A God For All Occasions

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 5: 8 - 9 NKJV

I was thinking the other morning about the many characters of God.  That is, how it is we see God through many different situations.  We have a God of love {John 3:16}.  We also, believe it or not, have a God of wrath {John 3:36, Matthew 10:28, Ephesians 5:6}.  For some time I have referred to this view of our Lord as having a God for all occasions.  We may feel kindness towards others, so we justify this by showing the compassion of Jesus.  However, there are certainly those times when we will throw compassion out the window and our hearts burn with anger towards someone or something.  It is in these moments when our thoughts may turn to another side of God, to His character of vengeance and wrath.  I've known many a Christian who utilized both in their dealings with others.  I recall a friend who would commonly refer to those absent from their pews on a Sunday morning as "inviting Gods anger" upon themselves.  I've also been in many a conversation with fellow Christians who have tried to pass off negative circumstances in my own life by claiming that God was somehow angry with me.  This belief is at the very heart of a mistaken view we may have when it comes to God.  See, popular Christian theology has taught us that God is somehow separated from His creation.  God is seated on His throne is heaven, while we are stuck here in a fallen world.  And God isn't alone, as we're told that after His resurrection that Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the Fathers side.  The negative spinoffs of this teaching are numerous.  Many church leaders attempt to justify this teaching with claims that God cannot be in the presence of sin.  And, since we all have sinned {Romans 3:23}, that God cannot possibly be in the presence of His own children.  Therefore, Jesus and the Father sit in heaven judging our behaviors from afar.  Judging our behaviors?  Well, how else would you explain the God for all occasions to Christians who didn't know any better?  When things are going good, God looks down on us and is pleased.  However, when we screw up, which we're sure to do at some point, Gods kind nature suddenly turns to one of disappointment and anger.  So, which God do you serve?

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4: 8

So, is there indeed a God for all occasions as we have been taught to believe?  I would say no, and here's why.  We know from scripture that it is Jesus who never changes {Hebrews 13:8}.  We also  know that if we have seen Jesus, then we have seen God as well {Hebrews 1:3, John 14:9}.  Therefore, Jesus is the same today as He always has been.  There is no shadow of turning with Him.  If Jesus loves us today, then He always has.  If He cared enough for us to give Himself for our sins, then His compassion for us remains today.  That's how it works.  The God that lovingly created me all those years ago loves me to this day.  Now, what about that "other" side of God?  Well, I will agree that I believe that God does have that nature in Him.  The scriptures tell us this.  However, does He actively use that negative nature?  I don't believe so.  See God, along with being the creator of the universe, is also the very embodiment of all that we are.  We carry Him within us.  It is God who breathed into us the breath of life {Genesis 2:7}.  The apostle Paul also tells us that it is Christ Jesus who lives through us {Galatians 2:20}.  Within ourselves we carry the very DNA of God.  Whatever He is, we are as well.  So, knowing that, do you have a negative side to you?  I know I do.  Are we to believe that we would only share in the positive attributes of our creator?  I don't think so.  That anger which we all too often exhibit to others is also present in God.  We are all He is.  The beautiful thing with God is that, although He possesses a negative side to His nature, He chooses not to exhibit it.  I wish I had that level of self control.  I do not believe that we serve a God for all occasions, but one who carries us through each situation in His love for us.  We shouldn't see our negative feelings as a burden, but as a extension of God who lives in us.

~Scott~