Who is the God of Man-Centered Theology?
A while back, a woman posed an arresting question to me, “Who is the god of man-centered theology?” One of the practices I find myself doing in theology is going back to the Garden of Eden, when we are attempting to answer theology questions. We should think of God’s eternal work before creation, and then consider humanity from the beginning.
God created man; we did not create ourselves (Gen 1–2). A study of the whole of Scripture reveals the activity of the three Persons of the Trinity, in this work of creation. Adam was the pinnacle of God’s creation, being made in the image of God. Eve was taken from him, so that man would not be alone.
God knows good and evil, but, in this, Adam and Eve were innocent. The serpent from the pre-cosmic fall came and deceived them on this very point. The devil’s temptation was for man to have a knowledge he did not possess (think of the old adage: “knowledge is power”). He promised they would be like gods (Gen 3:5), if they made the decision, using their free will. He lied to them, and they suffered ruinous consequences.
The posterity of Adam has been suffering under the same lie ever since, “Use your free will and decide, and you shall surely live.” By thinking they are doing so, they have succumbed to the deception that they are gods, masters of their own destiny, “God will bless you, if you let Him.”
Man-centered theology is a work of Satan. He is a thief and a robber. He wants to steal glory from God. He is also a deceiver, a liar from the beginning (Jn 8:44). He is subtle and seductive in his desire to destroy men (Eph 6:11).
Adam is called, “the son of God;” but he is a runaway, who has taken up residence with a new father, whose image he now bears. Man is a child of the devil (1 Jn 3:10). His father is the father of lies, who is called, “god of this world (2 Cor 4:4).” Lucifer is an abusive father to mankind. His house is in wild disorder. Lawlessness is the rule for his free range children to live by, as each one does what is right in his own eyes. There is plenty of lust but no love for his own.
The children of the devil, who bear his image, share their father’s aspirations. He wants to be God, and he instills that aspiration in all people. Here is the basis for competition in every arena of man’s activity (Eccl 4:4). Man takes pride in himself for being top chef, league champion, entrepreneur of the year, teacher of the year, etc.
Man, under the influence of demonic spirits, that is, fallen angels in Satan’s service, will produce trophies that bear his own image, statues and graven images of every kind. Simply put, man is obsessed with himself, while under the inspiration of the devil’s minions. This self-centered obsession requires training in self-esteem and personal self-development.
The character trait of the month tells man what attributes a god should have. Whichever self-help program can assist you, to be all you can be, is worth the price. Some even hire life coaches to become more like, “the goddess (sitting dormant) in you.”
Man is taught by the devil to place his focus on anything except Jesus Christ. The devil teaches his children that Jesus was just a man like them. In this distorted view, Jesus can be mimicked for His exemplary achievements as a man. Whatever the children of the devil do, they must never transfer their idolatrous self-worship to Jesus Christ.
Although Jesus is the Son of God, being the icon of God, deserving all honor, praise, and glory — it is Satan’s work to dilute Christ and divide Him into a myriad of versions. The Mormons have their version of Jesus (Satan’s brother). The Jehovah’s Witnesses have their version (greatest man). The Roman Catholics have Jesus stuck in His mother’s arms and forever pinned to the cross. The Arminians have their version, the Muslim, too, and so on. These are all deceptions of the devil to devalue our Lord Jesus Christ, or to misrepresent Him as a failed Savior/Lord.
Who is the god of man-centered theology, today? He is superman, batman, aquaman or whichever man one may wish to idolize. Making man, even oneself, into a god, is Satan’s first work (Gen 3), and it has never been more vibrant an enterprise than today.
The children of the devil make their idols to worship, and with the use of their time, their treasure, and their talent, they worship god, who has been made in their own image.
Using their free will, they even decide to let their idol save them. This wise choice they have made, allows them to see for themselves that they are truly in control of their own destiny. As long as they remain captain of their own soul, they can choose their savior, whether it be Buddha, or Jesus, or Krishna, etc. In this, they retain their divinity, letting their hero do his work on their behalf.
Who is the god of man-centered theology? You decide; and if you do, there is a very high probability you will have chosen you to be God, even if your savior goes by another name. You gave him permission to do it, so that makes you God, by your own free will and choice.
David Norczyk
The Dalles, Oregon
June 11, 2022
