Our Dream!

I was initially attracted to this web site because of the free discussion of ideas which centered primarily on the character of God. To know God is everything to me – not in an abstract or impersonal way, but to know God as a Friend. I love knowing that God is just like Jesus….wait, it’s even better than that. Jesus IS God. That’s nice, some would say, but ‘so what’? There are thousands of web sites about God, what’s the point of one more?

All the billions of people in this world, regardless of race or religion, are equally valued members of God’s family. I happen to be a Seventh Day Adventist, and for me personally, this background has been very helpful in developing a good picture of God. But, when I look at the world, I see us broken down into so many little factions and stereotypes and labels, which has the effect of blocking this wonderfully simple and clear message about God. “Oh no”, some will immediately say upon knowing my background, “he’s going to try to convert me to vegetarianism, to change my church day, and to tell me about how God moved from one room to another in heaven a few years back.”

Our site strives for a general audience, not because we want to trick people into loving what we have to say for a few weeks and then clubbing them over the head to become baptized into a certain denomination. NO!! We want people to come to see and appreciate how humble, loving, kind, and gentle God is, and if I had my way, I would never choose to mention what denomination I belong to – not that I’m ashamed of it, but we are only trying to convert people into a certain belief about what God is like.

For example, I know some who through conversations and some reading/tape materials, have grown into an absolutely wonderful picture of God. Yet, they don’t share my specific denomination. Am I worried? Absolutely not! They have a good and true picture of God, and really trust him. Mission accomplished! We should only be about God, and bringing people to a true picture of God. Now, there are lots of other details, and I love the details (in fact, I’ve chosen to belong to a certain denomination because I believe they have more of the details right), but we too often get stuck in the details, and argue to the death over details which have little to do with God or our relationship with God.

I know people outside of my denomination that have a better picture of God and his true character than some within my denomination. When God is looking over the list of candidates for heaven and he comes to an individual who belongs to my church (who perhaps believes in a few more of the correct details than someone of another denomination) as opposed to a non-denominational Christian (hey, lets go further and say a Muslim), what is the criterion he uses for entry to heaven? I would say that it is entirely based on an intimate and true knowledge of God. Because if we see God as he really is and we like it, it is then automatic that we come to love and trust him, and that is the only requirement for heaven in my opinion.

So, God looks at the person who sits next to me in church every week and says, “Boy this guy keeps the right day, he has a really good diet, he reads his Bible and goes to church, he’s even generous with tithes and offerings…but, he doesn’t really know me. He thinks I’m severe, stern, and one to be feared. He would never come boldly into my presence because deep down he doesn’t believe that I am gracious. And, because of these false beliefs about my character, he has not become changed into my image. I will sadly have to tell him, ‘I don’t know you as a friend’ (i.e. ‘I don’t know you’):

“Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!’” (Matthew 7:21).

“…the bridegroom arrived. The five who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed. Later the others arrived. ‘Sir, sir! Let us in!’ they cried out. ‘Certainly not! I don't know you,’ the bridegroom answered” (Matthew 25:10-12).

“The door to heaven is narrow. Work hard to get in, because many will try to enter, but when the head of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. Then you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know you.’ You will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don't know you. Go away, all you who do evil’” (Luke 13:24-27).

“If only you had really understood and believed my words, ‘And eternal life means to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, whom you sent’ (John 17:3).

To the Muslim, God perhaps says, “this person does not even know about the clearest revelation of my character to the world – my life on earth. But yet, he believes me to be compassionate and good, though he does not know the name Jesus. He does not believe me to have a dark side, and he has followed the truth as far as he could. He is teachable and willing to listen. He himself is caring and giving to the needy in society, and has become a loving person. This individual is a man after my own heart and of him I can say:

“The Gentiles do not have the Law; but whenever they do by instinct what the Law commands, they are their own law, even though they do not have the Law. Their conduct shows that what the Law commands is written in their hearts. Their consciences also show that this is true, since their thoughts sometimes accuse them and sometimes defend them. And so, according to the Good News I preach, this is how it will be on that Day when God through Jesus Christ will judge the secret thoughts of all.” (Romans 2)

Did you catch that? “According to the Good News…THAT IS HOW IT WILL BE..” What is the Good News? THE GOOD NEWS IS ENTIRELY ABOUT GOD, AND THE TRUE CHARACTER OF OUR GOD. That he is just like Jesus; that he is Jesus. This Muslim believes God to be kind, gentle, compassionate, and without a dark side. He has, in essence, accepted the Good News though he may not have come to accept Jesus by name.

What I am trying to say is that I and the others at HS.com want to promote only the truth about God and his gracious character. My own personal preference would be to avoid, as much as possible, certain issues that relate to a specific denomination. It is inevitable that such things come up on occasion, but if we find ourselves talking about the doctrinal details more than we are talking about God, we are defeating our mission. I believe that a people (regardless of denominational backgrounds), who are united on the single belief that the Good News is entirely about the beautiful character of God, and who are focused on the wonderful truth that God is more kind and gracious than we can possibly imagine (just like the Father of the Prodigal son story holding out his arms wide to us, even in our rebellion), that this can have a powerful influence in the world. Let people of all Christian and non-Christian backgrounds come, and lets talk together about how good God is. Let’s be humble in admitting that we don’t have all the answers. But, if we are at least united on the kind of person God is, this will have the effect to break down all barriers. The Good News is not about my church or about me, the Good News is about a God who is just like Jesus.

Finally, if one takes the time to read through our many forums, it doesn’t take long to stumble upon many heated exchanges when feelings are hurt and sacred beliefs are challenged and the behavior has on rare occasion been rude. The manner in which we communicate with each other speaks loud and clear as to our belief in the kind of person we believe God to be. I never want to edit or moderate these discussions, unless it is totally out of hand. God did not moderate David when he asked for the babies to be crushed on the rocks. Our exchange of ideas should always speak well of God even when we disagree. And, when Jesus was in contention with those who disagreed with him, I believe that he was only concerned about the welfare of those who held to false beliefs. He was upset about that, not upset that they wounded his pride or questioned his authority. If we find a reason to ever confront someone on these threads because we disagree, it should only spring from a motive of trying to speak well of God and from a genuine desire to open the light of God’s love to the other person. Otherwise, best to keep the fingers from typing.

Hey, we have some unbelievably exciting things planned here at HS.com. And, it all will focus on our gracious God!