As one can expect there are many different views of God. Some are heretical, but those are not the kind I’m speaking about. Views like God is a God of wrath. Of Love. Of Vengeance. Of Patience. On and on it goes.
There is one which is gaining traction, I think, these days: God is a God who hates. On one end we have disgusting, narrow-minded, bigoted people who say, “God hates fags.” Or “God hates people of a different color, race, or different lifestyle than us.” On the other hand, we find a reaction from the side that says, “God is a God of love and hates bigoted, homophobic, racist people.” You know…ad infinitum, ad nauseum (on both sides).
How about this? God hates no one. While it is true God hates sin-and we all sin and will have to pay someday for our sin-God loves His image-bearers (that would be all of us). Proof you say?
My pleasure. “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. For this is how God so loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:14-17 NLT) Please take special note of verse 17. Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save us. Case closed. He has offered us salvation, forgiveness of sin, and freedom from the chains and shame of sin. To all who look to the cross (depicted in verses 14-15) salvation is offered. Not forced…offered. How can anyone read verses 16-17 and say, “God hates (you fill in the blank).” Those verses say the exact opposite! God of hate? Think again.
We might flippantly say, “God is a God of love.” The truth of the matter is that He most definitely is! His arms are open. Open the door of your heart and let Him in.
John 3:16 is probably the most widely known verse in the Bible, and for good reason. It shares God’s love and plan for our salvation in a nutshell! No need for wordy theological essays. He says it all in one sentence.
Very true Pam and we can say a big “Thank you” to Tim Tebow for his bold declaration of that verse. 🙂
I think the rub for many is when people worship an identity in something that is in direct opposition to God and the teachings of Jesus, it becomes personal.
The import thing to remember is to treat people with civility. Love the individual, but not compromise the truth.
I don’t see this getting easier in the years to come. I see just the opposite.
We need to remember who the enemy is…
I need to remember where I came from.
I need to remember that despite the brokenness of the individual, God has the ability, power, and desire to make us new and separate us from that which makes us broken, sin. We just have to willing to be separated from that mess.
Well-spoken (or is that well-written?) Ryan. I believe each individual has value but when confirming that I also want to uphold the truth. And I do believe God has the ability to change a life, any life, that comes to Him.
You are spot on, Bill. God loves all His image-bearers, and He sent Jesus to teach every one of us how to love and serve others. We need to show that love every chance we get.
Blessings!
Thanks Martha and I want to say ditto you when you say we need to show that love every chance we get.
thank God His arms are open, His heart is tender and forgiving toward us. He loves us so …
Oh yeah…no argument here. Thanks Linda for the comment
If the culture could really understand how deeply God loves all of us, and study the heart of God, their eyes would be open. God longs for and wants us all of us to be in a relationship with Him. We all know sin is sin, and no matter what sin it is a sovereign God cannot allow any of it. God also knows every sin corrupts the culture, and gives the evil one a place to step in. There is no corralling sin to keep it from tainting everything else around it. My favorite verse to describe God: 1Tim 1:17 ‘Now to the King eternal,immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever, Amen.”(NIV)
You state the problem Gail: if the culture could really understand… That is it right there! They either don’t want to or the enemy has blinded their eyes. Good verse