the wrong way to exalt God

Apparently, since Augustine and especially the Reformation,
it's been a temptation to think God is exalted to the degree
that "man" is put down and despised. History is replete with
examples of that idea. It makes about as much sense to do
that as to think you make a parent feel proud by telling him
what jerks his kids are. As, in: You're really wonderful and
so you're children must be quite awful. Don't feel that you
are honoring God by seeing what terrible sinners people are.
I've seen this done all my life. Remember, the WHOLE creation
was made "very good!" It's more realistic to believe God is
saddened about the mess we're in than to think of him as
coldly indifferent to our fate; and his only interest is to
the degree that it comports with his all determining "decree".
I think there are Chrisians who almost seem to have no soul
at all. J. Barzun in "From Dawn To Decadence" says: "Some
temperaments seem born worshippers of Necessity- Frederick the
Great for instance, who outgrew his Calvinist upbringing but
remained a fierce determinist." I, after years of having been
a Calvinist preacher, one day came to realize that you really
have to be 1) schizophrenic 2) ignorant of the teaching, or 3)
never ever seriously thought out the IMPLICATIONS; or all of
the above. You may be cold and cruel- both manifestations of
your FALLENESS- but to imply that God is likewise FALLEN is
blasphemy beyond description.