Space For God

The Wrath of God

I went to a service the other day, during which the "WRATH OF GOD" was mentioned a number of times. This concept really got me thinking.

I, personally, have serious problems with this concept. I once had a friend who said to me, on Atheists "If I am wrong, I'll end up in the ground with worms eating me, like everyone else. But if they are wrong, I'll be in Heaven whilst they are in Hell". But to me, this does not seem like a good foundation of Faith.

Unfortunately it seems more and more we are seeing "CHRISTIANITY BY COERCION". When the only options presented to you are eternal life, or to burn to death in Hell, their isn't really a choice. This also seems to go against a lot of other things we say about the nature of God.

First, Christianity enjoys promoting the concept of a Loving God. Our God sacrificed his own Son for our sins. That God sounds like the Father, whose child has gone a little bit off the rails. No matter how angry He gets, He will go out of his way to help His child, because for them He still has love.

Second, we often teach the concept of choice or 'free will'. God always gives us a choice in life. We can choose what we believe, BUT we can also choose how to act. If we really do have choice in life, then the argument of the Wrath of God, which we must fear and obey, is in stark contradiction.

We ourselves often create and represent these constructions. Think about when you have told someone about Christianity. How have you presented it? Have you made it a choice, or have you made it sound like the only right way? Have you perhaps let your opinions shroud your vision of what the other person might think or believe?

Then ask yourself, what would you prefer. Do you want God to force you to be his follower? Or would you rather make the decision to become a disciple yourself?

I know which I prefer.