Being Heated by Hostility Toward the Word - Part Two
“Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.” Psalms 119:53 (KJV)
Is holy anger appropriate for hostile attitudes toward God and His Word? If so, where should one direct his or her anger and why? We can be certain of the just condition of our anger when it is directed toward what angers God. The Word of God records a plethora of passages where behavior, conduct, things, situations, individuals and nations will be subjected to His anger or His hostile disposition. For instance, one would be wise to take heed of the admonition to abandon or assassinate the following actions unless one wishes to experience the anger of God.
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” Colossians 3:5-6 (KJV, emphasis added)
“For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.” Psalms 5:4-5 (KJV, emphasis added)
“God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” Psalm 7:11 (KJV, emphasis added)
Holy hostility is justifiably expressed when we are challenged with conduct that separates us from God (sin). From the Word of God and the influence of the Spirit of God we unequivocally know that child abuse, pornography and all forms of sexual immorality, racism, injustice, dishonesty, murder, and abortion will make God angry. Again, in the Word of God there is a clear-cut warning to those who anger God (Galatians 5:19–21). In addition, Jesus expressed righteous anger over the sins of the people (Mark 3:1–5;)Luke 19:41–44). But His anger was directed at sinful behaviors and obvious demonically influenced discrimination, not the person committing the sin.
Our opening text tells us that the psalmist was arrested by anger because of the actions of those who are hostile toward or abandon the Word of God. Experiencing God’s anger because of sin is a colossal consequence on our lives. Our families, government, and churches, the three original pillars of civilization, are experiencing the anger of a holy God because of the dissonance, dismissal, and derision of His Word. Therefore, rejection of God’s Word should invoke righteous indignation towards all ideologies and influences with which God is angry. Let’s close with some holy and righteous reinforcement so that we will be resolute in resembling the holiness of God and remember the things for which He has hostility.
“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19 (KJV)
Hostility from Heaven is holy. Hostility from the human condition is always hooked to hell.
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR