During the Christmas season, many people celebrate the holidays with fun advent calendars filled with chocolates and treats. Perhaps we can change the traditional "secular" advent in December to something that will draw us closer to Christ. Won't you consider an advent tradition of prayer this year? The article featured in the November 29th, 2022 issue of the Christian Scholar blog highlights the benefits and the necessity of advent prayer.
“Are you too comfortable with God?”
The speaker’s comment took me by surprise and brought back a flood of emotions. Throughout the years, I’ve often wrestled with balancing the transcendence and intimacy of God. I’m not alone. In the same passage, the psalmist both states God is “the great King above all gods” and “we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care” (Ps. 95:3, 6–7). Yet, to be honest, over the years I’ve increasingly moved toward intimacy and away from transcendence. It’s interesting to compare my view of God with a pillar of the faith and his posture toward the Almighty.
In Exodus 33, Moses boldly prayed that God would show up. He worried about leading the people of Israel into enemy-occupied territory and asked for confirmation. “Lord, would you allow me to see your glory?” Moses pled. Exodus records God’s remarkable response. “Yes, you may see my glory, but only under the following conditions.” God tells Moses he will be placed in a cleft in the rock, God’s hand will cover him, and Moses will only be allowed to see his back. Why all the precautions? Without precautions, God’s glory would overwhelm Moses and may even be dangerous.
What separates Moses from me is our view of God. Moses viewed God as holy and majestic; I view God as a gentle, soothing presence. When Moses thought of God he trembled; I think of God and am comforted. Moses was awestruck; I am at ease.
Feeling completely at ease with God is not wrong so much as it is imbalanced. In constantly relating to God as my heavenly Father and friend, I have slowly lost my sense of awe. Over time, I’ve stripped God of attributes that make me feel uncomfortable—holiness, sovereignty, omniscience—and fixated on the ones I take comfort in—kindness, trustworthiness, love, and patience. God has become a glorified version of the best of human characteristics: a God who is reliable but not majestic; a God who is reassuring yet not fear inducing. My lack of awe is most evident in my prayer life. Over the years, I’ve adopted a casual approach to prayer where I primarily communicate with God while doing other things—walking the dog, driving to work, or sitting in my favorite chair sipping coffee. In short, most of my prayers are distracted and lacking any sense of the divine.
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