92 Ancient Ideals
Yahweh, the father who is the father of all, is far more merciful than
his followers previously imagined. If you come to him asking for jus-
tice, you may get a sterile reception. But if you come to Yahweh
asking for mercy, he will behave much as Jesus would do—he will
enfold you in his arms and welcome you back to your heart’s true
home.
Who is Jesus talking to in the passages where he tries to shift the
image of Yahweh? Surely Jesus is talking to his pupils—he is ad-
dressing his disciples and the crowds that follow him, seemingly
everywhere, to hear his teachings. But is it possi ble that Jesus has
another auditor in mind? Maybe Jesus is actually talking to the Lord
God himself. Maybe Jesus is trying to persuade God that it is time
to relinquish his identity as a terrible fi gure of retribution and to
adopt another, more generous, milder form. Would it not be won-
derful, Jesus implicitly asks Yahweh, if you could be loved more and
feared less? God as Jesus fi nds him generates res pect, admiration,
awe. But he surely does not always provoke au then tic love, even
from those who worship him fervently. Yahweh, as Jesus fi nds him,
is emphatically male. He is proud and easily off ended. He rarely
misses a chance to demonstrate his dis plea sure when he has been
off ended.
Jesus off ers the world of men and women something new. Maybe
the good news is based in the forgiveness of sins, as Blake says, or
in a new dispensation where you love your neighbor as yourself.
These are marvelous breakthroughs. But to off er God the oppor-
tunity to transform himself into another sort of being, one who will
have a much diff erent and ultimately more profound relation with
his people: what could be more daring— and more promising for hu-
manity? The God that Jesus describes is still potent, still capable
of violent action. But he is now also inspired by ever- forgiving af-
fection for what he has created.