AmyJoRN

Taking of any life is a hard idea for me to swallow. I am an RN who deals with illness and death daily. I know that any life is a gift and when it is taken away prematurely it is very sad to me. If I were exposed to this by living on a farm or being raised by a butcher...whatever the case may be, that exposure would certainly change my view.

Why is anger an appropriate response to sin? I'm not quite sure if you are asking why anger is an appropriate response to sin by humankind or by God. Assuming that sins are actions that are defiance against God, I would hardly call a wrong done against myself as a sin, I am assuming you are asking if anger is an appropriate response from God. Again I feel by saying that God becomes angry we give Him a human quality which robs him of his divinity. Again we are trying to gain understanding. Yin and yang, for every action there is a reaction. Balance must be achieved. Wrongs must be made right. Being that sin is anything that separtes a person from God and balance must be achieved something has to be done to bring that person closer to God. Hence the Hebrew traditon of a forgiveness sacrifice (admitting guilt) then the burnt offering which consisted of burning a whole animal to ashes (signifying rededication to God) and then a fellowship offering which was eaten by the whole family. Now if you are asking if anger is an appropriate response by a human to a wrong done against a human I will say yes. Obviously anger is an inborn emotion therefore it is always an appropriate response however.....(this brings us to your next question) What is the difference between capricious anger and anger that brings about justice? Capricious anger has no motivation. It is a reaction rather than a response and it brings about no balance to the wrong. In fact it just motivates humans to commit other wrongs (physical violence, verbal sparring etc...). The opposite of that is anger which is a response instead of a reaction. This anger is carried out in a well thought out, truth based manner that brings about balance or justice.

How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the lamb of God refers to sacrifice? Throughout biblical times and even now humankind conforms God to its own cultural ideas, activities, and motives (whether good or bad) to gain understanding of Him...hence the many different religions. Every culture with awareness of a higher power shapes and molds God's character, laws, and abilities to fulfill their desire of closeness and oneness with Him. John's declaration of Jesus being "the lamb of God" who "takes away the sin of the world" in that era and setting was a statement that was made to provide understanding to those people at that time. I know that this statement refers to sacrifice because of the people it was being delivered to and the time it was delivered. How was the comprehensiveness of sins of the world so radical a concept? Throughout Hebrew scripture the Jews were promised a deliverer of their nation. They looked forward to, longed for, and prayed that the deliverer would come to them freeing their nation from oppression. They were promised a mighty King. So, when John said that the lamb would take away the sins "of the world" this broke away from the traditional belief that the deliverer would free only the Hebrew nation. Jesus came to deliver not only the Hebrews but also the Gentiles. I believe many Jews probably may have felt shocked and even cheated that Jesus was not their own personal deliverer but came to offer all of their promises to even their enemies, opressors, and slave masters. (holy smokes I know I would)

Hi, My name is Amy. I am a mother of two small children and the wife of an American soldier deployed to Iraq. I am an RN by trade. I played an active part in Christian education at my church in my late teens and early twenties. After marriage and children I fell away from the church but continue to nurture my relationship with God through prayer and bible study. I am looking forward to growing in my understanding of God's word as he opens my heart and mind through these studies.