How do we define God?

How do you define God?   Do we define God in biblical terms or do we try to shape God into our view of what we feel He looks like?  Can we define Him at all?  Do we define Him in terms of where we place our focus - i.e. family, jobs, money, science, self reliance, knowledge, etc.  Do we make these things our gods or do we try to shape God into fitting inside of a mold that helps us justify our sinful natures?

I think we have all done the above at some point during our lives.   In fact, this was also a problem in biblical times.   Romans 1:21-25 tell us,

"Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship Him as God or even give Him thanks.  And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.  The result was that their minds became dark and confused.  Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.  And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.

So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired.   As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies.  Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies.   So they worshiped the things God made but not the creator himself."

So, clearly, this has been an issue for some time.   And as God has given us free will, He leaves us to our foolishness.  

In our efforts to define God based on our image and/or our desires or sinful behavior, we are creating a number of false gods and worshiping them vs. the one true God.   We cling to our physical/sinful lives and in doing so condemn ourselves to death.  We know this because Jesus tells us this very thing multiple times: 

• Luke 18:33 - "Whoever clings to this life will lose it, and whoever loses this life will save it."
• Luke 14:26-27: "If you want to be my follower you must love Me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes more than your own life.  Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.  And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me."
• Matthew 18:3: Then He said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven."
• Matthew 16: 25-26: "If you try to keep you life for yourself, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.  And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but loose your own soul in the process?  Is anything worth more than your soul?"

 If how we tend to what to define God isn't correct, then how should we define God?   I recently came across a definition in a book/bible study I've been doing ("The Forgotten Way" by Ted Dekker) which provides a definition that  I really like.  

"God is infinitely good, far more loving and gentle and kind to His children than any earthly mother or father imaginable.  God is infinitely complete; nothing can threaten or disturb Him.   Nothing can be taken away from Him, making Him less than complete, nor added to Him who is already complete."  

In studying this definition, I have found that it works for me.   While God certainly has many other attributes (I'm mean, come on - He is God), this definition provides a pretty solid definition that I can wrap my human mind around (how can any human mind or human based definition fully define God?   Neither can!!).  Time and time again in the bible, it talks of God's love, goodness, grace and kindness.   The bible also calls out God as being the creator of all things.  Since He created all things and is all things:

Colossians 1:16-17: Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can't see - kings, kingdoms, rulers and authorities.  Everything has been created through Him and for Him.   He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.

then nothing can either be added to or taken away from God to make Him and more or less complete than He already is.   Nothing can threaten Him in any way.  

How do you define God?