in response to @danielbeckworth

It seems that my blog post has not been to popular with some of you. I've receieved a few comments, a lot of direct messages and emails in opposition to the content that I previously posted. I've been told content of my blog is not loving, not uplifting, not true, no fun, no compassion, etc.........What I like most about all the opposition is that .........
1.) I mostly posted a ton of bible verses and tried to keep commenting to a minimal so the verses could speak for themselves. The bible is like a lion, unleash it and it will defend itself.
2.) Based on this, those who oppose the post don't really have a problem with me, but with the bible itself. or...
3.) I used a systematic approach to present the material. Systematic is kinda boring to some. I also hear that some people didn't really understand the material. They also attribute this the systematic approach. I admit that the issue is somewhat confusing and the manner in which it was presented could be hard to comprehend upon first reading it.
4.)People have said, " You only talked about wrath, but didn't talk about Love"
Maybe you just missed some of my blog. I even reposted the bottom half that dealt with love/atonement/expiation. I believe that some read the first few paragraphs, got mad, and assumed I continued with the sad verses. Please read the entire content. Love is crucial. No one said it was not. But in order to better see God's love, let us see it in the light of his Holiness. Let's pool together all the attributes of God rather than isolating Love by its self. Some will only say God loves you in order to not offend anyone by saying harsh words like sin, hate, wrath, wretched, etc........ But if you leave out sin, and the absorbing of wrath by Christ on the cross, if you leave out blood, how can there be remission of sins? Without the hard truths of the bible, you don't get the full gospel. And a partial Gospel is no Gospel at all. If you refuse to preach the Gospel to the persishing, you only show your hatred for them. If you truly loved them, you'd think of their souls and not so much their feelings. I'm not against being cool. If you can have cool music, sit on a stool in a dark lit room while drinkin' java and preach the full Gospel and remain faithful to the word, and people are coming to Christ, then I'm all for it. Keep up the good work. Free Coffee For All!! But hanging with people is not necassarily loving them. The Gospel is word and deed. We have to care for people, and meet there needs, but we must also proclaim the good news (and yes, things like wrath, and sin are included in the good news, It shows what we are, and what Christ is saving us from) that we are utterly sinful, and God hates sin, and in order to reconcile us to himself, He sent his Son to die the death he didn't deserve on a cruel cross, in him we have the absorbing of wrath, by his stripes we are healed. There is LOVE!!! The glorious amazing thing about God is not that He damns, but that He'd save any of us who repent and place faith in His Son!!! I better understand the love that God has for me by examining His holiness. I better understand God's love, I am in awe, when I contemplate the fact that I am totally depraved, I can't do good, and yet, Christ died in order to remove my crimes, and was raised from the dead that I may now live life on mission. What a great Love with which God has loved us!! He is redeeming his enemies (you and I). My good friend Jared Pete recently said this...."When Jesus says to "love your enemies"...He is speaking from experience...Jesus loves His enemies."
5.) I've been told that I'm un-loving. Is posting a bunch of bible verses unloving? or do we immediately grow defensive when our agenda or teachings are challenged, even if challenged by scripture? Perhaps it's not the content, but the manner in which I presented it. Once again, I say read the entire post.
6.) I've also noticed that of the responses I've recieved, I don't think the Bible has been used once to "correct" me. I've had some philosophy or a few pithy zen statements about why I ought not mention these things. But I place little stock in opinion. I want fact. So if you bring some bible verses to me (in context please) then we'll look over it and I'll talk with you. But don't bring me any of that trash saying we shouldn't mention this kind of stuff, or that God doesn't get mad. Please. I'm not shooting for the "most relevant christian of the year" award. I want to be found biblically faithful in all matters. Even the not so popular ones.
7.) We've also had quite a few that had further questions. People who had no idea that verses like this existed. And I understand that it's hard to convey meaning through written word without two-way conversation (especially hard for me). So if you have further questions, just message me or give me a call. If you live in Auburn, or in the local area, we'll meet and I'll buy you breakfast/lunch/ or dinner and we'll talk as friends.
8.) It has not been my intention to come off as mean or angry. I'm simply amazed that this God is so in love with me in spite of who I was. I am a new creation. He has changed me and continues to change me. Let us all embrace the word of the Living God!

“...And indeed we cannot grasp or exhaust Christ, the eternal Righteousness, with one sermon or thought; for to learn to appreciate Him is an everlasting lesson which we shall not be able to finish either in this or in yonder life.” - Martin Luther

Daniel
wdb0002@auburn.edu
334-759-0320