Are you a functional deist?

This morning at CBC we had the privilege of having Dr Jamie Grant from HTC preach, Jamie's style is warm and conversational. His text was Isaiah 54, during his introduction he gave us a short history lesson on Deism. Reminding us that the Deists believed in a creator God who had created the whole universe, but like someone who winds up a grandfather clock and then leaves to function on its own. The deists believed that the creator God just left the universe alone, there is no personal involvement. He said the problem for many Christians especially in the Calvinistic tradition is that we understand that God is LORD, creator, King and ruler but we live as functional deists, this side of the cross we might recognise that God loves the world but we are less sure that he loves us. To us the idea that God is interested in our day to day circumstances, in our work, our home life isn't something that even enters out minds, we are in danger of being functional deists. In Isaiah 54 God tells us through the prophet that he our maker, the LORD of the heavenly armies is our husband. That is the most intimate language that God could use to describe his relationship with us. Our Maker is our husband he is concerned in a loving way for us, he provides for us and he shares himself with us. He is also our redeemer, Isaiah isn't talking in Pauline language he is talking about the Goel, or the kinsman redeemer. The kinsmen redeemer who fills the post of getting a relative out of trouble.
We have a personal relationship with God, we can share with him every need, every hurt and every desire of our hearts because he cares for us! God is creator and is all powerful and is not only willing to side with us but is able act on our behalf for His glory!

Shalom

Stephen <><