We have turned to a God that we can use rather than a God…
““We have turned to a God that we can use rather than a God we must obey; we have turned to a God who will fulfill our needs rather than to a God before whom we must surrender our rights to ourselves. He is a God for us and for our satisfaction, and we have come to assume that it must be so in the church as well. And so we transform the God of mercy into a God who is at our mercy. We imagine that he is benign, that he will acquiesce as we toy with his reality and co-opt him in the promotion of our ventures and careers.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
We treat God as a tool for personal comfort, losing reverence and surrender.
In simple terms: We use God for our needs instead of obeying Him.
Key Takeaway
Reclaim humility and true worship.
Themes
theity
humility
faith
idolatry
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
theological
expository
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- church teaching
- spiritual formation
- ethical leadership
Key Concepts
theological anthropology
religious idolatry
Questions to Reflect On
- How does using God for personal gain affect community?
- What does true surrender look like?
A Different Perspective
This view can ignore God's transcendent nature and lead to selfishness.