“David asked the soldiers standing nearby, 'What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?'” 1 Samuel 17:26 The story of David and Goliath is an epic narrative of the power of faith, love, and fear of the Lord. What I find most remarkable about this story was David’s motivation for battling Goliath. He didn’t do it for his glory as his brothers may have accused him, and he surely didn’t do it mainly for the reward (perhaps there was a little motivation there too). He did it because he was offended that someone was defying the armies of the living God. In other words, he was angry that someone he loved was being cursed. You’ve probably felt this way. You’ve definitely felt this way if you’ve ever loved someone who has been hurt. For parents, it’s a guarantee they’ll be the first to get angry when someone curses their children. Even for friends the bond is strong enough to feel this same way. You will likely not think twice before hurting (or being angry at) anyone who tries to hurt someone you love. Now, of course, this isn’t exactly a biblical response. We are supposed to love our enemies and forgive them, especially since our enemies are also flawed human beings who probably also love people enough to hurt anyone who hurts them. But at the same time, you would never say to someone who just cursed your loved one, “It’s okay. I forgive you. Keep talking.” Should we forgive the unjust? Of course. Should we tolerate injustice? No. “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17 And many people are well aware of this. Few will tolerate hateful speech, crime, mass shootings, the oppression of the poor, fatherless, or widows. But what about when it comes to God? How much injustice/defiance are we tolerating of the living God? I have been in a lot of pain recently watching the media and people around me misuse the name of God and throw it around without reverence. How many times have you heard, “Oh my [sometimes the f-word is placed here] God,” or “Jesus Christ!” or “God is a woman,” or “I swear to God,” used casually or angrily? Even when they’re not actually referring to God Himself? As a kid I was always told never to say, “Oh my God,” in anger because it is offensive to God. My response was always, “Why would He care? If He knows I’m not actually meaning to offend Him, is He really offended?” And honestly, maybe not. All I know for sure on this topic is that we are commanded not to misuse His name. I can’t tell you if He’s actually offended because I am not Him. Even so, I’m offended—like David was and like you would be for any of your loved ones. And your loved ones aren’t even Holy and All-Powerful and All-Knowing and Almighty and Awesome and Worthy of all praise. Who are we, mere human beings, created by the One whose character we don’t even consider when we say these things, to throw His Holy name around as if it means nothing? To use it as a meaningless term in a phrase that doesn't even refer to the Creator Himself? Maybe I’m overreacting, but when I consider how I have been feeling about all this, David’s quote from 1 Samuel comes to mind. Who are these people to defy the living God by using His name without reverence? Perhaps it is because they do not know Him. Many strangers will improperly treat people they do not know. That doesn’t make it any less wrong to not give proper respect as it is owed. Perhaps it is because not enough have spoken up that this misuse has become normalized. “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6-7 Now, God is slow to anger and abounding in love. He said so Himself to Moses. He forgives wickedness, rebellion and sin. But to forgive requires repentance. “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” Romans 2:5 I don’t think it’s a requirement for Christians to feel this way—offended when someone misuses the name of the Lord. And maybe saying things like “Oh my God” is not an actual misuse of the Lord’s name and I’m just over-defining it. Still, I think that if we really deeply know and love God and understand His Holiness, we could never tolerate any defiance of the living God.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorFighting complacency and advocating change in myself for the world around me. Posts by Date
February 2019
Posts by Name
All
|