Don’t Put God in a Box

I’d like to add this one to my list of used and abused religious slogans.

I know what the person is getting at: many times, our expectations and background get in the way of seeing who God really is.  A classic example is the person who had an abusive father, and now he has problems seeing God outside of those lenses.

At least, that’s a very, very charitable interpretation of that slogan.  But most of the time, the slogan is a cop out.

credit: godhedontliveinnobox.com boy that was a mouthful.

My hunch is that most of the time, the “DPGIAB” slogan is used just to avoid engaging in an evaluative discussion.  You’ve brought some points suggesting that such and such isn’t of God, or you’ve brought up some things that suggests so and so’s depiction (or box, if you will) of God is inaccurate, and the person responds with a rhetorical hand wave meant to put you in your place and end discussion: “Don’t put God in a box.”

You can use this ditty to justify just about anything.  The way it’s often used, that guy standing on the corner with the “God hates fags” placard could use it.

“Hey, God isn’t like that!”

“Don’t put God in a box, you heathen…you’re going to hell.”

Tell me, what’s the difference between your use of the slogan and his use?

“Well, we can see in the Bible that God isn’t like that.  I’ve even got a verse.”

That’s exactly what I’m doing.  Why, then, do people slap that slogan on me when I point to God in the Bible?

William Young, author of The Shack, puts God in a box…a very unscriptural box, I add.  I don’t hear anyone saying “don’t put God in a box!” to him.

Joel Osteen puts God in a box: a vending machine that dispenses “your best life now.”  I don’t hear anyone saying, “don’t put God in a box!” to him.

I only hear that cliche’ used when someone is trying to defend the biblical concept of God and/or in situations critiquing the spiritually bizarre, like what’s going on in Lakeland, Florida.    I never hear it used any other time.

Todd Bentley starts Chuck Norrising in the spirit, I cry foul, then someone comes along and says, “tsk tsk.  Don’t put God in a box.”

I suggest that The Shack presents a wholly other Jesus, a Jesus that we shouldn’t endorse.  It being fiction or “just a book” isn’t an excuse.  After all, what if Young made the Trinity out to be a cooped up Baptist seminarian, a Republican politician, and a snarky 15 year old skater?

Oh, sorry…I forgot.  Can’t put God in a box.  Put your critique away and just say you loved it.  You’re supposed to be a good, (read: nonjudgmental, non-discerning) Christian.

Come to think of it, God puts Himself in a box.  He comes right out and says what He is like, then He commands us to pay attention and revere that.  Of course, sometimes His description is hard to understand and definitely complex.  Sometimes we miss it.  But lets not twitter about saying He doesn’t put Himself in a box.

You can’t avoid “putting God in a box.”  Anytime you say what God is like, you are putting Him in a box.  Anytime you say what God isn’t like (“God isn’t hateful.  God is love.”), you are putting Him in a box.  The real question should be, “does my box line up with God’s box?”

I understand the people using the slogan are well meaning, and usually nice.  But it’s an empty way of thinking.  Absolutely empty.  Cut it out, folks.

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