Me: God says don’t kill the unborn. God: Old Testament wrath. Others: How does that even make sense?
I keep seeing similar questions posed by those who seem to be looking for a fight rather than pursuing truth. But in case there is someone who is genuinely interested in an answer, here you go.
Making Sense: God is the absolute Authority over all things, is totally sovereign, actively involved in every detail through time, and only acts/allows events within His goodness, wisdom, love, and perfect, eternal justice, resulting in the absolute best in every scenario on an eternal level. I, however, can not perceive beyond my own circumstances and timeline, and my attempt to pursue justice is limited by that which I understand, which is fallible. Thus God’s justice is always right and best, and mine must remain in the context of what God has commanded me to do.
God’s justice is always right and best, and mine must remain in the context of what God has commanded me to do.
Going Further: Only someone perfectly good, totally loving, absolutely wise, and completely powerful could work out perfect justice–even unto death. God in His eternal character is perfectly good, totally loving, absolutely wise, and completely powerful. I am not.
The other aspect is of right. I am not the highest authority over life. As a soul-based being (humankind) I am on the same plane as other humans, and therefore have no right to kill them. (As opposed to rocks and plants and animals, which were created to assist me in my service to God, and over which I am given stewardship.) God Himself, however, as creator of all things, including humankind, therefore has complete authority and claim over their purpose and end.
Only when we are convinced of God’s complete authority will we admit He has the right to do with us as He wills. And only when we are convinced that He is perfectly good, totally loving, absolutely wise, and completely powerful will we trust that His right to do all things is never separated from His character to do all things in perfect goodness, love, wisdom, and power, resulting in perfect justice.
So What Now? Now we work to defend those who can not defend themselves, steward the world wisely and well, pursue justice as much as it is up to us, and hinge our every action on the direction of the One who continues to lead us in perfect love, goodness, wisdom, and power. And for those who reject God's sovereignty and authority, we pray that the Holy Spirit would soften their heart to desire and know Truth, while continuing to love them and reflect Jesus to them in the way we live.
So what now? Now we work.
Post Script: Though my husband's first response to the screenshot above was to push against the strawman arguments with proper context and clarity in the original passages, I felt that, were the OP (original poster) seeking to be malicious (as is too often the case), they would have no desire to look at Scripture, much less its proper hermeneutics. I decided instead to state the two points which clarify my own stance, boiled down to God's sovereignty and claim. Without the Holy Spirit quickening the heart of those who attack Scripture when their worldview is threatened, there will be very little opportunity for conversation beyond the roots of what a Christian believes. And, my sweet friend, if given the opening to speak to the heart of an unbeliever, please remember grace. If we can not showcase the love of God while celebrating His justice, our status of ambassador for the Almighty is in need of some serious re-calibrating.
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