One netfriend wrote:

You look at Jesus When he was discussing Truth with the Scribes and Pharisees You look at Jesus When he drove the moneychangers out of the Temple With a whip! Now you got your choice You can preach the Truth about the coming Jesus And the lies and the false prophets Thus avoiding His Anger

Another responded:

Your Christology is skewed, because you take one instance out of many where anger was manifest, and try to turn the entire gospel of Christ into one of anger. And this is done, it would appear, so that you can continue posting and witnessing in a state of anger and vengeance yourself.

Remember, Christ's anger in the temple was:

1) totally righteous before God 2) definitely NOT the theme of his ministry years.

Be angry if you like Glenn. But don't try to sling your own particular brand of bull that tries to convince yourself that it is godly. Yes, Jesus called things as they were. But he did it with love as His foundation, and with a desire for restoration -- not defamation.

It is a mistake to hold onto things from our past (like anger and careless use of words) then extract and inflate the very few instances from Scripture that would appear to back us -- while overlooking mountains of Scripture that clearly say otherwise.

I know there are a lot of people out there preaching a "nice Jesus".

But that is not your call to go about preaching a "bad Jesus" to balance them out!

Yours in Christ,

_____

Mr response:

'In your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord

Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you

yet do it with

gentleness and

reverence.

Keep your conscience clear , so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame...' (1 Peter 3:15,16).

[Note: the only NT reference which enjoins us to treat our adversaries as we treat God - with reverence! Amazing].

Now... if these adversaries are not in the faith (though note the 'anyone' above) how about this for the way we treat those who are within the faith:

'Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know how they breed quarrels.

The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness...'

(2 Timothy 2:23,24).

[So who has the authority in the church to act with the kind of anger/judgment Jesus and the apostles occasionally displayed? Simple: those who by divine calling and through the confirmation of the church by laying-on-of-hands have been given that authority. And there are not many of these... So for the rest of us, let's 'cool it' eh?].

--

Shalom!

Rowland Croucher