What We Get Wrong About God: A Conversation With John Mark Comer and Ger Jones About God Has a Name (Part 1)
Nov 1, 2024
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Join John Mark Comer, author and pastor, and Ger Jones, lead pastor of Vintage Church LA, as they dive deep into the meaning behind God's name. They challenge listeners to unpack their assumptions about God, examining how personal and cultural influences shape perceptions. The discussion highlights the relational nature of God, the importance of compassion, and the need for genuine connections through prayer. They also navigate the complexities of spirituality in urban settings, emphasizing the transformative journey toward deeper faith.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of understanding God as relational and compassionate, fundamentally challenging common perceptions of His character.
It highlights how distorted images of God can impact personal identity and behaviors, urging a sincere exploration of His true nature for spiritual growth.
Deep dives
The Nature of God Revealed
The conversation highlights God's nature as expressed in Exodus 34, specifically focusing on His self-revelation through His name. God refers to Himself as 'Yahweh,' a name that signifies His relational nature and existence as a person, not just a distant force or idea. This foundational understanding emphasizes that God is a being who desires to have a relationship with humanity, inviting individuals to seek and connect with Him for deeper communion. This personal aspect of God contrasts widely with common modern perceptions, illustrating that recognizing God as relational can transform one's spiritual journey.
Compassion as God's Core Attribute
God's first attribute described in Exodus 34 is compassion, a revelation that underscores His emotional disposition towards humanity. The Hebrew word 'rachum,' connected to the feelings of a mother for her child, indicates that God's baseline feeling towards people is one of deep empathy and love. This understanding can be challenging for many, especially those with difficult familial backgrounds, as it may deviate significantly from their experiences of parental relationships. Embracing this image of God as compassionate is essential for healing and spiritual growth, allowing individuals to reshape their understanding of divine love.
Impact of False Images of God
The conversation addresses the psychological impact of false images of God, asserting that what individuals believe about God significantly shapes their identity and behavior. If God is perceived as performance-oriented or judgmental, individuals may adopt similar traits, becoming driven and competitive, potentially harming their relationships. In contrast, understanding God as inherently compassionate leads to personal transformation and the cultivation of grace-filled relationships. This emphasizes the necessity for sincere exploration and correction of distorted views of God to promote holistic spiritual development.
The Journey of Spiritual Discovery
Individuals often face fears when confronting the true nature of God, as these fears can lead to creating a deity that aligns with their desires rather than embracing the authenticity of His character. The discussion suggests that God actively seeks humanity, desiring genuine connection, which requires vulnerability and openness from believers. It becomes crucial to encourage seekers to trust in God's goodness and reject the impulse to project their anxieties onto Him, as this encounter can lead to profound healing and fulfillment. Ultimately, understanding God's true identity may lead to a spiritual journey filled with grace, compassion, and authentic relational depth.
Do we project our own ideas onto God? In this first of two conversations with Ger Jones of Vintage Church LA, John Mark and Ger explore the significance of God having a name and how God's self-disclosure often contradicts our assumptions. They challenge us to re-examine and adjust our implicit knowledge of God by reckoning with God's character revealed in Scripture.
You can read more in the expanded hardcover edition of John Mark’s book God Has a Name, now available wherever books are sold.
Key Scripture Passage: Exodus 34v6-7
This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Kathryn from Amarillo, Texas; Kristen from Brentwood, Tennessee; Cole from Brush Prairie, Washington; Sarah from Waco, Texas; and Ian from Whitestown, Indiana. Thank you all so much!
If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
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