How to Think About God

What comes to your mind when you think about God?

The fact that we can actually think about God is not only important it is amazing. We tend, by some secret law of our soul, to move toward our mental image of God. Our worship of God is pure when we have a high view of God. Our ‘worship’ is more base and even sinful with a low view.

Our view of God as individuals impacts the corporate gathering of our church each Sunday. The most revealing thing about a church is her idea of God. The church’s most significant message is what she says about Him or leaves unsaid. Often, silence is more eloquent than her speech.

The theologian John Calvin (1509-1527) said, “Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts; the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” Therefore, to know ourselves we must to some degree know God and His will for our lives.

Theology is the study of God. The term theology comes from the Greek words Theos meaning God and logos meaning ideas, word, speech, reason, study. (Foundations of Pentecostal Theology, page 43)

God is the infinite One. The uncaused cause. He exists without beginning and end. Because we are finite, in one sense, we could say that God is incomprehensible. Isaiah 55: 8 – 9 declares, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Although God is infinite, He is knowable. Through Jesus, God has clearly revealed Himself to us and humanity at large. The apostle Paul wrote that Jesus is … “the image of the invisible God.” Colossians 1: 15.

While we humans cannot fully know the infinite God, it abundantly clear that God has revealed Himself and can be know Him to the extent of His self-revelation. In fact, our redemption and eternal life are grounded in knowing God. “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17: 3.

Although God is infinitely greater than human comprehension, He is still intimately knowable through Jesus. As we think about God, humility and reverence are important. God has revealed much of His nature to us as needed to worship Him. A definition of God is helpful. Here is a historical definition as a starting point to help our understanding. “God is Spirit, infinite, Eternal, and Unchangeable in His being. Wisdom, Power, Holiness, Justice, Goodness and Truth are His.” (Westminster Catechism)

Dan Boyd