The Wrath of God

The following is an excerpt from Chapter 16 in Pink’s book titled The Attributes of God. in light of the recent disclosures on the wretched actions of Planned Parenthood it seems appropriate to reflect on God’s Wrath as this nation is surely deserving of that! The link takes the reader to the full article.

It is sad to find so many professing Christians who appear to regard the wrath of God as something for which they need to make an apology, or at least they wish there were no such thing. While some would not go so far as to openly admit that they consider it a blemish on the Divine character, yet they are far from regarding it with delight, they like not to think about it, and they rarely hear it mentioned without a secret resentment rising up in their hearts against it. Even with those who are more sober in their judgment, not a few seem to imagine that there is a severity about the Divine wrath which is too terrifying to form a theme for profitable contemplation. Others harbor the delusion that God’s wrath is not consistent with His goodness, and so seek to banish it from their thoughts.

Yes, many there are who turn away from a vision of God’s wrath as though they were called to look upon some blotch in the Divine character, or some blot upon the Divine government. But what saith the Scriptures? As we turn to them we find that 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. His own challenge is, "See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with Me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; neither is there any that can deliver out of My hand. For I lift up My hand to heaven, and say, I live forever, If I whet My glittering sword, and Mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to Mine enemies, and will reward them that hate Me" (Deut. 32:39-41). A study of the concordance will show that there are more references in Scripture to the anger, fury, and wrath of God, than there are to His love and tenderness. Because God is holy, He hates all sin; And because He hates all sin, His anger burns against the sinner: Psalm 7:11.

http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Attributes/attrib_16.htm

Cultural Symbols & Genuine Santification

Today in Columbia SC the Confederate Flag came down.

I Pastored in Columbia for 20 years. In 1997 I led an effort to expose the wretched racists that existed in many churches there. The 'Powers that Be', now deceased, were cowards and would not face the reality of that fact. The reason - 'We do not want to violate the Autonomy of the Local Church.'

Say what? Rampant blatant racism is ok but we would NEVER trample the Authonomy of the Local Church. Sad, folks, just very very sad. I personally confronted racists and they departed and maligned me. Well la dee dah!

My point is this - removing a Cultural Symbol (and I do NOT have a Dog in that fight) will not change one single heart. A person who has a black heart will still have a black heart whether that flag is flying on the State House Grounds or tucked away in a Museum.

All people are created in the Image of God and by virtue of that fact deserve dignity, respect and they need to hear the Gospel, Repent and Trust Christ. The flag up or down will not accomplish that in anyone's heart.

That is the Truth with a capital "T"!