People make God surveyable.
That is how they think and talk about him.                                                     

It came up in another discussion. Since then you hear it everywhere. It is said that sermons are too psychological and too therapeutic. That is "flattening"; people want to be like a child on God's lap. They ask to be lifted up and be close to God's heart. They say and sing all kinds of things but... Enough material for another round of conversation. Tongues are loosened. Some recognize this, others do not. Now first the question: what is “flat” and what is not? For next time I will save the question: how therapeutic can a sermon be?

No Human Thoughts About God⤒🔗

We are human beings, not gods. And our God is not human. We are emphatically taught to

respect that boundary and not to cross it. Yet that has been the danger at all times. “Flattening of the image of God”; the term may be new; the practice has always been there.

But what then are we talking about? About speaking in childish language to the great God? Does that pull him down? That does not strike me as a very strong example.

Rather, I think of all forms of human thinking about God. Widely present in society. People cannot believe in a God who allows disasters and injustices to exist, because that would be "inhumane" of him. It is said casually, but it is a “flat” approach to the eternal and merciful

God who goes his own way for the redemption of this world. A way higher than ours, through which guilt is borne and we are reconciled to him.

Headstrong, haughty people take His measure according to themselves and their own solutions. They also measure him by their own desires. God is welcome when he provides health, freedom and prosperity. And do not assume that such a thing only concerns pagans. Sometimes I am shocked by the human-centred prayers that are offered to the Almighty. “Thank You for this fine morning, and for this food, and give us a nice afternoon too", or similar tenor. It is okay to say such things, but you cannot let God's actions be absorbed into what you yourself find pleasing. Nothing wrong with a simple prayer, but let it always be a word of trust, of thankfulness and surrender. We commit our lives into his hand. He may lead us and use us as he sees fit.

Another form of “flattening” is: wanting to fit everything God says or does into one's own, existing framework. God's Spirit works, in our time as well. He can bring about surprising developments in people's lives, and in the growth of church life. But it happens that all novelty is distrusted in advance. People do not want new wine, because the old wine tastes just fine. And if they have to, they try to store the new wine in old bottles. But can anyone impose such restrictions on God?

Another example: people are listening with increasing difficulty. Conditions are imposed on what God says. Not out loud of course, but still. The message must fit the experience; otherwise it will not get across. A fundamental error. Just imagine: God's Word should fit us, people who have lost all knowledge of God! What foolishness. But it happens, among all ages: “own ideas first”.

By extension: obedience by feel. God's commandments are interpreted on the basis of what a person himself feels is good or bad. One's own desires are not subject to God's revelation, but may be king over them. Thus, a man can go his own way, while thinking and saying that he is a Christian. Very “flat”. In this way God is denied, defiled. Saul did the same and it got him killed.

The great God does not allow himself to be encapsulated in human thoughts and desires. Not even if those people believe in him. Especially not then! Whoever comes close has to pay extra attention to the holiness of God.

God Does Come Very Close←⤒🔗

All this however, does not alter the fact that the great and eternal God wants to live among men according to his pleasure. That is his own choice, through which he is not “flattened”, but in which He glorifies Himself! He is in heaven and does everything that pleases him. At the same time he is just as present on earth, indeed, he dwells in people's hearts. Deeply impressive.

He teaches us to say “Father”. And we are encouraged to approach him in Christ “without trepidation” (Hebr.10). Through his Spirit he teaches us to have a “confiding” relation with him (Ps. 25:14). As with “a friend”, some translations say. That is very close, and personal. Not that we bring him down. But he bows down so far in his endless love and unfathomable mercy.

So now we must discern well, in all sensitivity. Not all  confiding is “flattening” of our image of God, on the contrary. By putting away our fear and detachment, we honour him who is truly our Father! Heaven cannot contain him, and yet he lives among us, even in us. He makes my heart a temple, a place of worship and hearing. Those who make “flat” accusations about this have not understood a thing.

God Speaks in Human Images←⤒🔗

We may not make carved images or any likeness of God. We would always do him wrong. But what if God himself uses imagery? And puts that language on our lips? The Bible is full of it. Psalm 103 states that God is as a father who has compassion on his children, and David says in Psalm 139 that God has laid his hand upon him. Do we “flatten” him then? Certainly not! With him we may be as a weaned child with his mother (Ps. 131). Such a child lies in her lap, does it not? We sing it. May we not say it then? God lifts us up; he daily bears our burdens (Ps. 68). All imagery, but still. Apparently we may also think and speak this way about how he deals with us. We sing that we will find refuge under his wings (Ps. 91). This is the image of a chick that huddles close to the mother hen when it senses danger. And so on. Flat? No, it is surprising!

John always emphasises who Jesus is, the beloved Son. We read that he “is at the Father’s side” (John 1:18 NIV). Or in the KJV:  “which is in the bosom of the Father”. We may believe that this Son came to take our place and bring us to his place (John 20:17). Where is that? At the side of the Father. We may share in the same love when we, through faith, are included in Jesus Christ. Let no one call this “flat”. Yes, of course, there is always the danger that we will take this for granted. When the amazement disappears, the reality of grace has become as flat as a dime. The most beautiful words become hollow sounds. But with the wrong use, the good must not disappear. We may know ourselves to be beloved children of God, close to his heart, together with Jesus Christ, the eternal Son. Words fail us, but still, with the words we have, we may say and sing it.

The Father Listens to Childlike Language←⤒🔗

In addition, we may say “daddy” to this great Father (Rom. 8:15). I have heard many sermons and read many books about this. “Really, you can say 'Daddy', like a little child looking up, full of trust.” Yet I rarely hear anyone do that. Certainly not in church. Why not? Do we think it is too ‘flat’? Fact is that the more elevated “Father” is easier for us to say.

Although there is a change going on. Exalted language is transformed into ordinary words. Take Psalm 139. It says “You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.” Today it is made into a song:  “Sleeping or arising, Lord before me and behind, Infinite and ageless.” Ordinary language, concrete, expressive, reverent. And yet it takes some getting used to. “God is before me and behind”, this is how he makes himself known; I am not pulling Him down with that. A great nature lover, who loved God very much, once said: “When I cycle through the fields, God rides with me”. Metaphorically, of course. Still, not everyone could appreciate this, you cannot talk about God in such “ordinary” terms, was their verdict.

John writes: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him” (1John 4:16 NIV). Beautifully said! This is echoed in: Hold me close, Let Your love surround me, Bring me near

Draw me to Your side” (Hillsong). A prayer with the same meaning but in simple language. Too simple? Why then? Are these not the words of a child saying “Daddy”?! Yet people may reject this as “evangelical” (whatever they may mean by that). Very unfortunate.

A similar phenomenon occurs when part of the Sunday sermon is delivered in simple language, which is also understandable for children. You can also talk about God's great love in very simple words. This does not have to detract from the message; on the contrary.

Nevertheless, it takes some getting used to. Many people are geared to more church language, bigger words. This simplicity is not for them. The sermon really starts when the childlike language is over…

Great In Our Midst←⤒🔗

Conclusion: a lot of things are dismissed as “flat” which they are not at all. While the really flat way of dealing with God can be present as a habituation! Reason for constant self-examination. Our Father is in heaven, we will not think of him in any earthly way. At the same time we will see him on earth, in ordinary life, rejoicing in children and in those who become like children. Not flat, but great!