Good morning! What a monday… Whew… Last night at the Five we began a new series called Raw Worship. We are tackling the question what happen when worship and life collide? If you were not there last night, check out the podcast here, and then jump in the conversation.
As usual, we had a few questions come in. Get those phones out! Text some questions… Let’s go! Well, here are this weeks questions. Thanks to Dean Mellen for answering these… (I mean after all, he did just learn how to text…) Let’s interact… Here they are:
1. Choice… of wording, Punishment or Consequence? By definition they are VERY different. God disciplines those He loves. He does not punish but there may very well be consequences. Is there rationale for your choice of words in selecting punishment?
One of the greatest challenges as a communicator is to choose the right words to communicate your intended meaning. What word best communicates what the speaker wants the listener to understand? “Punishment” by definition implies the infliction of a penalty on a wrongdoer. The word can have other connotations too. Some people use it to mean the treatment of someone harshly or injuriously.
In Psalm 1:4-6 the wicked demonstrate that they are wrongdoers by the choices that they make. God punishes them by not allowing them to stand in the judgment. God’s punishment for the wicked is that they perish because of their choices. Sin does bring punishment as well as consequences. The wages of sin is death. When we sin, there is a penalty that will be inflicted upon us, if we do not deal with sin God’s way.
2. Isn’t it true God accepts all forms of worship?
Yes! But I guess I’m not getting the gist of the question. Did I say something that would make you think that God does not accept all forms of worship?
~Dean Mellen
1 Comment
We each have a variety of experiences, needs, perspectives, values and goals. This variety can enhance and enrich our shared experiences and may contribute to moments of confusion or differences of opinion. Most areas of disagreement can be acknowledged and respected and I support each individual’s right to their opinions, approaches and choice of language.
I also appreciate that punishment is, by its very nature, a way to use pain in order to insist on compliance or as a way to shame, embarrass or overpower the recipient.
The goals of punishment are to purposely cause pain, either physical or emotional, as a way of getting even. When punishing, it is important the recipient suffers. There is an intention to overpower, an attempt to force submission, be humiliated, humbled and ashamed.
A consequence is the response or reaction that occurs as a result of some action or behavior. Virtually every action or behavior has some sort of consequence, whether it occurs naturally or is somehow imposed. Whether the consequence is positive or negative.
A natural consequence is something that happens naturally as a result of some action (or lack of action). It does not take any decision or effort for it to happen.
An imposed consequence is also something that happens as a direct result of some action or inaction, but somebody must do something to make it happen.
God provides opportunities for each of us to make choices…and immeasurable grace when we choose poorly. There are still consequences for those poor choices…natural and imposed.
Punishment, by my definition, does not indicate any measure of the grace that God so freely extends. The natural consequence of our sin is death. The imposed consequence of rejecting His offer of salvation is eternal separation from Him. God does not desire that anyone should perish, which seems to me to eliminate punishment from His responses. He desires that all would accept Christ and have the imposed consequence of eternal life with Him.