No, of course, it is not wrong. I am not bothered if people will preach an angry God or a happy God. It's because I think that God can be angry or happy; it depends. Like us, God can feel and have great emotion. It is not likely that He can only be happy all the time or angry all the time. God may not weep or anger like Jesus, but if God can be grieved, I don't see any reason why God cannot be happy or sad when He is pleased or displeased.
- Joh 11:34-38 KJV And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. (35) Jesus wept. .. (38) Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
- Mar 3:1-5 KJV And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. .. (5) And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
- Eph 4:26-31 KJV Be ye angry, and sin not:..(28) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. .. (30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption...
- Joh 8:28-29 KJV Then said Jesus unto them, .. (29) And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
- Rom 8:7-9 KJV Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (This verse clearly shows us that we being in the Spirit must be subject to the law of God to please Him. Hence, to do and keep the law of God in the Spirit of Christ is not necessarily the same as being under the law like the Pharisees.)
- 1Co 7:32 KJV But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
- 1Th 4:1-8 KJV Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. (2) For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. (3) For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: (4) That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; (5) Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: (6) That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. (7) For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. (8) He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. (This verse shows us that we please God by keeping His commandments. For it is the will of God to sanctify us, not unto uncleanness; but unto holiness. Anyone who preaches otherwise despised not man, but God who can be grieved like the Holy Spirit. Mat 7:21 KJV Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.)
- 2Ti 2:1-4 KJV Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2) And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (3) Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (4) No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
God's preachers will never need to preach lies to please God or menI will tell them, We have so many Bible verses which tell us that God can be happy or pleased. Of course, if we can please Him by doing those Bible verses above, we can also displease Him by rejecting His words or making His commandments of none effect too. Hence, if a preacher insists and teaches others that his God can only be a happy God (no matter what he does, says, or teaches) and accuse all other fellow preachers for preaching an angry God, something is wrong? Why?
When we preach according to God's words that God can be grieved or displeased by what we do, say, or teaches or that God can be angry if we lie or sin, guess who would accuse us for preaching an angry God? False prophets or liars! They may quote many scriptures to say that they can lie and sin and yet God is still very pleased with them because they know Abraham and the key to having the righteousness of God, having good opinion of God, having the blood, having the grace of God, and having faith in the promises of God. They would say that Abraham lied but God would still look at him as the righteous because Abraham had faith. I will tell them, Yes, Abraham lie; but nobody died. When you lie, many will die. Why? Abraham did not preach his lying as God's way of justifying all the sinners and liars; but you preached his lying as God's way of justifying all the sinners and liars. Abraham did not preach his lying as God's revolution for grace; but you preached his lying as His revolution for grace. Did you also preach Abraham's lying to condemn those who preach against false doctrine and lies? They will ask, "But how can you judge or know that we preached false doctrine? We never lie to our wives, our churches, and God. We have never been convicted of sins, adulteries, misappropriation of funds, or stealing. So, please don't falsely accuse us for lying .." I will tell them, If God has to wait until the false prophets committed adulteries, theft, or misappropriation of funds, He would never be able to judge anyone. Of course, we know that the Bible has never said that the serpent or the devil is a great liar because he committed adulteries or misappropriated funds. We know that Satan is a great liar not because Satan told us to blame our wives, blame our friends, blame our enemies, or blame ourselves too; Satan is a great liar because he told us to blame God, blame His words, or His commandments: Gen 3:1-4 KJV Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (2) And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: (3) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (5) For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Hence, the serpent will always tell us his story or interpretation which starts with the two words "But God .." What shall we say if he says the two words to us again, "But God .. (doth know that you .. this .. and .. that .." We should tell him the three words instead, "But God said or it is written (Mat 4:1-10)" ! Mal 2:5-17 KJV My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. (6) The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. (7) For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. (8) But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. (9) Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law... (17) Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
- It shows that either he did not read the Bible or he was blinded from seeing the true and living God as the God of the Old Testament and New Testament.
- he gives people the wrong impression that he cannot tell anyone to repent or keep God's commandments, lest he may end up preaching fear and condemnation to the sinners. In another words, he gives people the wrong impression that preaching of repentance or God's commandment is equivalent to preaching of condemnation and unreasonable demand. Absurd.
- I will ask him, Can God love? If God can love, He can hate too. He hates sin. If God can supply, He can demand or command too. It is ridiculous to argue that God can only love or smile. No, God can 'frown' too unless He is just a smiling photo, a dead image, or an idol worshiped by most of the pagan believers
- Of course, we can always smile when we are pleased. But if we could only smile even when we were displeased, it means two things:
- We had muscle cramp on our face, or
- We were just putting on a 'false front' before others
God has no need to put on the 'false front'
I can understand why we may have to put on the 'false front' (and show all our false teeth and denture) whenever we are displeased. But something is wrong if God has to put on a 'false front' too whether He is pleased or displeased. It is ridiculous to preach a God who must always smile at us whether we do good or do bad, whether we do things that please Him or displease Him, whether .. Yes, we know that, in the preaching of faith, it is not uncommon to preach the ridiculous and the unthinkable, but it won't be so ridiculous that we defies all Bible logics and sound doctrine about God!
Please preach God as God
Strictly speaking, God cannot smile or become angry because God is spirit. God has no hands or legs too. However, the Bible did tell us that He could show the expression of love to us like our earthly father with 'smiles, hands, legs, or actions'. Luk 15:20 KJV And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Of course, this is just a figurative manner of speech to show us that our heavenly Father would do all these things for us too. However, it would be ridiculous for us to constantly argue and criticize one another because of what we think about God with the way He smiles, feels, or acts. Of course, it is not wrong to think that God has two hands. But it would be absurd if we become so radical in our own thinking that we start to criticise all others who preach that God has more than two hands or God has legs too. That's why I would think that those who would preach a smiling God and criticise others for not preaching like them are trying to find fault. I will ask them, Which one of you has seen the smiles of God, the face of God, or the body of God? If you have not seen Him, you can't preach exactly how He smiles or how He moves. What makes you think that God cannot feel sad, angry, or displeased with the people?
Preachers, Are you sent to preach the goodnews to the world or to yourselves?
I will tell them, I won't dispute with you if you think that you are the righteous ones and therefore God cannot be angry with you. But you are not a preacher to the righteous ones or to yourselves, you are a preacher to the sinners of the world. You are called to preach the goodnews to the sinners.
- Luk 5:32 KJV I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
- Joh 3:16-21 KJV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. (21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (Many would argue, But Jesus did not tell us to repent here, He just tell us to believe and we should be saved. I will tell them, Do you know what it means when you believe Jesus? It means you would repent, do works meet for repentance, do His will, His words, His commandments, and all that He teaches. Otherwise, you have not believed in Him. You may argue like the false prophets in Mat7:15-23, but no one is going to believe you.)
What did Jesus, John the Baptist, and Paul preach? Repentance, God's laws, and judgement !
Hence, the goodnews is not 'God would no longer judge the sinners or the world'; but, on the contrary, it should be 'God would judge the world, but, the goodnews is grace is still there for all sinners to repent, before the time of judgement'.
- Mat 3:1-10 KJV In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, (2) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. .. (7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (9) And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. (10) And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
- Mat 4:17 KJV From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Luk 13:5 KJV I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
- Luk 16:27-31 KJV Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: (28) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (29) Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (30) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. (31) And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
- Luk 24:45-47 KJV Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, .. (47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
- Act 17:30-31 KJV And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (31) Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
- Act 26:15-20 KJV And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. (16) But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen,.. (18) To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, .. (19) Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: (20) But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. (Jesus had appeared to Paul and commanded him to tell people to repent and do works meet for repentance. Please think, Will Jesus appear later to ask a certain radical grace preacher to preach grace only or something better to replace repentance? No, they did not get the vision, dream, or voice, from Jesus, they got it from somebody else !)
Many will argue, "But Jesus did not tell the adulterous woman to repent. He just preached or showed grace to her.." I will tell them, Please read your Bible again. Jesus did not preach grace to her; instead, He told her to repent (or sin no more) because of grace.
- Joh 8:8-11 KJV And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. (9) And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (10) When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? (11) She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
I will ask them, Do you know that Jesus had been telling the sinners to repent and His disciples to keep God's laws and commandments? Hence, this Bible verse ALONE cannot prove that there is no more repentance or God's law for us. I do not know what the Lord wrote on the floor. But if he wrote the law or the Ten Commandments on the floor, it means that He wanted all the Pharisees and the people to have God's laws in their hearts. You may think that He would write the laws on the floor just to shame them who were lawless, but I would think that He wrote the laws on the floor to show us that He would one day fulfil it so that all of us would keep His laws from the least to the greatest.
- Heb 8:10-13 KJV For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. (12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (13) In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Preaching of repentance and judgement of God is fundamental but it is still important to all the sinners and believers
Hence, I will ask them, Would you tell the people that God has judgement against sins and sinners, and preach like the Lord, John the Baptist, and Paul? Instead of focusing on whether God can smile or God can become angry, why don't you focus on the truth and the fundamental principles of the doctrine of Christ. The truth is God is love and God would still judge the world with wrath. That's why all the sinners and believers must know the basic truth about repentance, eternal life, judgement, and resurrection in the doctrine of Christ:
- Heb 5:11-13 KJV Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Heb 6:1-6 KJV Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we do, if God permit. (4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Preaching or speaking with the rod is not necessarily always condemnation and judgement
Many will still argue, "But do you know that Moses misrepresented God as an angry God? Do you know that the price he had to pay was so severe that he could not enter the promised land after he beat the rock with the rod of God ?"
- Num 20:7-12 KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (8) Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes ... (10) And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? (11) And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. (12) And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
They will still argue, "Of course, God was angry with Moses not just because He was angry with His beloved chosen people; but because Moses in his anger hit the rock which is a type of Christ. He should have been gracious when speaking to Christ and ask for the water from Him. But, instead Moses hit Christ with the rod. And this had become an unpardonable offence which stopped Him from entering the promised land at that time. But, of course, Moses has now been forgiven or else he won't appear at the Mount of transfiguration with Christ.."
I will tell them, I have said that the reason why Moses could not enter the promised land was not because of being angry with the stiff-necked people or hitting the rock; but because of his disobedience to God's command to simply speak to the rock. It didn't matter if he hit a rock, a stone, a bird, a tree, or a man; but if he disobey God's clear command to him, he would be judged.
What is the rod?
I would think that the rod is God's words in the form of authority. When we speak with the rod, we speak with God's authority. However, if it is the manna, it is God's words which feed. Hence, the three objects in the ark of covenant could be the Word of God in the form of manna, tablets, and the rod. I will ask them, If this is the case, do you still argue and say, "Since the mercy seat is above the three objects in the ark of covenant and therefore grace and mercy is higher than God's words and God's commandments"? No, please think with your anointed brain, How can the gift of God be greater than the Word or God who dwells in us now:
- Joh 1:1-14 KJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. .. (14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
They will argue, "But the commandments are covered under the mercy seat. On top of it, God wants us to apply the blood to ensure that we don't have to see any law, have any law, and keep any law." I will tell them, Your interpretation is contrary to God's will to have His laws written in our hearts and minds (Heb 8:10, 10:16). It shows that it is just your own perverted explanation; not God's explanation.I will tell them, Please think with your anointed brain again, If the ark was built to cover or hide His commandments from the people, would God cover His manna and His rod from the people too? No, if His words, His commandments, or His laws can feed, supply, correct, instruct, judge, and rule with authority, why should He cover or hide His manna or rod from the people too?
Didn't God's words show us clearly that the covenant of the blood is to cover our sins and lawlessness; not His laws. You have got it all reversed. In fact, God wants us not only to see His laws, have His laws, and keep His laws; He wants us to think of His laws, do His laws, and teach His laws. Yes, I know what you think. You would say, "But the Lord told us in Heb 8:11 that we shall no more teach His laws.". However, please don't pervert His words again. Yes, I agree that Heb 8:11 did tell us that we shall no more teach one another, 'Know the Lord' or 'Know Jesus'. It did not say that we shall not do and teach any law. In fact, Jesus told us that we must still do and teach His words or God's commandments. We must not teach the people just "KNOW the Lord, KNOW the Lord"; but we teach the people to DO His laws.
- Heb 8:10-12 LITV Because this is the covenant which I will covenant with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord, giving My Laws into their mind, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (11) "And they shall no more teach each one their neighbor, and each one his brother, saying, Know the Lord; because all shall know Me, from the least of them to their great ones. (12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousnesses, and I will not at all remember their sins and their lawless deeds."
- Heb 10:16-17 LITV "This is the covenant which I will covenant to them after those days, says the Lord: Giving My Laws on their hearts, and I will write them on their minds;" (17) also He adds, "I will not at all still remember their sins" and their lawlessnesses.
- Psa 23:4 KJV Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
- Psa 89:31-32 KJV If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; (32) Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
- Psa 110:2 KJV The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
- Pro 22:15 KJV Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
- Pro 23:13-14 KJV Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. (14) Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
- Pro 29:15 KJV The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
- Isa 11:1-5 KJV And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: (2) And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; (3) And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: (4) But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. (5) And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
- Eze 20:37-38 KJV And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: (38) And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
- Mic 7:14 KJV Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
- Rev 2:27 KJV And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
- Rev 12:5 KJV And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
- Rev 19:13-16 KJV And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (15) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (16) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
I will tell those who still argue that their God of the New Testament without the rod or any law is kinder and better, Have you read the sword that came out from the mouth of the Lord in Revelation? If you think that preaching of the rod to the sinners or believers is too condemning, how about the sharp sword which was shown to the churches in Revelation? No, we should never think that the God of the Old Testament is more condemning because of the wrong impression false prophets have placed on God. God is the same; but different types of sinners or believers see God differently. However, if we, the sons of God, would still feel intimidated by His sword, something is wrong. We ought to repent. Of course, we don't preach that God will remove all the wolves or the false prophets from the churches; but we would surely preach that the sword of God and the rod of God would still remain with the churches for the purpose:that you and I should know:
- Rev 2:12 KJV And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
- Rev 2:16 KJV Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Don't be the preachers of the world; be the preachers of God
I don't have time to quote all the Bible verses to show who God is and why God can be a God of wrath or a God of smiles. However, common sense tells me that believers who just want to believe or worship only a happy God or smiling God are still deep in pagan's belief. It reminds me of my parents who worshipped the idols. I remember my parents had this big smiling budda. Everyday I would see 'him' smiling at me. I had never asked my parents why 'he' would smile, or why they would want to worship only a smiling buddha.
However, I know the answer now! I realise that most people would just want to worship only a God of their choice; in another words, they would just want to believe what they want to believe; not the true and God. They want some kind of security in form of an idol. Hence, naturally they would worship only the God who would smile at them or prosper them.
Today preachers are not exempted from that temptation to worship the God of their own choice too. They could have subtly preached idols into the life of the people. Unknowingly many have transgressed or violated the laws and commandments of God which is the first commandment. They have lost their first love:
- Rev 2:2-5 KJV I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: (3) And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. (4) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (5) Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
- Col 1:10-23 KJV That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (11) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (15) Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (19) For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (20) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
- Mat 22:12 KJV And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
The prodigal son would love the God of this world - a happy and a lawless God
Many of my non-Christian friends told me, "What's so great about your smiling God or happy God? Ours is not just a smiling God; ours is a laughing God or hilarious God. Haven't you learnt from us? Our God is much more gracious than yours because our God won't judge us. We judge ourselves. If we do bad, we are not punished with eternal death. We don't have hell to torment us; we will just reincarnate and disappear from this world.."
If we tell them that we don't believe in such a God, they would mock at us, "Your God is too judgemental. Our God never tell us to repent. You should have learnt from your radical grace brothers. They have believed in a smiling God and their God has the same personality which would love us, bless us, and prosper us; not to judge us."
I will tell them, Those who preach that God cannot judge are not our brothers. Yes, they could be our brothers; but they are still the 'prodigal sons' who have not finished enjoying their lives in this world yet. They are not thinking of coming home yet. They are thinking that our Father's home has too many laws and commandments for them to do and keep. Hence, for the moment, they may still think that the world outside is a better home for them because it has no more God's laws and commandments for them to obey. They think that to obey and to do all God's commandments, like his elder brother, is a terrible life:
- Luk 15:13-31 KJV And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. .. (25) Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. .. (28) And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. (29) And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: (30) But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. (31) And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
All these years, we think that the prodigal sons can only be the younger sons, but do we realise that there are now many 'prodigal sons' who are the elder sons too. They could have departed from the churches where they once belonged, into the world where they think that they can now find better freedom because of a new and happy God who has no more laws and commandments for them. This happy God who can never become angry with their sins or lawlessness could be the prosperity God or the God of favour that is now preached by most of the radical grace preachers today.
Mother of Grace or Goddess of Mercy?
I have heard radical grace preachers who argued that they are of the same Father but of different mother because they believed grace or preached grace. They boast that they believe and inherit God's blessing through the same spiritual father Abraham, but they are much more superior than other Christians because they are born of a different mother who is the 'mother of grace' (Sarah). I will ask them, What makes you think that you are more superior because of the 'mother of grace' or your belief of another heavenly mother? Does it justify your false accusation against all other brethren who do and teach the law of God? Can you conclude rashly that all who do and teach God's laws and commandments as the slaves of the law under the bondage of the Hagar? This shows that you have very little knowledge of God's covenants. Paul used the metaphor of the free woman and the bond woman to illustrate two difference laws or covenants, not to tell us which heavenly mother we belong to:
- Gal 4:21-26 KJV Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? (22) For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. (23) But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. (24) Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. (25) For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. (26) But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
- Rom 6:4-7 KJV Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.
- Rom 6:12-13 KJV Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. (13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
- Rom 6:16-22 KJV Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (17) But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. (18) Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (19) I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. (20) For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. (21) What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. (22) But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Hence, I would think that it is ok if preachers would use the example of Sarah and Hagar to describe two different covenants. However, something is wrong if they argue vehemently that, although they share the same Heavenly Father with us, they have a very different Mother. Their Mother is the Mother of Grace or Jesus Christ. When they said, "Grace is not a doctrine, Grace is Jesus Christ", they could have unconsciously worshiped Grace or their Mother of Grace as Jesus Christ. We can tell why this type of preaching or theology can never be the Bible doctrine from the mainstream churches. It's because we know that its root comes directly from most occults or pagan religions which worship the Mother God or Mother of Mercies. Hence, I am not surprised that the preachers of this 'dark' doctrine could have a secret past or occult background which is not known by many. They could have been radically or deeply rooted in occult practice, occult philosophies, or occult bondage, before they thought they were finally delivered by 'grace', by a shift in their occult thinking, by just a change of mind, or by metanoia (repentance). I am also not surprised that they would downplay the importance of God's commandments and teach Bible doctrine as a form of horoscope or as a form similar to their occult practice in the past. They think that when they say that horoscope is from the Bible, they would feel less guilty to have believed in horoscope without renouncing it. I will tell them, Yes, the question is not whether Horoscope is from the Bible or not from the Bible; the question is: Do you still worship Jesus like your Horoscope? If you think that Horoscope is biblical and believe that Horoscope can be justified as a way of Bible revelation, you would put Jesus Christ into your horoscope and preach Him as one of your stars in the horoscope. He becomes one of 'the genies in your bottle'. Yes, you may think that you have repented and believed like Simon, but deep inside, you have not truly repented yet. You are just the worshiper of a new Mother, new God, or new Star, still heavily bonded in your old occult practices, philosophies, and bitterness (against God and His commandments):
- Act 8:9-24 KJV But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: (10) To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. (11) And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. (12) But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (13) Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. (14) Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: (15) Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (16) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (17) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (18) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, (19) Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. (20) But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. (21) Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. (22) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. (23) For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. (24) Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Of course, God can still be angry; otherwise He won't judge the world with His wrath
I will say, Yes, it is right if we preach it in heaven (which is unlikely). But if we preach it in Sodom and Gomorrha or in the world where there are still lots of sinners, something is wrong. He is a false God if He is a God who cannot judge or condemn any sin or any sinner. It is a certainly false gospel too if it is preached without the need of repentance, keeping of God's commandments, and doing of God's will.
- Gen 2:16-17 KJV And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: (17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
- Gen 3:2-4 KJV And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: (3) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
- 1Pe 4:5 KJV Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
- Rev 6:10 KJV And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
- Rev 19:11 KJV And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
- Gen 9:13-17 KJV .. (16) And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. (17) And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.
- Isa 54:9 KJV For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
- Exo 32:7-11 KJV And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: (8) They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. (9) And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: (10) Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. (11) And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
- 1Ki 11:9-11 KJV And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, (10) And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. (11) Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
- Luk 12:49 KJV I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
- Luk 17:26-30 KJV And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. (27) They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. (28) Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; (29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (30) Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
- 1Co 3:13-17 KJV Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward...
- 2Pe 3:2-7 KJV .. (3) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (4) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. .. (6) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: (7) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men..
- 2Pe 3:7-10 KJV But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men...(9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up...
- Col 3:4-7 KJV When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (6) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (7) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
- Eph 5:5-9 KJV For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (9) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
- Rev 6:16-17 KJV And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (17) For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
- Rev 14:19 KJV And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
- 1Th 5:1-3 KJV But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. (2) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (3) For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Is it right to preach the gospel with a God who cannot judge or condemn any more?
I will tell them, Does it mean that we are lying if we tell the people or preach that God will judge the world, the countries, and all of His people:
- Act 10:42 KJV And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
- Act 17:31-34 KJV Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (32) And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. (33) So Paul departed from among them. (34) Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
- 1Co 11:31-32 KJV For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
- Heb 10:26-31 KJV For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (But can we twist it and argue that this warning is not for God's people? No, it says very clearly that God will judge His people; not other people. When He used the comparison of a sorer punishment, He confirmed again that He was comparing and warning two of His people - one who despised Moses' law under the Old Covenant, and another who will dishonour the Spirit of grace under the New Covenant. Please think, who were able to despised Moses' law? Of course, nobody except the Jews or God's people who were given the law? Similarly, who can dishonour the Spirit of grace? Of course, no one, except God's people who have been given the grace of God too?)
- Heb 12:23 KJV To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
- Heb 13:4 KJV Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
- 1Pe 4:3-5 KJV For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: (4) Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: (5) Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
- Gen 3:2-4 KJV ..(4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
- Heb 8:10 KJV For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
- 2Co 11:2-4 KJV For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. (3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
- Mat 25:1-4 KJV Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. (2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them .. (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (11) Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. (12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. (13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (We are already in the end time where there is gross darkness all over the world. Hence, we should not give up the light or glory which will not only show us the path to the 'door'; but also work as the mark and indication of a virgin's readiness to meet her Bridegroom.)
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