Good News Includes Anger

I'm fascinated by strengths and weaknesses. What can be someone's greatest strength can also be their greatest weakness. I, for one, am an INTJ personality - a contingency planner, an efficiency hunter, and a "system builder" (http://www.keirsey.com/4temps/mastermind.asp, http://typelogic.com/intj.html). Yet, those traits also lend towards my greatest weaknesses: because of my thirst for efficiency and knowledge, if I don't feel comfortable with an idea, I simply won't do it, no matter who thought of it (at least not until they provide the necessary data to support their idea :) ). My contingency planning can paralyze my decision-making at times, and my thirst for efficiency can leave other people (usually my wife and kids) in the dust.

It is this fascinating subject that was awakened in me as I was reading Romans 1 today (taking a Romans course this fall to finally officially finish my degree... long story). 


Part of my desire for efficiency and directness comes out in how I often study the Bible - by laying out a mindmap (as seen below) of the flow of a passage. It helps me visualize what's going on in the structure of the book (something visual = happy Steve).

While mapping out this chapter, I was reminded of the 2-sided coin of the Good News of Christ. Many people, including me, tend to focus so much on the goodness of the Good News that we forget the "BUT" statements. Those "but" statements are huge. In this case, Paul talks about how he's not ashamed of the Good News (the power of God saving everyone who believes). In nearly the same breath, he says, "But God shows His anger..." 

Wait. Anger?

As we know, there's no point in Good News if there's no bad news. And it's Bad News. God, through Paul, makes it exceedingly clear how he feels about sinful people who suppress the truth, even when they know the truth! (and yes, that includes sinful people like you and me, which is also very clear at the beginning of chapter 2) 1:18ff says that God shows His anger against all people who suppress the truth, even though they know it, and abandons them to their own desires... even though they know they deserve death.

Perhaps we should tell the whole story when we share the Good News. Otherwise, we're just another group promoting fulfillment and feel-goodness.

If you're struggling with a way to do that, watch this video (especially if you're <21).

God Our Sins Paid Everyone Life. GOSPEL.