God's Ways.

Many people in the world are acting wrongly in the name of God.

We must have a clear understanding of God's ways:

God does not punish us for our errors.

God does not hate (or despise).

God understands all His creatures and loves them unconditionally.

God does not take sides - no one will be destroyed.

God does not kill.

God is trustworthy and reliable.

"'For I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishment.'"  Jonah 4:2b (NRSV)

Christianity is not a Revelation style battle against evil - one side against another.

Christianity is the Gospel of love :
Love your enemies.
Love God and neighbor.

The message of the prophets is one of social justice :
To care for the widow, the orphan, the stranger, the homeless.....
To treat workers fairly and provide employment for others.

"'For the Lord does not see as mortals see, they look on the outward appearance, but the lord looks on the heart.'"  1 Samuel 16:7b (NRSV)

God does not win, conquer, or dominate.

God is with the least, the forgotten, the loser.

God comes in last place.


(Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible. copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.)

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