I read a lot of speculative fiction, both science fiction and fantasy. I especially enjoy the world-building and exploration of possible and impossible worlds in fantasy. One element that intrigues me is the approach various authors take to deity. 

Not surprisingly, many authors avoid the concept entirely. A few, like C.S. Lewis, take an allegorical approach. Among those who include gods in their creation, many determine the power of each god by the number and fervor of their worshippers.

I’ve not seen an actual religion that claims to believe that, but I have seen people who act as if they believe it, as if they are doing a favor for God (or other gods) by their worship. I’ve seen concern over gaining new believers, or at least new church members, that seems to be focused not on the benefit to the people who need God, but somehow on the benefit to the church or even God himself. 

Newsflash: God deserves our worship and wants it, but he doesn’t need it. His power is not impacted by our numbers or by our behavior. We see that in 1 Kings 18 when Elijah confronts the 450 prophets of Baal before the people of Israel, who apparently can’t decide who they want to worship. Elijah’s faith is pretty strong, but Baal’s prophets are also fervent and throw themselves into their worship with enthusiasm. But what matters in the story is that God is the one with all the power, not the people, the 450 prophets, or even Elijah.

Other approaches to understanding deity assume that the gods (or God) have power, but also that they can be manipulated. That is the core of animism and some other religions: there are powers in the world that can cause harm or good, and humans must appease their anger and attract their good will. The purpose of their worship and sacrifices is getting the gods to do what they want them to do.

And, of course, we sometimes see Christians doing this. We may have done it ourselves, promising things to God if he’ll do what we want him to do. We see it in the Bible as well, as in the story of Jepthah and his daughter in Judges 11. Jepthah promises God that if given victory over the Ammonites he will sacrifice the first thing that comes out of his house on his return. He does receive the victory that God desired to give him, but pays a heavy price when he is met by his daughter upon his return.

When we look at the prayers of those who are praised for their relationship with God, we don’t find this kind of bargaining and attempt at manipulation. It’s not that they don’t want things from God: they certainly do. However, their approach is not one of bargaining or manipulation but one of honest appeal based on their relationship with God and understanding of his character. We see Moses appealing to God’s character and reputation several times as he intercedes for the Israelites. We see David appealing to God’s character as well.

Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
    blot out my transgressions.

Psalm 51:1 ESV

David acknowledges that he can’t actually do anything to make his failures right. He does make promises, but they are promises that flow from a changed heart, not some kind of quid pro quo.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
    O God of my salvation,
    and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
O Lord, open my lips,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51:14-17 ESV

Some people look at the whole sacrificial system as an attempt to manipulate God, but we have to be careful to understand the point. God requires a blood sacrifice to wash away sin, but the sacrifices provided by men were never sufficient for that purpose. The perfect sacrifice that was adequate to achieve the purpose was provided by God himself: was God himself.

Here is our reality: God doesn’t need us. We can’t manipulate him. He actually sees our motives and cares about our hearts and how our actions reflect the reality of our thinking. Actions that are focused on getting him to do what we want are pointless.

Yet this self-sufficient, all-powerful, and all-knowing God somehow loves us enough that he made us, chose us, and sacrificed for us. He offers us the opportunity to have a relationship with him. He listens and responds to our petitions out of his love for us, not because of anything that we have ever done or could ever do for him. No fantasy novelist has ever come up with a concept of deity that comes close to matching the amazing reality of the one true God.

Photo by Davide Cantelli on Unsplash