by jimwalton » Tue Sep 20, 2016 10:10 am
Jealousy can be a bad thing or a good thing. It's bad to protect the petty; it's good to protect the precious. If jealousy stems from self-centeredness, it's wrong. If it comes from concern for another's wellbeing, it's not only appropriate but moral. Jealousy can be a vice or a virtue. In the Bible God is a concerned lover seeking to protect the objects of his affection from dangerous and destructive intrusions. A husband who doesn't get jealous when someone makes inappropriate advances to his wife that threaten to ruin their relationship is just a jerk. Stand up for your love! Outrage, pain, and anguish are appropriate responses.
God isn't petty, He is jealous for our best interests. He wants to guard against destructive advances against us, whether from external aggressors or even self-harm. That's the action of honest love, not neglecting his own rules.
God's jealousy is not the childish outburst of immature anger, pride or weakness, malice or meanness. It's not spiteful and petty: "I want what you have, and I hate you for having it!" God's jealousy is a reaction to evil that threatens not only our wellbeing but also our existence.
"Zealous" might be a better translation than "jealous," since jealous has turned into an English word with exclusively bad connotation.
> Killing
I'm curious why you set aside all instances of justifiable killing to accuse God of only unjustifiable killing. It's altogether possible that the only time we see God killing in the Bible is in instances of justifiable judgment.
In the case of Ananias and Sapphire, it is a parallel story with Achan in Joshua 7. Both were liars and cheats. in both bases God delivers what seems to be unusually harsh discipline on key families, but note that in both cases it's a critical turning point in the young communities of Israel and the church. The community is vulnerable, designed for greatness, but also right on the edge of extinction. Decisive action is necessary to set the course on "Day 1".
Notice also that possessions in Luke and Acts (as well as in the OT) function as symbols of response to God. Zacchaeus's uncoerced generosity is a sign of repentance and faith (Luke 19.1-10), whereas the rich man's refusal to part with his money—or even worse, the conniving dishonesty of Ananias and Sapphire betrays and evil, unrepentant heart, closed to the work and purposes of God. Without decisive action at this particular juncture, the whole endeavor flushes down the toilet and Christianity fades away quickly.
You are mistaken that God routinely breaks his own rules. It is even inaccurate to claim that he ever breaks his own rules.
Jealousy can be a bad thing or a good thing. It's bad to protect the petty; it's good to protect the precious. If jealousy stems from self-centeredness, it's wrong. If it comes from concern for another's wellbeing, it's not only appropriate but moral. Jealousy can be a vice or a virtue. In the Bible God is a concerned lover seeking to protect the objects of his affection from dangerous and destructive intrusions. A husband who doesn't get jealous when someone makes inappropriate advances to his wife that threaten to ruin their relationship is just a jerk. Stand up for your love! Outrage, pain, and anguish are appropriate responses.
God isn't petty, He is jealous for our best interests. He wants to guard against destructive advances against us, whether from external aggressors or even self-harm. That's the action of honest love, not neglecting his own rules.
God's jealousy is not the childish outburst of immature anger, pride or weakness, malice or meanness. It's not spiteful and petty: "I want what you have, and I hate you for having it!" God's jealousy is a reaction to evil that threatens not only our wellbeing but also our existence.
"Zealous" might be a better translation than "jealous," since jealous has turned into an English word with exclusively bad connotation.
> Killing
I'm curious why you set aside all instances of justifiable killing to accuse God of only unjustifiable killing. It's altogether possible that the only time we see God killing in the Bible is in instances of justifiable judgment.
In the case of Ananias and Sapphire, it is a parallel story with Achan in Joshua 7. Both were liars and cheats. in both bases God delivers what seems to be unusually harsh discipline on key families, but note that in both cases it's a critical turning point in the young communities of Israel and the church. The community is vulnerable, designed for greatness, but also right on the edge of extinction. Decisive action is necessary to set the course on "Day 1".
Notice also that possessions in Luke and Acts (as well as in the OT) function as symbols of response to God. Zacchaeus's uncoerced generosity is a sign of repentance and faith (Luke 19.1-10), whereas the rich man's refusal to part with his money—or even worse, the conniving dishonesty of Ananias and Sapphire betrays and evil, unrepentant heart, closed to the work and purposes of God. Without decisive action at this particular juncture, the whole endeavor flushes down the toilet and Christianity fades away quickly.
You are mistaken that God routinely breaks his own rules. It is even inaccurate to claim that he [i]ever[/i] breaks his own rules.