Is God a Punishing God? Yesterday, I realized that, in my gut, I believe that God is an angry, vengeful being. That sucks. I want to know the part of God that is love but right now, I don't. Is God more love or more justice? I think right now, I just am not experiencing the love side. He is so strong, yet he lets screwed up things happen. Maybe I will see him differently later but right now, I don't like him much.
What do you think, punishing or loving?
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Hey Jonathan. I don't know what you're dealing with right now that has brought you to this place. But, I prayed for you after reading this post and am confident that the Spirit gave me what to pray for. I wanted to share with you what passage came to mind as I was praying for you. But, first, to answer your question, I think that God is both loving and punishing. If you are looking for an either-or answer, then mine would be that God is loving and that He disciplines us as His sons and daughters because he loves us. God answered this question for us when He was on the mountain with Moses. He said that He is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. He tells us that He does punish those who need to be punished. I am learning more about this as I parent Shelby. As her parents, Chan and I have to discipline Shelby because we love her. I don't think God ever defines Himself as a punisher only. I am not trying to preach to you, Jonathan. I hope that my long comment doesn't come across that way. Anyways, as I was praying for you, Exodus 34 was put on my heart. I believe that Word was put on my heart for a reason. And I wanted to share it with you. Chan and I love you so much and will be praying for you. ~Dee
Jonathan - You don't know me, but I am Deidre's sister. I haunt these blogs from time to time, taking comfort in a community of Christians. You seem to be suffering right now, from what I don't know. For that, I am sorry. Your post compelled me to answer, though I have never done this before. I do this to help, hopefully. I totally concur with what Deidre has said, and would offer that we must remember that God has given us free will. As people, we chose things that sometimes have serious repercussions, for us and others. We make a bad choice, and blame God for the resulting consequences. I am the poster child for bad choices, as Deidre could tell you. I have suffered many things in my life - some by my choices, and others through no fault of my own. I have lost many people that I love. I have suffered at the hands of others. I have caused my own pain at times. But this is not Heaven. The devil roams this Earth and does what he can to cause us to curse God. To do so or not, it is your choice. And we suffer the consequences of our choices. God is our Heavenly Father, and as Deidre so wisely said, sometimes a parent must do things for their child that seems unfair or harsh to their child. But it is done from love, not vengeance. You say you don't like God much. How do you think He feels, when He has given us everything, and we still doubt Him, still defy Him, still question Him? That we did all these things to Him, basically spit in His eye and cursed Him. God's response? He sent His most beloved Son to this earth, made Him human to understand our humanity, and had Him endure the worst kind of treatment and torture, all so that you and I might one day have a hope for Heaven. I have two sons. I love those boys as I have never loved anything else in my life. I would gladly die for them without a moment's hesitation. Their joys are my joys, their pain my pain. I LOVE them. But sacrifice them for the likes of you and me? No way. Nothing could induce me to even remotely consider it, not even for my family. But God did. Vengeful? I think not. That, my friend, IS Love. And even though you don't like Him right now, He STILL loves you. My answer – LOVING! I wish you peace. - Nunda
Jon,
I so appreciate your post! Boy, do I appreciate your words! I have been working thru this very issue in my own life for about the past six months. Recently, I described it in terms of God being like a "husband" and me wanting a divorce. Loving Him very much, but not seeing it beneficial to me to stay with him. Anyway, I don't have the time to elaborate on this now. Hopefully we may be able to in the future. But a big pat on the back for this. Thanks!
Dee, Nunda, and Sarah, I respect where each of you are with God. I read Exodus 34. Redemption, restoration and life are thrilling realities to me. Yet I wonder if being viciously angry with God is an intimacy few are willing to risk. Wanting a divorce and divorcing are two different things. Sometimes I want to divorce God but I won't. I know he is the only one who meets me on the road in the wind and the sun and the curves. I wonder if I will understand discipline differently after we have kids?
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