We all tend to put what we know and what we accept as truth in a box. God is no exception.
Box 1: God is there and cares. We attend services and receive sacraments (aka circumscision or baptism, seders or memorial feasts, etc etc) complete our youth training (bar mitzvah or confirmation) and go on to our lives until we marry - then we call upon the minister to bless what we are doing- we bring our children for sacraments and ask for help with patch work when things go wrong and have the body send us off when we die. We say certain prayers until we die and God fits comfortably in the box we have created. Whatever we believe and can get ahold of that fits in our box is of God.
Box 2: God is there and cares and walks with us. Our box is a bit bigger than box 1 but still there are certain things that we have been taught from little up that we KNOW to be the only things that are within the limits of who God is. Anything outside of those boundaries is definitely not of Him It doesn't make any difference what others have experienced or others believe- if it's not from OUR BELIEF SYSTEM it's not of God.
Box 3: God is there, cares and walks with us and holds a mystery envelope that he wants to show us. We may cling to certain beliefs and practices within our congregations and in private time with Him but are uncertain of allowing God to open the envelope. This box is cardboard and more bendable than box 1 and 2. As we pray, Lord I believe help my unbelief we are able to move to box 4.
Box 4: This box is made of soft plastic. Basically the contents are those of box 3 except we are more willing to have God open that envelope. There is not so much more prayer here but a more open prayer for Him to show us His mysteries. This box could not be made of paper as some of the boxes in class 3 would pour lots of cold water on it and destroy it. We do have to be careful that cults don't penetrate the plastic so the image of God and close walk is especially important here.
God in a box? You bet! and we all have them. These boxes are over simplified but you get the point.
I am learning that God can't be put into a box and that I need to be open to what he says and wants to show me. God is too vast to fit into any one box. When we see Him we will really understand and fall on our faces before Him on His throne.
Written by A Christian Jew
[/align]
God in A Box
