I read an interesting article in The National Examiner that touched on the concept of sin.
How The Modern Church Helped Create A God That People Hate
The article starts out explaining the concept of an angry God--ala Jonathan Edwards:
Jonathan Edwards-July 8, 1741 writes:
They are now the Objects of that very same Anger & Wrath of God that is expressed in the Torments of Hell: and the Reason why they don’t go down to Hell at each Moment, is not because God, in whose Power they are, is not then very angry with them; as angry as he is with many of those miserable Creatures that he is now tormenting in Hell, and do there feel and bear the fierceness of his Wrath. Yea God is a great deal more angry with great Numbers that are now on Earth, yea doubtless with many that are now in this Congregation, that it may be are at Ease and Quiet, than he is with many of those that are now in the Flames of Hell. So that it is not because God is unmindful of their Wickedness, and don’t resent it, that he don’t let loose his Hand and cut them off. God is not altogether such an one as themselves, tho’ they may imagine him to be so. The Wrath of God burns against them, their Damnation don’t slumber, the Pit is prepared, the Fire is made ready, the Furnace is now hot, ready to receive them, the Flames do now rage and glow. The glittering Sword is whet, and held over them, and the Pit hath opened her Mouth under them. The Devil stands ready to fall upon them and seize them as his own, at what Moment God shall permit him. They belong to him; he has their Souls in his Possession, and under his Dominion. The God portrayed in "Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God" is then contrasted with the lovey dovey God of megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen.
Joel Osteen-May 18, 2014 writes:
he good news is God already approved you.
Quit working for something you already have.
When He created you he looked at you and said that was good.
Don’t be insecure and intimidated.
If people don’t want to be your friend let them go.
There’s freedom when you realize you’re not waiting for it — you’re already approved.
The Creator of the universe has already blessed me.
You may not feel blessed.
Your checking account may not look blessed.
You’ve got to believe it then you’ll see it.
Declare I am blessed.
I am prosperous.
I am the head and not the tail.
That activates the blessing.
Hold your head up high.
Walk with confidence.
You’re royalty.
Destined to reign.
Go get your healing, dreams, abundance, and victory with your name on it.
You don’t have to pray for what you already have.
Just start acting like it's true.
The author argues that both men were essentially megachurch evangelists of their day and asks
quote:
So to what does history owe this progression of theology from fear in light of a God who cannot abide the proud to pride in light of a God who cannot abide fear?
The author argues that both preachers appeal to emotionalism in a good cop/bad cop sort of way. While modern Christianity is no better than "feel good therapy", the author comes to the crux of his point.
quote:
And so humans refuse a God who stands in judgment over them, standing in judgment over God instead. They either create a soft and comfortable God, or they injure this cosmic authority figure in the only way they know how: insults and unbelief.
Perhaps I have altered the context which the author intended, so I recommend reading this one page article.
Saying, "I don't know," is the same as saying, "Maybe."~ZombieRingo
It's easy to see the speck in somebody else's ideas - unless it's blocked by the beam in your own.~Ringo
If a savage stops believing in his wooden god, it does not mean that there is no God only that God is not wooden.(Leo Tolstoy)