Wednesday, November 08, 2006

The Hammer -- Not

This beautiful passage from Ezekiel came up in today's reading:
Cast away from you all the sins you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit, for why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord Almighty. Therefore repent and live!
Ezekiel 18.31-32
You know, you see these cartoons of the gods sitting in the clouds, looking for somebody to zap. Or with a hammer, looking for somebody to pound for having fun (of some kind or another).

Could there be a more distorted view of God? He takes no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies. Not of Hitler, Stalin, Dahmer, or (soon) Saddam.

Now that's merciful.

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