Ok, so a preacher man in our church a few days back had the unfortunate task of delivering the message from the passage of Luke 16:19-31, "The Rich Man & Lazarus". Respect. Right up front he says he can only talk about half the passage, because he doesn't get this God cursing people thing. "Honesty, I don't get it, lets all have a chat about it over coffee after the service maybe?"
Fair enough, but this passage now has me really questioning what I believe about grace.
Does God really curse people? I thought God was love? Can I trust a God who'd let that happen to somebody? If God is gong to curse bad people, what the hell can I do about it? I'm a sinner right? May as well just go bananas and wait for the pits of hell to come along...
Well, after some contemplation, here comes the jelly :)
I think God does curse. If God is love, He HAS to hate all that is against love. Self-centeredness, pride, greed, prejudice (just some examples I could stretch out of the rich man).
BUT, what if the rich man was just a representative for a part of the same man that was Lazarus? The selfless love of God struggling to survive in the selfish, greedy attitude of his human-ness. If we are born again Christians, are we not to let go of the old self, or the things that are not of God, not love in other words? Can we, with God's help cast away our selfish and loveless attitudes & actions, throw them into the pits of "hell and torment" in order to make room for more of God? More love, more compassion, more action?
So I don't believe that God will ever curse me, but He will curse my sins, casting THEM into the pits of hell, leaving me just as He intended. Good.
Free of charge, nogal, just say thanks!
Well, that's what I think anyway. Any thoughts?
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