Don't Domesticate God with Words

By Matthew Barrett

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Many of us have a nasty habit. We domesticate God.

We want to know God, even have a relationship with him. So, we evaluate our human experience not only to see if we are Godward, but also to gauge whether God is in it. That motive may be right and good, but if we aren’t careful, we can assume that what’s true of our human experience must also be true of God the Creator.

We often assume God is just a bigger, better version of ourselves.

This tendency, though common, is grossly mistaken. God is not a bigger, better version of you—that simply creates a God in your own image, which Scripture calls idolatry. The God of the Bible, by contrast, is a different type of being altogether; indeed, he is Being itself (or absolute Being, as the church fathers liked to say). There is none like him. The difference, then, is not merely quantitative; it’s qualitative.

Why is this?

Infinite Incomprehensibility

God is the Perfect Being because he’s not merely unlimited in size but also infinite in essence. While we are finite creatures, bound by limitless limitations, God has none. His essence is inestimable, immeasurable, unfathomable. (Ps. 147:5).

That means, then, that anything and everything that would limit God—change, emotional fluctuation, divisible parts, dependence on others, a succession of moments, restriction to a locale, lack of knowledge, wisdom, power—cannot be true of him, lest he no longer be the perfect, infinite Being. But it also means, most fundamentally, that our God is incomprehensible.

Rethinking our God-Talk

What does this infinite distance between finite and infinite mean for our knowledge of God? It means that the way to seek him is not by pretending we can conquer his essence. Instead, we know him according to his revelatory works. If we know anything about God, it’s only because he has revealed it to us.

How should this affect the way we talk about God? If he’s the infinite Creator, and we the finite creature, then our knowledge of him—even our language about him—cannot be univocal, as if we know things just as God knows them. Impossible. Instead, our knowledge of God and our talk about God is always analogical. In other words, something can share similarities with something else even though it’s not identical.

We See Light in His Light

If our God-talk doesn’t respect him who is incomprehensible, we risk worshiping a glorified version of our own likeness. But if our posture is one of humility—faith seeking understanding—then our stammering turns into worship. We stand in awe and confess with Paul that our God “dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Tim. 6:16). Only in his “light do we see light” (Ps. 36:9).

Article excerpt taken from The Gospel Coalition (U.S. Edition). Read the full resource here: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/dont-domesticate-god-words

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The History of GAPPI Filadelfia

By Ev. Ang Liang

We give praise and thanks to the Lord Jesus for sustaining Gappi Filadelfia all these years – our church commemorates her 21st anniversary on 20 July 2025!

Starting a ministry is never easy; it is not like turning the palm of a hand. I will never forget the experience of pioneering this ministry from the beginning. In July 2004, we began our first prayer fellowship in my house. With just the eight of us, we labored in prayers, asking God to provide us with a place of worship. Thankfully, God answered our prayers. For the next eight months, we held our Sunday worship services at the home of Elder Kalvinto in Baloi Mas Garden. We also began a Children’s Ministry at my house in Bukit Beruntung and also at Baloi Mas Garden. In 2005, we moved to a shop-house in Bandar Mas, where we worshipped for 8 years till 2013.

Filadelfia Orphanage Ministry began in the year 2008, followed by Filadelfia Christian School in 2011. In 2013, God enabled us to acquire a land at Jalan Karangetan and from there came our new church building, and in 2018 on the same premise, we built the Filadelfia Guest House. In 2024, we made plans to expand our church building (Phase I). Let us remain united and pray that by July 2026, Phase II of our church building will be ready to serve the next generation. Isn’t all this a reflection of God's grace and His faithfulness to our church?

From the depth of my heart, I will never forget the three pastors who are instrumental in the history of GAPPI Filadelfia:

● Rev. Tan Eng Boo, who faithfully supported us from the very beginning of our ministry journey.

● Rev. Okman Ki from Hope BP Church, Adelaide, also came alongside to assist our ministry journey.

● Rev. Suhandi, who was always ready to serve in Holy Communion, funerals, and weddings.

All of them placed complete trust in our leadership team, enabling us to operate with much independence. Without their support, GAPPI

Filadelfia would not exist today! Neither the Orphanage Building, the

School Building, the Guest House Building, and the new Church Building.

Our Synod Chairman, Rev. Haposan Siregar, also an alumnus of FEBC Singapore, has also shown tremendous trust in us. Praise the Lord! I would

like to take this opportunity to convey my heartfelt gratitude to all of them.

Twenty-one years passed by so quickly. Let us pray that our ministry bears lasting fruits. Let us continue to be united in heart and vision, fostering spiritual unity in our service and ministries. When we look back, truly, the work of the Lord has been so amazing.

There is one life principle we must always remember:

“Humility is the first law of ministry. All faithful and honorable ministers make much of Christ, and nothing of themselves.”

— John MacArthur

God uses humble servants. Serve without grumbling. Serve for the glory of God, not

for oneself. No ministry will endure without tears, sacrifice, and hard work of the ministry team.

We are also grateful to Ev. Roska Choi, Ev. Rudi, Ev. Lexon, and Ev. Adam, who have consistently supported us. We are thankful for Ev. Dedi, who took on the role of coordinator of Intellectum Learning Center ministry in March 2024, Friday Connect Group ministry in October 2024, as well as being the youth and church ministry coordinator.

Last but not least, we are thankful for all fellow ministers, leaders, and church members who have faithfully served the Lord to this day.

Soli Deo Gloria — All glory belongs to God alone.

Romans 12:5

“So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of

another.”

“Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.” — C.T. Studd

Let us remain faithful to the end and finish the race well, with strength from the Lord

(2 Timothy 4:7).

God bless us all.

Blessed 21st ANNIVERSARY GAPPI Filadelfia