Skip to main content

Every Knee and Every Tongue

               It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” (Romans 14:11)

                Here we go, once again, we’re being told that God can’t cope without our constantly reminding Him that He’s so much better than we are. His ego just can’t it if we don’t treat Him like He’s special. Isn’t that precisely what the Pharisees had against Jesus? He insisted on claiming that He was better than they. Not only did He use messianic titles like “Son of Man,” but He even claimed that “the Father” (AKA God) and He were one. What audacity! The hubris was beyond measure.

                Now, suppose you walked up to a vehicle in a parking lot and someone shouted, “Stop! What do you think you’re doing?”

                You responded, “Getting in my car.”

                They shouted again, “Someone call the police. This person is trying to steal a car!”

                Somewhat confused, you said, “It’s my car.”

                “What arrogance, to claim that it belongs to you and you have the right to get in it and drive away! What hubris! You must think you’re something really special.”

                You said, “But it is my car. Look, the key fob unlocks the door.”

                “Police!”

                You reached into your car and pulled out your registration and driver’s license. “See, here’s a picture of me identifying me as (your name here). And the registration for this car states that the owner is (your name here.)”

                And finally, the police come, look at your documents, and let you drive away while the accuser screams that you have no right.”

                It all comes down to the question of whether or not the claims of ownership, lordship, godhood, etc. are true. If they are, then bowing the knee and acknowledging God isn’t done to placate His fragile ego. Bowing and acknowledging isn’t even a matter meant to humble us. It’s simply a matter of accepting reality. If He is God, then He’s God. Claiming otherwise is insane. It’s not God demanding that we make Him feel special. It’s just logic.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more