Comments on: Painting God mad.

By: Chessy

Chessy — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 05:28:02 +0000

This was something we discussed at bible college. We did it this way – we read the passage where Adam and Eve have just eaten of the fruit and God is calling out ‘Adam, where are you?’ – What we found is that most people heard God saying this in a very angry tone of voice, like a parent who has just found an expensive vase broken in the hallway – but in fact (or in our theory?) it was with great sadness, compassion and love that he called out – but you interpretation of this verse and those like it will always hinge on ow you view God as your Father – often we tie him up as either a better or worse version of our own Father’s, but when we can see him as the loving Father that he is – that’s when the freedom comes.
Love the blog by the way – awesome.

By: Cody

Cody — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:52:55 +0000

I define the Fear of God as hating sin the way he does. Any one else?

By: Thursday

Thursday — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:07:00 +0000

It seems like we too often fall into one of two parallel traps: Painting God Mad or Coloring God Love. But even if it weren't for the cross, in which both wrath and love are wonderfully interconnected, we have personal examples of how anger and love coexist as human emotions (when something unjust happens to a friend or family member, for example).

God compares himself to all these human relationships for a reason. If I get too philosophical thinking about how to fear and love God at the same time, or I could think about when I was a kid and would disobey my mother so much in one day that she would play the "Wait until your father comes home" card. Did I love my father? Absolutely. Did I know fear? Oh, yeah.

I don't want to cower from God, but neither do I want to presume on his forgiveness. I could stand to be a little more afraid sometimes.

By: Lady Vankovic

Lady Vankovic — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:45:00 +0000

I used to fear god. everytime i did something wrong i would move away from go hoping he didnt see it. But i realise thats just plain stupid. I am still struggling to run to god when i make mistakes,but i do not fear god anymore.. not in a negative way though

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 28 May 2008 14:09:00 +0000

Awesome! I really enjoyed your thoughts here. We must never take God and his Word out of context. Too many view God through their own limited lens without the context of all of his words to us or even worse only through someone else's lens. It is important to read each verse of the Bible, God's very words to us, in the context of all His words to us and most importantly through Jesus, the Word of God.

On my blog sound of a soft breath I quote and link to your post.

Thank You!

sound of a soft breath

By: JustMarian

JustMarian — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:16:00 +0000

I thought I had a lot to say on this until I started writing. This reminds me of the good for good/bad for bad post. This has been a concept that has occupied much of my thought as I've sort of come into my own as an adult and as a Christian.

I think a fear of God is more than healthy. He holds us in His hands, our very souls... but first and foremost, God is love. I find grace to be a huge paradox, but the more I know of God personally, the more I find we develop such wrong ideas about Him.

I've come to describe myself as a "recovering legalist" now. I know that doesn't seem related, but basically the legalist places the Christian back into bondage after salvation. To keep God happy and pleased with you, one has to follow rules all over again and it's a viscous cycle that I believe Satan loves.

Thanks Jon, again, for allowing the Lord to use you with this site.

By: Gabrielle Eden

Gabrielle Eden — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:09:00 +0000

Just when I thought I'd read your best post!

That one was so good. While we need help discerning between right and wrong about a lot of things, we so desperately need the message of God's overwhelming grace!

So true, that you'd never write if you were just waiting to get everything right. Bravo!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:41:00 +0000

I feel you Jon. I was just trying to be a bit optimistic. I work for the media and hate how God has been revealing to me slowly but surely how so much of media is fundamentally in opposition of God and his word. A newspaper is THE LAST institution that should be criticizing another institution for keeping one’s mind small.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:30:00 +0000

When Iooked at the picture, I thought it was Satan trying to keep her from praying. See how he’s prying her hands apart.

By: StellarRick

StellarRick — Tue, 27 May 2008 05:36:00 +0000

God scares me. Freaks me out. The more I am in love with him and pray and seek him, the more scary and beautiful and complicated and unfiguraboutable (so not a real word) he becomes to me.

That is what makes him extra-awesome and super neato.

I don't see him as angry so much as I see him as one who has the capacity (rightfully so) for smite. His mercy is awesome. I deserve smite like a million times over. Bonus super extra neato.
God loves me. And you.

Super super bonus extra mega neato to the third power.