In response to the last post. I’m not sure it is that God changes, although God may do so if God wishes, but the revelation of God changes, that we discover God in new ways as our history and culture changes and as God makes new revelations. So the God we have in the Old Testament reveals something of the nature of God but limited. Then when Jesus becomes incarnate, as The Revelation of God, the Word of God made Flesh, we can then read all that came before through the lens of his life and teaching. In other words our revelation is a process through time. Still is… There are indeed consequences in the Word and world Jesus gave witness too, however they are consequences brought on by ourselves if we choose to stay out of communion with God and neighbor. All the while God waits, like the father waiting for the prodigal son, for us to come home. Choosing to forgo wrath for forgiveness and reconciliation. This is what the cross gives proof to, and Jesus last words, “Father Forgive them” The consequence comes as well when we discover what it is we need be forgiven for. Of course this is all conjecture. They mystery of God cannot be encapsulated by pandering of this often misguided theologian. Steve
This is so interesting! If you have time, I’d love to hear your idea about the purpose of the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 if God’s wrath had ended?
By: D on July 3, 2008
at 9:45 pm
Did God take their lives or did their own guilty conscience? Besides, the church loved this story and made sure it was included because it was in their self interest. After Ananias and Saphora died Acts 5:11 said “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.” I’ll bet it did. They had no trouble after this meeting their annual budget. In counter-distinction Jesus says over and over again, “do not be afraid,” and Paul, “perfect love casts out fear.” If God zaps us for lying out of own self interest then over-population would not be an issue. The question would be why there was any population left at all.
By: Steve Goyer on July 7, 2008
at 2:09 pm
That makes a lot of sense. What do you think is meant by Proverbs 9:10? Do you know if our translated word “fear” had perhaps different meanings in different uses in the original text?
By: D on July 13, 2008
at 4:51 pm
re sin and God’s love and which comes first: What do we do with the first 12 verses of Mark? The scribes get all agitated because Jesus first forgives the sins of the paralyzed man, and then, to accomodate the complainers, he tells the sick man to pick up his mat and go home/heals him(?). If I understand your sermon thesis, God’s love/forgiveness/understanding and loving us comes before our realization that we need to have our sins forgiven. When we are confronted by God’s great love for us, (you said ) then we ask forgiveness and go pick up our beds and walk.
By: Mary B. on July 14, 2008
at 3:00 pm