Bumper Cars

"We demolish arguments and every pretension

that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,

and we take captive every thought

to make it obedient to Christ."

2 Corinthians 10:5

I have seen two interesting and infuriating bumper stickers in the past week. The first is just dumb and dishonoring:

God was my co-pilot.

We crashed in the mountains.

I ate him.

and the second one is fascinatingly false:

God is too big to fit into one religion.

If people would stop and think logically they would see what stupidity they are believing. As I thought about the message this person was trying to communicate, three possibilities came to mind: one, they are just trying to tell Christians that they are wrong for saying there is only ONE way, or two, they are one of those who says to tolerate all religions because every religion leads to God in the end. The third and only other option is that they truly believe it. As I said, logically, it does not make sense. (Logic these days, though, has been thrown out the window and replaced with relativism. Personally I see it as an excuse to not have to think hard.)

The religions of the world are continually in conflict with each other. Not all of them believe the same about God, His nature and His purpose in the world. If there is only one God, (and there is only one) and He was in all religions, then He would be going against Himself all the time. Which, is impossible for God to do by the very definition and nature of "God."

God is simple. He is simple because He knows all and understands all. He cannot learn, change or be controlled. In His simplicity He cannot be divided. A divided being can be studied and somewhat explained in the divisions. A complex being, like humans or trees, can be divided (anatomy, biology, philosophy, etc.) and be explained. In His simplicity He is incomprehensible.

It is only by His mercy that we even know the mystery of His existence. The Scripture makes it perfectly clear that He revealed Himself to us (Romans 16:25-27; Ephesians 1, 3, 5; Colossians 1, 2, 4, etc.). He then sent His Son and told us that the ONLY way to Him was through His Son, Jesus (John 14). THAT is the one religion that God chose to give us. He does not "fit" into it because He IS the Creator.

It (religion) is our access to God not His (God's) limitation.

And in that access there can only be one way that is right in order for God to not contradict Himself. That "religion" is faith in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who:

"being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2

So, bumper stickers, say what you may. You are setting yourself up against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5, verse above). One day those who displayed you will bow before the One True God and all things will become very clear to them.

I pray that they are awakened to the beauty and majesty of the One True God before they meet Him face to face!

(Who, by the way, is no one's CO-pilot...)