Bob Tamasy: Do We Worship A 'Build-A-Bear' God?

When our daughters were young, a few times we visited a retail store that amounted to a do-it-yourself enterprise. It was called “Build-A-Bear,” where children could select their specific furry animal, its little clothes and other features, then put it into the magic stuffing machine. Voila, instant favorite toy!

Pastor and author J.D. Greear referred to this recently when he stated some believers seem to be worshipping a “build-a-bear god,” one that meets their whims and desires, perhaps even one they’ve “created” in their own image. We’ve seen this in some who follow prosperity theology adherents, the “God wants you to be rich” preachers. “If God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, as it says in Psalm 50:10, just ask Him to sell one of the cows for you.”

Similar to this is the “name it and claim it” crowd, folks who believe that since they’re children of God, as the Bible teaches, they can ask for anything they want and God will do it for them. They might even cite John 15:7, when Jesus said, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, as whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Then there’s the “build-a-bear god” who loves everybody to the extent that they all will be welcomed into God’s eternal family, no matter what they’ve done – even if they didn’t believe in Him or flat-out rebelled against Him during their time on Earth.

There are many other variations on this same theme, but basically a God who answers our prayers and does whatever we want, however we want it done. I find this troubling on a number of levels.

First of all, if God is who He says He is in the Scriptures, He’s clearly the one in control, not us. Like it or not, the Bible recounts many times the Lord exacted harsh judgment and punishment of people who defied Him and His teachings. Perhaps we resist this image of God because deep down we realize, apart from His grace and mercy, we deserve the same treatment.

We have straight-forward passages such as Psalm 100:3, where it declares, “Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who made us, and not we ourselves.” As our Creator, Provider and Sustainer, God is the one rightfully calling the shots, not us.

In terms of the “God wants you to be rich”-type sentiments, it’s true that in many places the Lord expresses His eagerness to bestow wonderful things on His people. In Luke 11:13 Jesus said, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” But He never promised that every one of His followers would enjoy an earthly mansion, a luxury car (or cars) with the latest high-tech gizmos, or a bottomless bank account.

The apostle Paul offered a very different perspective in recounting his life before and after encountering Christ. After writing about the lofty status that he had been accorded as “a Hebrew of Hebrews [and] a Pharisee,” Paul then asserted, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ…. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:5-10). Doesn’t quite mesh with the promises of boundless health and material wealth sometimes promoted.

When Moses met the Lord at the burning bush and God told him to serve as His messenger to the Israelites, Moses was reluctant. “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13). In other words, “Who shall I say is this God who sent me?”

The next verse gives the response, which was quick and direct: “God said to Moses, ‘I AM who I AM.’ This is what you are to say to the Israelites. ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God didn’t say, “Well, who would you like Me to be? How can I meet your expectations?” He just said, “I AM.”

So rather than trying to determine the God we want, why not simply accept, glorify and worship “the God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come” (Revelation 4:8). And if we’re unclear about who exactly that is, He has given us 65 other books of the Bible that tell us all we need to know about Him. Certainly not all there is to know about Him, but all we need to know – to love, honor and serve Him.

* * *