Meditation:
 In my College American Literature Class, I just finished teaching the writings of early Colonial America. One cannot teach early American Literature without a healthy dose of Puritan writings. My students are usually glassy eyed by the time they have finished a portion of William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation,” or a sermon by Jonathan Edwards entitled “Sinners from the Hands of an Angry God.”
In our discussion (and I teach in a public school) about the role religion played in the settlement of Colonial America, this Old Testament view of God plays center stage. These early Americans were certainly not afraid to tell of the wrath of God and what would happen to people who sinned. Judgment was often in the hand of strict ministers who saw everything in Black and White.
Most historians believe that the reason the Puritans survived in America was because their life centered on their strict interpretation of the Bible. There was little compromise or veering from what their ministers interrupted the Bible to mean. The wrath of God was the tool that kept them all in line.
It is rather interesting that I was given these texts which deal with this “wrathful” God because I tend to focus more on the New Testament God full of grace.
As I was reading the word of God from the prophet Jeremiah, I saw that God, as my students would say, was not “messing around.” He said in pretty emphatic tones that he gave a contract to the people after he brought them from slavery—“obey me and do whatever I commended them.” Later in the same chapter he reminded them again: “Obey my every command!” If one does not obey God’s command, God will do them evil—translated I think that means the wrath of God will be visited upon us.
In a world where we often think as a people we can cut corners, these words are pretty emphatic. Do as God says or you and I probably do not want to know the “or”!
The other reading for today was from the New Testament. In Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Chapter 2: 1 “Well,” you may be saying, “what terrible people you have been talking about!” But wait a minute! You are just as bad. When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are talking about yourselves, for you do these very same things.”
Later in the chapter, Paul writes in verses 5-8: “But no, you won’t listen, and so you are saving terrible punishment for yourselves because of your stubbornness in refusing to turn from your sin; for there is going to come a day of wrath when God will be the just Judge of all the world. He will give each one whatever his deeds deserve. He will give eternal life to those who patiently do the will of God, seeking for the unseen glory and honor and eternal life that he offers. But he will terribly punish those who fight against the truth of God and walk in evil ways—God’s anger will be poured out upon them.”
During this time of reflection in the season of Lent, I needed to be reminded of the wrath of God because then I am newly reminded that I, along with all of you, have been saved by grace through faith, that we might do the good works which God has before ordained for us (Ephesians 2: 8 and 10).
God has said he will punish those who do not follow him, but he also, through his son, has given us forgiveness when we have not followed his ways.
John Newton, a man who knew of sin and repented because he did worry about the wrath of God, wrote the familiar hymn, “Amazing Grace.” The hymn begins by talking about the amazing grace of God who saves us from the wretchedness of evil ways. The fourth verse, based on Psalm 39, says: The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures; he will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.”
As the psalmist says: “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” The wrath of God was promised in the Old Testament, and Paul reminded us of the promise of the wrath of God in the New Testament; however, we also know that our hope is always in God who sent his only Son. In this time of Lenten reflection we are reminded that when we do evil, we must repent or we will be punished. Grace is a miracle freely given for all who follow God’s ways. |
