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by Susan A. Barnes (Author)
In human relationships, we often love someone but hate what they do. For example, parents love their children but not always their behavior. Families may love each other but hate the way someone drops their clothes on the floor, doesn't replace the cap on the toothpaste, or leaves their dirty dishes on the table. Just as our families survive these habitual frustrations, our relationship with God can too. We can love God but not always love what he does or those things he doesn't prevent.
When we reflect on some of the conversations God's people had with him, we see they were unconcerned about coming to God boldly and honestly. Moses asked God to kill him. Jonah got angry when God showed mercy. Job wished he'd never been born. These biblical heroes said things to God that would make most modern Christians uncomfortable, yet God didn't abandon them. Rather than acting appalled by their audacity and abandoning them, God engages with them.
God uses the word "hate" to describe the strength of his feelings. God uses strong language to shock his people into realizing the depth of feeling he has for them so they will stop running to idols and other fake alternatives.
Do we engage with God with the same emotional intensity, or are our conversations with him tame, apathetic, or insipid? What if the honesty we're afraid to express is exactly what God wants from us?
God desires to draw his people deeper into genuine relationships with him. He prefers we struggle honestly with our faith rather than hide in hypocrisy. As a young Christian coming from an unchurched background, I had little experience reading the Bible. I gravitated toward the Psalms. The psalmists told God exactly what they thought and felt, and God preserved their words for future generations. As I became more involved in church life, I didn't find this kind of honesty. I hesitated to share the things I said to God for fear others would see me as disrespectful or rude. As if sharing my struggles would reflect badly on God.
Somehow, we've learned to be polite with God, presenting ourselves as good Christians who never experience doubt, anger, or disappointment. But what if that politeness is keeping us from the authentic relationship God actually desires? 10 Things I Hate About God is for those tired of being polite Christians.
This isn't a book about having all the answers. It's about learning to trust God's character when his actions (or lack of action) leave you confused, hurt, or angry. Whether you're secretly doubting, openly struggling, or just tired of faking spiritual maturity, these pages offer hope and encouragement to move from polite Christianity to authentic faith.
