SMITE me thou great SMITER!! - (Jim Carrey)

[salamacum]

Jim Carrey cries this in anguish of soul in "Bruce Almighty"
Is God the great Smiter in the sky?
Is this how Christians should see Him?
Is our good behaviour predicated on this fear of Him?

What of Revelation where Christ promises to cast those sexually immoral into intense suffering until they repent. (Revelation 2:22)

I personally have great difficulty with the anger and threat of the latter verse.

 

[Qyöt27]

I think there are general repercussions for our behavior and of course ultimate repercussions we have to answer for, but after going through an intensely dark period in high school where I did swing into the medieval belief that every misfortune was a result of sins I had committed, regardless of repentance, I hesitate to ever pin that kind of pronouncement on things. To be honest, though, I do still struggle with it, but that's also because I have self-confidence issues.

As for if good behavior should be built upon this fear of being smited, absolutely not. A faith borne out of fear is hardly faith at all, because the only reason you adhere to it is out of your own self-interest. And what part of solid faith is built on that?

 

[Johnnz]

There is some seriously distorted views about God promoted by sections of the church. There seems to be a real lack of serous theological reflection and sound biblical understanding.

Some take the imagery in Revelation very literally for example. That ignores it's genre, as well as the significance of those images to the original recipients. Many of the images are used to show how the might of the Roman Empire would one day yield to the one true Lord of the universe, Jesus. The early church understood John's images within that context. His letter was one of encouragement not of some way of future event beyond their comprehension. Except of course for the last chapters which do refer to the end of history. But the NT Christians believed that anyway.

John
NZ

 

[salamacum]

<< His letter was one of encouragement not of some way of future event beyond their comprehension > >
Johnnz - yes, indeed.
But what are we to make of this particular passage? Is this not what Jesus actually said to John?
Or is it John's understanding/expression of some aspect of the concern of Christ for a tempted church?

 

[Johnnz]

The church at Thyatira was being influenced by surrounding pagan culture. The name Jezebel may well be symbolic, referring to the OT queen who was opposed to God and allowed idolatry. Of course that was not what God wants, and eventually sin will be dealt with.

John
NZ

 

[Bick]

Jim Carrey cries this in anguish of soul in "Bruce Almighty"
Is God the great Smiter in the sky?
Is this how Christians should see Him?
Is our good behaviour predicated on this fear of Him?

What of Revelation where Christ promises to cast those sexually immoral into intense suffering until they repent. (Revelation 2:22)

I personally have great difficulty with the anger and threat of the latter verse.

MY COMMENTS: No, God is not the "great Smiter in the sky."

IMO, that is not how Christians should see him. However, due to the traditional teaching that "God's wrath is liable to be poured out at any time" undoubtedly affects the thinking of many Christians.

Our good behavior should be based on His love for us which is now in our hearts. And even our good works occur because God prepared them beforehand (Eph. 2:10).

Even to the unbeliever, fear of punishment does not lead to repentance, it is the goodnes of God that leadeth to repentance (Rom. 2:4).

 

[bluemarkus]

this movie is very good

 

[ShadedLotus]

It's an interesting question. God does appear to have smited many people throughout the Old Testament, yet none at all in the New Testament. Does anyone have any thoughts on that issue?

 

[salamacum]

Hello ShadedLotus,

But what about Ananias and his wife? Or was God honouring His Son's promise to Peter about bounding and loosing?

 

[ShadedLotus]

That's true. I'd forgotten about that.

 

[salamacum]

I meant binding and loosing.....

Just had our OT reading this morning (what a pious couple we are!)

Lots of God expecting His people to turn from their sin as a result of the affliction He had just visited on them.

 

[Atlantians]

If your god is not Big enough for Wrath and Love, Smiting and Blessing, He isn't the God of the Bible.

John 3:16-18
"For God loved the world in this manner: that he gave his only unique Son, that those who believe in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.&#8221;