Christianity is not just a good idea, Jesus was not a sweet man with nice teachings, the bible was written to offend even the most loyal followers, and God is not dead, as some would have us believe. With the lowering numbers of Christians in Australia, as reported by the latest census, it was suggested by an ABC journalist in recent weeks that Christianity is becoming less relevant to our society. According to Operation World, many Australians view the church as intolerant, abusive of power and anti-progressive in its values. It seems that this journalist had these views and was more than happy to share them.
I have heard 3 messages in the last few days, or read things, such as this ABC news post, that all point to the fierce, fearsome and protective nature of God. We can't just dismiss God as not relevant to our lives; He doesn't leave us with that option and surprisingly enough, even if the number of local followers seem to be dwindling. He has a passion and purpose for his people that is furious and He is an expert in resurrection life.
Psalm 76 TPT
God is well known in the land of Judah. He is famous throughout Israel, making his home in Jerusalem, living here on Mount Zion. That’s where he smashes every weapon of war
that comes against him. That’s where he uses the broken arrows as kindling for his mighty bonfire.
God, you are so resplendent and radiant! Your majesty shines from your everlasting mountain.
Nothing could be compared to you in glory! Even the mightiest of men have been paralyzed by your presence. They were so stunned and lifeless, not even the strongest one could lift a hand. When Jacob’s God roared his rebuke, soldiers and their steeds all fell to the ground, stunned and lying still.
No wonder you are greatly feared! You are the awe-inspiring God! For who could ever stand before your face when your fierce anger burns and live to tell about it. As the earth itself holds its breath in awe before you, judgment is decreed from heaven. You arise to punish evil and defend the gentle upon the earth.
You have power to transform man’s futile anger into praise. The fury of your enemies only causes your fame to increase. So you’d better keep every promise you’ve ever made to the Awesome One, Yahweh! Let all people bring their extravagant gifts to him alone. He is famous for breaking the spirit of the powers that be. And the kings of the earth will know him as the Fearsome One!
Exodus 15: 7-11 (After the parting of the Red Sea).
“In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood up like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’
But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. Who among the gods is like you, Lord?
Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
Jesus himself, was fierce at times; the right times and with the right people. He seemed to bait the religious leaders and continually insulted them in subtle (and not so subtle) ways through many of his stories and parables, and also by breaking many of their innumerable rules that tied people down to their religion (such as healing on the Sabbath). He must have really riled them up, as in the end they just simply wanted him dead. Jesus was not only betrayed by one of his own followers, but he had no fair trial, he was trialled at night, and he was set up with false witnesses to accuse him. This was not the usual way of the Pharisees. They just simply wanted him dead.
Matthew 23:27-28
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Ouch!! Jesus had some real attitude talking like that! But to his followers, the vulnerable and more open -minded, he spoke words of tenderness, wisdom and love.
The love of God is also fierce and all consuming!! There is something in me these days that could never let my faith go, and would fiercely defend it. Hence this writing of mine. Some things run pretty deep.
Song of Songs 8:6 TPT
Fasten me upon your heart as a seal of fire forevermore.
This living, consuming flame will seal you as my prisoner of love.
My passion is stronger than the chains of death and the grave, all consuming as the very flashes of fire from the burning heart of God.
Place this fierce, unrelenting fire over your entire being.
Jesus' love for his father also ran deep. So it was understandable that Jesus, on arriving in Jerusalem in his final week, went into the temple and have a few things to say about the state of affairs in the outer courts of his father's house. There were Gentiles there and some corruption in the way they were trading in sacrificial animals. They had lost all respect for the ways and the heart of God for a profit.
Matthew 21:12 - 13
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Maybe, today, we need a bit more of this kind of fierce and fiery love? And a bit more respect and fear of the things of God? Maybe today, we need to stand up for all that is true and right and lovely, and for the paths that we are laying out for our children. To watch over them with a fierce and active love and to see justice in our land for the foreigners, orphans and widows. The culture here in Australia would offer us a bland spirituality of tolerance and inclusion, and some narratives would try to rob our men of their masculinity and value outside of the local football club.
I love supporting a select few charities. One that takes a clear stand against the pornification of our culture and the objectification of women here in Melbourne. Another I love to support is one that seeks to pray for and support the worldwide persecuted church. It stands for the people of God who are in truly difficult places and circumstances. Places that need the gospel more than anything else and to be Christian is a life and death issue. Places where the fierce love of God is a real deal.
This post has been difficult to write. How does one be fierce without being inappropriate? Where do we draw the line and how do we take a stand in the face of popular culture and mainstream media? It requires prayer, wisdom, discernment and a connection with the word (himself) and the heart of God. It reminds me of the voices of the prophets in the Old Testament - continually calling people to repentance and change. It didn't often win them a popularity vote or even inspire people to change. Jonah ran as hard as he could in the opposite direction and found himself in the belly of the whale. Then when the people of Nineveh did listen to him, he sulked. There was no destruction falling from heaven and his nose was out of joint because of what God had called him to. God met him there.
And so God meets us at these difficult places - in what we choose to do and even in what we choose to run away from. In our obedience and in our self pity. Our God's love is fierce. It is fierce for both us and for those who do not know him yet. Those whose eyes are blinded and they are distracted / ignorant / deluded / perverted in their ideas. Those who are like lost sheep without a shepherd.
Comments