What is your Image of God?
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What comes to mind when you hear the word God?
The authentic answer to this question will prove to be incredibly
helpful on this journey of Christian spiritual formation. I
work at a Christian university and the answers I get from my
students speak volumes about why their journey is as it is. Once
we get past the Sunday school/Confirmation answers, richer, more
meaningful responses are offered. These deeper answers
provide the framework for one’s entire spirituality. Thus,
you want
to get to the heart of your framework.
Take out a piece of paper and pen. The two questions and
subsequent reflection items will take you about 10-20 minutes
to answer. So get comfy, try to free yourself of distractions
(i.e. turn off the iPod/TV), and open yourself to what is inside.
Jot down a few thoughts in response to the statements below – go
for the gut level, authentic responses…not the pretty
answers you think others will want to hear.
- Describe in as much detail the image that comes to mind when
you hear the word God.
Don’t edit anything that comes to mind. You’re looking
for both the positive and negative connotations that reside deep
within you.
- Now describe what you think God is thinking about
you today.
Again, no editing!
Time for reflection….
What do you notice about your responses to the above statements?
Do your responses accurately reflect what is deep within you?
If you wrote down something other than what you really think
or feel, why did you do that?
For many of us, we have a jaded view of
God and a jaded view of how we are seen by this deity. This
becomes very troublesome along the journey of spiritual formation.
My image of God was that of a perfectionistic, demanding,
upset, and distant man. I felt I was never good enough
in his eyes and I was constantly disappointing him. I
came to realize I had given up trying to be “a good
Christian” (whatever that is) because in my mind God
was always going to be disappointed with me. Why bother
with all this spiritual transformation…I’ll never
be like Jesus!
- too many students to name
Is this quote familiar to you? Do you think this is
what God is really like?
In the coming weeks, you will be exploring how you came to
have your image of God. Your history, family and culture
have greatly shaped the way you view God. It will be
important to un-package how you came to have this image BECAUSE
this image shapes your entire spiritual journey.
With your group/community this week….
- Bring the reflections you jotted down earlier
this week.
- Know this first group will be the most awkward
as you begin talking about your spiritual journey
with other people.
- Be prepared to be in conversation with one
another for 1-2 hours when you meet.
- Start your time together by:
Lighting a candle/sitting
in silence for a few minutes to collect your thoughts/
praying for God’s
gentle presence to guide the conversation/whatever
calls the group together out of the initial chit-chat
that always occurs when people get together.
(FYI…it
helps to have 2 people own the role of “helping
the conversation along”… these
people are the ones to ask the next question/make
helpful comments/etc. when the group hits an
awkward pause. However,
the silence that occasionally comes is good…it
allows for people to be quiet before God and
others instead of filling silence with superficial
words – so
try to be ok with occasional silence)
- Once the group is centered, move at your
own pace through these questions/conversation starters:
- Share with each other some
characteristics of your image of God – notice
aloud if there are there any points of commonality
(Don’t comment too much or give advice
or correction to anyone’s image…instead,
mentally note any differences between your image of
God and other’s images.)
- If it hasn’t come up, see if there
are different images of God and Jesus Christ – how
do these differences impact one’s spiritual
journey?
- Wonder with each other how
these images of God/Jesus Christ impact:
- how you feel about yourselves?
- how you make decisions?
- your relationships (with God and with other
people)?
- your spiritual journey?
- Finally, in a gentle and
respectful way, share with one another how you were
challenged/encouraged/enlightened/etc. by the conversation & other’s
images of God.
- End your time however it
seems appropriate…(i.e.
prayer, each sharing one thing they will be thinking
about in light of the converation, silence, listening
to music, food, etc.) Do
what manifests itself naturally.
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Now what?!…
Each week, after the group time, ask yourself: So
what should I notice?
Perhaps keep a running journal of what
you notice stirring in your soul…it is interesting to
go back at the end of this study and read the stirrings and
movements occurring in one’s spiritual journey.
Note:
Be prepared to set aside 45 minutes to 1 and1/2 hours
for this coming week’s individual exercise…you
will be mapping out your life on paper and this could take
some time!
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