Can I Protect God?

I am currently reading Robby Dawkins's book Do What Jesus Did. I am just getting into chapter 3 when I realized a bad attitude within me.

This book is primarily about outreach so far (as I assume will be the rest of it).  Robby cites examples of God using him to witness to the seemingly untouchable people in society.  He tells stories of witnessing to people in ways that they "feel" God and have radical conversions.

I had often wondered about this practice of witnessing about Jesus in a way that would encourage God to produce a tangible presence to an unbeliever.  I have had many doubting questions about this practice.  How can God touch an unbeliever when their unrepentant sinfulness is keeping her from having a relationship with Him?  Why would an unbeliever even care if a God in whom he didn't believe made him feel warm and fuzzy?  Don't I need to protect God from sinful grossness?  Now I realize these were largely unbiblical objections and are easily refuted.

How can God touch someone who is unrepentant? Doesn't sin separate us from God?

I'm not exactly sure how holiness can touch unholiness.  However, the Bible is full of examples of this happening.  A standout one in Acts when Saul is traveling to Damascus and Jesus appears to him, the glory of God literally blinds him, and he remains that way until he spiritually sees.  God touched Paul in his unbelief. In fact, God touches all of us in our non-belief!  The thought of needing forgiveness and saving is not a human idea.  Sinful humans are selfish.  We have no reason to believe we are not always right.  God is the one who has planted the longing in our soul to be close to Him.  He is the one who meets us.  And, He is the one who saves us.  Our conscious readiness isn't much of a factor here.


Why would an unbeliever care if the true God touches them?

Thinking they wouldn't care limits God and actually denies His power and reign.  How can someone encounter the living God and not be affected?

Do I need to protect God from grossness and sinfulness?

No.  I cannot do that even though I want to because I am gross and sinful without even having a good reason of not knowing better!  We cannot protect God from others.  And I don't think He wants to be protected even if we could.

I am still uncomfortable with this practice.  In some ways, I feel like it sets people up to be disappointed.  God is great even when one doesn't feel Him miraculously healing her, or speaking audibly while she is in the shower, or moving her to tears with His awesomeness.  Does this encourage people to come to God just because of the sign and wonder?  Can one truly come to God without a basis of the theology or knowing what they are confessing by coming to Him?  I don't know yet.  I do know, though, that I was wrong with the above objections and wanted to share my growth in that regard and issue a challenge to myself and my readers.  Challenge your objections and thoughts against Scripture.  Ask God to reveal the truth.  Do not hold onto something just because you have it.