My Friend Got a Bad Rap....

I was having lunch with a friend a few weeks back. We were munching our salad and catching up with old times. She mentioned she met a friend of a friend of mine and she heard some very disappointing news. She only told me what her very good source told her.

What she said, hurt me very deeply. Not that what she said was not the truth but that I knew this person and he was in my book one of the "good guys". I put him in a category of being a hero and a loyal friend. Someone whom I would call if I ever needed anything.

I don't blame my friend for believing this piece of information. It might have even been 100% true.... but I knew 99 things about this person from personal experience that shows me that he is of a good character. Not perfect --but in his heart always trying his best.

I was so glad that I was able to tell my friend that the one bad thing she had heard was not the whole truth about my other long-time friend. I was glad to point out to her that he is my friend and I like him even though he's not perfect and if he was her next-door neighbor, she would be glad as well. This one bad report is not even close to the truth about who my friend is in reality.

I was driving home and was mulling over this 90 second part of my conversation with my friend of many years. I don't think ill of her for having this opinion. After all the person who told her was one that would know the truth. Unfortunately that person who gave the information had hurt and bitterness in his heart. He came to this opinion because he had been hurt by my friend. That's natural to focus on the hurt and not see the good.

Then I was thinking about how our God has got a bad rap. Every day on TV, movies, in books, radio etc we hear of "Acts of God" or horrible world events that bring about such pain and sorrow. Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, fires, and tragedies of all sorts are blamed on our God everyday. People even kill other people in the Name of our God. It should break our hearts when people blame our Heavenly Father for such events.

I'm not here to try to convince you that God's in control or not in control. He's God and I don't have to defend Him to anyone who does not know His true nature. But just like my friend I've known since childhood, I know my Heavenly Father's true character. He's not out punishing or hurting people to show His wrath on a sinful world. If he wanted to send a message to Japan, or America or any other place in the world, he would not do it by slaughtering people. Dead people cannot repent. But we do God no favors by saying He's out to punish sinful people.

I know many see the Old Testament of the Bible and say that is who God is.... but God so loved the world that He GAVE is only Son that whoever would BELIEVE (on what Jesus accomplished) would have ever lasting life. (John 3:16)

Maybe it's true that God was mad at humankind.... I'm not a theologian, I'm just a person who believes in what Jesus did for me. And since Jesus took all the sin, sorrow, shame of the whole world for all of time, I know that all of that has been taken care of.... no more payment necessary. So that means God is not mad anymore. Jesus took care of it.

Mercy is about not getting what we deserve. My kids do naughty things sometimes and I don't punish them. They might deserve to be grounded or have a privilege revoked, but I'm merciful and just don't punish them. That's a good thing in their eyes. But even when they are not doing what I like, I still give them everything they need and even things they want. (shocking isn't it!) I love them and go beyond mercy and give them grace. I think it's that grace I extend that allows them to see--even on the roughest of days--how much I love them.

Don't worry. I do discipline them as necessary because I love them and don't want their wrong-doings to negatively affect them. So far, they have always made good choices after they have seen the truth about what could hurt them. That' what good parents do. They help their children make good and healthy choices in life.

Grace is about getting what we don't deserve. We are saved by grace (unmerited, unearned favor) by faith in what Jesus accomplished for us so that none of us can boast in our own good deeds. (Ephesians 2:8) The gospel or the Good News of what Jesus did is the power of God unto salvation to all who choose to believe. We forget that it's the Good News about what He did that can change our hearts and transform our lives. Knowing He loves us makes us want to do good. Doing good is a natural bi-product of knowing His love and grace.

Fear of punishment might sway us not to do bad....but it won't encourage us to do good. What if my children heard that I was going to harm them after a mistake? They probably would not come home if they believed that type of lie. Perfect love casts out fear....my children don't fear punishment even if they do wrong and they will run to us to help them rather than run away fearing punishment.

Hearing bad news about God will only hinder people from receiving His goodness and grace. They will run away from Him due to a mis-representation of Him. Sad that He's got such a bad rap-- People will fear Him and avoid Him.

The Good News (Gospel) is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who BELIEVES. Romans 1:16