RELATIONSHIP counsellors often hear the expression ‘not compatible’. People’s attitudes and ways can be so different they feel they have nothing in common. And one of them walks out or tells the other to leave. Once that has happened not many people try to make it up.
Transfer that thought to our relationship with God. It’s been a long time since western society (by and large) told God to leave. Our attitudes to ethics were incompatible. Our attitude to him made cooperation impossible.
It has given a feeling of being free from his ethical constraints. Equally, we have forfeited his commitment to care for us. The last thing we expect is to hear him say, ‘Return to me, and I will return to you.’