Bjcorbin's Blog

What kind of words would you use to describe a father, who builds an elaborate obstacle course for his children, and then disowns them if they can’t get through it?

Would the word “compassionate” come to mind?

Would your opinion of this man improve if I told you that he took the time to write a manual to let the kids know what was expected?

Would that be enough to convince you that he was really a “good” dad?

Would you think less of him if I told you that he wrote those instructions in such a way that most of his kids don’t really understand?

Would that make you question his sense of “justice”?

What if I told you that most of his kids don’t make it, and end up fatherless?

Would that seem “merciful” to you?

Maybe those questions seem absurd.

But as I talk to lost people out in the world, this is not far from the image of God they’ve received from organized religion.

They’ve heard of all the stuff they need to do.

And of all the stuff they’d better not do.

And of the dire consequences of failing.

And we wonder at their reluctance to accept our invitation to “church”.

And we wonder at their confusion when we say, “God is love”.

And we wonder why they aren’t excited about the “good news” of the gospel.