Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-11
Our Conception of God.

Our Conception or Tod.
G. II. Hepworth. in New York Herald.
And they that worship Him must wor-
ship Him in spirit and in truth. John Nv:
In what way shall we conceive of God
as a person or as an all-pervading influence
without personality?
Many people seem to think that a def
mite answer to this question is necessary to
a vital spiritual experience. How can we
pray. they ask. unless we address ourselves
TO a person, and how can God hear us If
He is not a person? Moreover, is IL not OF
prime Importance that we should have a
clear conception OF Him in order to main
tain those relations to Him which the soul
Graves and which lie at the foundation Of
the religious life? All our other dealings
are with persons-father. mother. children
friends-and must not the same rule hold
good with regard TO Him who rules the uni
verse, from whom we ask pardon. whom we
seek that We may obtain consolation in
time of trouble and advice in moments of
perplexity?
We are so accustomed to personality that
we hardly know how TO get on without it.
We are under the impression that unless We
attribute personality to God our conception
Of Him will be SO vague and so embarrassed
that religion Will become an unreality.
'" AAAANeN NAAaAA oAAANo oAAN I
ly Of glittering generalities.
In this, however, we are mistaken. You
may be a little surprised at the statement
that no human being ever yet had a clear
conception OF God and that no human being
ever will have such a conception. but 1t is
nevertheless true. whatever We may say to
the contrary. If you will carefully examine
your own mind you will discover that you
have never yourself conceived Of Him as a
ForCnH Q1sharrnt p 1ahnrfnU rrndar
the delusion that you have done so. Try to
think Of Him as a person and you will see
at once how utterly hopeless is the task
which you have set yourself. For that mat
ter. you nave never had any clear concep-
ton Of God at all. II il were possible for
you to do so, either you would be God or
God would not be God. II He is infinite and
you are finite He must needs know you per-
fectly. and you must needs know Him very
imperfectly. You may feel His presence as
definitely as you feel the presence Of your
loved ones. you may be aware that He is in
your life. a part OF 1t; that He is contribut-
ing to your happiness, that He Is helping
you 10 make your days sweet and rhyth-
mical. that you could not live for a moment
unless He were with you, and that you de-
pend on His providence for all you are and
all you hope to be; but when you attempt
to express that presence in language you
nave llO WOluS vat III " NO u IL ~
were small enough to be described He
would not be the ruler Of the universe. Be
cause He cannot be described He is there
fore God, for description includes limita-
ton.
As well might the bee who huns his lit
tie tune from the rim OF the great cathe-
dral bell try TO form some idea of the arch
itectural beauty of the cathedral itself as
for you or me to put Omnipotence into a
formula. But still the bee can hear the
musical vibrations of the chime and be
subdued into worship thereby. He may
buzz along the tiles OF the roof and dis
cover many a wonderful fact. He may float
in the air above the assembled worshipers
and hear the peal OF the organ and the
voice of the preacher. but what can he
really know of organ or congregation? For
the conduct Of his little life, however, he
knows all he needs to know.
In like manner I insist that a definite
conception OF God is not necessary to you
or TO me-. I am glad that / cannot think
of Him as He is. The Indebtedness OF my
conception not only proves my littleness
but His greatness. The idea OF power or
wisdom or goodness. or even love, which
it is possible for me to form is no more
commensurate with these attributes as
possessed by Him than the bees notion of
the cathedral would do Justice to that mag
nificent structure. He can do so much more
thar 1 can dream Of. can help me in so
many ways that 1 could not devise. can
console me by so many influences that 1
am not acquainted with. can cheer. COM
fort, warn. bless me in such inconceivable
fashion that I take a certain pride in my
ignorance of Him. while my confidence and
faith grow deeper with every daily expe-
rience.
He is everywhere present. and. in the
quaint symbolism Of the Scriptures. every
hair is numbered. Such is His vigilance
that not a sparrow falls 10 the ground
without His notice. l do not know what
these things mean. I cannot comprehend
them. l only know that He who cares
for me is the incomprehensible One. and
that to Him nothing is impossible. He
is in my body. my mind, my soul. I pray
and in His own way He swe ] know
His requirements. and if / accord with
them. nothing-absolutely nottingham do
me harm. No matter what happens. of
toy or sorrow, He knows It all and is with
me through it all.
Religion consists OF living according 10
the light that is in you and seeking more
light. For q time the dim gray OF morn
ing, but at last the perfect day. All the
while communion. faith and prayer with
out ceasing. Life glorious and a beckon-
ing eternity. Earth the portico to heaven.