It seems that some folks are absolutley stuck on the concept of sin and God’s wrath and judgement of humankind. It feels like some are saying “God is a loving God, but make no mistake, God is coming back and he (of course God is a he) is pissed. And if you don’t love God back, then you are doomed to an eternal lake of fire.”

I realize that this isn’t the theology of many of the folks who visit here, but what concerns me is that there are folks who, for some reason are stuck on a God of fear and judgement and their “personal” sins.

I think that is a little sad in some ways for the motivation of reaching our truest potential as human beings created in the image of a Loving Craetor seems to come from fear rather than love.

Aside from the list of “do’s and don’ts” preached from some pulpits on Sunday’s, what is sin and who is the sinner?

How many SUV’s are parked in the church lot comsuming God’s natural resources and destroying the environment with the toxic fumes?

How many “worship” God from chairs made from materials that destroy God’s earth?

How many are wearing clothes they bought at Walmart that are made in sweatshops in Asia?

How ’bout that extra long shower that is a gluttonous waste of God’s resources when their are people on the planet dying of thrist?

So we must be careful about how we define sin; what pisses God off; who is going to be judged in the end; and perhaps take a long hard look at how we participate in sin. It could be possible that God is pissed when you drink, cuss , smoke and take a peek at your wife’s Victoria Secret magazine, but something tells me that if that is our focus, then we’ve missed the big point. For it seems, as best I can tell from Scriptures, that when we deface any of God’s creation– the Earth and all that is in it– we sin.

So for those of you who want me to talk about sin and God’s judgement, here you go:

Repent and sell your huge truck that consumes massive quantities of the Creator’s earth.
Repent and protest war and volence.
Repent and stop captial punishment. Jesus said it’s not about an eye for an eye.
Repent and ride a bike to work.
Repent and plant a tree.
Repent and rip-out your carpet treated with chemicals that destroy the earth.
Repent and adopt a dog.
Repent and change a light bulb.
Repent from supporting sweat shops and child-labor, and make your own clothes.
Repent from your use of your automatic dishwasher and wash your dishes by hand.
Repent and never choose plastic again.
Repent and stop picking on people who have different views of sex than you.
Repent and demand that the publisher of your Bible use recycled paper.
Repent and do everything in your power to stop and prevent child abuse.

There, I talked about sin and God’s judgement. I hope that makes some readers happy.

As for my part in the need for redemption, I pray for mercy.