Is God Really Good?: IGRG

Before I started following Jesus I lived with an uneasiness in my faith. My parents are devout believers in Jesus but in highschool I was wrestling with whether or not I believed in God. Sometimes my wrestling was replaced with denial. I would start ignoring parts in the Bible that I thought were too “messy” or inconvenient doctrines.

I think it’s a natural tendency for us to avoid things that we see as unpleasant. I would argue that a good deal of christians really struggle with the law and the Old Testament. It seems unpleasant to them. We in the western church tend to avoid the Old Testament because we’re afraid. 

I talk to a bunch of millennials, a good portion of them struggle with the God of the Old Testament. When they read the law they see God as being tyrannical and when they read the historical books they see God as being cruel. I’m going to say something that you may disagree with. These perceptions of God being cruel or tyrannical are products of our culture’s perception of God and are NOT biblical perceptions of God. 

By avoiding the Old Testament we rob ourselves of God’s true identity. Our perception of God is shaped by our culture if it is not shaped by the Bible. The culture is at war with God. By our fear of studying the Old Testament we let the media define who God is in our minds. 

I want to challenge you. Read the Bible for yourself. Read about God’s stance on human rights and social justice. Dig into what God says about marriage and divorce. Look at how God is full of kindness and mercy. READ. We are people of the book. 

Christians have a hard time believing God is good because they have not read about God’s character. You may not see God as good because you have not seen His goodness in the law. Do not be afraid to wrestle with the tough passages. God is good, and those who read His words are convinced by it!

There are hard passages to understand because humans are complicated and they tend to make terrible choices. But God is loving and caring and forgiving. If you read the Old Testament you will see how good God really is. If you, however, avoid the Old Testament; the culture around you will shape your view of God and you will not know His goodness. 

Is God Really Good? (IGRG)

As a kid I often struggled with a guilty conscience. Even if I hadn’t done anything wrong, I still felt as though I were going to get in trouble with my parents. My parents are good parents and not overly harsh, there’s just something inside of me that always feels a little guilty. This kind of spilled into my view of God. For many years I saw God as being this old man judge, ready to strike me down and punish me at every mis-step. 

I think it’s easy to read the law and the consequences for breaking the law and see God as a harsh critic. I’ve heard one critic say that they view God as “a petty Judge ready to destroy anyone who doesn’t obey Him.”

Let me be very clear, God is God of the law. He has laid His expectations clearly in front of you. However, God also loves mercy.  He has said of Himself; “the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, a forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation” Exodus 34:6-7

How do you reconcile justice and a love of mercy? They are polar opposites. Justice is getting what you deserve, and mercy is not getting what you deserve. The best way to understand this is to understand; it all depends upon relationship. Let me ask you, is God your Father? 

Those who serve the law of God without a relationship with God will be judged by their ability to fulfil it. But God desires to show mercy to His children. Those who seek mercy from God will find it. In contrast, those who trust in their own ability to fulfil the law are judged by the law. 

“Toward the scorners He is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.” Proverbs 3:34

 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

God is a good Father, He is not waiting eagerly to punish His Children. He is constantly giving us opportunity to seek His mercy. Psalm 86:15, Deuteronomy 7:9, 2 Chronicles 7:14. 

Is God Really Good? (IGRG)

In every society in every age there have been poor people. Every politician has a plan that will finally rid us of poverty. But century after century all endeavors to eradicate poverty ultimately fall flat. Poverty is connected to the human condition. The human condition is a constant struggle between desiring to do good to others and looking out for your own interests. In reality our love for ourselves is precisely why poverty exists. 

Why didn’t God write in the law “thou shalt give what you have to the poor”? The reason, I believe, is because God is concerned with treating the problem instead of a symptom. Poverty is a symptom of a much deeper problem. The underlying sickness causing poverty is a selfish heart. 

God’s law is not so shallow that it merely changes your actions. God’s law is intended to change your heart. There are however many laws concerning the care for the poor and refugees. Let’s take a look:

Leviticus 19:10 “You shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.” 

God is changing the hearts of His people to provide food for the poor. This also shows us how much God cares for the poor, we ourselves should be moved to have that same heart. 

Leviticus 25:35 “If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.”

God’s heart is not to alienate or cast out the poor but rather to care for them, clothe and shelter them. He also desires for each of us to have that desire in us. 

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 “At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.”

This is a long term social provision for those in need. God isn’t looking for one time gifts, He’s looking for heart change. 

Each of us should desire this heart of God. The Church must take this seriously. We have done well at times, but can we be satisfied with that? Anything short of the total heart of God will be unsatisfying for us. 

God is so good, and He cares deeply for the poor. 

Here are some other verses on God’s heart for the poor and marginalized:

 Exodus 22:22, Exodus 23:6, Exodus 23:11, Leviticus 19:10, Leviticus 19:15, Leviticus 23:22, Leviticus 25:25, 35, 39, Leviticus 25:47-48, Deuteronomy 10:18, Deuteronomy 14:28-29, Deuteronomy 15:4, Deuteronomy 15:7, Deuteronomy 15:9, Deuteronomy 15:11, Deuteronomy 24:14, Deuteronomy 24:17, Deuteronomy 24:19-21, Deuteronomy 27:19

Is God Really Good (IGRG)?

“If God is so merciful and loving, why didn’t God just assimilate Israel into Canaan instead of driving them out? Wouldn’t that be a more merciful thing to do?” Shedding light on this question will actually show that God is merciful and good. 

Let’s first frame this question with context. God promised Canaan to Abraham and his children. God allowed Israel to become slaves in Egypt (more on this in a moment). Israel had been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. God has delivered Israel and set them apart as His people. He gave them the law so that they may know Him and His ways. The people have rebelled against God and spend 40 years in the desert. Now after all of this God gives marching orders. 

“When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you… the LORD your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them.” (Deut. 7:1-2).

Seems a bit harsh right? Why didn’t God just tell Israel; “move in, settle down and coexist”? Isn’t that a better alternative? Or better yet why didn’t God give Canaan a chance to repent? Spoiler alert: God did give Canaan a chance to repent.

Let’s look at something God told Abraham before all this started. Genesis 15:13-16 God tells Abraham that his descendants will be enslaved for 400 years. Then He says something very Interesting “your descendants will come back in the fourth generation, because the sins of the Amorites hasn’t been fulfilled.” The Amorites in this case are the Canaanites. God says “it’s going to be a while before you all enter the promised land, because the Canaanites aren’t beyond saving.”

I want to look at some Biblical stories about God destroying nations. Let’s start with the flood. The Bible calls Noah a “preacher of righteousness” that’s because before the flood Noah tried to save others by preaching repentance! But no one repented so all but Noah and His family were destroyed.

Then there’s Sodom, God tells Abraham that because of the wickedness of Sodom He will destroy it. Abraham starts bargaining with God. “If I can find 50 good people will you spare Sodom” God says “sure”. Abraham decides to bargain again “okay, okay but what about if I’m 5 people short? Would 45 be ok?” Abraham continues to bargain down to 10 righteous people. Not even 10 righteous people could be found. God destroys Sodom.

God’s character is such that He gives nations an appropriate amount of time to repent. He sent Moses to Pharaoh, and gave him 9 chances to repent. God sent Jonah to Nineveh, and spared the nation because of their repentance towards God. 

When we look at the Canaanites we must realize that God gave them 400 years to repent. God’s first inclination is to save Canaan rather than destroy it.

Jesus’ paramount teaching was the sermon on the mount. The sermon is mostly a re-teaching of the law. Jesus gives the law “you have heard it said ‘do not murder; anyone who commits murder will be liable to judgment’ ‘but I tell you anyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement.’ Do you see how Jesus approaches the law with a specific mindset?

When Jesus read the Bible He didn’t focus on the letter of the law, rather the Spirit of that law. Do not commit murder is the law. Do not have hatred for your neighbor is the Spirit of the law. Jesus does this throughout His teaching. He doesn’t make the law easier, rather, He takes that law and reveals the heart of God. 

This is something that all followers of Jesus can do and should do. If you read the Law for rules and regulations it will be death to you. If you read the Law to discover the heart of God it is abundant life!  

Let’s take a law and see if we can discern the Spirit of the law. 

Exodus 23:5 “If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.” 

Here’s the law: If you see your enemy’s donkey struggling under too much weight save the donkey and the goods. 

Here’s the Spirit: God desires you to do good to your enemy, and care for his interests. 

I believe this is a good interpretation of the Law. It doesn’t make the law easier, by any means. If anything it makes it more difficult. Jesus’ interpretation of the law always makes the law harder to accomplish in human strength. Because the Spirit of the law shows us our deep need for God. 

All of the law should cause us to look to God for our salvation. The law is not there to make you morally sound, it is there to show you how dead you are. When we read a law like “you shall have no other gods before me” we come face to face with how many idols we have in our hearts, and how impossible it is to give our hearts to God alone. The law shows us how dead we really are. 

Jesus lived the law perfectly, and walked in the Spirit of the law completely. By dying on the cross and rising again Jesus now gives life to all who have Faith in Him. We, by faith, no longer follow the law in order to save ourselves. We have been saved; now we walk by the Spirit to be more like the Law Giver. Those who have been made alive in Jesus can now walk in the Spirit of God’s law!

Sometimes we get caught up with the christian ritual. In the conservative Baptist churches I grew up in, occasionally, the pastor would say “God is good, all the time” and the congregation would respond “all the time, God is good.” It happened with such frequency it was a bit like a modern day chant amongst monks. 

When I was a boy “God was good”, it was a notion I didn’t question. In my teen years my faith was being shaped and beaten by the culture. I started to try the locks on every door. One of these closed doors was marked “God is good.” I was worried to twist the door knob, perhaps that room was empty. I did it anyway. 

To know what you believe you have to test what you’ve been told. Genuine faith has reason. The American culture was clear; God is oppressive, tyrannical, and hypocritical. God in the eyes of the media was anything but good, a sexual deviant, a liar, and weak. In the church I was a part of God was mean and judgmental, but occasionally did a good thing. 

I was almost swept up in this cultural current. However there is one thing almost everyone agrees on “Jesus is good.”

I couldn’t reconcile the things I was hearing about God, and the things I was hearing about Jesus. If Jesus was the son of God and He was good, why did God seem so awful? Jesus knew the Old Testament couldn’t He see it was filled with slavery and genocide?

I figured there must be something I’m missing. I started looking into the Old Testament and the Law; maybe I could figure out why Jesus who was good, would love a God who did the things in the Old Testament. 

I’m going to create a series of posts going forward that deal with the goodness of God in the Old Testament. I hope you’ll join me!