December 26, 2025

This is #40 of “200 More Zen Thoughts From Jim Dollar #1” blog on WordPress:

In the New Testament, we get to pick our God, and there is a wide variety from which to choose. I’m going with the God who is like the prodigal son’s father: “You were lost and now you are found! You were dead, but now you are alive! I hold nothing against you–nor will I ever! Welcome to the hospitality of your eternal home!” That is God as God ought to be from my point of view.

But, if that is too soft for you, you have other options–I’m sure you will find one to your liking. There is the Good Samaritan God, treating his enemy, a Jew, like they are the best of friends, not sworn enemies for generations. That’s a God of grace, kindness, generosity, and a lot like the prodigal’s father.

If you like your God to be a tougher sort, there is the Unjust Landowner paying his workers the same wage for working different lengths of time. Not a just and fair wage at all (And let’s see how he does, hiring workers the next day, or the next year). A harsh and ruthless landowner might have a hard time farming over time. That God is not likely to be chosen by anyone.

Then, there is the “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” God. The far extreme of the Unjust Landowner. But quickly and easily dismissed by the hard realities of life as exhibited by the story of the wise and foolish bridesmaids: “You go get your own oil! We only have enough for ourselves! Too bad for you!” Or the God Jesus represents when he curses the fig tree for not bearing fruit out of season–talk about an unjust and irrational God! If that’s what you are looking for he is there for the taking!

And then there is the God who cleans out the money changers in the courtyard of the Temple–certainly not the same God who gives his servants a potful of money to invest while he is away and judges them harshly for knowing the kind of God he is and keeping their portion of the pot safe so as not to lose a penny and be punished severely upon his return. If you can’t keep this God happy, it’s all over for you. He is the far extreme of the prodigal son’s father.

We have plenty of options for the God of our dreams. And most of them don’t make the cut as far as I am concerned. How about you?