When I was a tiny boy, my father was tender and affectionate with me. My brother and I would run to grab him when he came in from work, and he would try to walk with one of us clinging to each leg. We would sit in his soft chair and he would gingerly sit on us, pretending not to know we were there. He would wrestle with us, the biggest man we knew, but he would use so much restraint. He was gentle and kind. We knew we were absolutely safe with him. Even when he punished us, he exercised great self-control.
But that was not the case when he perceived a threat to his children. While we were walking through New York’s Central Park, a drug pusher tried to sell my dad dope and he swelled up like a blowfish, roaring at the man for daring to approach him while he was with his two little boys. Another time an adult neighbor of questionable mental health threatened to break the legs of my brother and me and my dad impressed upon the man that hurting his little boys was not in that man’s best interest. My father was a man of science, a Sunday school teacher and deacon who loved few things more than a good book. But like Atticus Finch when faced with a rabid dog, no one better harm his children.
God is the same.
He is kind and tender and affectionate. God is love. He says that about Himself in 1 John 4:8. But God is no pacifist. When His children are threatened, God is the most terrible, most warlike foe in the universe. Why does that bother people? Why are some Christians uncomfortable with the idea of a God who is fearsome and terrible, capable of indescribable wrath? After all, that wrath is reserved for God’s enemies, not His children.
Did you think God was Mister Rogers? A soft-voiced gentleman in sneakers and sweaters? Fred Rogers created Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to use television to bring some kindness and peace to very small children. But Fred Rogers was a minister himself. He likely understood that while God is tender and comforting with His children, those who would harm His children will see another side of God altogether.
–A side that may look something like this:[1]
From distant mountains comes the noise of a crowd, a multitude of thousands upon thousands. The march of ten thousand boots stepping in time. A rattling of swords. Armies descend on the city from all sides. The Lord is calling the armies to battle. The soldiers come from far countries, from heaven itself. They were brought here by the Lord. These are the weapons of His anger and they will destroy the land.
Howl! Scream! Wail! For your destruction is at hand. Look! Your hands are too weak to grab a bow or point a rifle. Your heart is pounding so hard it will melt. You know the end is near.
And all the evil shall be afraid. Terrified. And pain will overtake them like a woman in labor. How will they fight while suffering labor pains? They will look at each other and be astonished. Amazed. What is happening? Their faces are on fire. Or is it the reflection of a fire that is coming? The orange glow of doom.
Behold, this is the Day of the Lord. This is the Lord’s Day. Pretty Sundays with Easter flowers and pressed white dresses, suits and bows and patent leather. You think that is the Lord’s Day? Well, so is this—the GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD. This is the Lord’s Day, the day is His and VENGEANCE is His. The time has come.
This day will be cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate. And He shall destroy the sinners, clearing them from the land. And the stars will go dark. The sun will not shine. The moon will drop away. Darkness will cover the land from one end to the other and God will speak His judgment:
“I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity. I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease and will lay low the haughtiness of the powerful … I will shake the heavens and the earth from their place … And everyone that is found will be thrust through with the sword. Everyone will fall by the sword” Isaiah 13:11,13,15.
Dear God, You are so tender with us! You are so patient, so kind, so generous, so gracious. And eternally, unspeakably forgiving. Yet You protect us from our enemies. You defend us. You fight for us! You are so good to us. You execute judgment on Your enemies because You are HOLY. May we honor You with holy lives. May we worship You and adore You with intimacy and tenderness. But please fill us with the Fear of the Lord also. May we never lose sight of the affectionate love You have for us and the terrifying wrath reserved for Your enemies.
AΩ.
[1] A paraphrase of Isaiah 13:4-10.
Household Words: 