Belief in God as an all-powerful being, external to humanity, separate from humanity, can be a form of self-righteousness.
“God is responsible for the Universe. God is responsible for this planet, and for all that people – God’s creations – have ever done and ever will do. What can I possibly do to make a difference? I am not responsible for what others have done, do today, or do tomorrow, let alone for the collective effects of their actions such as global warming, racism, income inequality, and war.”
This perspective can become an excuse for thinking small; for seeing the world and our roles in it narrowly; for being content to survive; for doing less than we are able to do; for staying comfortable at the cost of growth and service.
Let
us turn the metaphorical telescope around – it is that simple – and view
ourselves more and more as including God, however named. Let us view ourselves as servants by whom that
Holy Spirit acts in this world and let us dare to do our best, humbly and with
love, to live that way.
