Now it is eonian life that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Him Whom Thou dost commission, Jesus Christ
Johns Account 17: 3, Concordant New Testament Translation
For too many years I have been living with the lie. That lie that speaks to the false intentions of the Lord whenever election season rolls around. That lie that says that God, depending on whatever side of the aisle that you walk in, has decided to punish the nation or a certain group of people because of the state of our country, our disobedience or some other concocted reason people can come up with. For too many years I believed that lie, and every election cycle I would pray that God would reserve His punishment upon a wicked nation. Then the other day a good friend of mine reminded me of something important. He remined me of the true desire of the Lord. That being, that ALL of His children would come to know Him. Those who speak of the Father punishing His children for their disobedience or other so called sin do not know the true nature of our God. The apostle John reminds of this in his epistle, that the one true nature of God...is love {First Epistle of John 4:8}. It is God Who loved us enough to create us in His likeness {Genesis 1:27}. It is God Who, through His love for us, dispatched His Son that "The world may be saved through Him" {Johns Account 3:16-17}. If God is so into punishing us for our disobedience, why send Jesus for our redemption? Why provide us that reconciliation unto Himself {Paul to the Colossians 1:20}. I suggest that the New Testament, the good news of Christ Jesus, is not about Gods punishment of the wicked, but about the revelation of our lives in Him. Jesus Himself speaks to this union of ours in the book of John {Johns Account 14:20}. How is it that we will know the Father if He is always punishing us for one sin or another? If anything, this belief presents to us a false image of God. That God is an authoritarian Who deals out pain and punishment upon all who do not please Him. Unfortunately, this is the view of God which continues to be spoken by those within the church. I am well aware of this because I continue to have more than a few friendships with those who adhere to the theology of the church. Whenever something bad happens, be it elections or some other tragedy, their first inclination is to immediately assume that the punishment of the Lord is at hand. Tell me, what room does this belief have for the mercy and grace of the Father?
I find it funny that one of the attributes of the Lord which the church espouses to is that of His love and mercy for us. But whenever tragedy strikes, this all goes out the window and God switches into punishment mode. Like I said, a good number of so-called believers really do not know God. For if they did know Him, they would understand that despite all that goes on in this world, that God never changes {James to the Twelve Tribes 1:17}. That Jesus "Yesterday and today, is the same for the eons also" {To the Hebrews 13:8}. So, if God is indeed love, then He is love FOR THE EONS! He never changes. To know the Father is to know that within His love there is no room for fear {First Epistle of John 4:18}. With fear comes the expectation of punishment or chastening, but the perfect love we have in the Father casts out that fear. For we know that we need not fear God, we only need know that we live within His love {Johns Account 17:21}. So, what does this have to do with God and the politics of mankind? Well, despite our false belief that election results either display His blessing or punishment depending what side of the aisle you are on, it is God Who has appointed leaders to guide us {Paul to the Romans 13:1}. If you don't like the results of the election, know that it is the Father Who has placed certain people in their positions. Are you going to disagree with Him? Who are we to disagree with the plans which the Father has for His creation? I believe that comedian George Carlin said it perfectly when referring to those who question Gods plans. "What's the use of being God if every run-down schmuck with a two-dollar prayer book can come along and fuck up your plan?" What's the use indeed! For if God is in control, as we're so fond of saying, why do we continue to snatch that control away from Him? To trust in the Father is to trust in Him completely. To know in our hearts that all which He does is out of His love for us. But for those who adhere to the mainstream church theology, that's a hard pill to swallow.
Fear is not in love, but perfect love is casting out fear, for fear has chastening. Now he who is fearing is not perfected in love.
First Epistle of John 4: 18, Concordant New Testament Translation
~Scott~
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