When Love Wears a Mask Called Anger

I know my dad loves me. But you know, many times my dad acted in anger towards me. He punished me and gave me consequences when I disobeyed him...sometimes with the use of a belt! ha. He set many rules that for most of my life, I believed were absolutely pointless. In the Bible, there are numerous times when God was angry with his own children as well. How could a God who calls himself Love, act in anger or wrath? For many years this puzzled me. The scene of Jesus turning over the tables in the synagogue in Jerusalem always made me uncomfortable. I wanted Jesus to be this peaceful miracle worker, not a candidate for anger management classes.

The realization I've come to though is, love without anger is apathy with good intentions. If God did not act in anger towards sin, that would be evidence he really didn't love us at all. If I were a young child without a solid conscience and tried to steal a candy bar from a store, would my dad sit back and simply watch? No! He would stop me and punish me so that I wouldn't do it again. I'm sure I would be furious and throw the usual temper tantrum, but good parenting goes beyond being liked. Stealing something small like a piece of candy isn't monumental, but a thief is easily bred. Is a thief looked upon as respectable in society? No. My dad punished me when I was unlearned, so I could keep myself from ruin as an adult. God does the same thing. God is Love, and when necessary he wears a mask called Anger.
I'm so grateful my dad loved me in a way that was counter to the culture we live in. Children have a secret desire for discipline and rules. They thrive when they get to grow in a nurturing environment where consequences follow wrong behavior and praise follows the good.  My adult character has been shown utmost mercy by the love of my earthly father, as well as my Father in heaven.


With Love to my dad on Father's Day- 2012