Only a man-made God would be afraid and offended by man, or subject to human vices, such as jealousy, and pleasure. Only such a God would have to exert complete control over man out of fear that man (o, the mighty man!) could thwart His will, and threaten His sovereignty. Only such a God would demand sacrifice and complete obedience and allow no freedom. His people would be the puppets on the string, and He would be their puppeteer. Such is the Reformed God.
***Only a man-made God would be afraid and offended by man, or subject to human vices, such as jealousy, and pleasure. Only such a God would have to exert complete control over man out of fear that man (o, the mighty man!) could thwart His will, and threaten His sovereignty. Only such a God would demand sacrifice and complete obedience and allow no freedom. His people would be the puppets on the string, and He would be their puppeteer. Such is the Reformed God.***
Only a man made God would be incapable of saving that which he wants, instead has to hope that man will make the right choice. Only such a God would allow man to die because man was not smart enough, wise enough, or pious enough to seek God. Only such a God is unable to prevent evil, and in fact, has no control over evil. His people would never know the hope of salvation, instead, they have to work their own salvation out, never sure if they will die blessed instead of cursed. Such is the God of the Catholics.
See Kosta, it cuts both ways. You can belittle our faith in God, and we can do the same.
But under your theology, man thwarts God's will every day. It's not a matter of fear, for you it actually HAPPENS. :) That describes a very weak man-made God. The Reformed God is strong and always accomplishes His will. As Dr. E. so often posts:
Isa 46:9-10 : 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: ... KJV
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Only such a God would demand sacrifice and complete obedience and allow no freedom. His people would be the puppets on the string, and He would be their puppeteer. Such is the Reformed God.
The Reformed God made the WHOLE sacrifice, and He did it ONCE for all time. And, the Reformed God certainly does allow us freedom. The TRUTH sets us free. With that freedom we are free to do works that are pleasing to God. We did not have that freedom before belief. Man certainly does not like the idea of being anyone's puppet. Man wants to be in control.
So, the solution God found was to retain actual control Himself, while letting us experience making our own decisions. If intellectually you think that still makes us puppets, then I am just fine to be God's puppet, knowing that His love is in control of my life. (My experience is the same either way.) I don't want God to leave me on my own to go through this life. I need Him to be in charge. I am not my own, I was bought at a price.