MariaRegina
18th February 2006, 11:57 PM
February 17, 2006
This week's message from Father Christopher Metropulos
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD?
Why are there atheists? The scripture says only the fool says in his heart
“there is no God.” (Psalm 14:1) So, why are there atheists today?
Well, I’m sure there are many reasons for this, but I believe one major
reason is the slander against God the Father that has found its way into
even religious people.
Let me explain what I mean. For centuries in the West, theology about God
the Father has stressed His stern justice. People were taught that God
was watching us everyday and “keeping score” of how many times we “broke
the rules.” Children have been shaped to see God as an angry Father Who
will punish the bad little children and reward the good children.
Even western theology has enshrined a belief about God the Father that
said He punished His Son, Jesus, to satisfy His righteous anger against
the sins of mankind.
But is this the full and complete picture of God the Father? Can this theology
really produce atheists? I believe it can and does. In fact, I recall speaking
to a brilliant young many several years ago who confidently declared to
me that he was a convinced atheist. I asked him to describe the God he
said didn’t exist. He then went on to tell me that he understood god to
be a supreme being who was arbitrary and allowed suffering in his world,
and had killed his son on the cross so he could shame us into obeying him.
This god used guilt and shame to control his creation and if we didn’t
do as he commanded then this god would throw us into hell and torment us
for eternity.
After hearing all that, I looked at this bright young man and said “You’re
right, there is no such god like that. I am an atheist too when it comes
to that god.” In fact, the god he described to me was more like the pagan
gods of old who always had to be kept happy or they would not send the
rain for the fields or they would cause other mischief in humans’ lives.
These false gods of our pagan past were more like powerful super humans
who were self centered and self serving. Of course these gods didn’t exist.
But where did this misconception of God the Father come from. Well, I believe
this false notion of God comes from the evil one. Since Eden, the evil
one has desired to distract mankind from learning about the true God by
using slander to convince us that the Father is somehow either a Cosmic
Party Pooper or a terrible Divine Terrorist. The evil one would even allow
us to be religious as long as this religious behavior was motivated by
an abject fear of God the Father rather than a genuine love for Him. That
way the religious behavior would never really penetrate our souls and would
produce a dysfunctional religious life bent on keeping this angry God happy
so we could avoid being punished. The evil one is always happy with that
sort of religion since it cannot produce real love for God.
But it is precisely in coming to genuinely love God that creates the authentic
transfiguration of our souls into the Children of Light that God desires.
St. Anthony of Egypt sums up the Orthodox goal for every human when he
declares "I no longer fear God. I love Him, and perfect love casts out
fear."
Here are three foundational truths about God the Father that cannot be
compromised for any reason if we are to ever truly come to know and love
God as He wishes us to know and love Him.
First, God the Father is Free. If I am to truly come to love God I must
first understand that He is completely without any need. That means that
He didn’t create the world because He was lonely or He needed a creation
to praise Him. No, God created the world because He LOVED me before He
made me. He knew all about me before He said “let there be light” and He
loved me completely. But, I cannot add to God’s happiness or peace, nor
can I disturb His peace and happiness. My obedience does not help God and
my disobedience does not harm God. God is free of need. Therefore, all
God does, He does from a completely selfless motive. He does all things
for me, and He wishes me to know Him as a loving Father.
Second, God the Father is Love. Contrary to popular religious belief today,
The Father didn’t send His Son, Jesus to earth just so He could have a
human sacrifice on the cross. No, The Father sent the Son on a divine rescue
mission to untie the knots of the fall that humanity suffered in the Garden
of Eden when we first believed the slander of the evil one rather than
the gentle wisdom of the Father. Jesus comes not just so the Father will
have a body to kill on the cross to “satisfy” His righteous indignation,
but to fulfill the Father’s will that His creation be set free from the
slavery to sin, death, and the evil one. The Son ascends the wood of the
cross as the Conqueror going into battle to fight the enemy on his own
turf, and His resurrection proved His complete victory over sin, death,
and the evil one. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and
only Son…” (John 3:16)
Finally, God the Father is Patient. The Father is patient and waiting to
draw all creation back to Himself. Time does not bind the Father. No “necessity”
stands over Him forcing His hand to act. He is patiently waiting for all
He has made to be returned to Him. But notice I said He is free of need,
so He does not wait to have His creation returned to Him out of necessity.
No, He waits to receive His world, His creation again to Himself so that
He might fill His creation with Himself and return it to us as “gift” for
the salvation of our souls. This prize is so valued by God the Father that
He waits for His Church to see this treasure and share this “Good News”
with the whole world.
The evil one wants us to believe the slander about the Father. This way
he can keep us enslaved to the self centered life that makes us practical
atheists. Don’t believe the slander of the evil one against our loving
Father!
This week Emmy and I talk to Dr. David Bentley Hart. He is an author of
several books and has taught at the University of Virginia, the University
of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Duke Divinity School, and Loyola College in
Baltimore. His most recent book is “The Doors of the Sea: Where Was God
in the Tsunami?” This program will help you overcome the slander of the
evil one that God causes evil. Make sure you tell a friend to listen with
you.
Until next week,
Yours for the spread of Orthodoxy,
Fr. Chris Metropulos
This week's message from Father Christopher Metropulos
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD?
Why are there atheists? The scripture says only the fool says in his heart
“there is no God.” (Psalm 14:1) So, why are there atheists today?
Well, I’m sure there are many reasons for this, but I believe one major
reason is the slander against God the Father that has found its way into
even religious people.
Let me explain what I mean. For centuries in the West, theology about God
the Father has stressed His stern justice. People were taught that God
was watching us everyday and “keeping score” of how many times we “broke
the rules.” Children have been shaped to see God as an angry Father Who
will punish the bad little children and reward the good children.
Even western theology has enshrined a belief about God the Father that
said He punished His Son, Jesus, to satisfy His righteous anger against
the sins of mankind.
But is this the full and complete picture of God the Father? Can this theology
really produce atheists? I believe it can and does. In fact, I recall speaking
to a brilliant young many several years ago who confidently declared to
me that he was a convinced atheist. I asked him to describe the God he
said didn’t exist. He then went on to tell me that he understood god to
be a supreme being who was arbitrary and allowed suffering in his world,
and had killed his son on the cross so he could shame us into obeying him.
This god used guilt and shame to control his creation and if we didn’t
do as he commanded then this god would throw us into hell and torment us
for eternity.
After hearing all that, I looked at this bright young man and said “You’re
right, there is no such god like that. I am an atheist too when it comes
to that god.” In fact, the god he described to me was more like the pagan
gods of old who always had to be kept happy or they would not send the
rain for the fields or they would cause other mischief in humans’ lives.
These false gods of our pagan past were more like powerful super humans
who were self centered and self serving. Of course these gods didn’t exist.
But where did this misconception of God the Father come from. Well, I believe
this false notion of God comes from the evil one. Since Eden, the evil
one has desired to distract mankind from learning about the true God by
using slander to convince us that the Father is somehow either a Cosmic
Party Pooper or a terrible Divine Terrorist. The evil one would even allow
us to be religious as long as this religious behavior was motivated by
an abject fear of God the Father rather than a genuine love for Him. That
way the religious behavior would never really penetrate our souls and would
produce a dysfunctional religious life bent on keeping this angry God happy
so we could avoid being punished. The evil one is always happy with that
sort of religion since it cannot produce real love for God.
But it is precisely in coming to genuinely love God that creates the authentic
transfiguration of our souls into the Children of Light that God desires.
St. Anthony of Egypt sums up the Orthodox goal for every human when he
declares "I no longer fear God. I love Him, and perfect love casts out
fear."
Here are three foundational truths about God the Father that cannot be
compromised for any reason if we are to ever truly come to know and love
God as He wishes us to know and love Him.
First, God the Father is Free. If I am to truly come to love God I must
first understand that He is completely without any need. That means that
He didn’t create the world because He was lonely or He needed a creation
to praise Him. No, God created the world because He LOVED me before He
made me. He knew all about me before He said “let there be light” and He
loved me completely. But, I cannot add to God’s happiness or peace, nor
can I disturb His peace and happiness. My obedience does not help God and
my disobedience does not harm God. God is free of need. Therefore, all
God does, He does from a completely selfless motive. He does all things
for me, and He wishes me to know Him as a loving Father.
Second, God the Father is Love. Contrary to popular religious belief today,
The Father didn’t send His Son, Jesus to earth just so He could have a
human sacrifice on the cross. No, The Father sent the Son on a divine rescue
mission to untie the knots of the fall that humanity suffered in the Garden
of Eden when we first believed the slander of the evil one rather than
the gentle wisdom of the Father. Jesus comes not just so the Father will
have a body to kill on the cross to “satisfy” His righteous indignation,
but to fulfill the Father’s will that His creation be set free from the
slavery to sin, death, and the evil one. The Son ascends the wood of the
cross as the Conqueror going into battle to fight the enemy on his own
turf, and His resurrection proved His complete victory over sin, death,
and the evil one. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and
only Son…” (John 3:16)
Finally, God the Father is Patient. The Father is patient and waiting to
draw all creation back to Himself. Time does not bind the Father. No “necessity”
stands over Him forcing His hand to act. He is patiently waiting for all
He has made to be returned to Him. But notice I said He is free of need,
so He does not wait to have His creation returned to Him out of necessity.
No, He waits to receive His world, His creation again to Himself so that
He might fill His creation with Himself and return it to us as “gift” for
the salvation of our souls. This prize is so valued by God the Father that
He waits for His Church to see this treasure and share this “Good News”
with the whole world.
The evil one wants us to believe the slander about the Father. This way
he can keep us enslaved to the self centered life that makes us practical
atheists. Don’t believe the slander of the evil one against our loving
Father!
This week Emmy and I talk to Dr. David Bentley Hart. He is an author of
several books and has taught at the University of Virginia, the University
of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Duke Divinity School, and Loyola College in
Baltimore. His most recent book is “The Doors of the Sea: Where Was God
in the Tsunami?” This program will help you overcome the slander of the
evil one that God causes evil. Make sure you tell a friend to listen with
you.
Until next week,
Yours for the spread of Orthodoxy,
Fr. Chris Metropulos