God's Holiness and God's Wrath

Most Christians operate from folk theology -- that is -- it's not an academic/scholarly view of God -- and it is a theology that borrows from here and there and often isn't all that reflective. And it's understandable, as far as it goes. Part of the reason why folk theology can have problematic consequences is that we clergy haven't done a great job in teaching -- but then we're often afraid of challenging their folk theologies (and believe me every congregation is full of interesting theologies.

Richard Beck, a psychologist and professor at Abilene Christian University, writes today of the problem inherent in a folk theology of the irascibility of God -- in other words, the possibility that God is prone to getting angry. More specifically, God is really protective of his holiness and so when we infringe on that holiness God is liable to get really angry.

Beck rightly calls this theology into question, charging that it is based on circular reasoning:

Q: Why does God destroy/punish sin?
A: Because he is holy.
Q: But what does that mean, "God is holy"?
A: It means that God will destroy/punish sin.

There is no real meaning to this -- God is holy so he punishes, he punishes because he's holy. Therefore, if we don't wish to be punished we must try to do what is pleasing to God, because if we don't God will get us.

Richard then writes in conclusion:

I think the whole folk theology regarding sin and holiness has got to go. It's incoherent and spiritually dysfunctional. Phrased more sharply and provocatively, the whole idea of "pleasing" or "displeasing" God is the worm at the core of most Christian (mainly folk) belief systems.

I think he's on to something here -- but I think the reason why this theology hangs around is that we find it useful to keep people (our children for instance in line). It's also the reason why people are uncomfortable with universal salvation -- if everyone makes it then where does fear of God come in as a deterrent?