What I Don’t Like About God

Kevin McCarthy
January 5, 2009

Okay... God’s had his day... now, I want to talk about what I DON’T LIKE ABOUT GOD!

It’s shocking.. I know... but I can’t help it... there are some things about God that... well... I just don’t like and I wish he would change. Are you ready?... here goes... and you might want to take a step back from the computer screen... you don’t want to get hit with any residual electricity after I get smote.

Okay... the first thing I don’t like about God... why is it... every time I turn around I see God over there loving my enemies? I mean... where’s the loyalty? I thought God was supposed to be on my team?

I saw a recent demonstration related to the war now raging in Gaza. One lady was screaming that the Jews should go to “another oven.” This was a totally shocking and ugly thing to hear. Yet, I understand her anger. If someone had killed my loved one... I would expect God to understand and embrace my anger, my hatred for the killers of my child. Of course, a God who loves me... is supposed to be FOR me and AGAINST my enemy... isn’t he?... well apparently not my God... no... he’s over there with my enemy loving him and telling me if I retaliate I will have to strike him first. I don’t get it... do you?

The next thing I don’t like about God is related to that... he forgives. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m very happy and relieved that he is a forgiving God. Lord knows, I sure need God to be that way no question about it... but he always takes it too far; to the extreme. He always gets that linkage-thing going, reminding me, “I forgave you... can you forgive person X?”

He really starts to pile it on with the “which is a greater distant to transverse? The journey God makes from heaven to forgive you... or the journey you must make to forgive person X? Which is a longer journey? Which? Which? Which?” (and I don’t like how God keeps repeating the question when you don’t want to answer... he so irritating like that).

Here’s another thing about God I don’t like: the bait and switch... yea... that’s right.. I said it; the bait and switch. First he gives you all the nice love and makes you feel like you are only his, that you’re “special” to him and all that... and it’s nice and all… don’t get me wrong... but then... he starts coming at you with all these expectations... you know... its like he expects you to start thinking and feeling like he does and I’m like... whoa... did I apply for a job as God? Hey, look... I’m FOR God... I’m just not so sure I can BE God, okay?

One more thing, God is so inconvenient... I mean.. I think God, sometimes, just goes out of his way to do things in the most inconvenient manner. Things like:

How God prefers you to send handwritten letters rather than emails.. Get with it God... OMG we don’t have time... or how he prefers you visit and spend time with someone… hello… we have cell phones now… Or walking with someone is better than driving in the car with someone... okay, now this is getting nutty! How about we compromise and I’ll wheel out my horse and buggy? Or that the best tasting fish you ever ate is the one you and a friend caught, cleaned and cooked together. Right, sounds great God... excuse me a sec... yea ah hello... I’ll take the fish filet sandwich with the super-sized fries, thank you... yea... number 7... SEVEN!... oh and give me the strawberry shake with that. Okay… thanks.

I remember when I was in Zimbabwe. I was invited to dinner one evening by a local family. They walked all the way to where I was staying just so they could personally escort me to their house. I told them they should have just given me directions... but they just laughed. Then after dinner, they walked me all the way home, which was many miles. It was very inconvenient. So we walked and talked and, yes, we really got to know each other... and, yes... I guess I’ll never forget them and all... but why would people put up with such an inconvenience?

It seems that love and relationship have a certain pace and timing that has become inconvenient for us today and so we just have to move on and leave it behind, I suppose. Things have to be convenient today and I don’t like that God doesn’t quite understand that.

Well, those are some of the things that I don’t like about God... there’s more I’m sure but I can’t think of them right now... so ….if God could change all these things then, well, he would be just about perfect for me... just for me.. in fact... only for me. He would be my private God. Therein lies the problem, I guess... God is not a private God. (in fact, you can put that on the list) God is the God of all the people... what an unfortunate circumstance for God that he must be a God of all... to be the God of Palestinian and of Jew, the God of slave and master, the God of the murdered and murderer, the God of Custer, the God of Sitting Bull, of Blue, of Grey, of terrorist and terrorized, the God of the world of spirit and the world of flesh, the God of East and West, red and blue, the God of every race, every culture... yes… and my God... but also the God of each... sinner and saint, friend and foe.

So.. am I wrong? Yes... I am wrong and that’s the final thing “I” don’t like about God... he is stubborn and absolute and will never change... so “I” must decide that this “I” that doesn’t like God... is the “I” that must change!

What “I” don’t like about God is what “I” don’t like about “I.”