We have discussed JB Phillips's book Your God Is Too Small here before, quite a few times in twenty years. But two of the posts, Sentimental Jesus (lots o' comments) and Your God Is Too Small, that includes a list of many small gods we put up as substitutes - including Meek-and-Mild and Heavenly Bosom - I put up here. The limited god we believed in before we encountered the Real McCoy is probably our greatest danger forever, and the one we should work hardest to purge. If we saw him as healer, we are in danger of seeing that as his central role, and ultimately his only one. If we shrunk him down to greatest teacher to fit in our backpack, we will have to focus our attention on the mysticism or transcendence - anything but the narrow schoolmaster.
I have one new one to add that is not on JBP's list: Community Organiser. That is a favorite Jesus these days, who talked back to the authorities, disrupted society, and encouraged programs to make the world a better place. Those who arrive with any truncated god may have to forswear that one forever. That grain of wheat must die.
There is a quick excuse that people leap to on any of these small gods: "Oh sure, sure. Jesus is much more than that of course. I was only saying that it's important to include..." No, it won't do. That one will always be where the demons hide for you, the small god you retreat to when you begin drifting away.
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