God Vs God

I read the most interesting article yesterday in Christianity Today.  It spoke to the seeming difference between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New.  Many people say that there is too much difference--that they can't trust God because of his bloodthirsty nature.  Sure, Jesus was all mercy, but he had his moments, too.  Think about his attitude toward the moneylenders in the temple--not all sweetness and light there, was he?

The problem is that we tend to focus on God's vengeful nature in the Old Testament and his mercy in the New.  In fact, both are in both.  The punishment that comes in the Old Testament comes because people rebel against their God.  In the NT, there are many pointed references to the religious leaders of the day.  These are men who have turned away from the true God and are leading their people harshly, all the while rebelling against God in their own lives.  In the OT, the prophets spoke the words of God; in the NT, John the Baptist and Jesus spoke for him.  Prophets were despised; John was beheaded; Jesus was crucified.

But the OT doesn't just speak of punishment.  "If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, then I will hear from heaven...and I will heal their land."  Rahab was spared from the Canaanite massacre and is called a woman of faith.  Jonah was angry at God because he went to Ninevah and warned them of God's wrath--and they listened and were spared!

The thing is, God desires fellowship with his people.  His people are called to righteousness.  If they heed the call, they are spared and chosen.  If they ignore him, they are turned away.  The results of being turned away are not pleasant.  However, God sent his Son Jesus to redeem us and make us righteousness.  As the article says, "The cross is God's defiance of himself....At the cross, God made a way for his mercy and love to triumph over his justice and judgement." (from the article "Can We Trust the God of Genocide" by Mark Buchanon, Christianity Today, July/Aug 2013)  In Christ, "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other (Psalm 85:10).  We can trust in God to be safe against God.

But remember, nothing has changed as far as God's wrath is concerned.  It is spelled out for us:  we are the called; we are the chosen.  We are given the call--the gift of salvation.  We can accept that call and live.  If we don't accept that call, well...

Many years ago, I spoke with a colleague, a westerner who was married to a Muslim.  (Remember that the culture of the Middle East was the culture of Jesus, the culture to whom the Bible was addressed,   When they heard the words, they understood instantly what was meant and there was no question.  It would be as easily understood as saying to an American "the groom carried his bride over the threshold at the start of their new life together".  It would be understood that the couple had been married and were entering their new home.)  She was a teacher, as am I, and it was grading time.  Anyone who taught in the days before computers knows what her coffee table must have looked like.  Her gradebook was in the middle, report cards beside it,  papers strewn about, a red pen in one hand and a blue pen in the other, and her mind totally on what she was doing.  Into all of this came her husband, a cup of tea in his hand.  "My darling, I've made you a cup of tea."  Without looking up, she said, "That's fine.  Just put it on the end table.  I'll get to it."  Without another word, the man left.

After a while, she came to a stopping point and remembered the tea.  She looked at the end table.  No tea.  She looked around the room--no tea anywhere.  Confused, she came into the kitchen.  There she saw the teacup, washed and put in the dish drainer.  Even more confused, she found her husband in the bedroom reading a magazine.  "Sweetheart, why didn't you put the tea down like I asked you to?"

"My love, you don't understand. You did not ask for that tea.  I knew you were busy and thought you would enjoy the gift of a cup of tea.  It was a gift, given out of love.  And you didn't even look at me.  You rejected it.  Therefore, it was taken away."  This was a valuable lesson.  If you are offered a gift, you must accept it.  If not, it is seen as rejection, not only of the gift but of the giver.  That rejection results in the gift being taken away and possibly even being given to someone else (the story of the wedding feast that nobody attended comes to mind).

Think of the gift we have been given.  God offers himself to us.  He gives us prophets to speak his words and call us to himself.  More than that, he gives his only Son.  He sends his Son to die for us, and to live with us and for us.  He has given us the most amazing gift.  However, that gift will not be available forever.  If we hear, it is up to us to respond.  Yes, it seems that the offer is going to be there forever.  But one day it will be taken away if we do not accept it.  God is love, but God is also righteousness.  How amazing that he sent his Son so that we can clothe ourselves in His righteousness and thereby be made acceptable to our father.