaders’—you have only one leader, Christ!
Matthew 23:8-10 PHILLIPS
– all of us are brothers and sisters
Some of Bible versions mention about brothers and sisters, other versions mention about students or classmates. Regardless, the message remains the same, as a result every human being – including what so called religious leaders are equal in God’s eyes. No more clergy and laity.
You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don’t set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of ‘Father’; you have only one Father, and he’s in heaven. And don’t let people manoeuvre you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.
Matthew 23:8-10 MSG
– God (holy spirit) is more than capable to teach us
Let’s have a look from teacher and student point of view. The bible says that we can only have a single Teacher. Holy Spirit is our single teacher. Generally, there is an anecdote that children resemble their parents, however never children resemble their teachers. Furthermore, when we fix our attention on God, subsequently we portray God. Like Father like son. No human can have that privilege.
Yet I know that the touch of his Spirit never leaves you, and you don’t really need a human teacher. You know that his Spirit teaches you about all things, always telling you the truth and never telling you a lie. So, as he has taught you, live continually in him.
1 John 2:27 PHILLIPS
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you have no need for someone to teach you. Rather, since his anointing teaches you all things and since it is true and is no lie, remain in him, just as it has taught you.
1 John 2:27 EHV
Christ gave you a special gift. You still have this gift in you. So you don’t need anyone to teach you. The gift he gave you teaches you about everything. It is a true gift, not a false one. So continue to live in Christ, as his gift taught you.
1 John 2:27 ERV
Here, John addressed everyone in regards to false teachers and anti Christ. Yet, he had full confidence in Holy Spirit’s capability. John wrote to everyone started with “little children”. He saw them equally. We can learn that Holy Spirit is more than capable to become our parent and closely guards against any teaching other than God’s. Our parent (Holy Spirit) is so important so that “one another” can function.
I see Holy Spirit as a perfect God; He is a perfect parent-teacher for me. Accordingly, if you have another teacher to supplement Holy Spirit, then beg some of the questions; is Holy Spirit so imperfect therefore you need another human being to teach you? Do you know Holy Spirit? Do you have relationship with Holy Spirit? Are you confused between Jesus and Holy Spirit?
– no more human intermediary
Now let’s have a look from brother and sister’s point of view. Our God is our parent, and we are His children and have direct relationship, and there should not be any more human intermediary.
And that is, that there is only one God, and only one intermediary between God and men, Jesus Christ
1 Timothy 2:5 PHILLIPS
No one is needed between for us and God. As written in Matthew 27:51, the temple curtain was torn: Jesus is the way we communicate with God. There is no additional step, and there is no other way.
– One another as siblings
But how about what we have in Colossians 3:16:
Let Christ’s teaching live in your hearts, making you rich in the true wisdom. Teach and help one another along the right road
Colossians 3:16 PHILLIPS
In western society (non Confucian), siblings do that differently. No hierarchy, No religious setting, No monologue, Multiple directions. Hence we have “one another” across New Testaments.
It is consistent with what we have in Luke 22 and 1 Peter 5. Notice the word use is “among” not “over”
But Jesus intervened: “Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles. It’s not going to be that way with you. Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant
Luke 22:24-26 MSG
To the elders among you
1 Peter 5:1 NIV
– what god wants from us
As a parent myself, I like to have relationship directly with my children. there is no need for them to become a member of an organisation set up by one of the sibling. The “younger” one doesn’t need to come and listen to the “elder” one on a specific time every week. No hierarchy between sibling. No dress code. I accept my children for who they are, they just simply walk with me. Regardless one has done more that the other, or one has more knowledge than the other.
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him
Romans 12:1
God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship – a different kind of “sacrifice” – that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.
Hebrews 13:16 MSG
– no longer what we do for him but what god does for us
Embracing what God does for us, and NOT what we do for Him is the best thing we can do for Him. God does not ask us to do religious activities. As a parent my focus is what I can do for my children, never on what they can do for me. Beside, even if they do not do anything, I still love them. They simply live their Life.
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Matthew 6:33 MSG
Finally, parent give their best for their children, similarly God is no exception. Therefore stop trying to do something and start being someone. We are human being not human doing. Fix our mindset, see Him as our Parents. Then everything will be added to us. God will address our worries and concerns.
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