The Daily Christian - The Universe is not God
I've noticed lately the word Universe being interchanged, in movies and on TV, for the word God. However, it seems not all are using the word Universe as a synonym for God. A quote by Paulo Coelho, who has quite the following on Facebook is known for saying, "When you want something; all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it." It would appear from this that Paulo, and those who believe as he does, that when the word Universe is used it means a kind of invisible force that helps make your dreams come true. I've seen others express it somewhat differently as a sort of force that will align with you and provide you with what you desire if only you maintain a positive mindset.
The world is full of erroneous ideas like these, and it would be difficult to combat them all, but after having a conversation with an acquaintance who used the Universe phrasing, I thought it was time to write on the subject.
For those who use the word Universe as a synonym for God, it is as if they are unfamiliar with the definitions for these two words. The universe is a physical, unconscious thing that, according to my Google.com definition search, is "10 billion light-years in diameter [that] contains a vast number of galaxies." God, on the other hand, is defined by the same source and those of the monotheistic religions as "the creator and ruler of the universe."
As Christians, we should not allow this erroneous interchanging of words to seep into our usage, thinking it less contentious or more politically correct. Exchanging the thing that was made (the Universe) with the person (God) who made it is simply nonsensical and an antithesis to our faith.
In like manner, believing that there is an invisible, non-personal force out there, trying to get you what you want if only you believe it to be true, is not only a new age concept, it is completely unbiblical.
The God we serve, as He is described in the Bible, is a very personal God. He has a character, a personality if you will, a Holiness that is revealed to us through the experiences of those in the biblical text. In addition, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." (James 1:17) Good things do not originate from some Universal force. They come from God.
The world is full of erroneous ideas like these, and it would be difficult to combat them all, but after having a conversation with an acquaintance who used the Universe phrasing, I thought it was time to write on the subject.
For those who use the word Universe as a synonym for God, it is as if they are unfamiliar with the definitions for these two words. The universe is a physical, unconscious thing that, according to my Google.com definition search, is "10 billion light-years in diameter [that] contains a vast number of galaxies." God, on the other hand, is defined by the same source and those of the monotheistic religions as "the creator and ruler of the universe."
As Christians, we should not allow this erroneous interchanging of words to seep into our usage, thinking it less contentious or more politically correct. Exchanging the thing that was made (the Universe) with the person (God) who made it is simply nonsensical and an antithesis to our faith.
In like manner, believing that there is an invisible, non-personal force out there, trying to get you what you want if only you believe it to be true, is not only a new age concept, it is completely unbiblical.
The God we serve, as He is described in the Bible, is a very personal God. He has a character, a personality if you will, a Holiness that is revealed to us through the experiences of those in the biblical text. In addition, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." (James 1:17) Good things do not originate from some Universal force. They come from God.
No comments have been added yet.
