new church life: jan uary/february 2016
jealousy that wants to defend what is sacred, and the hellish jealousy which
becomes bitter and angry when it doesn’t get what it wants. Hellish jealousy
may look like it is merely defending something that is precious, but inwardly it
is self-serving and possessive. Heavenly jealousy also defends what is precious,
but it never becomes possessive and controlling.
Another important distinction is that heavenly zeal, like hellish zeal, will
indeed flare up when something precious is attacked, and it will vehemently
defend whatever is being attacked. But immediately after the attack, it will
calm down and return to a state of inner peace, always looking toward
reconciliation. Hellish zeal, however, continues to harbor hatred long after the
attack is over and the danger has passed.
To use a familiar example, two teams might fight furiously for the league
championship, but then, after the game is over, they will graciously line up to
congratulate each other. This is an outer expression of what is a heavenly ideal.
The distinction between heavenly and hellish zeal is a vital one. This is
especially true because so many Old Testament passages give the impression
that God is angry, vindictive and vengeful. The truth is that the Lord never
ceases to love and, therefore, is incapable of anger. As it is written:
From these few statements it can be seen how deluded those are who think, and
still more those who believe, and still more those who teach, that God can damn
anyone, curse anyone, send anyone to hell, predestine any soul to eternal death,
avenge wrongs, be angry, or punish. He cannot even turn Himself away from man,
nor look upon him with a stern countenance. These and like things are contrary to
His essence; and what is contrary to His essence is contrary to His very Self. (True
Christian Religion 56)
It would be incorrect, however, to assume that the Lord is indifferent
when it comes to the terrible things that happen to people. For example, when
innocent people are mistreated, abused, exploited or murdered, it would be
insensitive and inhumane to remain untouched by such tragedy. Something
within us wants to respond, indeed, needs to respond. And sometimes that
response can look – outwardly at least – as though it is full of passionate fury.
Yes, it can certainly look like anger. And sometimes, when what we love gets
hijacked by the hells, we really do get filled with anger. Holy zeal (the Lord’s
zeal in us) gets twisted into hellish rage. Good zeal, or “holy anger” if you will,
becomes evil zeal, or hellish anger.
Here’s the difference: as angry as our external response may seem, it still
has love and tenderness within it. It refuses to be hijacked by hell; it remains
steadfast in love for all, even while vehemently defending that which is precious
and sacred.
This is most clearly seen in a selection of passages from Conjugial Love.
In studying them I have relied mostly on the translation of the Rev.William
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