Comments on: So what? http://johnorr.me.uk/2010/05/19/so-what/ Random mutterings and musings of mine - a work in progress Tue, 08 May 2012 19:55:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: John http://johnorr.me.uk/2010/05/19/so-what/comment-page-1/#comment-5069 John Thu, 20 May 2010 19:06:44 +0000 http://johnorr.me.uk/?p=668#comment-5069 <p>Hi Matt,</p> <p>Thank you for stopping by and taking time to comment.</p> <p>I formulated a reply, then deleted it; started again and wiped it again. Too many ifs and buts and underlying assumptions to do it justice. In a nutshell, yes I think explaining God's judgement and wrath has its place, but always tempered with the gospel message - never left hanging as a way of bullying or scaring people towards God. Fear of God's wrath is a poor path to discipleship.</p> Hi Matt,

Thank you for stopping by and taking time to comment.

I formulated a reply, then deleted it; started again and wiped it again. Too many ifs and buts and underlying assumptions to do it justice. In a nutshell, yes I think explaining God’s judgement and wrath has its place, but always tempered with the gospel message – never left hanging as a way of bullying or scaring people towards God. Fear of God’s wrath is a poor path to discipleship.

]]> By: nelu http://johnorr.me.uk/2010/05/19/so-what/comment-page-1/#comment-5068 nelu Thu, 20 May 2010 11:32:21 +0000 http://johnorr.me.uk/?p=668#comment-5068 While wrath of God is an ancient concept (as all the Gods of the ancient people were capricious), the 'propitiation' doctrine is a modern understanding/invention? (while I don't dismiss it, I think we need to think hard about how we take and understand it for today). Alistair McGrath Justicia Dei is a good introductory survey of the development of this doctrine. While wrath of God is an ancient concept (as all the Gods of the ancient people were capricious), the ‘propitiation’ doctrine is a modern understanding/invention? (while I don’t dismiss it, I think we need to think hard about how we take and understand it for today). Alistair McGrath Justicia Dei is a good introductory survey of the development of this doctrine.

]]> By: Matt http://johnorr.me.uk/2010/05/19/so-what/comment-page-1/#comment-5065 Matt Thu, 20 May 2010 09:09:02 +0000 http://johnorr.me.uk/?p=668#comment-5065 Can you understand the fullness of God's love without appreciating the expressions of this wrath found in the Bible? I'd suggest not. Perhaps this isn't what your preacher was speaking of, though. Can you understand the fullness of God’s love without appreciating the expressions of this wrath found in the Bible?

I’d suggest not.

Perhaps this isn’t what your preacher was speaking of, though.

]]> By: nelu http://johnorr.me.uk/2010/05/19/so-what/comment-page-1/#comment-5063 nelu Wed, 19 May 2010 21:06:32 +0000 http://johnorr.me.uk/?p=668#comment-5063 you are right to raise this question this way! I do feel that we often miss the point - the fact that judgement and wrath comes from a culture that was dominated by those sentiments. People seem to prefer violence over love - is this our default position? I think that God again and again wants us to change our default position! I like the saying "love casts out all fears"!!! It's time we grow up! But some can't cope without the rod! you are right to raise this question this way! I do feel that we often miss the point – the fact that judgement and wrath comes from a culture that was dominated by those sentiments. People seem to prefer violence over love – is this our default position? I think that God again and again wants us to change our default position! I like the saying “love casts out all fears”!!! It’s time we grow up! But some can’t cope without the rod!

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