The Universe
Penny LeClair
I have been in the company of people when they ask for something or are grateful for something they refer to “the universe” for their granting and gratitude. These are not just any people I have heard do this, some of these people refer to themselves as Christians. Here is an example I have heard, once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen, and they gratefully thank the universe for the answer. This really has me questioning… if we are Christians, why are we asking and thanking God’s creation for our needs to be met, when God’s word clearly states that HE supplies all of our needs according to HIS riches in Glory through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
According to Wikepedia worshiping the universe is Pantheism. Pantheism is the view that the Universe (or Nature) and God (or divinity) are identical. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal god. The word derives from the Greek (pan) meaning "all" and the Greek (theos) meaning "God". As such, pantheism denotes the idea that "God" is best seen as a process of relating to the Universe, not the creator of the universe. At the heart of pantheism is reverence and awe of the universe as the ultimate focus.
Worshiping the Universe is idolatry plain and simple. Idolatry is the world wide human tendency to value something or someone in a way that hinders the love and trust we owe to God. It is an act of theft from God whereby we use some part of creation in a way that steals from honor due to God and it conflicts with our putting God first in our lives according to Exodus 20:3-5; Deut. 5:7-9; Romans 1:21-23. This is not wise.
The bible says, that the beginning of wisdom is the awesomeness of Lord Jehovah, and his Servants have good understanding; his glory stands to eternity according to Psalm 111:10 and the chief wisdom is the awe of Lord Jehovah, but the evil despise knowledge and instruction. Proverbs 1:7.
Romans 1:25 says, they exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator. That says it plan and clear for me, we do not worship created things, and according to Genesis 1:1, Nehemiah 9:6, and Colossian 1:15-16 the universe and everything in it was created by God.
Satan hates true worship (awe, reverence) for the almighty God with a passion and will do anything to get us to give our lives and attention to something other than the true and living God. Satan uses pantheism because of its belief that all things are God, using God in the equation in word only leaving the personal relationship with God out. A form of God without the power and presence of God.
The bible also says in Hosea 4:6 my people are being destroyed because they don't know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children. This sounds harsh, but we live in a world who has forgotten the one who created them, worshiping creation instead and the result is showing in the outbreak of evil on the earth. If you don’t believe me, just watch the news and read your newspapers, we are in the times when evil is being called good, and good is being called evil. Isaiah 5:20.
God is a God who so loved you and me that he gave His only son, so that we could spend eternity with Him John 3:16. He is a relational God, and wants relationship with us. There is a loss of identity, worth and value with worshipping the universe. The bible says we were made in the image of God according to Genesis 1:27 and that God knew us while we were in our mothers womb according to Jeremiah 1:5. We werent made in the image of the universe, and the universe sure didn’t know us in our mothers wombs. Only the almighty God did and knew these things.
And yet we wonder why we have a world full of adults and kids who are depressed, lonely, angry and are in an identity crisis. Satan came to steal, kill and destroy John 10:10, with out Jesus, satan is doing just that, stealing their identities, their health, their relationships, their sanity, their provision. Jesus said I came so that you can have life and have it more abundantly, John 10:10… Believing the universe can save, heal, deliver and provide is deception at its best.
Only worshiping the one true God can bring you wisdom, healing, deliverance, provision and wholeness.
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Very well written! I often wonder about why people refer to “the universe” when they can have the CREATOR of the universe!
This is so true Penny. I think phrases like these are people’s way of acknowledging that there is a higher power at work while trying to remain “P.C” and not use the name of God so as not to offend anyone.
You hear it all the time with those in the spotlight. The sad thing about Christians who do this is that they too are worried about offending someone by using the name of God. But no other religion seems to have this concern.
Other followers of different faiths or religions are very bold in their proclamations. Some would even die in it’s defense. We Christians are the only ones who seem comfortable enough in our faith to make such substitutions.
Ohh!! I sooo agree with you and with Ron! People try to gain their favor with man, but they forget they lose their favor with God. HE is the one that can bring us so much furhter in life than that people do.We need to be more bold about that it really means to stand up for God and all HIs truths…like Ron says all the other religions do!
Excellent article. I, too, have heard people say this and it just rubbed me the wrong way. You put great words to what I was feeling. Great reminder of the One, True God who wants our praise and worship for Him alone!
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