I came across some fascinating research this week on how Americans view God. The American Piety in the 21st Century study—conducted by Baylor University and the Gallup Organisation—is considered the most comprehensive study of its kind in more than 40 years. It found that while America may be "one nation under God," at least four versions of the Almighty are worshipped.

More than two dozen questions about God's character and behaviour were asked of the 1,721 survey participants. God was found to be understood in one of four ways:

1. There’s the Authoritarian God. Individuals who understand God this way see him as highly involved in their lives and in world affairs, they give the Deity credit for their decision-making, and they feel God is angry and ready to throw down the thunderbolt of judgment on the unfaithful and ungodly.

2. Then there’s the Benevolent God. These believers also think God is active in their daily life, but just not as wrathful. Benevolent God still sets absolute standards for mankind in the Bible, but is seen primarily as a forgiving God, more like the father who embraces his prodigal son, in that famous New Testament story.

3. Believers in the Critical God say God is not involved in world affairs but is nonetheless looking on in disapproval. This group sees God as the classic bearded grandfather in the sky, but say he doesn’t intervene in the world, either to punish or to comfort.

4. Finally, there’s the Distant God. Distant God is not believed to be active in humanity’s affairs at all, and is not especially angry either. Believers in the Distant God see the Deity as more of a cosmic force who set the laws of nature into motion, then left the universe spinning on its own.

Of particular note, Baylor researchers point out that your image of God is the strongest predictor of your behaviour. For instance:

· While 12.2% overall said abortion is wrong in all circumstances, the number nearly doubled to 23.4% for believers in the Authoritarian God, and slid to 1.5% for followers of the Distant God.

· Only 3.8% of Distant God believers said embryonic stem cell research is always wrong, compared with 38.5% of those who see an authoritarian God, 22.7% for those who see God as benevolent and 13.2% who see God as critical.

· Believers in the Authoritarian God are the most inclined to say God favours the USA in world affairs.

· Believers in the Benevolent God say caring for the sick and needy ranks highest on the list of what it means to be a good person.

· Believers in the Critical and Distant Gods are less inclined to go to church, and are more likely to see all moral dilemmas as relative. Belief really does shape behaviour.

So, Authoritarian, Benevolent, Critical or Distant—which God do you believe in? If our image of God affects our lives that much, it’s worth asking the question. The Authoritarian God could give us a nervous breakdown, the Distant God could leave us feeling lonely. The Benevolent God sounds nice, but perhaps a little soft. If there is a God, what is that being really like?

This question has been personally and professionally on my mind this year. Personally, because a little while back I realised I knew more about Christianity than God, and professionally because I’m writing a book on God’s character. And my research has led me to a passage in the book of Exodus that seems to wrap up God’s personality in a handful of words. It’s a moving moment in the Old Testament, when Moses discovers that God is:

“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished…” (Exod. 34:6-7)

Compassionate, gracious, loving, forgiving—this God is warm and close. Yet he’s a God of justice too—to be awed and respected. You’ll find this picture of God echoed throughout the Bible—and embodied in the person of Jesus.

The Baylor study shows contemporary understandings of God are confused. What an opportunity to read, study, pray—and find out for ourselves what the character of God is really like.