Some see the dynamic expression of truth as anger. Reflect upon how righteousness has been expressed on different occasions. God the Father destroyed the world by flood; Sodom and Gomorrah by fire and brimstone. Moses threw down and broke the Commandments of God and ordered the doom of many. Elijah slit the throats of the 450 prophets of Baal after mocking them.
John the Baptist said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." Luke 3:7-9
Forceful expressions have often been used to get across messages to those who might not otherwise be saved due to their hardness of heart. Many prophets and saints often spoke messages which provoked resentment. Jesus frequently spoke in this manner:
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing."
Mt. 23:27-28
Dynamic messages can be disturbing to many. But, appropriately expressed righteousness can be the means of salvation to those who accept truth.
Father David C. Trosch
All Saints Day
1 November 1998
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