talent show judge

so im reading this book called The Deity Formerly Known as God which is basically about reestablishing our false identity of God, and bringing it to a place of truth.  I have to say the author is pretty dead on about most of the issues; i just got finished a chapter entitled talent show judge.  I believe this is something we are all too familiar with; the act of performing and being judged.  This is something that we see in the media, with wonderful shows like american idol, dancing with the stars, and star search.  all of these have one thing in common people coming to be judged by a panel of people who are supposedly qualified to make a decision about whether or not you are good enough.  We've put ourselves in a position to be judged, and fall into the lie of needing to be good enough.

Well one question, what does good enough look like, or better yet who does the best resemble?

You see we've not only  got sucked into the lie of wanting to be good enough, we have placed the position of talent show judge on God.  With this false position, we have created a God who says "that was good, but it wasn't good enough" spiraling us into something that can ultimately hurt us...MORE. there is more to do, more to give, more to read, more to join...MORE and that more drains us.

The author asks:  

"why do so many people lose themselves in the soul-suffocating quicksand of more? and more important, who is it that keeps asking for more?"  

and the answer is US: the infamous you & me -------->

"tragically it is not God, but you and i who demand and defeat and call out for more and more. it is our own ungodly expectations that meet with our own human limitations to create the conflict we so often find ourselves in."

AND

when that happens "religion for God eclipses relationship with God until our inner lives are lost to our outer lives.  a sturdy shell of godliness without its gentle growing grace...somewhere along the way we substitute activity for intimacy leaving a grand canyon sized gap between busyness and godliness, intimacy and insanity."

"without realizing it, we have carelessly created for ourselves a God whom we can never please. it is a God who keeps us busy with endless activity and piety without purpose.  a God who is never impressed."

If we allow the lies of MORE to eradicate our lives we miss who God really is, Him delighting in you and you and i delighting in him.  He is the one cheering for us, isn't that exciting? We have a father looking down on us and encouraging us..."you can do it son, you can do it daughter..." what a reward, what a thing to rejoice for the hopeful words of our LOVING father.

hosea 6:6 msg

i'm after love that lasts, not more religion. i want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings.

psalm 51:16-17 msg

going through the motions doesn't please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you.  i learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice.