JR. Forasteros - October 2, 2016

We are Forgivers

Free of Charge

Forgiveness is difficult because wrongs create a relational debt. To forgive is to release someone from a genuine debt they owe us. We find the ability to forgive in God’s forgiveness toward us, a forgiveness that has been ours since before the world began. A forgiveness sealed at the cross. A forgiveness that invites us into God’s new life. How can we participate in God’s forgiveness?

From Series: "Free of Charge"

We live in a world where nothing is free. In a culture that so lacks grace, how can we be the generous, loving people we were created to be? In this series, based on the work of theologian Miroslav Volf, we'll explore the surprising link between giving and forgiving. Join us as we find surprising freedom in generosity and grace!

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What does it feel like when God is angry at you?

Off the cuff, you might wonder if hitting more red lights than usual is a sign of God’s wrath. But more seriously, when we hit hard times, it’s easy to feel like we made someone up there mad. When we get sick, or when we have one of those weeks, months or years when it’s one thing after another, we want to blame bad karma or say the universe is against us or question what we’ve done to make God mad at us.

It doesn’t help that, whenever tragedy strikes, there are plenty of pundits who want to make sure we know God’s to blame.

Every natural disaster, every national tragedy, you can find at least a few crazy Christians trying to explain how and why we’ve angered God so God threw a hurricane or tornado or airplane at us.

And in times of personal tragedy, that happens too. Well-meaning people put a gentle hand on our shoulder and ask if we are right with the Lord, implying that we’re probably not, and that’s why this is happening to us.

Is that what it looks like when God gets angry?

Well… no. Like all the best lies, this one has a grain of truth in it

But the idea that God is essentially Thor, throwing lightning bolts at those who cross him is just plain wrong. Understanding God like that makes us afraid, and it actually keeps us from responding correctly to God’s anger.

Let’s talk about what it looks like when God gets angry, and how we can respond to that anger. Because God’s anger – like every other aspect of God – arises from God’s love, a perfect love that casts out fear. And ultimately, God’s anger is about life and hope.

Join us Sunday as we learn how God’s anger can be good news.

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