What does the phrase “Man of God” mean? Should it be used with a BIG G (denoting the “Christian God”) or a little g representing other gods? Can the “MOG” status be retracted? Do different religions and their gods have different standards for being a “MOG”? Can one be a “Woman of God”? Does Mother Theresa qualify?
Why the heck does this matter, you might ask…
I posted a quote from Gandhi on my Facebook page: “In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi. I had prayer on my heart and it fit my feelings at the time.
One of the comments made to this post was “Gandhi was truly a Man of God”. And that comment made me wonder what makes someone a “Man of God”? Which god? Allah? Buddha? GOD?
Wikipedia defines “Man of God”, in the Hebrew Bible is a title of respect applied to prophets and beloved religious leaders. The term appears 77 times in 71 verses of the Hebrew Bible, in application to up to 12 individuals. I did not locate other Wiki entries or information on being a “Man of God” that did not apply to the Hebrew Bible.
There are websites delineating who are men of God; and books written about the subject. However in my Google searches, all appear to be about the Christian God. Gandhi followed Hinduism; which has several gods (Indra, Varuna, Agni). So, can Gandhi, a Hindu man, be considered a man of God or a man of many gods?
Romans 1:18-25 states: 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
The freedictionary.com defines “man of God” as:
n
1. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) a saint or prophet
2. (Christianity / Ecclesiastical Terms) a clergyman
If we use this definition then, anyone who obtained sainthood or was a prophet could be considered a man of God. But again, what God? What deity determines a person’s godliness? Is it possible to be a man of the Christian God but not a man of the Hindu gods?
1 Timothy 6:11,12 (NIV) says: 11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Some examples of men “of God” as listed in a Google search:
Tim Tebow, Hugh Hefner (see link below in case you don’t believe me), Billy Sunday, Muhammad (book), Martin Luther King, Reverend Moon.
http://www.somareview.com/hughhefnermanofgod.cfm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUc_JO7A6OU
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Great%20Men%20of%20God/great_men_of_god.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Muhammad-Man-Seyyed-Hossein-Nasr/dp/1567445012
http://tsutpen.blogspot.com/2010/07/men-of-god-22.html
http://tsutpen.blogspot.com/2010/07/men-of-god-23.html
So how can all these people be men of “God”? Martin Luther King was a Baptist, Billy Sunday an “evangelical” Christian, and Tim Tebow is a Christian.
Muhammad is considered a prophet of God, a messenger.
But Hugh Hefner? He’s stated that religion, God, is a myth. He’s an atheist.
Reverend Moon is allegedly the Messiah, but is the head minister of the Unification Church. If he is God, then can he truly be a Man of God?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unification_Church
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Myung_Moon
How can all these people be called “a Man of God” and yet represent so many different gods?
