I liked this movie initially, but then I didn’t. It was a little too fluffy and bright and happy for me. I get what they were trying to say, but it seemed to me like it was lacking in substance.
I’m not sure how I feel about something ever being “too happy.” Is there really a point to which you’ve become happy enough, and any more happiness would be a bad thing?
But I think what you’re referring to is that the concept of “God loves you so much, and that’s all! No commitment, no trials or hardships or anything! Just happy happy happy, there’s nothing wrong!”
I see what you mean, and I can understand being put off by this video in that sense. However– and I know this will sound funky– I would rather lean toward the side saying God is like that, than the opposite side. The opposite side of the spectrum would of course be the side that says God is disciplinarian, very stern and solemn. Serious more often than not, and by “love,” He means more of a tough love, where He takes you through crappy stuff but it’s for your good.
Honestly, there’s so many people in the Church living under that oppressive view of God, that I don’t mind posting a video that seems fluffy. Our perception of God as a whole could use some fluffining, if you ask me. I just think that if most Christians were perfectly honest, they’d say that God is not in a good mood, which is total garbage. He’s absolutely in a good mood every day! It’s hard for me to get my head around the concept of worshiping a a God who’s not even the type of guy I like to be around.
I used to always be frustrated about how humans are commanded to “speak the truth in love,” because it never seemed to me that God spoke the truth in love in the scriptures. He just spoke truth in a my way or the highway sort of fashion. Then I watched the Gospel of Matthew Videos and was so moved at how plainly happy and friendly Jesus was. And the funny thing is, the Matthew videos are just word-for-word from scripture so, all the long, it was my perception of Jesus, not how He is portrayed in scripture. It’s been great since then. I’ve realized that in the Bible, God is honestly a funny, witty, joyful, friendly guy!
Yeah, He’ll go with the “it’s for your own good” bit when that’s what needs to happen, and yeah, He rebukes and has the hard conversations. But honestly, I really do think He is the kind of Dad who actually really likes turning his daughter’s gross healthy vegetables into candy every once-in-a-while for no other reason than the fact that it’ll make her super happy, and He loves to make her happy!
I liked this movie initially, but then I didn’t. It was a little too fluffy and bright and happy for me. I get what they were trying to say, but it seemed to me like it was lacking in substance.
October 28, 2010 at 4:45 pm
I’m not sure how I feel about something ever being “too happy.” Is there really a point to which you’ve become happy enough, and any more happiness would be a bad thing?
But I think what you’re referring to is that the concept of “God loves you so much, and that’s all! No commitment, no trials or hardships or anything! Just happy happy happy, there’s nothing wrong!”
I see what you mean, and I can understand being put off by this video in that sense. However– and I know this will sound funky– I would rather lean toward the side saying God is like that, than the opposite side. The opposite side of the spectrum would of course be the side that says God is disciplinarian, very stern and solemn. Serious more often than not, and by “love,” He means more of a tough love, where He takes you through crappy stuff but it’s for your good.
Honestly, there’s so many people in the Church living under that oppressive view of God, that I don’t mind posting a video that seems fluffy. Our perception of God as a whole could use some fluffining, if you ask me. I just think that if most Christians were perfectly honest, they’d say that God is not in a good mood, which is total garbage. He’s absolutely in a good mood every day! It’s hard for me to get my head around the concept of worshiping a a God who’s not even the type of guy I like to be around.
I used to always be frustrated about how humans are commanded to “speak the truth in love,” because it never seemed to me that God spoke the truth in love in the scriptures. He just spoke truth in a my way or the highway sort of fashion. Then I watched the Gospel of Matthew Videos and was so moved at how plainly happy and friendly Jesus was. And the funny thing is, the Matthew videos are just word-for-word from scripture so, all the long, it was my perception of Jesus, not how He is portrayed in scripture. It’s been great since then. I’ve realized that in the Bible, God is honestly a funny, witty, joyful, friendly guy!
Yeah, He’ll go with the “it’s for your own good” bit when that’s what needs to happen, and yeah, He rebukes and has the hard conversations. But honestly, I really do think He is the kind of Dad who actually really likes turning his daughter’s gross healthy vegetables into candy every once-in-a-while for no other reason than the fact that it’ll make her super happy, and He loves to make her happy!
October 28, 2010 at 8:20 pm