"No Southern Gentleman"

While recently on a trip, I was listening to a preacher speaking of God. In his personal assessment one thing became clear: to him God was nothing more than "a nice southern gentleman!" It was surprising as I listened to his ideas of teaching about God. There was little conviction but a lot of 'goo' that he had come up with in his personal ideas and beliefs about God.

It struck me how many think of God in those terms. Here came Jesus, God in the flesh, and He just nicely and politely entered into the lives of people? He was so 'genlemanly' and polite? Please don't misunderstand me. I do believe in the kindness of God and as I read, you can see the compassion of Jesus toward those who are hurting but let's look just a little closer. God confronted His people, Israel, with their sinfulness. They were disobedient at times and they were punished for their disobedient. The nation was strewn over a wilderness with dead bodies for 40 years because they simply refused to believe and obey the voice of the Lord. Jerusalem was destroyed 3 times in history because of their refusal to obey. Jesus came and condemned the religious leading Pharisees because of their sinful attitudes and self-righteous displays. (Just read Matthew 23 and you will see it.)

Maybe the reason we aren't making more progress is because we are no longer being confronted with the holiness and righteousness of God. God abounds in mercy and forgiveness but He also confronts those in their sins. There needs to be a call for people to turn with all their heart to the heavenly Father who bought them through the blood of His Son. Hearts need to be confronted with the seriousness and responsibility of our fellowship with God.

God is working at redeeming people but people cannot be redeemed who are not confronted with the seriousness of sin in their lives. Hearts need to turn to the true and living God while turning away from sin. The Thessalonians did such (I Thes. 1:9-10). God desires a relationship with us but that relationship will be based on His holiness and not some "southern gentleman" demeanor. God's concern is man sharing, fellowshiping in His life from a heart of obedience and humility. There we will find the mercy and grace in abundance.