Who's Your Daddy? (part 1)

Our Life Group at church (Conway’s First Baptist Church) has been working through lessons related to a book by Larry Crabb, The Papa Prayer. This topical study is a nice change of pace since we just finished a series of lessons by Beth Moore on the life of David where we studied ginormous portions of Scripture each week. I’m also digging this study because Crabb is one of my guys – he’s a Christian counselor. I even use one of his books in a class at CBC.

With apologies to Crabb, here’s the quickest summary of the book I can offer. Rather than praying for a bunch of stuff all the time (even if it’s good stuff), we ought to engage in more “relational prayer.” This is the kind of prayer that connects to God on a much more authentic and personal level.

In a recent lesson, Crabb encouraged us to take a good look at our picture of God. When we think of God and when we pray to Him, exactly who are we praying to? When we direct our prayers, who do we imagine is hearing us? We may not all have vivid, dramatic mental pictures in our heads, but we all have some sort of impression of who God is. And we need to be careful that our impressions aren’t misrepresenting Him.

Crabb describes 10 common pictures of God. Here they are (my paraphrases, anyway). See if you can relate to any of them.

Smiling Buddy – God is there for you the way a good friend should be. He likes to hang out with you. Prayers are like asking favors from your BFF.

Backroom Watchmaker – God is the craftsman who designed and wound up the universe like a clock. Now He has other things to do. He is rather indifferent to our lives and prayers seem a little futile. They don’t make much difference – the world just keeps on ticking.

Preoccupied King – God is worthy of our allegiance, but He is absorbed with really important kingdom stuff like evangelism and political battles over abortion. Our prayers feel small and petty – certainly not worthy of a king’s attention.

Vending Machine – God is a prayer answerer. We put in coins and collect our treats. Need a parking space? Need a new job? Need protection for your travels? Pray more. Put in more coins. God is good.

Stern Patriarch – God is to be obeyed but not enjoyed. Use your manners. Carry a big Bible. Put you napkin in your lap. Our prayers to Him are often stiff and rigid – we ask them in a timid, shy voice, while trying to be on our best behavior.

Kindly Grandfather – God loves us and spoils us because we are adorable. If we tug on his pant leg long enough, He’ll smile and answer us. “Well, I guess you can have candy before dinner. But just one piece. OK, maybe two, but don’t tell your parents.”

Impersonal Force – God is a power that cannot be harnessed. He is more a thing than a person, like something from Star Wars. Prayer somehow tries to redirect this power, but it never connects to someone who knows and loves you.

Cruel Tyrant – God is watching and waiting for you to screw up and then He’ll strike you down. Look at what He did to Job – He turned Satan loose to torture him. God has little interest in looking out for us. Prayers are more like begging for mercy from a despot.

Moral Crusader – God hates the sins of culture like pornography, abortion, gambling, same-sex marriage, and adultery. Personal spiritual formation is secondary. Prayers should focus on turning the national tide back to God.

Romantic Lover – God longs to satisfy our hearts. He loves us so we can feel valuable, special, and cherished. Pursue the pleasure and ecstasy of connecting with God. Whatever creates misery in your life, run from it into the arms of your Lover. Pray words of adoration and passion while He sings love songs over you.

Since summer is here and blog participation my slow down a bit. But let’s test the waters anyway. Does anyone find themselves picturing God in one or more of the ways above? Do you have any critique of Crabb’s list? Some of you are creative and may like to add a picture to the list. I have one I’ll add soon – but the post has gotten long enough already.