Personally, it has been a rough and busy August so I haven't had time to write up a thoughtful post. Until I get my ducks in a row, I just want to throw out an idea that I came across.
Forgive me if I can't eloquently convey this thought:
If something bad happens to someone, someone may say "God is punishing me". In this spoken tense it would seem that God is intentionally emitting anger or wrath, right? Well, in those times that one thinks God's "wrath" is upon them, what if He is not so much as being actively angry, but rather is only slightly withdrawing His protection so that one learns a lesson? Any space that has less Love is bound to be miserable. So, is it possible that God's "wrath" is not an addition of anger, but rather a subtraction of protection and presence for one's own good, done out of Love?
6 comments:
I think it's a delight. Since I am told that God was made in my image, I am therefor led to believe that he would act as I would. In which case I wouldn't be punishing them so much as tormenting them for my pleasure because they are too ignorant to take ownership of their life and it's events. I think it's hubris to believe one's life is so significant that a supreme being that has promised to forgive them and love them for eternity has decided to interact with your life instead of allowing you to live it and choose to accept him. Isn't the repercussion simply to be denied after death and swim in fire?
I'm told that I was made in God's image - He's the master mold, not me, so it is WE who should be acting as HE would, not the other way around. I loathe to think that God would act as I would - a human marred by narrow-visioned emotion and flawed logic. If that were the case, humanity would be as pitiable, I think, just as if God didn't exist. Mainstream Christianity paints God as a spoiled child who will smite you with fire if you don't believe in Him. I strongly disagree. Humans are not their own saviors. They can't save themselves through belief. Christ died to take away the sins of the WORLD (not just sins of Christians), otherwise the crucifixion and resurrection was not successful. I believe in God, the Loving Parent. What you've described as a nonparticipating God (Deism) wouldn't fit in with the actions of a Loving Parent. A parent lets their child wander on their own, but helps him/her up when they fall flat on their face. If God thought enough of me to bless me with existence, I should think enough of myself to be worthy of a relationship with Him. I wouldn't call it hubris, I would call it self-esteem in recognizing that God dwells within, because if we love ourselves (and each other) then we are loving God's work, and, therefore Him.
Thank you for reading & commenting!
God bless!
A child who is being taught a lesson is often feeling that their world is crumbling down around them, they screwed up, they aren't worthy of their parents love, and kind of beat themselves up...
A parent is trying to put in place rules that help guide a child to a good place. Punishment, when done right isn't coming from a place of wrath or withdrawal, it's coming from a place of love, consistency, and hope for bettering your kid.
While my view of God differs from the involved loving parent, I can appreciate it.
I think people often view God as punishing them as the child who doesn't understand the motivation, and really have missed the mark. A good parent isn't imparting wrath, nor withdrawal... just boundaries, love, and consistency.
Wonderfully touched upon, Mev.
God is not a vengeful retributionist. Punishment is for the BENEFIT of those being punished, just as prison is rehabilitation for the imprisoned. A just punishment fits the crime, it does not go beyond it. If it did, it would be unjust as well as unloving.
Thanks for reading & commenting!
God bless : )
SM
How come I didn't get a smiley? Maybe God is mad at me?
Ok Ok.....I'll go now!!
LOL - :>)
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