The word “normal” can have positive, neutral, or negative
connotations. For example, if you call your day “normal,” maybe you were
pain-free for the first time all year, possibly nothing strange happened, or perhaps
you were bored.
Well, to call humans or God “normal” might sound
insulting. American kids learn in school that everybody is unique. In a medical
or psychological sense, “normal” is an acceptable label. But in terms of peer
pressure or intelligence or talent, normal may not be your favorite adjective. As
for God, the Bible sings His praises so boldly that calling Him “normal” could sound
blasphemous.
To answer the title question, juxtapose the common
activities of man and God with their original or actual nature. If man is normal, then his thoughts, words, and
deeds often or always match his nature. The same goes for God. In this sense, “normal”
relates more to accurate versus inaccurate than positive versus negative.
What about Man?
Is he normal? Do his common practices and habits reflect his
moral and physical nature? A non-Christian might say “yes”—we mess up occasionally,
but most of our actions are morally sound. Further, as evolving creatures, our
physical exercise, inventive minds, and modern society mimic our generally progressive
status.
A Christian might also say “yes”—we are fallen and sinful people,
in great need of God’s mercy; see Romans 5. Moreover, our efforts to fight disease,
raise living standards, and end violence and bad governance are simply evidence
of the Fall; see Genesis 3.
I agree with the latter points, but I think they fail to answer
the question. I believe man is entirely abnormal. In the creation story of
Genesis 1-2, God called His work “very good” after He created Adam and Eve. They
had never sinned, there was no curse, and life and reality were as similar to
heaven on earth as we ever knew.
No one knows how long the first man and woman followed God’s
original plan for their lives—a day, a decade? But until that first transgression,
they were not only innocent—they were normal. Their actions matched
their nature, which was both moral and immortal. Through wickedness we became
permanently abnormal. Death and danger threaten every soul—except
those whom Jesus Christ glorifies in heaven following repentance and faith in
Him.
What about God?
Is He normal? That is, does His conduct match His character?
If normal means living out exactly who oneself is supposed to be, then God is
the embodiment of normalcy! The Bible supports this in Numbers 23, 1 Samuel 15,
Nehemiah 9, Isaiah 46, Malachi 3, Romans 11, and Hebrews 13. A favorite of mine
is in James 1: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes
down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of
turning.” Were He less than normal, the universe would be in chaos—if it would
exist at all.
If I can avoid sounding blasphemous once more, God is so
consistent with His nature—of which thankfully He has revealed so much in the
Bible—that He is even predictable! Think about it…if you have a perfectly
normal day, you can essentially forecast what will happen when you awake. If
God always does what He says He will do, you can trust in everything He says
all the time.
None of this is meant to demean God, only to glorify Him. He
is so abnormal to our mindset that He is supremely normal. His power and
sovereignty are so unpredictable to us that God exercises them in ways that are
altogether predictable and awesome at the same time.
