January 17

Written by Bill Grandi on January 17th, 2022

First,  some updates for you. Funny how God works. I have been wondering how Martha and Diane have been doing so I emailed Diane but wasn’t sure if Martha would be able to do that. But as I was looking I saw a post-it-note with her address (I had sent her something) and a phone number. Lo and behold it was hers!  Martha texted back and said she was doing much better and hoped to come home tomorrow (Tuesday).  She was in ICU with viral pneumonia (not COVID-related).

Diane is suffering from COVID-pneumonia.  She is now home after 7 days in the hospital. Still on oxygen. Please keep praying for her.

Now to the devotion for today:

In preparation for the next sermon series called “Truth Decay,” I just finished reading Another Gospel? by Alisa Childers for the second time. In a chapter she entitled Cosmic Child Abuse? she took on the progressives who want to say the following:

“Who originated the cross? If God did, then we worship a cosmic abuser.” (p.207) William Paul Young, author of the heretical book “The Shack.”

“Penal substitution {Note: one dying in place of another} is tantamount to child abuse.” (p.208) Steve Chalke

“God didn’t set up the sacrificial system. People did. The sacrificial system evolved as humans developed rituals and rites to help them deal with their guilt and fear.” (p.209) Rob Bell

Others like Richard Rohr and the late Rachel Held Evans were also included. Their quotes were too long to include.

I reject the whole idea of God as a cosmic child abuser. God’s wrath seen at the cross existed because He is love. It was through the death of Jesus on the cross that we find forgiveness NOT wrath.

In Galatians 6:14 Paul wrote, “May I never boast except in the cross of Christ.”  The progressives can say, “May I never boast except in man’s efforts/ingenuity.” Guaranteed that unless they come to the cross, they will most definitely experience God’s wrath (which they say doesn’t exist because He is a God of love not wrath).

“Father, thank you for the cross.”

LOVE GOD DEEPER…WORSHIP HIM MORE

 

6 Comments so far ↓

  1. The cross is not abuse, it is love incarnate.
    Didn’t know Diane was so sick! Will be praying for her. Thanks for your update and prayers, Bill!
    Blessings!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      Oh how sweet it is to see your comment Martha. So glad you are on the mend. Agreed: it is love incarnate.

  2. Ryan S. says:

    First off, glad to hear Martha and Diane are have turned the corner in their recovery. Thanks for letting us know. Praying for continued recovery and healing.

    In regards to the so called progressives ideas on anything… My momma always told me if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.

    Bottom line… My faith is not based on the ideas of man. My faith is based on an eternal God with an unending love for me. It is personal, it is real, it is permanent.
    Without the cross, the sacrifice, the substitution, there would be no relationship… May I not take that for granted.