Disturbing Trend?

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S

Strider

Guest
#1
#1
Just something I've picked up on a little - does anyone else seem to be noticing situations where people think God's only primary characteristic love? And I've read/heard statements in a few different situations where people attempt to rationalize and reconcile the most absurd things based on this falsity (girl in my youth-group is a good example). Sure, God is incredibly loving (love is so much a part of his being), slow to anger, quick to forgive - but he is more than just love.

God, is the only source of good and justice and as such he is utterly opposed to sin and evil in all forms - he hates and destroys sin. He gets angry at unrighteous things - Do you guys think this is a failing of today's Christianity (I guess youth churches in some cases are a good example)? In an attempt to make the gospel more palatable do you think they've misrepresented god?

I think we need to show God's love to others which is essential to living the gospel - but, once others have been found by God and are interested in knowing and following him do you think were not doing enough to reveal all we know about God's character?

sorry for the vaguery btw - but in summary, is there a bit of a convert and cut-loose mentality going around?
 
R

Ramon

Guest
#2
#2
Strider said:
Just something I've picked up on a little - does anyone else seem to be noticing situations where people think God's only primary characteristic love? And I've read/heard statements in a few different situations where people attempt to rationalize and reconcile the most absurd things based on this falsity (girl in my youth-group is a good example). Sure, God is incredibly loving (love is so much a part of his being), slow to anger, quick to forgive - but he is more than just love.

God, is the only source of good and justice and as such he is utterly opposed to sin and evil in all forms - he hates and destroys sin. He gets angry at unrighteous things - Do you guys think this is a failing of today's Christianity (I guess youth churches in some cases are a good example)? In an attempt to make the gospel more palatable do you think they've misrepresented god?

I think we need to show God's love to others which is essential to living the gospel - but, once others have been found by God and are interested in knowing and following him do you think were not doing enough to reveal all we know about God's character?

sorry for the vaguery btw - but in summary, is there a bit of a convert and cut-loose mentality going around?
Click to expand...
Amen. You see correctly my friend.
 
T

tif

Guest
#3
#3
Strider: The message about God's love is very integral, but if we don't understand the judgement to come, then Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was pointless. If God's just going to let every single person into heaven because He's so loving that he wouldn't send anyone to hell, then there would have been no reason for Jesus to die. Some people say, "Oh, well his blood covered EVERYONE!" And to that, I have only this to say: Pick up a bible and read. New testament, specifically.
 
H

hotfudge

Guest
#4
#4
One thing that we have to understand is that impressions come with maturity. Its easy for people to relay things, one side of it, and totally forget about the other side specially when they just heard it from someone else [e.g. God is love,period; which is true, though! However, love comes with justice; it comes with righteousness, which people don't bother to mention].

What Im saying is that:
[a] People are not on the same level of maturity because we are supposed to guide one another..guide those with weaker faith;
People usually just listen to those things that they wanna hear; but TRUTH is TRUTH. Let's not get tired sharing it.
 
V

vahn

Guest
#5
#5
mmm hotfudge. 8)

What you said reflects the very nature of God. Well put strider.
 
P

Psalm2713

Guest
#6
#6
true ... there are people who say nothing about God but His Grace and some nothing other than Faith. and some keep acting like it doesn't matter what you do, His grace covers it all....while Jesus says so many times that you have to do His works to stay in His Grace (John15). As a child of God your food is doing the will of God(John 4:34). If you don't eat your food you will starve and die. That's the principle. Faith without works is dead.
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#7
Aug 2, 2009
24,580
4,269
113
#7
tif said:
Strider: The message about God's love is very integral, but if we don't understand the judgement to come, then Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was pointless. If God's just going to let every single person into heaven because He's so loving that he wouldn't send anyone to hell, then there would have been no reason for Jesus to die. Some people say, "Oh, well his blood covered EVERYONE!" And to that, I have only this to say: Pick up a bible and read. New testament, specifically.
Click to expand...
I think you gave a great answer there.

Don't mind my avatar and signature. I know that God is justice too.
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#8
#8
I agree, Strider. It goes beyond a 'maturity' into a trend.
 
N

NodMyHeadLikeYeah

Guest
#9
#9
am i the only one that doesnt get what he is talkin about
 
K

karine___

Guest
#10
#10
God is not just love but through Jesus He sees us with perfect love . to justify sin or to keep on sinning intentionally saying that God is just love sounds too naive. the old testament shows clearly how God loathes sin , when ur friend reads it she will get convinced i think, i would just tell her to do it since she's already a believer.
 
A

amesylou

Guest
#11
#11
I think the issue arises from a cultural desire to 'not offend'. In western cultures everyone is entitled to their own belief as long as no-one tries to convert others, and this is also a result of not wanting to offend. Unfortunately, this means that the true gospel of Christ is watered down. The church doesnt want to 'step on anyones toes'. It is much easier to focus on Gods love and forgiveness, than deal with the harsh reality of His righteousness and judgement.
 
I

Imm

Guest
#12
#12
2 Chronicles 34:25, "Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched"

Nahum 1:2, "God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies."

Romans 1:18, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"
 
B

beckyz

Guest
#13
#13
It's not that sin is okay, but that no matter what you do, no matter who bad you fail, or how far you have fallen, God will forgive a humble and contrite heart.
 
Descyple

Descyple

Senior Member
#14
Jun 7, 2010
3,023
48
48
#14
Greetings Strider.

It is indeed a dangerous trend in many churches to either downplay, or in some cases, to completely reject the wrath of God, and focus purely on God's love. This always puzzles me, because for myself, I cannot fully comprehend God's love without understanding His wrath. When I picture Jesus on the cross, I cannot just see God's love alone. To me His wrath is just as blatant and visible on our Savior's broken body as His love is.

The way I view it, God's love for us "brought" Jesus to the cross, but the actual "act" of crucifixion was nothing less than the intense anger of God's wrath against our sin. It was God's wrath that pierced Jesus' flesh, it was God's wrath that caused Jesus to thirst, it was God's wrath that caused Jesus to declare forsakeness and die. The more of the wrath of God on Jesus I see, the more of the love of God I understand and experience in my life, because of what Jesus suffered in my place. Therefore, Jesus on the cross is equally the monument of God's love and the hammer of God's wrath.

You take away the wrath of God, and you take away the cross. You take away the cross, and you are left with no definable sense of what God's love is supposed to look like. To downplay or degrade God's wrath, is to ultimately downplay and degrade God's love.

Here are two quotes from theologian A.W. Pink regarding God's self-revelation of His wrath, and the importance of us always preaching it alongside God's love.

"God has made no attempt to conceal the fact of His wrath. He is not ashamed to make it known that vengeance and fury belong unto Him... There are more references in Scripture to the anger, fury, and wrath of God, than there are to His love and tenderness."
- A.W. Pink, The Attributes of God, Chapter 16, pg 81

"As the plough and the harrow are necessary in order to break up the hard earth and prepare it for the seed, so a sense of the majesty, holiness and wrath of God is the harbinger which prepares us to appreciate truly His grace and love."
- A.W. Pink, The Life of Elijah, Chapter 27, pg 215

"If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due."
- Psalm 90:11
 
R

Ramon

Guest
#15
#15
Descyple said:
Greetings Strider.

It is indeed a dangerous trend in many churches to either downplay, or in some cases, to completely reject the wrath of God, and focus purely on God's love. This always puzzles me, because for myself, I cannot fully comprehend God's love without understanding His wrath. When I picture Jesus on the cross, I cannot just see God's love alone. To me His wrath is just as blatant and visible on our Savior's broken body as His love is.

The way I view it, God's love for us "brought" Jesus to the cross, but the actual "act" of crucifixion was nothing less than the intense anger of God's wrath against our sin. It was God's wrath that pierced Jesus' flesh, it was God's wrath that caused Jesus to thirst, it was God's wrath that caused Jesus to declare forsakeness and die. The more of the wrath of God on Jesus I see, the more of the love of God I understand and experience in my life, because of what Jesus suffered in my place. Therefore, Jesus on the cross is equally the monument of God's love and the hammer of God's wrath.

You take away the wrath of God, and you take away the cross. You take away the cross, and you are left with no definable sense of what God's love is supposed to look like. To downplay or degrade God's wrath, is to ultimately downplay and degrade God's love.

Here are two quotes from theologian A.W. Pink regarding God's self-revelation of His wrath, and the importance of us always preaching it alongside God's love.

"God has made no attempt to conceal the fact of His wrath. He is not ashamed to make it known that vengeance and fury belong unto Him... There are more references in Scripture to the anger, fury, and wrath of God, than there are to His love and tenderness."
- A.W. Pink, The Attributes of God, Chapter 16, pg 81

"As the plough and the harrow are necessary in order to break up the hard earth and prepare it for the seed, so a sense of the majesty, holiness and wrath of God is the harbinger which prepares us to appreciate truly His grace and love."
- A.W. Pink, The Life of Elijah, Chapter 27, pg 215

"If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due."
- Psalm 90:11
Click to expand...
Amen Amen Amen!
 
A

astro

Guest
#16
#16
Strider,

I'd say this is not really a trend but something that has been going for as long as I remember, and it's usually emotional manipulation.
Don't know if this is a typical Christian thing or just something of the political correct crowd either but the logic is (insultingly) childish.
For example:

1 All good Christians are loving people
2 You do not love X (sodomy/divorce/heretical teaching)
Therefore :
YOU ARE A DISGUSTING UNLOVING (UNCHRISTIAN) HATE-CRIMINAL !

It's probably better to avoid these people altogether; or if your church is infested with them I recommend (climate friendly) carpet bombing.
 
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