Here is what we do as worshipers of a Santa Claus God: We embrace the conviction that God is an infinitely generous source of all good, but conveniently forget that we were created in God's image to be in some significant sense like God – not like God in God's divinity, for we are human and not divine, but like God "in true righteous ness and holiness" {Ephesians 4:24}, like God in loving enemies {Matthew 5:44}. To live well as a human being is to live in sync with who God is and how God acts.
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In his book "Free of Charge," Miroslav Volf explores the idea of a "Santa Claus God," portraying a deity characterized by generosity but lacking the qualities of righteousness and holiness that humans are meant to emulate. This perspective emphasizes the importance of recognizing that, while God embodies infinite goodness, humans are created in God's image, tasked with living morally and lovingly, reflecting God's nature in their actions.
Volf points out that many worshippers focus on God's generosity while neglecting the call to imitate divine attributes, such as loving one’s enemies and acting justly. He argues that fulfilling our human potential means aligning our lives with God's character and behavior, embodying the righteousness and holiness intended for us, therefore leading to a deeper understanding of our relationship with the divine.
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