God Friended Me – REALLY?
I was sitting in my living room the other evening and a commercial came on about an upcoming Fall 2018 CBS sitcom named “God Friended Me”. My first thought was, and how I still feel, is that such is ridiculous. I decided to look into this upcoming series to see what its premise is. (I will not be watching)
What I found was about what I expected. From Wikipedia, I found the following. It was ordered to series on May 11,2018. (And so is now in production.) It is described as a humorous, uplifting series, that explores questions of faith, existence and science. It centers on an outspoken atheist “Miles”, whose life is turned upside down when he is friended by God on Facebook. Unwittingly, he becomes an agent of change in the lives and destinies of others around him. Another character “Cara” is a leading writer for a leading online magazine who is under pressure for her next big story. Her life takes an interesting turn when she meets the main character “Miles” – get this- thanks to God’s friend suggestion.
I have seen and heard blasphemy presented in many different ways, but this is a new package entirely. This irreverence for God is a work of the devil. He started his work in the Garden of Eden and all these years later man is still falling for it and indeed – embracing it. To speak of, or speak to God as if He were “one of us” is indeed blasphemy. God is not the “man upstairs” nor is He the “big guy” or any other such nonsense. From Psalm 111:9 we read that even the name of God is set apart. . . . “holy and reverend is his name.” Even those who aspire to wear the name or title of “reverend” are participating in this same type of irreverence. Those who do so are not showing wisdom at all. Wisdom is not doing what we want or being called as we wish to be called. If we continue reading in Psalm 111:10 one can readily see that there is to be a fear of God and also where wisdom begins. Fear in this sense means utmost respect, awe and reverence. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. Those who do participate in such irreverence and blasphemy are much like those depicted in Romans 1:28 where we also see that God will allow them to make whatever decision they want and persist in whatever activity they so desire. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Israel, having just seen the power and glory of God in His great deliverance of them from the Egyptians, sang a song in Exodus 15. In verse 11 we find a proclamation that many have forgotten. Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Exodus 15:11 From this, one would think that the people of God would remain faithful and always serve God as He commanded. But, we can see from Isaiah 55:6-9 that irreverence and disobedience also affected Israel. God sent Isaiah to call Israel back to God and reminded them that He is not like we are. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
No, God does not have a Facebook account! He does not “Tweet”! He is not a “social media” God! He does not speak directly to us, nor communicate to us in any way except through His Word. It has been this way since the miraculous ended with the completion of God’s Revelation to man. He will not contact us by telephone, e-mail, fax or through any of the modern means of communication that have likely consumed way too much of our time.
God indeed “friended” all of humanity when He sent His Son to provide the means for salvation. We are told what God’s power unto salvation is in Romans 1:16. It is the gospel of Christ: . . . for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Perhaps we would do well to simply follow the advice of 1Timothy 4:16 where the Spirit had Paul direct Timothy. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. This is also why the Spirit had Paul instruct Timothy thusly in 2Timothy 4:2. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
While some may think this upcoming show to be cute and some may even be so bold as to say that it will introduce people to God or cause them to think about God, let’s not get caught up in that which relegates God to the position of a mere man.
Let us know God as He is presented in His Word and seek to serve Him in accordance to His Word lest we be found to have missed the mark for which all Christians should strive. Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
