A theologian recently told me the Bible talks of God’s nearness to accommodate us. “God is near," he claimed. “But God’s otherness, his transcendence, that’s what God is really like.” 

Churches tragically spread this message. No wonder God feels distant. Telling people “otherness” is what God’s really like feels reverent, but it’s not how God talks about himself.

As Duvall and Hays point out, God's nearness takes center stage in the story of Scripture (Ex. 29:45, Ezek. 37:27, Rev. 21:3) The Bible tells the story of God dwelling with his people. We call him Immanuel, the “with us” God (Matthew 1:23).

God’s transcendence invites us into something bigger than ourselves. We worship a God who loves being near. 

How near? He tends to his flock like a shepherd. He gathers lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart Isaiah 40:11 (NIV). 

Because he (really) likes us,

Craig